“Yes, mother, do let it be Miss Ogilvie,” chimed in Armine. “She tells such jolly stories!”
“She ain’t a very nasty one,” quoted Jock from Newman Noggs, and as Janet appeared he received her with—“Moved by Barbara, seconded by Armine, that Miss Ogilvie become bear-leader to lick you all into shape.”
“What do you think of it, Janet?” said her mother.
“It will not make much difference to me,” said Janet. “I shall depend on classes and lectures when we go back to London. I should have thought a German better for the children, but I suppose the chief point is to find some one who can manage Elfie if we are still to keep her.”
“By the bye, where is she, poor little thing?” asked Caroline.
“Aunt Ellen took her home,” said Janet. “She said she would send her back at bed-time, but she thought we should be more comfortable alone to-night.”
“Real kindness,” said Caroline; “but remember, children, all of you, that Elfie is altogether one of us, on perfectly equal terms, so don’t let any difference be made now or ever.”
“Shall I have a great many more lessons, mother?” asked Babie.
“Don’t be as silly as Essie, Babie,” said Janet. “She expects us all to have velvet frocks and gold-fringed sashes, and Jessie’s first thought was ‘Now, Janet, you’ll have a ladies’ maid.’”
“No wonder she rejoiced to be relieved of trying to make you presentable,” said Bobus.