"Oh no," said Beryl, "only I'm tired and in the dumps. How lovely these snowdrops are! And oh, there are some violets too! Where did you find them?"
"At the bottom of the garden; I smelt them before I could see them," said Miss Burton. "So you have had a letter from Coral; how is she?"
"Oh, very well, and having such nice times," said Beryl. "Her uncle has given her a pony, a dog, a monkey, and a parrot. It's good to be Coral now."
"What a menagerie!" said Mr. Hollys, sitting down at the end of the sofa. "I hope you won't want me to get you a monkey or a parrot, for I dislike both of the creatures, and would rather not introduce them into the house."
"What would be the good of my having them? I could not take them to school with me, I suppose?" said Beryl drearily. "Oh dear, I wish Miss Burton would stay with me and teach me again."
"Whether she will take the trouble to teach you or not I cannot say," remarked Mr. Hollys, with peculiar meaning in his tones; "but, Beryl, I have good news for you. Miss Burton has promised to stay with us."
"Has she? Oh, I am glad! How good of you!" cried Beryl joyously, as she turned to look at her governess.
Hettie bent over the sofa, put her arms round Beryl and kissed her more than once. Perhaps she was glad thus to hide the blushes that had risen in her cheeks.
"How long will you stay?" said Beryl. "Till Easter."
"Longer than that," returned her father with a smile; "she is going away for a little while, and then she is coming to stay with us always."