"That I'd no money to give you for holiday-keeping; but she said her husband would be pleased to pay your expenses—it's to be his treat."
"Then I'm to go?" Melina asked, trembling with excitement.
"Yes, if the weather keeps fine."
"Oh, I hope it will! I do so hope it will!"
"I'm not sorry you're to have a treat," Mrs. Berryman said, "for—I'll give you your due—I think you deserve it. You've been a better girl lately, and I find you haven't stayed away from school at all. Now, I don't mind your turning religious if so be that makes you less troublesome; but mind you this—keep a still tongue in your head to those Joneses about me, or it'll be the worse for you. I can't abear to be talked about."
"I have never talked about you, Gran—at least, only when you've served me badly, and—"
"Oh, you stick to it that I've served you badly, do you?" Mrs. Berryman interrupted with a frown.
Melina raised her eyes to the old woman's face with a world of reproach in their dark depths. "Gran," she said, "you know."
Her grandmother thrust her away from her. "I've corrected you when you've done wrong," she said, "as it's been my duty to do. Stop staring at me—it's rude to stare."
"I'm sure I didn't mean to be rude," Melina returned. She removed her eyes from Mrs. Berryman's ill-tempered countenance, and asked: "May I run in next door for a minute? I should like to thank Mrs. Jones for inviting—"