"It can't be anything so very bad," she said to herself, "or this woman would not laugh at it."
Meg came in quietly, a demure, pensive-faced little child, and after Kitty had kissed her she presented her to Eugénie.
"This is your new governess, Meg," she said, smoothing the child's hair, "and I want you to love her very much."
Meg hung back for a few moments, with the awkward timidity of a child, but Eugénie's soft voice and caressing manner soon gained her confidence.
"I like you very much," she said at length, nestling to Eugénie's side.
"As much as mumsey, Meg?" said Kitty, with a sad smile.
"Oh, never--never as much as mumsey," cried Meg, leaving her new-found friend for her mother, "There's no one so good and kind as mumsey."
Kitty kissed the child vehemently, and then bit her lips to stop the tears coming to her eyes.
"Mumsey," said Meg at length, "can I tell the lady a secret?"
"Yes, dear," replied Kitty smiling. Thereupon Meg slipped off Kitty's lap and ran to Eugénie.