“Mrs. Rayner?”
“No. Mrs. Rayner is an invalid, and I am afraid you cannot see her. I am the governess. If you have any message for Mr. Rayner, I will give it to him; or, if you like, you can write him a note, and it shall be given him when he returns.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Still he hesitated.
“Would you like to wait for Mr. Rayner? He will be back in about an hour.”
“Thank you. Could I speak to you in private for a few minutes, miss?”
“Oh, yes, certainly! Will you come in here?”—and I opened the door of the schoolroom.
He followed me in and shut it carefully.
“I am the brother of Sarah Gooch, miss, who is a servant here.”
I nodded assent.