The question was asked with such point-blank directness, but, at the same time, with such an appearance of spontaneous simplicity, that Laline was a little taken aback. With the strange intuition which she had retained from her childish days, she already distrusted the apparent friendliness of this picturesque stranger, and she accordingly framed her answer in vague and reserved tones.
"I have lived for a part of my life at Norwood," she answered.
"At a girls'-school? That must be a dull life, but nice and restful for the nerves. Have you any nerves? This house is the worst possible place for you if you have."
The last words were uttered in a very low voice, after a quick glance round the room.
"I don't think I am particularly nervous," Laline replied.
"But you look nervous," remarked the red-haired girl. "Those delicate faces, with pale-pink skins and dark eyes and auburn hair, are always the nervous ones. Now I am colourless and lymphatic, so this house doesn't hurt me!"
"And why is it likely to hurt me?" inquired Laline, calmly.
"Hush—don't talk so loudly! I liked your face so much that I thought I ought to speak to you just to put you on your guard!"
She glanced round her again, and, drawing nearer to Laline, breathed rather than spoke in her ear—