"What was her real disposition?" asked Mrs Devitt.
"I know nothin' about that; but she was always laughin' when I saw her."
"Frivolous!" commented Mrs Devitt.
"Perhaps there's more about her in the letter," suggested Lowther, who had been listening to all that had been said.
"There is," said his step-mother; "but Miss Mee's writing is very trying to the eyes."
Montague took the schoolmistress's letter from his wife's hand. He read the following in his big, blustering voice:
"'In all matters affectin' Miss Keeves's educational qualifications, I find her comme il faut, with the possible exception of freehand drawing, which is not all that a fastidious taste might desire. Her disposition is winnin' and unaffected, but I think it my duty to mention that, on what might appear to others as slight provocation, Miss Keeves is apt to give way to sudden fits of passion, which, however, are of short duration. Doubtless, this is a fault of youth which years and experience will correct.'"
"Rebellious!" commented Mrs Devitt.
"Spirit!" said Harold, who all this while had been reclining in his invalid chair, apparently reading a review.
Mrs Devitt looked up, as if surprised.