"A bicycle?" ventured Nan, striding upstairs with her kodak in one arm and a bundle of books in the other.
"No, it's not a bicycle. Guess again. I'll give you two more," answered the governess, following after her with her load.
"I know what I want next to a bicycle."
"What?"
"I don't like to say."
"Why?"
"Well, you know," hesitated the girl, "if I said what it was, and if what you've got turned out something different, you might feel disappointed because you might think I did."
Miss Blake smiled. "That's a generous thought, Nan," she said; "but I give you free leave to speak out."
Even now the girl hesitated, and stood awkwardly balancing herself against the baluster-rail. "Even if you wanted to you couldn't give it to me," she blurted out, at length.
"Why?" repeated Miss Blake.