"Good gracious!" said Irene. "Perhaps I'd better get out. You look so very solemn."
"No, I'm not solemn exactly; but I want to have other friends. Will you get out, and may I talk to you?"
Irene jumped with alacrity out of the boat, and Rosamund helped her to moor it.
"Now, what is it?" said Irene.
"Well, Irene, it is just this: I want to go and see the Singletons this afternoon, and your mother says we may have the governess-cart, and if they ask us to stay to tea we may stay."
"We? What do you mean by 'we'?"
Irene backed away, her face crimson, her eyes dancing with all their old malignancy.
"I mean," said Rosamund, "you and I and Miss Frost."
"You mean that I am to go to the house where Carter is—Carter, whom I nearly killed?"
"I want you to come with me. Won't you, darling?"