"I say a word against her? No, that I won't."
"And don't say too much about me. I want her to get all the credit she can. The fact is, she has become so exceedingly naughty because people talk so much of her naughtiness, and she is rather proud of it. Now, I want her to be thoroughly ashamed of it; and when that takes place, and she loses all sense of satisfaction in terrifying people to death and in getting rid of servants and governesses, she will become an ordinary girl—or rather, I should say, never an ordinary girl, but a girl very much above the ordinary. You know you must help me."
"I will, on one condition," said Miss Frost. "This expedition frightens me very much. I will do anything you wish on one condition."
"And what is that?"
"That you don't leave The Follies at present."
"I have no intention of leaving it before the holidays. The holidays will take place at the end of July, and then mother will be sure to want me to join her; but still we have a few weeks left, and there is already a great improvement in Irene. Now, please, go upstairs and get ready, for the governess-cart will be round in a few minutes."
The cart did come round, and, without a word, Irene herself stepped into it. She not only stepped into it, but she took the reins with a determined hand.
"I mean to drive Bob," she said. "I suppose no one objects."
She looked back with her bright, dancing eyes, first at Rosamund and then at Miss Frost.
"Certainly; he is your pony," said Rosamund. "You have every right to drive him."