The little girls bent their heads together, pulled forward their different working materials, and looked busy and important when Janet and Olive came in.
"Well, girls," said Janet, "I hope you are making lots of progress. How about that fan, Alice? Oh, you naughty puss, you have not touched it yet to-day. Now set to work; do set to work. Violet, how is your mat getting on? Let me look at it, dear; very pretty indeed; don't you think you could finish it to-day? Molly," turning to the smallest girl in the summerhouse, "you said you would paint some ribbon markers. Have you begun them yet? No, I see you haven't. Sit down now, you lazy darling, and try to make good progress."
Janet's tone was bright and confident. It had immediate effect upon, the children, stimulating their listlessness, and exciting them to work with energy.
Janet herself sat near the entrance of the summerhouse. She had an easel in front of her, and was painting an exquisite little water-color from nature. Janet had great talent for a certain kind of painting. There was nothing bold nor masterful in her work, but her touch was true and delicate, and in a small way she could produce a very pretty effect.
The younger girls thought Janet's painting perfection, and they stole up now, one by one, to look at her work and to give enthusiastic opinions with regard to it.
Their little comments were delightful to her. She had a great thirst for praise, and could swallow it in any guise.
While she worked, however, her thoughts were very busy; she had to solve a difficult problem, and had only a few hours to do it in.
After a long period of silence a remark dropped from her lips.
"I have made up my mind," she said, turning round and addressing all the children.
"O Janey, what have you thought of now?" asked Alice, raising her pretty flushed face, and pushing aside her painting.