“And we can, of course, keep our own keys,” continued Betty, speaking rapidly, her very pale face glowing with a faint tinge of color; “because Mrs.——What is the name of the mistress?”
“Mrs. Haddo,” said Miss Symes in a tone of great respect.
“Well, whatever her name is, she said we were to be restricted by no rules to-day. She said so, didn’t she, Sylvia? Didn’t she, Hetty?”
“She certainly did,” replied the twins.
“Then, if it’s a rule for the trunks to be unpacked by some one else, it doesn’t apply to us to-day,” said Betty. “If you will be so very kind, Miss——”
“Symes is my name.”
“So very kind, Miss Symes, as to go away and leave us, we’ll begin to unpack our own trunks and put everything away by dinner-time.”
“Very well,” said Miss Symes quite meekly. “Is there anything else I can do for your comfort?”
“Yes,” remarked Sylvia in a pert tone; “you can go away.”
Miss Symes left the room. When she did so the two younger girls looked at their elder sister. Betty’s face was very white, and her chest was working ominously.