“Come then, dear, we will go at once,” said Miss Donnithorne.
She got into the carriage first; then I was desired to step in, and notwithstanding my smart dress, I am afraid I was very awkward as I got into that carriage. Miss Donnithorne and I had the seat facing the horses, and Hermione sat opposite to us. It seemed to me as though we flew over the country; the whole feeling was too delicious—the softly padded cushions, the rhythmic beat of the horses’ feet. The girl who was not fortunate enough to possess a father like Professor Grant had some compensations! Such a carriage! Such a nice face! The girl herself impressed me in the most marvellous way. As to the dreadful Swans, I am afraid I gave them anything but kind thoughts at that moment.
By-and-by we got to the house. Then Hermione took possession of me.
“You are my guest,” she said. “Come up and I’ll show you my room.”
We ran upstairs together. I was feeling so very good that I did not think for a moment that anything but good could befall me during that delightful visit. Hermione took me first to her bedroom, and then into a little sitting-room which opened out of it.
“I do my lessons here,” she said, “and read here, and entertain my friends. I haven’t many friends. I cannot tell you how interested I was at the thought of your coming to-day.”
“Were you indeed?” I answered.
I wondered what she would have thought if I had come to visit her in the brown skirt and red blouse.
“You must take off your pretty jacket,” she said.
“What a sweet frock that is! In what shop did you buy it?”