"Of course," replied her sister; "but I tell you what it is, old Di, I'm downright afraid of the woman."
"You mean old Faithful," said Daisy.
"Yes, but not only Faithful. The person who brought us in here last night. And what an appalling room this is! All over texts of Scripture. If the room was not so high up, I'd leap from the window, that I would; but if I did, I'd break my neck, like poor mumsie."
"I'm thinking all the time of Maureen," said Daisy. "Her look, her words. Oh, Henny, Henny, when Maureen looked at us and said so solemnly, 'I—hate—you!' well, I turned sick. I thought the world had come to an end."
"I tell you what it is," said Henrietta. "I'm sick of that most unremarkable little speech; and now, do be quick; let's put on our clothes and go down to breakfast. We'll have a frolic here or my name is not Henny. Hurrah, here comes Dawson.
"'Dawson, me honey,
Take care of your money,
It's all botheration from bottom to top!'"
Dawson entered the room very slowly. She did not smile at Henny's words. She was carrying a bundle of clothes and a great jug of hot water. She laid the water on the wash-hand stand and then collected all the two girls' dirty travelling clothes.
"Ye'll have the goodness to put these on," she said, "for this is the uniform of the upper floor of the school. I'll be back in one quarter of an hour to take you both to Discipline, where Miss Joan Pinchin is waiting to start your education. Your breakfast will also be waiting for you there, coffee and bread and butter. Now, not a word, young misses, there's no good whatsoever in complaining at Felicity. What is ordered has to be."
She left the room. The girls stared at each other.
"We'd best be quick," said Daisy at last in a breathless sort of voice. "I must say I am in a fright; aren't you?"