“But that is very strange,” said Mrs. Gardew after a pause. “You must talk to-night to our rector when he comes. Oh yes, of course you’ll stay to supper.”
“I cannot, I regret to say.”
“Well, then, if you won’t, there’s no use in pressing you. But I have something curious to say. The rector’s two little girls are going to Aylmer House in September, and that little Miss Howland whom I just introduced to you is also one of the girls under Mrs. Ward’s care.”
“Then she will do well,” said Lady Lysle alter a pause, during which her face looked very thoughtful.
“I wonder if she knows your niece,” said Mrs. Cardew.
Lady Lysle laughed. “I presume she does. The school only contains twenty boarders—never any more. I happen to know that there are two vacancies at the present moment. 21 Really, if I were you, Sylvia, I would give your girls a couple of years there. It would do them a world of good, and they would acquire some slight knowledge of the world before they enter it.”
“Impossible! quite impossible!” said Mrs. Cardew; “their father would never consent.”