“Yes, aren’t they darlings’?” said Merry.
“I want you to tell me a lot about yourself,” said Maggie.
“We have half-an-hour yet before I am to meet your father in the manuscript-room. Begin at the beginning, and tell me just everything. You are not schoolgirls?” 30
“Oh, no,” said Merry, speaking slowly. “We are taught at home.”
“But have you a resident governess?”
“No; father objects. This is holiday-time of course; but as a rule we have a daily governess and masters.”
“It must be dull,” said Maggie, speaking in a low tone—so low that Merry had to strain her ears to hear it.
She replied at once, “’Tisn’t nearly so interesting as school; but we—we are—quite—quite satisfied.”
“I wonder you don’t go to school,” said Maggie.
“Father doesn’t wish it, Maggie.”