“It is abominable—it is cruel to send us!” cried Josie. “I want to know,” she added, “why Fanchon, who is only a year and six months older than me should go out and have no end of fun and why we should lie stewing in these hot beds!”
But though the little girls grumbled, they felt in their own minds that they were no match for Brenda; and when, a short time afterwards, that young lady came into the room, they were both in bed and were even pretending to be asleep. Brenda hastily put on her most becoming picture hat, glanced at the private drawer which contained the bracelet and her money, took Fanchon’s hat and gloves from the room, and, telling the others to go to sleep and be quick about it, took her departure. A few minutes later, she and Fanchon had stolen softly from the house, and ten minutes after that, there came a gentle tap at the door of the room where Nina and Josie were lying wide awake and conversing in low tones about their mutual grievances.
“Whoever is that?” said Joey, in a tone of some alarm. “Come in!” she called, and Mademoiselle entered.
“Oh, pauvres petites!” cried the French governess. “I venture to come to offer you my consolations. This ‘early to bed’ is what cannot be permitted. I also am an instructress of the young. I have had a long experience. Why should you not be out and enjoy the summer air?”
“Oh—but we dare not disobey Brenda!” exclaimed Nina.
“It is very kind of you, Mademoiselle, to come and see us,” said Josie; “but Brenda always sends us to bed when she and Fanchon go out for their fun.”
“Do they have great fun at this hour?” asked Mademoiselle.
“Oh, I don’t know—I expect so,” exclaimed Josie, and she giggled a little.
Mademoiselle uttered a sigh. She opened the window a little wider and left the door ajar.
“Now there is a consoling draught,” she said, “you will not suffer so much from the hot, hot air. Tell me your little stories, petites, so that I may you comfort while you lie awake.”