“I’m certain that she’s a—”
“Oh—don’t say anything against her now!” said Josephine.
Mademoiselle looked anxiously round the room. “You will wear your very prettiest dresses when you come abroad with me to-morrow night,” she said. “I take you not to the promenade ordinaire, but to the most select one where the admission is one shilling each, and where we sit with the ladies and gentlemen of the highest quality. Have you no so-called trinkets or ornament! that you could wear?”
“Oh dear, no!” said Nina, “nothing of the sort!”
“But then you might borrow from your sister Function.”
Nina gave a childish laugh.
“Fanchon has only one little silver brooch, and the pin is broken. Poor Fanchon! what would she—”
“Mais, ma chère,” said Mademoiselle, as she laid a shapely French hand on the little girl’s arm, “I think you are under a misapprehension. Ask your sister to lend you her bangle.”
“Her bangle?” said Nina.
“Breathe it not, dear one, to your adorable governess, but ask your sister to lend it to you, and I will give you the most delightful surprise when you come out with me.”