“I am too old for that,” said Josephine.
“Not a bit,” exclaimed Brenda. “How ridiculous you are! you are nothing but a baby. Anyhow, please yourselves, both of you, for I want to talk to Fanchon.”
“It’s horrid, the way you make Fanchon grown-up, and make Nina and me quite little babies!” said Josie.
But Brenda looked troubled, and was quite indifferent to her small pupil’s remarks with regard to her conduct.
“I tell you what,” she said, after a pause. “You may do anything you like on the sands, only don’t wander too far.”
“There’s Betty with her tray of cakes!” exclaimed Nina. “May we have a bun each, Brenda? Will you give us money to buy a bun each?”
Curious to relate, Brenda complied. She gave Nina the necessary pence, and did not even refer to the obnoxious notebook. The moment the little girls were out of sight, she turned to her elder pupil.
“I met Harry to-day; he was quite contrite and nice. I feel almost certain he’ll ask me to marry him. I mean to go out without you this evening, and I mean to wear the bangle. I think the bangle will quite clinch matters. Harry thinks I am poor; but I don’t want him to do so. Why, what’s the matter, Fanchon?”
“Oh, nothing,” said Fanchon, making an effort to conceal her feelings.
“Have you a headache, dear? are you ill?”