"Oh, I know the Hodgsons are coming," said Matilda Forbes, "because I met them."
"I am glad of that. Ah, and here is Bessie."
Bessie Challoner at this moment entered the room. She shook hands with the Forbes girls, whom she had not met before that day, nodded to Alice, and going up to Gwin began to whisper in her ear.
Gwin looked more anxious.
"All the same I am determined to do it," she said.
"I am certain Miss Sherrard will be very angry," said Bessie. "Had you really better, Gwin?"
"I certainly had better. I am not afraid of Miss Sherrard, nor twenty
Miss Sherrards, when I think I have a righteous cause. She does not know
Kitty as well as I know her. Ah, here you are," she said as, the
Hodgsons, two rather dowdy, but affectionate girls, came quickly into
the room.
"What's this Gwin?" cried Mary, the elder; "something wrong with that
Irish girl? What can be up?"
"I will explain everything to you after we have had tea. Ah, here it comes!"
Gwin walked to the table, where the footman now placed tea and cakes, and began to dispense the refreshments. The girls stood round her chatting, munching cake and drinking tea. The afternoon sun poured into the room. Outside it was cool and shady. Gwin went to the window and drew down the green venetian blinds.