"How fond Kitty is of bringing in 'when we were in Paris'!" whispered Laura to Marion, who nodded without paying much attention to what was said.
"But really, Kitty," continued Laura, "do you believe your folks will keep Therese if her father is about? I should think your mother would be awful scared."
"Mother is not easily scared," answered Kitty, quietly. "We are all very fond of Therese, and we shall need her more than ever, because Cousin Tilly is going to the Cure for a while on account of her sprained ankle."
"Do you and Therese really talk French together, and all that?" questioned Laura, who had considerably more curiosity about her neighbours' affairs than about her lessons, and who was especially interested in all the doings of the Tremaine household.
"I don't know what 'all that' means," answered Kitty, smiling; "we certainly do both speak and read French together. Mother says it is good practice for me, and that as French is Therese's native tongue, so to speak, it is a pity that she should lose it. It may be very useful to her some time, and to us too."
"Well, I wouldn't do it," said Laura. "If I had a servant, she should keep her place."
"Therese never gets out of hers," said Kitty. "She is the best mannered girl I almost ever saw. But I am very sorry to hear this rumour about her father on more accounts than one. Here comes Miss Oliver. Laura, if you don't want to be reminded of your place, I advise you to get down off the top of the desk."
At recess Miss Oliver called Marion to her side:
"What about your arithmetic lesson, Marion? Have you written it out, as I told you?"
Marion displayed her book.