The governess was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. She had repeatedly warned her pupils, during the preceding days, to hold aloof at first from the new-comer, until they had decided whether she could be taken into confidence. But Millie's love-letter, and still more, her calm refusal to show it, had sent the barriers down with a rush, and the girls had not been able to think of prudence with such a keen new interest in their blank lives. Tommy's heart was full of apprehension. She was afraid of this girl who wanted to learn. She knew that she had nothing to teach her.
Melicent had not moved a muscle when the general rush was made. She sat still in the window-seat, upright and solitary.
"Dear Melicent must join our happy little sewing circle," said Mrs. Cooper, beaming round. "No idle hands at the Vicarage, as you see, darling."
"I cannot use my arm very well yet," said Melicent.
"Oh, we give you one evening's grace," responded the lady playfully. "Have you been taught to work?"
"No."
"Oh, how sad! Why, Miss Lathom, we have a task before us! Can you not use a needle at all?"
"Oh, yes. I can make and mend my clothes, and so on. But I had to teach myself."
There was a silence. "You don't mean that you made the suit you have on?"
"Yes."