“Crowd, indeed! I’ve seen governesses before this who liked to flirt,” sneered the irate Isabel under her breath.
Both Mr. Dredmond and Miss Douglas caught the insolent words, and they aroused all the fire in the young girl’s blood.
With the air of a queen, she turned, as she was about entering the carriage, and holding out her little hand, she said to Mr. Dredmond.
“Thank you, Mr. Dredmond, for your kindness, and good-night.”
He bowed low over her hand, then assisting her to enter the carriage, lifted his hat to the others and turned away, but not before he had noted the menacing looks cast upon the poor little governess for her audacity.
“Miss Douglas, please step this way one moment,” Mrs. Coolidge commanded, in icy tones, upon entering the house.
She led the way toward the library, Brownie following with head erect, and a mien which even the fashionable and imposing Mrs. Coolidge could not subdue.
“I wish it distinctly understood, Miss Douglas,” the matron began, with a look which would have annihilated the young girl had she possessed less of the spirit of heroes within her, “that hereafter you are to receive no attention from gentlemen while you remain in my employ. Miss Isabel’s prospects are not to be interfered with by you.”
Brownie’s red lips curled with scorn.
She met her glance proudly and without the quiver of a nerve.