"Are you Miss Hereford, the new governess?"
"Yes. I think I have had the pleasure of seeing you at Nulle," I answered, holding out my hand to her.
"That I'm sure you've not. I never was at Nulle. It was Kate and Harriet who went there with papa and mamma. I and Fanny and Grace came straight here last week from England, with nurse."
Now, strange to say, it had never occurred to me or to the Miss Barlieus to ask Mrs. Paler, during the negotiations, how many pupils I should have. Two children were with them at Nulle, Kate and Harriet, and I never supposed that there were others; I believed these would be my only pupils.
"How many are you, my dear?"
"Oh, we are five.
"Am I to teach you all?"
"Of course. There's nobody else to teach us. And we have two little brothers, but they are quite in the nursery."
Had Mrs. Paler purposely concealed the number? or had it been the result of inadvertence? The thought that came over me was, that were I engaging a governess for five pupils, I should take care to mention that there were five. They came flocking round me now, every one of them, high-spirited, romping girls, impatient of control, their ages varying from six to twelve.
"Mamma and papa are out, but I don't suppose they'll be long. Do you want to see mamma?"