“There would have been no ‘forcing’ required if we had known it was papa’s wish, even if we had disliked it,” said Miss St Quentin. “But the circumstances were quite different—”
“I don’t see it,” muttered Ella.
“And the present question is the thing to consider,” Madelene went on, taking no notice of Ella’s interruption. “All the same, I may tell you that at your age Ermine did not consider herself by any means grown-up or ‘out.’”
Ella pricked up her ears.
“But you do count me ‘out,’” she said eagerly. “I should by rights have been presented this year. Aunt Phillis said so, it was one of the things she regretted—this stupid marriage of hers coming in the way, I mean—for she could not bear the idea of my leaving her till—till I had to.”
“You would not have been presented this year in any case,” said Miss St Quentin. “Seventeen is, with very rare exceptions, too young to come out.”
“That means,” said Ella, “that I am still to be considered in the schoolroom, no, in the nursery, figuratively and literally.”
“You will be with us at home—we are not thinking of getting a governess for you,” Madelene answered, smiling a little—she was full of determination not to let herself be put out by Ella—“but as for going out—to parties I mean—I don’t think papa will wish that for you at present. He is very anxious for you to have these lessons—French and German as well as music. And I think it would be a good thing for you to take some little charge in the house.”
“I should like to take my share with you and Ermine now that I am here altogether,” said Ella, with dignity. “Do you mean taking week about of the housekeeping? Some sisters do that, I know.”
Miss St Quentin had some difficulty in keeping her gravity.