“Oh, Hope! isn’t he a great bear, that John?” exclaimed Victoria Fendie. “Adelaide asked mamma to let us come, and mamma never will do anything at first that we want; but we coaxed her, and then when she said we might go, we had to ask John Brown to take us—to ask John Brown, indeed!—only think of ladies asking a servant! and mamma would not order him to do it. I know what I will do—I’ll get some of Alick’s powder and put it in the snuffers, and then I’ll ask John to come and snuff the candles for me.”
“Very well, Victoria,” said Hope, “I’ll tell John to-day.”
“Oh, goodness, Adelaide, only listen—how ill-natured she is! I don’t care—I’ll do something; it’s a great shame of mamma to make us ask John Brown.”
“Hope,” said Adelaide, “the new governess is coming to-morrow, and mamma says you’re to come up and see her.”
“Mamma only said she might come if she liked,” interposed Victoria.
Adelaide paused to deliberate upon an answer.
“If I did not like to come sometimes to see Adelaide, Adelaide would not ask me,” said Hope.
“But, Hope,” said Adelaide, lifting her large dull blue eyes, “it’s the new governess you’re to come to see.”
“Well, I know that; but I shall see you too, shall I not?”
“Yes,” repeated the obtuse Adelaide; “but you’re to come to see the new governess, mamma says.”