“I don’t like that,” said she.
“What?”
“This girl is bound to have her way, I see!”
“Who?”
“Why, Miss Harper. There’s been a contention between her and Agnes about the hour at which the music-lesson shall be given. Agnes wished to take it at ten o’clock; but Miss Harper said twelve. I told her two hours ago to give Agnes her lesson. But you see how it is! She means to be mistress. I’m too provoked!”
“If she begins by domineering over your children in this way, what will it be in the end? I only wonder that a girl like Agnes would submit.”
“It is the last music-lesson she gives in this house,” said Mrs. Dainty. “My mind is made up to that. Send me the English lady, and I will engage her on the spot. Tell her that I would like her to come this very day, if it is agreeable. I will send Miss Harper away, and take her without consulting anybody. When the thing is done, Uncle John may scold to his heart’s content. He can’t change the fact.”
And so the thing was settled. At dinner-time Mrs. Dainty maintained a perfect silence in regard to the governess. Agnes looked subdued. Her mother noticed this, and her blood grew hot as she imagined the cause to be a crushed spirit under the iron rule of Miss Harper. Uncle John had made it his business to see a great deal more of what was going on than any one imagined. He understood the state of Agnes’s mind far better than did her mother. All was coming right, he saw, and his wise heart, so full of interest for the children, felt a burden of care removed. After dinner he went out.
“Just what I wished for,” said Mrs. Dainty to herself, as she saw him take his hat and cane. “I will make clean work of it with this ‘angel’ of yours: see if I don’t!”
“Tell Miss Harper that I wish to see her in my room,” Mrs. Dainty spoke to a servant, half an hour later. The servant carried the message to the governess, who obeyed the summons without a moment’s delay.