“She leaves us in another month — Mrs Inwood could stand no more of her,” apologized the Vicar quietly to the father.

“Why, is she — ?”

“Like a wild thing — disobedient, and insolent.”

“Ha!”

The father sounded abstract.

“No more foreign governesses for me.”

Maurice stirred, and looked up at the girl.

“You stand up?” she asked brightly. “You well?”

He laughed again, showing his teeth winsomely. She lifted his head, sprung to her feet, her hands still holding his head, then she took