"It would have been so extremely uncivil to the Miss Minetts to break up the gathering by leaving before full agreement as to the arrangements had been reached.

I felt I must regard it as a public duty, under the circumstances.

I really owed it to my position here, you know, Damaris, to stay to the last." It may be observed, in passing, that Miss Bilson was fond of food and made a good deal of noise in eating, particularly when, as on the present occasion, she combined that operation with continuous speech.

This may account for Damaris bestowing greater attention on the manner than the matter of her ex-governess' communications.

She was sensible that the latter showed to small advantage being rather foolishly excited and elate, and felt vexed the maids should hear and see her behaving thus.