Part 19

"So it is," cried his wife joyfully, as Mr. Briggs pulled out a long green tissue veil. "I am so glad I had you bring it. Now, Kathleen, tie this all over your head; your father will bring it over to you. And next time, do obey me, and wear your hat as I've always told you."

So Kathleen, not daring to hold back from this command, but grumbling at every bit of the process, tied on the veil, and then sat up very cross and stiff through the rest of the sail.

"I should rather never go around the world, if I'd got to be tied up like an old green mummy every step," Alexia managed to whisper in Polly's ear as they hopped out of the launch. And she was very sweet to Kathleen after that, pitying her dreadfully.

VI THE ACCIDENT

"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Clem. They were all on the cars--the early train--going home; the governess, a middle-aged person who looked after the younger Horne children and who was going in to her sister's to pass the night, taking care of the party. "Now I've got to sit up till all hours when I get home, to get my lessons."

Polly Pepper gave a comfortable little wriggle under her coat. "Isn't it nice Mamsie makes me get my lessons the first thing, before I play!" she said to herself for about the fiftieth time.

"So have I," cried Lucy Bennett, echoing Clem's words.

"Well, I can't," cried Alexia with a flounce, "because my aunt won't let me sit up after nine o'clock; that is, to study. So I have to get up early in the morning. Oh dear!" with a grimace at the thought.

"So do I," said Amy Garrett. "Dear me! and I'm just as sleepy in the morning as I can be."

Alexia yawned at the very memory of it. "Well, don't let's talk of it," she begged. "Seems as if Miss Salisbury's eyes were all over me now."

"I have Miss Anstice to-morrow," said Amy, "and it's the day for her black silk gown."

"Horrors!" exclaimed Alexia; and, "How do you know she'll wear the black silk gown to-morrow, Amy?" from the other girls.

"Because she said Professor Mills from the Institute is to be there to-morrow," said Amy. "He gives the art lecture to our class. And you know the black silk gown will surely go on."

"There's no help for you, you poor child," cried Alexia, exulting that she never would be gathered into Miss Anstice's class, and that she just hated art and all that sort of thing, despite the efforts of Miss Salisbury's younger sister to get her interested. "Yes, that black silk gown will surely be there. Look out now, Amy; all you girls will catch it."

"Oh, I know it," said Amy with a sigh. "How I do wish I never'd got into that class!"

"Well, you know I told you," said Alexia provokingly; "you'd much better have taken my advice and kept out of her clutches."

"I wish I had," mourned Amy again.

"How Miss Anstice can be so horrid--she isn't a bit like Miss Salisbury," said Alexia. "I don't see--"

"She isn't horrid," began Polly.

"Oh Polly!"

"Well, not always," said Polly.

"Well, she is anyway when she has company, and gets on that black silk gown; just as stiff and cross and perky and horrid as can be."

"She wants you all to show off good," said Alexia. "Well, I'm glad enough I'm not in any of her old classes. I just dote on Miss Salisbury."

"Oh Alexia, you worry the life out of her almost," said Sally.

"Can't help it if I do," said Alexia sweetly. "I'm very fond of her. And as for Mademoiselle, she's a dear. Oh, I love Mademoiselle, too."

"Well, she doesn't love you," cried Clem viciously. "Dear me! fancy one of the teachers being fond of Alexia!"

"Oh, you needn't laugh," said Alexia composedly as the girls giggled; "every single one of those teachers would feel dreadfully if I left that school. They would really, and cry their eyes out."

"And tear their hair, I suppose," said Clem scornfully.