Ellen departed willingly. She was not sure that she liked Mademoiselle, but there was no doubt that she intensely detested her daily task of taking the three "troublesome brats" for their walk. If Mademoiselle liked to try it--well, Ellen only breathed a fervent wish that she might like it--"that's all!" Miss Boucheafen, making great haste over the toilet of her pupils, had them ready and was ready herself before Ellen, and filled up the spare time by pacing the hall from end to end as she waited. Not hastily--the perfect grace of her every motion was too complete for haste--not even impatiently, for the set expression of her face never changed, and no flush of excitement tinted the ivory pallor of her cheeks. If her eyes were a little brighter, a little wider open than usual, it was very little. Mrs. Jessop, passing through the hall as the governess and pupils waited, confessed to herself, with reluctant honesty, as she looked at the stately young figure in its plain dark dress, that there was no denying that "Ma'm'selle" did look like a queen. It was the beginning of May, and, for a wonder, hot and bright enough almost for July; the afternoon sun shone down warm and brilliant. As Alexia stepped out into its glare, she stopped and almost staggered, putting her hand to her throat, while she shivered violently. The round-eyed maid, watching, was quite sympathetic. No wonder she felt odd, poor young lady, remembering what had happened to her the last time she was out! "Where shall we go?" demanded Tom, tugging at Alexia's hand. "Want to go an' see Mrs. Yeslie," murmured Maggie. "I'm going to look at the shops," declared Floss with emphasis. "I can spend my shilling if I want to, Uncle George said!" "No, no--not to-day," demurred the governess, quickly. "Listen, children. The shops you can see any day--to-morrow, perhaps; but to-day we will go somewhere else." "Where else?" demanded Floss, critically, with a fond look at the shilling which he had drawn out of his knickerbocker pocket. "Into the park," said Alexia. "We will all ride there in a tram-car. You will like that?" "Finsbury Park?" questioned Tom. "Oh, all right! I don't mind. Only, I say, let's go up to the water where the ducks are!" "Yes--let's," added Floss, restoring the shilling to his pocket. "Want's some buns to feed 'em wiv, poor fings," murmured Maggie, with pathetic intonation.