There was nothing to be said by anybody. Frederica did not even tell Tessie, as she was almost sure to tell anything that vexed her, in the few minutes that were allowed them for talk before silence was commanded for the night. Tessie could not help her to do as she had determined to do, and Tessie was rather apt to exclaim about things, and to take other girls into her confidence, and such a thing was not to be thought of now. It would not be easy for her to obtain permission to go home next day, she knew, but she determined to go all the same, whether she got permission or not. But something in the girl's face made Robina pause before she answered her in one way or the other. "Has anything happened, love? You have heard no bad news, I hope," said she kindly. Frederica did not find it easy to answer. "Your mama is not worse, I hope." "She is not better," said Frederica huskily. "Won't you let me go home, Miss Robina? I might go with Nora when she goes to the market, and Dixen will bring me back. Please do, dear Miss Robina, for a little while." "I am by no means sure that I ought to say `yes,'" said she; but she kissed the sweet pleading face and said it, notwithstanding. Frederica did not go home first. She took Nora some distance out of her way to her father's office, and bade her good-bye at the door. "Thank you, Nora, don't wait. Papa will take care of me now." Her father looked surprised, and not very well pleased to see her. Not that she was interrupting his business, for she saw that he was only reading the newspaper. She did not give him time to express his surprise in words, nor did she greet him in her usual fashion, but said hurriedly, "I came on business, papa." She did not find it easy to say more for a minute; and something which he saw in her face kept her father silent also. "Papa, do you know that Mrs Glencairn has not been paid for more than a year and a half? for Tessie and me, I mean." Her father stared at her in astonishment, not understanding for the moment what she meant. "What nonsense, Frederica!" said he: "and what have you to do with it?" "It is quite true, papa, and of course I have to do with it. Mrs Glencairn must be paid." "And did she send you here to say that to me? She has been paid. I cannot say that I admire either her taste or her judgment. I think we have had almost enough of madam the schoolmistress." "I think she must have had quite enough of us, papa. But she did not send me. She is not aware that I know about it. I overheard her speaking about it to Mistress Campbell." "Overheard! and you have been suffering the usual penalty of listeners." "No, papa, and I did not mean to listen. But I was so shocked. Mrs Glencairn and Miss Robina have been very kind to us, papa, and they must be paid." "I have not the least doubt that they have been paid, over and over again. Let them alone for that!" "Did you pay them, papa?"