With the end of the holidays finished also the trying series of first anniversaries, and their first excitements of sorrow, so that it became possible to be more calm and quiet. Moreover, two correctives came of themselves to Caroline. The first was Janet’s inordinate correspondence with Nita Ray, and the discovery that the girl held herself engaged to stay with the sisters in November. “Without asking me!” she exclaimed, aghast. “I thought you heard us talking,” said Janet, so carelessly, that her mother put on her dignity. “I certainly had no conception of an invitation being given and accepted without reference to me.” “Come, now, Mother Carey,” said this modern daughter; “don’t be cross! We really didn’t know you weren’t attending.” “If I had I should have said it was impossible, as I say now. You can never have thought over the matter!” “Haven’t I? When I am doing no good here, only wasting time?” “That is my fault. We will set to work at once steadily.” “But my classes and my lectures!” “You are not so far on but that our reading together will teach you quite as much as lectures.” Janet looked both sulky and scornful, and her mother continued-- “It is not as if we had not modern books, and I think I know how to read them so as to be useful to you.” “I don’t like getting behindhand with the world.” “You can’t keep up even with the world without a sound foundation. Besides, even if it were more desirable, the Rays cannot afford to keep you, nor I to board you there.” “I am to pay them by helping Miss Ray in her copying.” “Poor Miss Ray!” exclaimed Carey, laughing. “Does she know your handwriting?” “You do not know what I can do,” said Janet, with dignity. “Yes, I hope to see it for myself, for you must put this notion of going to London out of your head. I am sure Miss Ray did not give the invitation--no, nor second it. Did she, Janet?” Janet blushed a little, and muttered something about Miss Ray being afraid of stuck-up people. “I thought so! She is a good, sensible person, whom grandmamma esteemed very much; but she has never been able to keep her sister in order; and as to trusting you to their care, or letting you live in their set, neither papa nor grandmamma would ever have thought of it.” “You only say so because her Serene Highness turns up her nose at everything artistic and original.” “Janet, you forget yourself,” Caroline exclaimed, in a tone which quelled the girl, who went muttering away; and no more was ever heard of the Ray proposal, which no doubt the elder sister at least had never regarded as anything but an airy castle.