"Sarah’s quite happy with Miss Clark and me," put in May; "ain’t you, Sarah?" "Yes, quite," Sarah replied. "Oh, are you? Then I shall tell Ma you said you didn’t want to go down to see her, then," Flossie retorted. Poor Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, and she turned to May in the hope of getting protection from her. "Take no notice," said May superbly. "You’ll get used to Flossie after a bit. She’s a regular tell-tale; but she won’t tell Ma, for Ma won’t listen. She never does. Ma never will listen to tales, not even from Tom." Flossie began to laugh uproariously, as if it was the greatest joke in the world to tease Sarah, who had yet to learn the peculiar workings of a Stubbs character. Then Miss Clark interrupted with a remark that Flossie’s sash was not very well tied. "Come here and let me tie it properly," she said sharply; and, as Flossie knew that any shortcoming would be sharply noticed and commented upon when she got downstairs, she turned obediently round and allowed Miss Clark to arrange her garments to her satisfaction. By that time Tom was ready, and the two went down together. "Thank goodness," remarked May piously. "Now, Miss Clark, we shall have a little peace." May was destined to have even a greater peace for her little chat with the governess than she had anticipated, for a few minutes after Flossie and Tom had gone downstairs one of the maids came up and said that the mistress wished Miss Sarah to come down at once. Miss Sarah, she added, was not to stay to dress more than she was then. "Mayn’t I just wash my hands?" Sarah asked imploringly of May. "Of course," May answered, good-naturedly. "I’ll go with you and make you straight." May was very good-natured, though it is true that she was somewhat condescending; and she went with Sarah and showed her the room she was to share with Janey and Lily, showed her where to wash her face and hands, and herself combed her hair and made her look quite presentable. "There! you look all right; let Miss Clark see you," she said. And, after Sarah had been for inspection and approval, she followed the maid, and went down, for the first time in her life, to dessert. "’Ere she is!" Mrs. Stubbs exclaimed, as the little figure in black appeared in the doorway. "Flossie ought to have known you would come down to dessert the first evening; and, after that, you must take it in turn with the others." "Yes, Auntie," said Sarah shyly, taking the chair next to Mrs. Stubbs, for which she was thankful. "Will you ’ave some grapes, my dear?" Mrs. Stubbs asked kindly. "Sarah ’d like a nectarine," said Mr. Stubbs, who made a god of his stomach, and loved good things. "I doubt if she will," his wife said; "they’re bitter to a child’s taste; but ’ave which you like best, Sarah." "Grapes, please, Auntie," said Sarah promptly.