Uncle John beckoned to her with his head, stepping back as he did so, in order to prevent the other inmates of the room from seeing him. Mrs. Dainty obeyed the signal, and, without venturing another remark, retired from the study-room, and, sweeping past Uncle John, sought refuge in her own chamber. “A’n’t you going to give me my music-lesson, miss?” If her mother had retired from the field, there was no disposition whatever on the part of Agnes to follow her example. “Certainly,” was the mild, evenly-spoken answer. “Come along, then, and give it to me now.” “I will be ready at twelve o’clock, Agnes.” “Mother told you to give it to me now, and you’ve got to do so.” “Oh, don’t talk so to Miss Harper, Aggy!” said Madeline, her voice trembling and her eyes filling with tears. The words came just in season. Miss Harper felt that all this was more than she ought to bear; and outraged pride was about rising above convictions of duty. “Georgy and I love you. We will say our lessons.” The sweet child lifted her large, beautiful eyes to the face of her governess. “Tell us a story, won’t you, Miss Harper?” It was George who made the request. “As soon as you and Madeline have said your lessons, I will tell you a nice little story.” And Florence won him to her will with a kiss. The lesson-books were opened instantly, and, the light tasks set, the little ones entered upon them with willing spirits. “Come and give me my music-lesson!” broke in, discordantly, the voice of Agnes. “At twelve o’clock, Agnes.” There was not the smallest sign of disturbed feeling in the manner of the governess. “Mother will turn you out of the house! I heard her say so!” A red spot painted itself on the brow of Miss Harper. But it faded as quickly as it came. Seeing that she was not to have her will with the governess, Agnes flirted from the room, and sought the apartment to which her mother had retired. “Mother! mother! That upstart thing says she won’t give me my music-lesson for you nor anybody else!” Now Agnes went a step too far, and at the wrong moment. It was just then dawning upon the mind of Mrs. Dainty that her daughter had exaggerated the conduct of Miss Harper, and led her into an unladylike exhibition of herself. The sting of mortification excited her quite enough to make her turn with sharp acrimony upon this wilful daughter. “I don’t believe a word of it!” she said, angrily. “All this trouble has grown out of your bad conduct. Go off and say your lessons at the right time. I won’t be annoyed in this way any longer.” “But, mother——” Mrs. Dainty took her by the arm and thrust her from the room, saying, passionately,— “Don’t let me see your face again to-day!”