"Oh, don't you?" said Miss Fleet. "Do you suppose I am going to put up with such a very disobedient little girl?" Her voice was stern. She did not often scold Phyllis, for Phyllis, as a rule, was too good to be reprimanded. She followed her now to her pleasant bedroom. There Nurse was waiting to pet the little girl and make her presentable for dinner. Miss Fleet looked into the room and said, "Here she is, Nurse, and I am extremely angry with her;" and then the governess closed the door and walked away. Phyllis gazed at Nurse, her eyes brimful of laughter. Then she ran up to the old woman and said ecstatically-- "Oh! I am so happy, and I don't care a bit--not a bit--for what old cross-patch says." "My dear Miss Phyllis," said Nurse, "you ought not to speak like that of your governess." "Well," cried Phyllis, "she is cross-patch." "I never heard you say that sort of thing before." "I learnt it from the Rectory children. Oh, they are so nice--so very nice! I was with them all the afternoon. I am going again to-morrow, and the day after, and the day after that, and every day--every single day. Now, please, Nurse, help me to get tidy for dinner." Nurse, who in her heart of hearts felt that Phyllis could do no wrong, assisted with right good-will to remove the mud-bespattered habit, and to get the little girl into her evening-frock. The Squire was immensely fond and proud of his little daughter, and she always dined in the evening with Miss Fleet and her father. Miss Fleet came downstairs first to the drawing-room. "Where is Phyllis?" said the Squire. "I am sorry to tell you, Mr Harringay, that Phyllis has been rather naughty. She has been out without leave, and came home just now in a disgraceful mess." "The young monkey," said the Squire, laughing. "I saw her; she rode past the `Blue Dragon,' a herd of children following her. I never was so amazed in my life; but she did look handsome and as if she were enjoying herself. I was told that the children belonged to the Rectory." "I don't care whom they belong to," said Miss Fleet. "They are very naughty children, and badly behaved; and if Phyllis has much to do with them she will get just as rough and wild herself." "Bless her! she is perfect whatever happens," said the Squire energetically. "Mr Harringay," said the governess, "may I ask you a question?" "My dear Miss Fleet, certainly. You know that I have the highest opinion of you." "Have I the charge of Phyllis or have I not?" "Bless me, bless me!" said the Squire, in some agitation, "of course you have the charge of her." "Then that is all right; and she has got to obey me, has she not?" "Of course, my good creature, of course." Just then Phyllis danced into the room. She looked very pretty in her evening-frock, and her happy afternoon had brought a red colour into her cheeks and a glow of happiness into her grey eyes.