Lady Jane was alone in her morning room when the new governess arrived and was ushered in. Lady Jane took a good look at her before asking her to sit down. On the whole she thought that Miss Scott had not overstated the case against her appearance. Her limp had been perceptible as she crossed the room, her left shoulder was certainly higher than the other, and figure she had none, in any æsthetic sense. Her feet were small; but afterwards, when she sat down, Lady Jane saw that the sole of her right shoe was much thicker than the other. Her complexion was not good. It had probably once been clear and rather fair, without much natural colour, but was now disfigured by a redness on one cheek which was almost a blotch, and her small nose was distinctly red. She had nice brown eyes, it is true, and a frank expression when she looked at Lady Jane, but after a moment or two the latter was sure that one eye wandered a little. As if conscious of her defect, or weakness, Miss Scott looked down at once, and when she raised her lids again both eyes were once more focussed in the same line. Her plain dark hat was put on rather far back, and her brown hair was drawn straight up from her forehead and was twisted into a little hard bun behind. All this Lady Jane took in at a glance. “Won’t you sit down?” Miss Scott seated herself on the edge of a high chair, but said nothing. “You must be tired,” observed Lady Jane, not unkindly, though rather as a matter of course. “No,” answered Miss Scott, in a submissive tone, “I am not at all tired.” She spoke as if she were rather sorry that she was not, as it seemed to be expected of her; and a pause followed, during which Lady Jane felt a little awkwardness at finding herself face to face with the undesirable governess she had sought, and who knew herself to be undesirable, and was prepared to be apologetic. “I think I ought to tell you,” said Lady Jane at last, “that my girls are a little wild--rather sporting--I daresay you understand the sort of thing I mean. I hope you have a good deal of firmness of character.” Miss Scott said nothing to this, but nodded gravely as if to say that if she possessed any firmness she would use it. She was evidently a silent young person. “They are not nasty-tempered at all,” Lady Jane continued. “On the contrary. But they are perfect little pickles. Just to give you an idea--the other day they actually locked the chauffeur in and took out my own new motor. I really hope you will be able to prevent that sort of thing.” Again Miss Scott gravely nodded, and this time her right eye certainly wandered a little. “I daresay you would rather go to your room and settle yourself a little before seeing them,” suggested Lady Jane. “Please, I think I should like to see them at once.” Lady Jane rang, and told the man who came to send her the two girls. “Beg pardon, my lady, but the young ladies are gone out.” “Oh, indeed? Don’t you think you could find them?”