"Why, yes," disagreed Miss Forbes dryly; "it does. Mrs. Newport was about to engage you to play the young mother to her three darlings, while she golfed and motored and otherwise disported her fashionable self; the very least she could do was to assure herself of your fitness for the position. And this involved a knowledge of your Alpha as well as your Omega; you see that; don't you?" Being very far from stupid, Jane saw, and when, on the following day, Mrs. Narragansett's housekeeper interviewed Miss Blythe, that young person was prepared to be frank and open to the point of telling all her pitiful little story. "My name," she began, in response to Mrs. Pott's initial question, "is Jane Evelyn Aubrey-Blythe." Mrs. Potts bestowed a supercilious glance upon the young person. "And what was your last position as nursery governess?" she further demanded. "I taught my cousins, Percy and Cecil Aubrey-Blythe, in London and at Blythe Court." "Indeed! And why did you leave that situation, _if_ you please?" Jane drew a quick breath. "Must I answer that question?" she entreated, blushing hotly, a circumstance which the experienced Mrs. Potts noted with growing disfavor. "You certainly must," that lady assured her with business-like coldness. "I--I thought my aunt was unkind to me," faltered Jane, with every appearance of guilt. "I was very much vexed with her and--and with my Cousin Gwendolen, and so----" "Your aunt's name, if you please? And you may also state the occasion of her being unkind to you." "My aunt's name is Lady Agatha Aubrey-Blythe," said Jane, endeavoring to pull herself together with very little success. "She was unkind to me because--because-- She accused me of-- No; I--I cannot tell you." "It is quite unnecessary, Miss--Aubrey-Blythe," Mrs. Potts assured her, with an unpleasant smile. "You are not, I am sure, a suitable person for the situation. Good morning." Jane wept a little when she confided this last failure to Bertha Forbes's sympathizing ear. "I couldn't tell that woman what Aunt Agatha said to me about Mr. Towle; now, could I?" "She wouldn't have believed it, if you had," said Miss Forbes gruffly. "Better try another tack," she added, still more gruffly. "Better yet, go back to your uncle. He can't be a bad sort, from what you tell me." "Uncle Robert? Oh, no! he is--he has never been unkind to me. I--I quite love Uncle Robert; that is to say, I should love to love him, if he would let me." "Then you'll go back to England like a sensible girl; tell your uncle you've made a fool of yourself, but you'll try not to do it again. Think it over till to-morrow morning, and remember I'll take care of the transportation."