Fanchon got up from the chair where she was seated and began, in a perfunctory way, to tidy the hopeless room. "I suppose we had best go out," she said. "Brenda said we were to follow her to the sands. She says we're not to bathe this morning. Oh--and, Nina--you're to take your notebook and pencil--there are a lot of things to enter." "I am going to lose that account-book," said Nina. "I won't be bothered any more--horrid Brenda!! I had dear Mademoiselle as my governess." "Mademoiselle d'Etienne?" exclaimed Fanchon. "What do you know about her? Brenda says she's not a bit nice. Brenda distrusts her dreadfully." "Well, and she doesn't like Brenda," exclaimed Nina. The moment she said this, Fanchon walked up to her young sister and said sternly: "What have you seen of Mademoiselle? Out with it!" "I won't tell!" said Nina. "You're not to question me--I won't tell! You have all your fun, and I don't mention it--I can if I like--I can write to dear papa and tell him, and he'll come over pretty quick--you had best not worry me." "Never mind," said Fanchon, who didn't at all like this threat on Nina's part; more particularly as she knew that her little sister was quite capable of carrying it into effect. "Never mind," she repeated. "But you might as well tell me that little wonderful secret." "I'll tell if you'll tell," said Josie. "There! that's fair." "And _I'll_ tell if you'll tell," exclaimed Nina. Josephine walked softly up and down. "Why shouldn't we three have secrets all to our three selves?" she said then. "Oh, if I thought it wouldn't go to anybody else, of course I shouldn't mind," said Fanchon. "Why should it go to anybody else? We just want you to know--it is so beautiful--so very beautiful!" said Nina. "We want you to know because you are our flesh and blood, but it's only fair you should give us something in exchange." "Then I will--I _will_ show it to you. I'll lock the door first. It is--it is--too beautiful--you'll envy me all the days of your lives, both of you. But you must never breathe it--you must go on your knees and solemnly declare that you won't let it out." "All right," said Nina, her little eyes dancing. "And you will go on _your_ knees and promise that _you_ won't let out what we have got to say to you." "Silly children," said Fanchon. "You can't have much of a secret." "But we have--we have, we certainly have!" said Josie. "Well then, here, let us clasp hands--that'll do equally well," said Fanchon. "We'll never, any of us, tell to anybody, what is about to take place in this bedroom. I, Fanchon Amberley, promise." "And I, Josephine Amberley, promise," cried Josephine. "And I, Nina Amberley, promise," exclaimed little Nina. "Now, Nina, lock the door," said Fanchon. Nina did so. "Who'll show first?" she asked, her small face crimson. "Oh--it's something to show?" said Fanchon. "Well, you'll show first, of course--you're the youngest."