Josephine insisted on pouring out tea. Fanchon quarrelled with her over this privilege and managed, in the dispute, to spill the contents of the milk jug. Nina sat quiet and thoughtful, making up a little plan in her small brain. She was really a very precocious child for her ten years. "First come, first served!" cried Josephine in her somewhat rasping voice. "I was down first, and I took possession of the tea tray. If you don't behave yourself, Fanchon, I shall put so much water in your tea that you won't be able to drink it. See what a horrid mess you have made! Nina--get up and ring the bell this minute." "No, I won't," said Nina. "Get up and ring it yourself." "Well--how horrid!" cried Josephine, who knew that if she left her coveted post of tea-maker, it would be immediately secured by Fanchon. "I suppose we must stand this mess, and there's only a little milk in the other jug." "You're quite detestable!" said Fanchon, snapping her fingers with passion. "What a mercy it is that dear Brenda is with us on other days, or what a frightful mess we'd get into!" "_Dear_ Brenda, indeed!" cried Nina, in a scornful tone. "Yes, you do make a fuss about her at times," said Josephine. "But she is gone for a day--and a good thing, too. You know how cross you are often with her dictatorial ways and the silly manner in which she manages to take in poor papa." "I know something that you don't know," said Fanchon, resigning herself as passively as she could to a humble seat at the side of the breakfast table. "What do you know, Fanchon? Oh, do tell us!" cried Nina. "Well--I saw _the_ dress last night!" "What--the dress that Brenda went away in?" "Yes." "You _didn't_ see it--she positively refused to let any of us look at it--and I thought it so beastly churlish of her!" said Nina. "Well, she showed it to me," said Fanchon carelessly, helping herself to a piece of bread and jam as she spoke, "and it was--oh, I tell you, girls, it was just ripping! I never saw such a beautiful creature as Brenda looked in it. I will describe it to you presently, outside in the garden, but not now. When I have a bit of fun, and a secret to tell, I like to make as much of it as possible. I suppose we'll have a good time ourselves some day, although not at present." "I have something to talk about too in the garden," said Nina; "but first I want to have a little chat with papa."