"My mother came in during the French hour. I don't know whether
you have observed, Miss Phyllis, how easy it is to slip into the
habit of entering rooms when you had better remain outside. Now,
even my friend Arch--However, that's neither here nor there. My
mother, as I say, came in."

"Church of England, of course, Phyllis?" called Mrs. Hilary.

"Oh, of course, cousin Mary," cried little Miss Phyllis.

"The sect makes no difference," I observed. "Well, my sisters,
like good girls, began to repeat the irregular verbs. But it was
no use. We were discovered. That night, Miss Phyllis, I nearly
drowned myself."

"You must have been--Oh, how awful, Mr. Carter!"

"That is to say, I thought how effective it would be if I drowned
myself. Ah, well, it couldn't last!"

"And the governess?"

"She left next morning."

There was a pause. Miss Phyllis looked sad and thoughtful; I
smiled pensively and beat my cane against my leg.

"Have you ever seen her since?" asked Miss Phyllis.