"Has that lady been calling here?" she asked of Phillis, whom she met
bringing in Oliver from his afternoon walk.

"Lady!" repeated Phillis, scornfully, "she's only the governess."

"The governess!"

"Lor! didn't you know it, ma'am? And she coming to Miss Letitia
every day for this week past!" and Phillis gleamed all over with
malicious satisfaction that her mistress did not know it, and might
naturally feel annoyed and offended thereat.

Annoyed Mrs. Grey certainly was, but she was not readily offended.
Her feeling was more that of extreme vexation at the introduction here
of the very last person whom she would desire to see Letitia's
governess, and a vague wonder as to how much Dr. Grey knew about
the matter. Of course, engrossed as she was with the charge of Arthur,
it was quite possible that, to save her trouble, he and his sisters might
have arranged it all. Only she wished she had been told--merely told
about it.

Any little pain, however, died out when, on entering the drawing-room,
she caught the warm delight of Arthur's eyes, turning to her as eagerly
as if she had been absent from him a week instead of half an hour.

"Oh, mother, I am so tired! Here have I been lying on this sofa, and
Titia and somebody else--a great, big, red-checked woman--Titia says
she isn't a lady, and I must not call her so--have been strum-strumming
on your pretty piano, and laughing and whispering between whiles.