enough, without another mouth to feed, and another head to shelter? You
haven't thought of that, Grace.'

'Yes, I have.'

'And for the work, whilst you are not quite well you shall not be
troubled with teaching. I have some old papers that want copying and
settlings, and you shall sit here and do that just for an employment.
Anne knows that I've long wanted to have it done, and I'll tell her that
you have kindly promised to do it for me.'

'No; no; no,' said Grace; 'I must go home.' She was still kneeling at
Miss Prettyman's knee, and still holding Miss Prettyman's hand. And
then, at that moment, there came a tap on the door, gentle but yet not
humble, a tap which acknowledged, on the part of the tapper, the
supremacy in that room of the lady who was sitting there, but which
still claimed admittance almost as a right. The tap was well known by
both of them to be the tap of Miss Anne. Grace immediately jumped up,
and Miss Prettyman settled herself in her chair with a motion which
almost seemed to indicate some feeling of shame as to her late position.

'I suppose I may come in?' said Miss Anne, opening the door and
inserting her head.

'Yes, you may come in--if you have anything to say,' said Miss
Prettyman, with an air which seemed to be intended to assert her
supremacy. But, in truth, she was simply collecting the wisdom and
dignity which had been somewhat dissipated by her tenderness.

'I did not know that Grace Crawley was here,' said Miss Anne.