Miss Constance was coming to luncheon, and set her hair and dress to
rights eagerly, observing, however, to herself, that her horrid aunt
was quite capable of imprisoning her all the time for not having learnt
that stupid poetry.

She hesitated a little where to go when she reached the hall, but the
schoolroom door was open, and she heard a mournful voice concluding
with a gasp--

'Our glorious semper eadem, the banner of our pride.'

And Miss Vincent saying, 'Now, my dear, go and wash your face, and try
not to be such a dismal spectacle.'

And then Mysie came out, with heavy eyes and a mottled face, showing
that she had been crying all the time she had been learning, over her
own fault certainly, but likewise over mamma's displeasure and Dolly's
shabbiness.

'Well, Dora,' said Miss Vincent, 'have you come to repeat your poetry?'

'No,' said Dolores. 'I went to sleep instead.'

'Oh! I'm glad of that. I wish poor Mysie had done the same. I
believe it was what Lady Merrifield intended, you both looked so
knocked up.'

Dolores cleared up a little at this, especially as Miss Vincent was no
relation, and she thought it a good time to make her protest against
mere English.