'Perhaps not. It might teach her to value the holidays, and learn that
blood is thicker than water,' said Miss Jane.

'It is always in reserve,' added Miss Adeline.

'Yes, Maurice told her to send her if I grew tired of her, as he said,'
replied Lady Merrifield, 'but of course I should not think of that
unless for very strong reasons.'

'Oh, mamma!' and Gillian remained with her mouth open.

'Well?' said Aunt Jane.

'I meant to have told you mamma, but Mr. Leadbitter came in about the
G.F.S. and stopped me, and I have never seen you to speak to since.
Yesterday you know, I stayed from evensong to look after the little
ones, and you said Dolores might do as she pleased, so she stayed at
home. The children were looking at the book of Bible Pictures, and it
came out that Dolly knew nothing at all about Joshua and the walls of
Jericho, nor Gideon and the lamps in the pitchers, nor anything else.
Then, when I was surprised, she said that it was not the present system
to perplex children with the myths of ancient Jewish history.'

Gillian was speaking rapidly, in the growing consciousness that her
mother had rather have had this communication reserved for her private
ear--and her answer was, 'Poor child!'

'Just what I should expect!' said Aunt Jane.

'Probably it was jargon half understood, and repeated in defence of her