"Aunt Sophia," said Verena, who could be a lady if she chose, "may I introduce our special friend----"
"Our special friend, Nancy King," repeated Verena. "We have known her all our lives, Aunt Sophia."
"How do you do, Miss King?" said Miss Tredgold.
She favored "the young person," as she termed Miss King, with a very distant bow.
"Girls," she said, turning to the others, "are you aware that preparation hour has arrived? Will you all go quietly indoors?--Miss King, my nieces are beginning their studies in earnest, and I do not allow the hour of preparation to be interfered with by any one."
"I know all about that," said Nancy in a glib voice. "I was at a first-rate school myself for years. Weren't we kept strict, just! My word! we couldn't call our noses our own. The only language was _parlez-vous_. But it was a select school--very; and now that I have left, I like to feel that I am accomplished. None of you girls can beat me on the piano. I know nearly all the girls' songs in _San Toy_ and the _Belle of New York_. Father loves to hear me when I sing 'Rhoda Pagoda.' Perhaps, Miss Tredgold, you'd like to hear me play on the pianoforte. I dote on dance music; don't you, Miss Tredgold? Dance music is so lively; it warms the cockles of the heart--don't it, Miss Tredgold?"
"I don't dance, so it is impossible for me to answer," said Miss Tredgold. "I am sorry, Miss King, to disturb a pleasant meeting, but my girls are under discipline, and the hour for preparation has arrived."
"I suppose that means _congé_ for poor Nancy King," she said. "Very sorry, I'm sure. Good-day, madam.--Good-bye, Renny. I'll look you up another day.--Good-bye to all. I'm off to have a bit of fun with my boy cousins."
Nancy swung round and left the group. She walked awkwardly, switching her shoulders and swaying from side to side, a dirty train trailing after her.
"May I ask who your friend really is?" said Miss Tredgold when she had watched the departure of this most undesirable acquaintance.
"She is Nancy King, Aunt Sophia. We have known her all our lives," said Verena.
"My dear Verena, I have heard that statement before. Nevertheless, the fact that you have known that young person since you were little children does not reply to my question. Who is she? Where does she come from? Who is her father? I don't remember to have heard of any gentlefolks of the name of King residing in this part of the New Forest."