“I want to learn it well, Dorcas,” said Griselda, resolutely.  “So will you please tell Aunt Grizzel that I’m very sorry about last night, and I’ll do just as she likes about staying in my room or anything.  But, if she would let me, I’d far rather go down and do my lessons as usual for Mr. Kneebreeches.  I won’t ask to go out in the garden; but I would like to please Aunt Grizzel by doing my lessons very well.”

Dorcas was both delighted and astonished.  Never had she known her little “missie” so altogether submissive and reasonable.

“I only hope the child’s not going to be ill,” she said to herself.  But she proved a skilful ambassadress, notwithstanding her misgivings; and Griselda’s imprisonment confined her only to the bounds of the house and terrace walk, instead of within the four walls of her own little room, as she had feared.

Lessons were very well done that day, and Mr. Kneebreeches’ report was all that could be wished.

“I am particularly gratified,” he remarked to Miss Grizzel, “by the intelligence and interest Miss Griselda displays with regard to the study of astronomy, which I have recently begun to give her some elementary instruction in.  And, indeed, I have no fault to find with the way in which any of the young lady’s tasks are performed.”

“I am extremely glad to hear it,” replied Miss Grizzel graciously, and the kiss with which she answered Griselda’s request for forgiveness was a very hearty one.

And it was “all right” about Phil.

Lady Lavander knew all about him; his father and mother were friends of hers, for whom she had a great regard, and for some time she had been intending to ask the little boy to spend the day at Merrybrow Hall, to be introduced to her god-daughter Griselda.  So, of course, as Lady Lavander knew all about him, there could be no objection to his playing in Miss Grizzel’s garden!

And “to-morrow” turned out a fine day.  So altogether you can imagine that Griselda felt very happy and light-hearted as she ran down the wood-path to meet her little friend, whose rosy face soon appeared among the bushes.

“What did you do yesterday, Phil?” asked Griselda.  “Were you sorry not to come to play with me?”

“No,” said Phil mysteriously, “I didn’t mind.  I was looking for the way to fairyland to show you, and I do believe I’ve found it.  Oh, it is such a pretty way.”

Griselda smiled.

“I’m afraid the way to fairyland isn’t so easily found,” she said.  “But I’d like to hear about where you went.  Was it far?”

“A good way,” said Phil.  “Won’t you come with me?  It’s in the wood.  I can show you quite well, and we can be back by tea-time.”

“Very well,” said Griselda; and off they set.

Whether it was the way to fairyland or not, it was not to be wondered at that little Phil thought so.  He led Griselda right across the wood to a part where she had never been before.  It was pretty rough work part of the way.  The children had to fight with brambles and bushes, and here and there to creep through on hands and knees, and Griselda had to remind Phil several times of her promise to his nurse that his clothes should not be the worse for his playing with her, to prevent his scrambling through “anyhow” and leaving bits of his knickerbockers behind him.