Not that these personal lessons often took place.  Kalliope never permitted them without dire necessity, and besides, there was always an uncertainty when Gillian might come down, or when Alexis might be able to come in.

One day when Aunt Jane had come home with a story of how one of her ‘business girls’ had confessed to Miss White’s counsel having only just saved her from an act of folly, it occurred to Aunt Adeline to say—–­

‘It is a great pity you have not her help in the G.F.S.’

’I did not understand enough about her before, and mixed her up with the ordinary class of business girls.  I had rather have her a member for the sake of example; but if not, she would be a valuable associate.  Could not you explain this to her without hurting her feelings, as I am afraid I did, Gill?  I did not understand enough about her when I spoke to her before.’

Gillian started.  The conversation that should have been so pleasant to her was making her strangely uncomfortable.

‘I do not see how Gill is to get at her,’ objected the other aunt.  ’It would be of no great use to call on her in the nest of the Queen of the White Ants.  I can’t help recollecting the name, it was so descriptive.’

’Yes; it was on her mother’s account that she refused, and of course her office must not be invaded in business hours.’

‘I might call on her there before she goes home,’ suggested Gillian, seeing daylight.

’You cannot be walking down there at dusk, just as the workmen come away’ exclaimed Aunt Ada, making the colour so rush into Gillian’s cheeks that she was glad to catch up a screen.

‘No,’ said Miss Mohun emphatically; ’but I could leave her there at five o’clock, and go to Tideshole to take old Jemmy Burnet his jersey, and call for her on the way back.’

‘Or she could walk home with me,’ murmured the voice behind the screen.

Gillian felt with dismay that all these precautions as to her escort would render her friend more scrupulous than ever as to her visits.  To have said, ‘I have several times been at the office,’ would have been a happy clearance of the ground, but her pride would not bend to possible blame, nor would she run the risk of a prohibition.  ’It would be the ruin of hope to Alexis, and mamma knows all,’ said she to herself.

It was decided that she should trust to Kalliope to go back with her, for when once Aunt Jane get into the very fishy hamlet of Tideshole, which lay beyond the quarries, there was no knowing when she might get away, since

’Alike to her were time and tide,
November’s snow or July’s pride.’