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her.
    The Earl's house in Berkeley Square was very big and impressive. In answer to her knock the door was opened by an elderly butler. When she explained why she had come, he nodded and stood back for her to pass.
    While she waited for him to inform the Earl, she looked around her at some very fine pictures and valuable furniture. At the sound of his returning footsteps, she opened her handbag and slipped her mother's glasses on to her nose.
    "His Lordship will see you now."
    She followed him down the passage until he opened a door and showed her into a well-furnished and, she thought, attractive study. There were several bookcases in the room. Their owner was sitting at a very impressive desk on which there were gold-topped inkpots and gold candlesticks.
    "Miss Johnson, my Lord."
    A man, who seemed to be in his forties rose from his desk and came towards her. He was heavily built with a weary, gentle face and hair that was just beginning to turn grey.
    "How do you do," he said. "I understand you have come from Miss Duncan."
    "Yes, she told me you were looking for a governess for your daughter who must speak several European languages."
    The Earl smiled.
    "That is true. Now suppose we sit down and you tell me how experienced you are."
    Rona knew by the expression in his eyes that he was surprised to see her so young, so she quickly chose a chair with its back to the window, hoping that he would not see her face too clearly. He watched her curiously.
    "I suppose Miss Duncan told you that my daughter, Alice, has been rather difficult where other governesses have been concerned. But I'm continually called abroad, and would like to take her with me. My wife is unfortunately dead."
    "It said in the advertisement she is sixteen."
    "Yes," the Earl replied. "Actually she will soon be seventeen. You may think I've left it rather late to trouble about her education, but she was much upset by her mother's death four years ago. She ran away from one school after another because she wanted to be with me. I can't blame her for that, but I hoped her rebellion would pass. Unfortunately, it didn't. Now I need to make up lost time." He frowned. "But you are very young."
    "Then I'm just what you need," Rona said quickly. "Because I'm nearer her age than I suspect the others have been, I will be more successful. Let me talk to her, and see if I can win her confidence."
    "And if you do, can you be ready to leave for France tomorrow?"
    Rona took a deep breath.
    "Yes," she said firmly.
    "Very well, I'll take you to meet her."
    She followed him out into the corridor and upstairs to the second floor.
    "Alice has her own sitting room up here," he said. "It used to be the nursery."
    The room turned out to be large and attractive with windows looking out over the square. Sitting beside one of them was a very pretty girl. She had fair hair which fell over her shoulders, and a pale face. She looked defiant, but also Rona thought, unhappy.
    As Alice turned round to see who was coming into the room, a big smile broke over her face.
    "Papa!" she said in delight, running to hug him.
    He embraced her back. It was clear that there was a very strong affection between them. But Rona also guessed that he was alarmed by his daughter, and did not know what to do with her.
    "I have here a lady who is very anxious to meet you," he began. "Her name is Miss Johnson."
    The girl saw Rona.
    "Oh, not another governess!" she groaned. "The last one when she left told me that I was impossible. I thought that would be the end of them."
    "This one is different," her father said. "I want you to talk to her and then we'll see if she'll come with us when we leave England tomorrow."
    The girl, without moving, was staring at Rona. Then she said to her father,
    "I don't want her," she said firmly. "I want to go abroad with you alone without a tiresome governess trailing about behind us."
    Rona thought of the dire retribution that would have fallen on her if she had dared speak to her