Leave her to dabble in science first," said the governess in tones of immeasurable contempt.

"When she has half stifled herself with some filthy smell, or dissected some wretched insect or flower, she may be in a better humour.

Wait." Carmina thought of the happy days at home in Italy, when her father used to laugh at her little outbreaks of temper, and good Teresa only shrugged her shoulders.

What a change--oh, me, what a change for the worse! She drew from her bosom a locket, hung round her neck by a thin gold chain--and opened it, and kissed the glass over the miniature portraits inside.

"Would you like to see them ?" she said to Miss Minerva.