10 The Two Mam’zelles
Half-term came and went. Sally and Darrell went out together with Darrell’s parents and had a lovely time. To Gwendoline’s disappointment Daphne’s parents did not visit her, so there was no chance of being asked out to meals with Daphne, or going off in a magnificent car.
“I wanted to see your mother,” said Gwendoline. “She looks so lovely in her photo.”
On Daphne’s dressing-table stood a photograph of a very beautiful woman, in a flowing evening gown, with gleaming jewels round her lovely neck. Everyone had admired it.
“You aren’t much like your mother, all the same,” said Darrell, critically, to Daphne. “She’s got wide-set eyes—and yours are rather near together. And your nose isn’t the same.”
“Everybody isn’t always like their mother,” said Daphne. “I take after my father’s family, I suppose. I have an aunt who is very, very beautiful.”
“And I suppose you are considered to resemble her, Daphne?” said Jean, in her quiet, amused voice. “What it is to have beautiful and distinguished¹ relatives! I have a plain mother, who’s the kindest darling on earth—and quite an ugly father—and all my aunts are as plain as I am! But I don’t care a bit. They’re jolly good fun, and I like the whole lot.”
Gwendoline asked Daphne if she would like to go out with her at half-term, and Daphne accepted graciously. Mrs. Lacey, Gwendoline’s mother, was very struck with the beautiful girl and her charming smile. As for Miss Winter, the governess, who always most faithfully came to see her darling Gwen every half-term, she could hardly take her eyes off her, which annoyed Gwendoline very much.
“Such a nice friend for you, dear,” said Mrs. Lacey to Gwendoline. “Such beautiful manners! And how rich her people must be to own a yacht and all those cars. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go and stay with them?”
“Ssh, Mother,” said Gwendoline, afraid that Daphne would hear. But Daphne was far too busy charming poor Miss Winter. She played up to Gwendoline very well too, remarking on her friend’s brilliance², her clever comments in class, and what a favourite she was with the teachers.
Mrs. Lacey listened with pride and pleasure. “Well, you never told me these things in your letters, Gwen darling,” she said, fondly. “You’re too modest!”
Gwendoline felt a little embarrassed and began to hope that Daphne wouldn’t lay it on too thickly—if she did, her mother would expect a wonderful report, and Gwendoline knew

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