When they reached Calais, it was very exciting for Valeda to find there was a private coach exactly like the one, someone said proudly, used by Queen Victoria, attached to the train which was to carry them through France to Spain.
Mirabelle was thrilled and ran about saying it was a little house on wheels, until Hermione crossly told her to keep quiet.
Then she settled down beside Valeda, saying,
“Please, Miss Warde, tell me a lovely story about a little house on wheels.”
“I will think of one,” Valeda promised. “In the meantime, let us talk about the Spanish people we are going to see, what they do and what they look like.”
After Mirabelle had gone to bed, Valeda had the chance of talking to her sister alone and Hermione dropped her frigid air and became warm and confidential.
“I am
