She is a sharp one,
true enough. I'll have to watch myself."

"She needn't try to correct me," Molly put in.

"Oh, but you are an American," Mary hastened to reassure her, "and
you'll do just as your mother bids you, of course."

This relieved the situation for Molly. The prospect of frequent drives
behind the "proper little pony," and the pleasure of a real English
Christmas, which Mary had described in glowing colors, cheered her up,
and she stated that she thought she could stand Miss Sharp as long as
her own mother would always be on hand to refer to.

As the three were talking it all over, Uncle Dick appeared at the door.
"Well, Mollykins," he said, "how do you like your news?"

"Oh, do you know it, too?" she said, running up to him. "I like it
very much, but I wish you and Aunt Ada and Polly were going, too."

"That would be too many at once," he returned. "Go in and see your
Aunt Ada; she has something to tell you."

"Who is it about?" asked Molly.

Uncle Dick walked down the porch steps. "It concerns me very much," he
said over his shoulder.

"Concerns him? Do you suppose he is going to England, too?" said Mary.

"Let's go and find out," returned Molly. And the three ran indoors to
where Miss Ada sat.

"Well, kitties," she said as they came in, "there is a lot of news
to-day, isn't there?"

"Yes, isn't it fine that mother and I are going to England? That is
what you meant, isn't it?"

"Not all."

"Uncle Dick said you had something to tell us," said Polly.

"So I have. It concerns Polly more than any of you, though it might
concern Molly if she were not going abroad."

"That sounds like a puzzle," laughed Polly. "But Uncle Dick said it
concerned him."

"The silly boy!" Miss Ada drew down the corners of her mouth. "No
doubt he'll make it his concern. Why Polly, it is this: Mr. Perkins,
your tutor, has had a good offer in Denver and as he is so well and
strong now he thinks he must accept it, and as Walter is old enough to
go away to school, your father and mother thought a man was not needed
to teach you and the others, so you are to have a new teacher. Guess
who it is to be?"

"Oh, I can't. Tell me." Polly was all eagerness.

"Miss Ainslee."

"Not my Miss Ainslee?" cried Molly in surprise.

"Your Miss Ainslee."

"Oh, I'm jealous," said Molly. "Oh, Polly, to think you will have her
all to yourself. Oh, dear!"

"But you will not be here, honey," said her aunt, "and