en
different orders to her teachers to proceed with their work, and
promising to be with them again before long. The moment she entered
the drawing-room she gave a little gasp of pleasure.

'Why, Jane, is it indeed you?' she could not help remarking.

'Ah, yes, Elsie, it's no other.'

'Well, sit down, Jane, won't you?'

'I suppose I 've come at an inconvenient time, Elsie?'

'Well, I do happen to be busy.'

I can't help that, my dear,' said Mrs Maclure. 'The business that
hurries me to your side is too urgent and important to brook a moment's
delay.'

'Dear me, what can be wrong?' said Mrs Macintyre.

'I'm told that you keep a mixed school.'

'Yes, I do. I have a few small boys here.'

'Shocking!' said Mrs Maclure.

'What do you mean, Jane? Why shouldn't the boys be here?'

'This is a costly place,' said Mrs Maclure, looking round her. 'The
laying out of it must have cost a deal of money.'

'It did; but generous friends helped, and the Duke was not stingy with
his purse.'

'I don't want to know any of the financial particulars,' continued Mrs
Maclure. 'But tell me one thing, Elsie. Do you want your school to
pay?'

'Of course I do.'

'Ah, I thought as much. Now, I 'll tell you what it is, Elsie. I have
come here with a scheme, and if you see your way to carry it out, why,
the school will pay, and pay again and again; but there must be no
mixing in it. I mean by that, the eggs must be in one basket and the
butter in another.'

'You puzzle me very much, Jane.'

'Well, I was always outspoken, my dear, and I heard of your trials, and
your noble courage, and the fact that you 'd got hold of one of the
bonniest bits of land in the whole of Scotland. Why, Ardshiel could be
full over and over again if it wasn't mixed. But mixed it must not be.'

'I 'm very sorry to displease you, Jane,' said Mrs Macintyre; 'but the
thing cannot be altered now. I have, after all, at the present moment
only got eight boys in my school, although others will probably arrive.
I cannot turn those dear little fellows out.'

'Well, then, the girls must go.'

'No; I mean to keep my girls.'

'Elsie, you were always obstinacy personified. You've got a good
school in a lovely spot, within easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh,
and also capable of receiving children from different parts of England.
The establishment is in working order. Now pray tell me how many you
have got in the school?'

Mrs Macintyre said, '