, that when Aunt Agnes
departed the birds sang a particularly delightful song, the roses in
the garden gave out their rarest perfume, the sweet-peas were a glory
to behold, the sky was more blue than it had ever been before; in
short, there was a happy man in The Garden, a happy man with five
little Flower Girls. How _could_ he ever bring himself to call his
Jasmine, Lucy; his Gentian, Margaret; his Hollyhock, Jacqueline; his
Rose of the Garden, mere Rose; and his Delphinium, Dorothy?

'Oh, isn't it good that she's gone?' cried Jasmine.

'Your aunt has left us, and we mustn't talk about her any more,' said
Lennox, whose relief of mind was so vast that he could not help
whistling and singing.

'Why, Daddy Dumps, you _do_ look jolly,' said Hollyhock.

'We are all jolly--it is a lovely day,' said Mr Lennox.

So they had a very happy breakfast together, and joked and laughed, and
forgot Aunt Agnes and her queer ways. The only person who slightly
missed her was Magsie, on whom she had bestowed a whole sovereign,
informing her at the same time that she, Margaret, might expect good
tidings before long.

'Whatever does she mean?' thought Magsie. 'She has plenty to say. I
didn't tak' to her at first, but pieces o' gold are no to be had every
day o' the week, and she has a generous heart, although I can see the
master is not much taken wi' her.'

The Flower Girls and their father were rowing on the lake, when a shout
from the shore called them to stop. There stood Mrs Constable; there
stood Mrs Macintyre; there also stood in a group Jasper, Garnet,
Emerald, Sapphire, and Opal.

'Come ashore, come ashore,' called Jasper; and the boat was quickly
pulled toward the little landing-stage.

The ten happy children romped away together.

'Isn't it good that she's gone?' said Hollyhock. 'Isn't she a
downright horror?'

'But mother says she means well,' said Jasper; 'and who could be nicer
than Mrs Macintyre?'

'I suppose not,' said Hollyhock. 'Is she going to stay with Aunt Cecil
long, Jasper?'

'Long? Why, don't you know the news?'

'What? Oh, do tell us!' cried Delphinium.

'She's going to stay for ever,' said Jasper, 'except of course in the
holidays. She has taken Ardshiel, and she is going to turn it into a
great school, a great, monstrous, magnificent school; and we are _all_
going--we, and you, and heaps more children besides; and mother is
nearly off her head with delight. Of course, as far as I am c