n Agatha spluttered with laughter,
and Christabel rose from her seat, and began banging down books on the
table with disdainful emphasis.

"I refuse to listen any longer to such uttah rubbish."--"Wee, winsome
face," repeated Kitty loudly, determined to finish the sentence or
perish in the attempt. "Eyes blue as the summer skies, and a skin of
snow and roses. She has a timorous, shrinking nature, and prefers a
milk-white charger to her sister's untamed steed. Evangeline, the
third, has tawny locks and a dimpling smile, and makes up by charm of
manner for what she lacks in regular beauty. Valentine, the fourth--"

But the characteristics of Miss Vanburgh number four were fated to
remain in obscurity, for at that moment a step was heard approaching the
schoolroom door, and the historian made a dash forward to collect her
books, and place them on the table, before the entrance of Miss Roberts,
the governess.

CHAPTER FIVE.

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.

During the next few weeks the workmen took possession of the Grange, and
each morning as Kit made her appearance in the schoolroom Christabel had
some fresh item of intelligence to unfold.

"A blue paper is going up in the bedroom--pale, pale blue, with loops of
roses tied with lovers' knots--s-imply sweet! ... Nothing but brown
paper in the little room over the door--nasty, common brown paper like
you use for parcels. Hideous! What can they be thinking of?"--and the
girls would stare together through the windows, watching every movement
of painters and paperers with breathless interest.

Later on a still more exciting period was reached, when vanloads of
furniture arrived, and their contents were spread about on the roadway.
Then the Rendell girls massed themselves in the porch-room, and while
they manufactured needle-books, and scattered bran over the floor in the
wholesale manufacture of pincushions, Lilias played the part of Sister
Anne, sitting with idle hands, reporting progress to the workers, and
sounding a bugle-note of warning when any object appeared which demanded
attention. The numberless packing-cases were baffling to feminine
curiosity, but the furniture itself was so unique that the most prosaic
articles assumed a surprising interest. There were no modern designs to
be seen here, no cream enamelled bedroom suites, no green wood chairs,
nor cosy corners. Everything belonging to the house was of a sombre
grandeur which belonged to another countr