ue barns; and
there's a splendid old castle overlooking the river. And then the
trees! You ought to see our trees! These about Chessington look the
most wretched, stunted things, after our grand oaks and elms. It's a
great fruit-growing neighbourhood; we have heaps and heaps of apples
and pears and plums and apricots in our garden. They're simply
delicious when they're ripe. Then Tewkesminster is so quaint! There are
all kinds of funny little side streets, with cottages built at odd
angles; and there's a market cross and several old churches, as well as
the Minster. Mother is extremely fond of painting, and sometimes she
takes me out sketching with her. I can't draw very well yet--most of my
attempts are horrid daubs! but Mother is such a good teacher, she
always makes one want to try."

"Hadn't you a governess?" asked Honor.

"Yes. Miss Hall used to come every day from Tewkesminster; but I had a
few lessons from Mother as well, in drawing, and Greek history, and
English literature. We used to read books aloud in the evenings--Shakespeare,
or Dickens, or sometimes Tennyson or Wordsworth. We got through a
tremendous amount of poetry in the winter, when it was dark early, and
we had nothing else to do, except sit by the fire. We read all _Marmion_
and the _Idylls of the King_ and _Lalla Rookh_, as well as shorter
pieces. Mother reads aloud most beautifully; it's delightful to listen
to her. Then in summer-time we used to go country walks, and find wild
flowers, and bring them back and hunt out their names in the botany
book. I kept a Nature Calendar, and put down everything I noted--when
the first violets were out, and when I heard the cuckoo, or saw a
swallow for the first time in the year; and what birds' nests I found,
or butterflies, or moths, or caterpillars. Sometimes I drew pictures of
them as well. I had a whole row of specimen sheets pinned round the
school-room at home. Then one day a wretched doctor told Mother that
Tewkesminster was too relaxing a place for me, and recommended
Chessington. I begged and implored not to be sent away, but Mother said
the doctor was quite right, and that I was far too grown-up for my age,
and an only child ought to have young companions, so I must certainly go
to school at once. I was absolutely miserable my first term. I'm a
little more used to it now, but I begin to count the days to the
holidays directly I get back to St. Chad's. There are still eight weeks
before we break up