e other had to run away, so
she got neither of them, and it was that that soured her temper.

I really must go to bed--Lorna keeps calling and calling--and Florence
is crying still--I can hear her sniffing beneath the clothes. We shall
be perfect wrecks in the morning, and mother won't like it if I go home
a fright. Heigho! the very last night in this dear old room! I hate
the last of anything--even nasty things--and except when we've
quarrelled we've had jolly times. It's awful to think I shall never be
a school-girl any more! I don't believe I shall sleep a wink all night.
I feel wretched.

PS--Fancy calling me pretty! I'm so pleased. I shall look nicer still
in my new home clothes.

CHAPTER TWO.

Bed-time; my own room. May 14th.
It is different from school! My room is simply sweet, all newly done up
as a surprise for me on my return. White paint and blue walls, and
little bookcases in the corners, and comfy chairs and cushions, and a
writing-table, and such lovely artistic curtains--dragons making faces
at fleur-de-lys on a dull blue background. I'm awfully well off, and
they are all so good to me, I ought to be the happiest girl in the
world, but I feel sort of achey and strange, and a little bit lonely,
though I wouldn't say so for the world. I miss the girls.

It was awful this morning--positively awful. I should think there was a
flood after I left--all the girls howled so, and I was sticking my head
out of the carriage window all the journey to get my face cool before I
arrived. Father met me at the station, and we spanked up together in
the dog-cart. That was scrumptious. I do love rushing through the air
behind a horse like Firefly, and father is such an old love, and always
understands how you feel. He is very quiet and shy, and when anyone
else is there he hardly speaks a word, but we chatter like anything when
we are together. I have a kind of idea that he likes me best, though
Spencer and Vere are the show members of the family. Spencer is the
heir, and is almost always away because he is a soldier, and Vere is
away a lot too, because she hates the country, and likes visiting about
and having a good time. She's awfully pretty, but--No! I won't say it.
I hereby solemnly vow and declare that I shall never say nasty things
of anyone in this book, only, of course, if they do nasty things, I
shall have to tell, or it won't be true. She isn't