rtunity of airing their proficiency. It never came, however, for
Tom chose to disappoint expectations by reading aloud her own
translation from her position in front of the fire.

"Memento--remember; mentem--and mind; servare--to hold up; aequam--your
mare; in rebus arduis--going up hill. That translation, young ladies,
was given by an undergraduate in the University of Oxford. He
afterwards rowed stroke in the 'Varsity boat, and was the best billiard
player of his year, so it would ill become us to dispute his
conclusions. You will observe the valuable moral lessons inculcated in
the words, and, I trust, take them to heart--`Remember and mind--'"

A laugh sounded from the direction of the door, and there stood Miss
Everett, looking round with mischievous eyes. Rhoda noted with relief
that she looked brighter than for days past, as if some good news had
arrived from the home about which she was so anxious.

"This sounds improving," she cried, merrily. "Thomasina holding a Latin
class! I am glad you have found such an exemplary way of passing the
afternoon. I am afraid you must stop, however, as the gong will ring in
five minutes, and meantime I must break up the class. I want,"--her eye
roved enquiringly round the room--"I want Rhoda!"

"Certainly, Miss Everett. Anything to oblige you. Rhoda, my love, you
have my permission to retire," drawled Thomasina, wagging her head in
languid assent, and Rhoda left the room in no little wonder as to the
reason of the summons.

Arrived in the corridor, Miss Everett laid both hands on the girl's
shoulders, and asked a quick, laughing question:--

"What about that hamper?"

"Hamper?" echoed Rhoda. "Hamper?" Her air of bewilderment was so
unaffectedly genuine that the other's expression became in turn doubtful
and uncertain.

"Yes, yes, the hamper! The hamper of good things that has just arrived
for my brother. I thought you--"

"I know nothing about it; truly I don't! I wish I did, but--"

"But, my dear girl, it came from your home. There was a game label upon
it, with your father's name in print--`From Henry Chester, Erley Chase.'
There cannot be two Henry Chesters living at houses of the same name."

"Ah!" exclaimed Rhoda, and her face lit up with pleasure. "It's mother!
Of course it's mother! It's just the sort of thing mother would do. I
told her that your brother had been ill, and that you were anxious about
him, and so she set to work to see how