les were always welcome, and this afternoon's
specimen had arrived in the very nick of time to stop an embarrassing
discussion, and cheer Ruth's drooping spirits.

Mollie lay back in her chair, and began reading in her clear fresh
tones--

"Darling Moll,--While you are basking in the lap of luxury, this poor
critter is snatching a few precious moments from `prep' to answer your
last epistle, and give what news there is. First and foremost, mother
is as well as possible, and goes about with an `open your mouth and
shut your eyes, and in your mouth you'll find a prize' expression,
which puzzles her friends into fits. Poor mum simply dies to tell
them that one of her daughters will shortly become a millionaire! But
she shuts her lips up tight, and looks more mysterious than ever,
because, of course, there is a chance that it may not come off. Don't
let me ever see your faces again if it doesn't, that's all!

"Fancy you having all those fine clothes! I can't imagine how you
would look respectably attired. Kindly remember Beatrice Olivia for
any cast-off fineries. Hair-ribbons especially desired. I've nothing
left but an old Navy-blue, twisted up like a tape.

"We had a general intelligence examination at school this week.
Stupid old things! One question was, `What is the complementary
colour to red?' I had never heard of a complementary colour in my
life, and I was just racking my brains to think what to say, when my
eyes happened to light on Miss Smith's carrots. `Ah, ha,' thinks I,
`I have it!' So I put down `auburn,' and was jolly well pleased with
myself until lunch-time came, when I was telling Gladys my answers,
and Miss Bateson heard me, and went into perfect fits! It seems
complementary means something idiotic about two colours making a white
light--as if they ever could! Anyway, I think my answer was very
pretty and tactful--don't you? and I hope it will soften Smithy's hard
heart.

"Another silly question was, `Order a dinner for a class of twelve
Board-school children, and state what quantities of each article are
required.' One girl ordered a pound of roast beef and a pound of
potatoes for each child, and ten and a half yards of Swiss-roll for
the whole class! I ordered the `scrag-end of the neck.' Haven't the
least idea what it means, but I thought it sounded cheap. I likewise
gave them suet dumplings for pudding. Hope the