so stiff if I sit still all the time," declared Aldred, in reply
to Mabel's objection that Miss Bardsley would have preferred them to
remain in their seats. "Besides, the better view is on this side of the
carriage, and we can't see it properly from our compartment."

Mr. Farrington met them at Helmsworth Junction, where they changed from
the express to a local train; and at Grassingford a motor was waiting to
take them to the Hall.

Aldred thought she had never seen such a beautiful house, when a turn of
the drive gave her a first glimpse of Mabel's home. It was built of grey
stone, with towers and turrets, like a castle. The main entrance was
under a carved archway that led into a courtyard, around which lay some
of the principal rooms. A splendid wistaria covered one wall, and an
equally fine magnolia another, while the greater part of the courtyard
was devoted to an Italian garden, gay flower-beds in quaint shapes
radiating from a fountain that stood in the middle.

Within, the house was as handsome as without. Mabel's father and mother
had travelled much in foreign countries, and had picked up many
treasures during their wanderings. There were lovely statues of Carrara
marble, priceless Venetian glass, exquisite inlaid Italian cabinets, and
carved oak cupboards from Germany; Chinese ivories and Indian lacquer
work, Moorish lamps, rich Oriental draperies, Persian rugs, and Turkey
carpets--to say nothing of pictures by old masters and modern artists,
and a multitude of curios--embossed daggers, antique coins, Etruscan
ornaments, old Nankin porcelain, Delft and Majolica, Roman vases, Greek
urns, Sicilian jars and statuettes, and a medley of other articles,
either ancient or modern, gathered from almost every corner of the
world.

"It's like a museum!" said Aldred, when Mabel showed her some of the
more interesting among the contents of the many cabinets.

"Yes. Dad and Mother have a perfect mania for bringing things home from
abroad. They like to have specimens from every country they have been
to, and each year the collection seems to grow bigger."

"Have they ever taken you abroad?"

"Not yet. Mother says I shall enjoy it so much more if I wait until I
know enough really to appreciate it properly. I'm to go when I leave
school, and spend a whole winter travelling in France and Italy and
Greece; but Father says that before I start he will give me an
examination in the old Italian masters and in Greek architect