r spoils carefully in a cupboard under the
stairs, where hockey sticks, tennis rackets, and other possessions were
generally kept. Miss Reade was sympathetic when they took her into their
confidence, and promised readily to get them the sugar.

"Cook will bring it across and smuggle it into the scullery," she said.
"I think Miss Drummond will be quite pleased to find you have tried
something on your own initiative. By the by, I suppose you know how to
make jam?"

"I do," replied Aldred. "I've often watched my aunt make it at home, and
helped her, too. I remember exactly."

"Would you like a recipe?"

"I really don't think we need it, thanks."

"Well, I wish you all success," said Miss Reade "It is not my turn to
have a meal at the cottage to-morrow, but perhaps the blackberry jam
will appear at The Grange afterwards, and we shall taste it sometime at
tea."

By half-past seven next morning the three housewives were ready, and
attired in the regulation costume for the day's work. Each wore a
holland overall with sleeves, and had her hair tightly plaited, to keep
it out of the way.

Miss Drummond presented them solemnly with the key of the cottage.

"You will find most of the stores ready, either in the cupboard or in
the larder," she said; "but the meat will be delivered at ten o'clock.
It is a loin of mutton, and you may cook it in any one of the ways that
Miss Reade has taught you. You can get what vegetables you want from the
garden, and I leave both the pudding and the cakes for afternoon tea to
your choice. Mademoiselle and I will come to dinner punctually at one
o'clock, and I have no doubt you will have everything ready and hot and
very nice."

"We'll do our best," replied the trio.

They rushed across to the cottage in great excitement, eager to commence
operations. The place was a tiny bungalow, containing a sitting-room, a
kitchen, a scullery, a larder, and a coal-shed. Most of its adornments
were of amateur origin. Miss Drummond had wished it to be the special
toy of the school; so while it was in progress of construction, she had
encouraged the girls to prepare everything for it that they could
possibly make themselves, even allowing them to help with the
decorations. Handicrafts were much in vogue at Birkwood, and it was
really astonishing what a number of charming articles had been
contrived, all at a very small cost. The walls of the sitting-room were
colour-washed a pale, duck-egg green, and t