he Sixth Form had painted
round them a frieze, consisting of long, trailing sprays of wild roses,
quite simply and broadly done, but giving a most artistic effect. The
curtains of cream-coloured casement cloth were embroidered in pale-green
_applique_ by the Fifth Form; the Fourth had undertaken the cushions;
and the Third had worked an elaborate and dainty table-cover. The
pictures were mostly chalk and pastel drawings done by the best students
of the art class; while the wood-carving class had contributed the
frames. Carpentry lessons had produced the bookcase, the cosy corner,
the two arm-chairs, and also many neat little contrivances, in the way
of shelves and handy brackets. Every item spent on the furnishing had
been carefully entered and added up by the girls, so that each should
have an adequate idea of the cost of the wee establishment, and what it
was possible to do at trifling expense.

Though the sitting-room was more aesthetic than the kitchen, the latter
was regarded as the most important feature of the house. The walls were
a pale terra-cotta, and were hung with a few brown bromide photographs;
but there art ended and utility began. All the rest was strictly
business-like. There was a small "settler's stove", with oven and
boiler; and a complete stock of requisites for simple cookery--pots,
pans, dishes, pastry-board and roller, lemon squeezer, egg whisk, and
even a coffee grinder, a knife cleaner, and a mincing machine.

The three girls felt quite important as they took possession of their
little kingdom for the day. It was almost like "playing at house", but
there was a "grown-up" sensation of responsibility which differed from
mere amusement. With two guests for dinner and three for tea, they
certainly could not afford to waste their time, if they wished to make
a worthy effort at hospitality.

"We'll get the stove going first," said Mabel, "and have our breakfast;
then, as soon as we've cleared away and washed up, we can begin at once
to think about dinner."

She set the example by seizing the flue brush and beginning to clear the
soot from under the oven, while Aldred fetched sticks, and Dora ran with
a bucket to the shed to break coals, hammering away at the largest lumps
she could find with keen satisfaction. The fire was soon blazing and the
kettle filled, and with so many hands to help breakfast was not long in
preparation. The energetic Dora turned the handle of the coffee grinder,
Mabel cut