d rolled paths, planted bulbs, and divided
roots of perennials; they sawed wood, lifted rhubarb, and helped to
prepare a mushroom bed. It was all new and exciting, and there was a
spice of patriotism mixed up with it. They felt that they were training
to be of some service to the community.

"It's fearfully weird," said Wendy, writing her essay on _Insect Pests_,
"to have to find out whether your insect has a biting or a sucking
mouth, so as to know whether you must spray the beastie direct, or apply
poison to the plant. I'd feel rather like a dentist examining their
jaws."

"I heard of an editor in America," laughed Magsie, "who got his 'answers
to correspondents' mixed up, and in reply to 'how to kill a plague of
crickets' put 'rub their gums gently with a thimble, and if feverish,
administer Perry's Teething Powders'; while to 'Anxious Mother of
Twins', he gave the advice: 'Burn tobacco on a hot shovel, and the
little pests will hop about and die as dead as door-nails'."

"You always fix these yarns on America," pouted Diana. "It sounds a
great deal more like one of your British editors."

To some of the girls the greatest event of all was the arrival of the
horse and trap which Miss Todd had decided to add to her establishment.
Pendlemere was some distance from the station and from Glenbury, the
nearest town, and she thought it would be a great convenience to be
independent of carriers and able to fetch supplies for themselves.
Diana, keenly interested, was allowed by Miss Ormrod to make the
acquaintance of "Baron", the pretty chestnut cob, and even to help in
his toilet. Diana loved horses, and used the curry-comb with enthusiasm,
talking to Baron in what she called "horse language"--a string of
endearing terms that on the whole he seemed to appreciate.

"I'd just adore to drive him!" she sometimes hinted; but Miss Ormrod
always ignored the hint, and, instead of offering her the reins, never
even invited her into the cart. Diana would stand watching wistfully
when Baron was harnessed, and the governess car would start out on a
pilgrimage to the town. She considered that a practical part of her
education was being obviously neglected.

"If we could each keep a pony and go for rides on the hills, it would be
ripping!" she sighed.

"Goody! What a circus we'd look!" said Vi, who did not take so kindly to
horsemanship, and preferred a car.

Early in November, Miss Todd, having some urgent business to transact,