ticket
hung outside the ducks' cage, and on it were printed the magic words
"Second Prize".

"You darlings! You dear, clean, clever, quacking creatures! You deserve
an eel apiece or something equally delicious for this," purred their
mistress, with immense satisfaction. "Don't they look spotless, bless
their hearts!"

"I'm glad we washed them," agreed Lesbia. "It probably turned the scale
in their favour to have their feathers so spanky."

"The pullets have got 'Highly Commended'!" squealed Magsie, rushing back
from a further inspection down the line of cages.

"Good! It was worth bringing them. Next spring I'll buy some eggs from
Lord Lightman's and try and have a champion hatch. You'll see me winning
a first prize before I've finished. But you've not managed badly to
wangle a 'second', have you, Snowy and Daddles? Your auntie's proud of
you to-day."

CHAPTER XV

The Stripling

Lesbia's holiday at Dolmadoc was not without its trials. Before she had
stayed there for a week she began to have a shrewd suspicion that she
had been invited mainly to act buffer between Regina and the Stripling.
The two unfortunately did not "get on". Regina was blazingly clever,
interesting, and very nice with those to whom she happened to take a
fancy. In the bosom of her own family she was what is sometimes aptly
described as "a little madam". She had scarcely any patience or
tolerance for Derrick, she sat upon him continually, snapping at his
most innocent remarks. The Stripling certainly needed some slight
forbearance, for he was in the awkward stage of a young cockerel
learning to crow, but the treatment meted out to him by his sister was
drastic. Lesbia was placed in a very awkward position. She was
constantly required to act as referee in the frequent squabbles. If, in
the cause of justice, she took Derrick's part, Regina would sulk for
hours, and if, on the other hand, she supported her friend, the
Stripling would declare that girls always sided together and would hint
gloomily that he had finished with the fair sex for ever.

Secretly Lesbia sympathized with him, though for the sake of peace she
could not openly announce herself his ally. It was much the same with
the younger children. Regina had a soft spot in her heart for Una, but
with Magsie she was constantly bickering.

Magsie had her own views about life, and fiercely resented criticism.
She used to go out of her way sometimes to show her independence, and