ls
came suddenly into view, trotting briskly towards the river. They waved
their hands, and tore down upon the visitor in lively welcome.

"There you are! This _is_ nice. Bates said you were in the garden, so
we just flew and changed, and rushed off in pursuit. So glad you had
Ralph to amuse you. The mill's working! We guessed you'd be there
looking on..."

"There's nothing to see but the old wheel creaking round. Tea is far
more to the point. I'm dying for some, and I'm sure--er--Miss--er--
Garnett is, too! She's had a tiring afternoon."

"Er--Miss--er--Garnett's name is Darsie. You can always call a girl by
her Christian name till her hair's up," said Darsie quickly, and Ralph
immediately availed himself of the permission.

"All right, Darsie. It's a jolly little name. Much easier to say."

Rather to Darsie's disappointment tea was served in the drawing-room in
formal, grown-up fashion, Mrs Percival presiding over the little table,
with its shining silver and fine old-world china. There were hot, brown
little scones, crisp buttered toast, iced cakes, thick cream, and other
indigestible luxuries, which came as an agreeable change from Lady
Hayes's careful dietary, and Darsie was acutely conscious of the beauty
and elegance of the room. How small and poky and drab the home drawing-
room would appear in comparison! How different the outlook on another
row of red-brick houses, from the sweep of green lawns, and the avenue
of great beech-trees seen through the four long French windows which
broke the side of this long, low room!

How different her own life promised to be from those of the two girls by
her side--the girls who had just returned from a ride on their own
horses over their own land! ... They would never need to worry about
money; their role in life for the next few years would consist in being
pretty and agreeable, wearing charming frocks, visiting at friends'
houses, travelling in summer, hunting in winter, and, finally, making
suitable Carriages, settling down as mistresses of other luxurious
houses, and living happily ever after!

She herself would study and cram for examination after examination; go
through agonies of suspense waiting for results, and as she passed or
failed, obtain a good or second-rate appointment in a suburban school.
Henceforth work, work, work--teaching by day, correcting exercises by
night, in a deserted schoolroom, with three months' holiday a year spent
at ho