beauty of the family, twelve-year-old Lesbia, a
dear, delightful, smiling, lovable little lazybones, usually at the
bottom of her Form. Lesbia never attempted to work hard at school. She
scraped through her lessons somehow, generally with Gwen's help at home,
and took life in a happy-go-lucky fashion, with as little trouble to
herself as possible. Lesbia's chief virtue was an admirably calm and
unruffled temper: she would laugh philosophically over things that made
Gwen rage, and though she had not half the character of the latter, she
was a far greater general favourite. She was much petted at school, both
by her own Form and by the Seniors, for she had sweet, coaxing little
ways, and a helpless, confiding look in her blue eyes that was rather
fascinating, and her lovely fair flaxen hair gave her the appearance of
a large wax doll, just new from a toy shop. Lesbia had one great
advantage: she was always well dressed. She possessed a rich cousin of
exactly her own age, whose clothes were passed on to her. Irene grew
rapidly, so her handsome frocks and coats were scarcely worn when they
reached Lesbia, and as Aunt Violet invariably sent them first to the
cleaners, they would arrive wrapped in folds of dainty tissue paper, and
looking like new. It seemed rather hard that Lesbia should always be the
lucky recipient of the parcels, and Beatrice, with a strict sense of
justice, had often tried to adapt some of the things for Gwen. It was
quite impossible, however--Lesbia's neat, dainty little figure exactly
fitted into the clothes, while Gwen, tall and big-boned even for her
extra two and a half years, was so many sizes too large that she had to
resign all hope of "fineries", and content herself with plain blouses
and navy-blue serge skirts that could be lengthened easily. Not that
Gwen troubled much about dress at this period of her existence; indeed
she was apt to throw on her garments in a haphazard fashion that greatly
excited Beatrice's wrath, and would raise a remonstrance even from
Winnie. Life was so full of different things, and so many fresh
interests and new plans were crowding continually into her brain, that
she never had time to think whether her tie was neatly knotted or her
belt properly fastened; it is a sad admission to make, no doubt, but
then Gwen was no ideal heroine, only a very faulty, impetuous,
headstrong, human girl.

Three little brothers completed the Gascoyne family--Giles, Basil, and
Martin, ag