her now. It is a long way off school-days, and
the holidays have hardly begun. Frosty has gone off to fetch the
children. I am dying with excitement to see them. But it was great fun
to watch you, Rosamund. I could not hear what your words were; but I saw
that you were pleading for me, and promising to be my sponsor, my
godmother. As if I could be good there!"

"You must be good. I have declared it; I have almost staked my
reputation on the fact. You will not disappoint me," was Rosamund's
reply.

The girls walked about for some little time together, and by-and-by
there came the sound of wheels, and they knew that the travelers had
arrived.

"Come along, Irene," said Rosamund; and they went down the avenue to
meet Miss Frost, who was herself driving the governess-cart. Her thin
face was flushed with excitement, her eyes were bright; she looked ten
years younger, and almost pretty. An exceedingly pretty little girl,
with dark eyes, and a quantity of fair hair tumbling about her face, sat
close up to her half-sister. A boy, plain, with freckles, sandy hair,
and light-blue eyes, was ejaculating in a lordly tone:

"I tell you, sister, you are not holding the reins right!--Oh, hullo!"
he exclaimed as he saw Irene and Rosamund. "Won't you tell my sister
that she is not to hold the reins like that? She is nagging at the
pony's mouth all the time, and hurting him."

"Of course she is," said Irene, springing forward.

Hugh jumped from the governess-cart. Miss Frost also descended. Hugh and
Irene had an earnest harangue on the subject of pony-driving, and Miss
Frost, much relieved at such an unceremonious introduction, turned her
attention to little Agnes.

"Agnes is tired, and has a headache, and would like me to take her into
the house. May I?" she said, looking appealingly at Rosamund.

But Rosamund was not going to shirk her duty. These children were to be
Irene's guests, and they must be immediately put into their right
position. She turned, therefore, to her little friend and touched her on
the arm.

"Irene," she said, "you ought to have a proper introduction to Agnes.
This is Agnes Frost."

Little Agnes came shyly forward and looked straight up with her big dark
eyes at Irene. She was a smaller girl, and if possible still more
delicate-looking, but very pretty and interesting. Hugh, who had been
having such an interesting debate with Irene, now stepped up to Agnes
and flung his arm round her neck.

"She is