id Lucy.

Their eyes met. Rosamund's flashed angrily. Lucy felt that all the
jealousy which she had promised Aunt Susan to bury for ever in a low
grave was rising up stronger than before. Aunt Susan was in reality
watching her niece, and was quite determined to have her way.

"Won't some one go into the house," she said, addressing the girls in a
mass, "and ask Mrs. Merriman if you may yourselves carry down the cups
and saucers and teapot, and jam and bread and butter, and whatever is
required for a gipsy tea? I have just one hour before I must trot back
to catch my train, and during that hour I can help you to get it. There
is a lovely bank just above the river, where we can make our gipsy fire
and enjoy ourselves."

Where was the _ennui_ now? Agnes Sparkes rushed off to fulfil Mrs.
Brett's bidding. Lucy, ashamed, she knew not why, followed her more
slowly. In a few minutes, owing to Mrs. Brett's breezy talk, there were
seven girls, all apparently happy, very busily preparing tea. The fire
soon crackled and blazed; the kettle quickly did its part by singing
merrily and boiling sturdily. Tea was made in the old brown teapot which
was always kept for such occasions. How good it tasted in the open air!
how different from any made indoors! No longer was Sunnyside a dull
place, for Mrs. Brett kept all the girls laughing with the funny stories
she told and the extraordinary sort of free-and-easy manner in which
she did everything. And yet she was so good-natured, so full of fun and
_bonhomie_!

With regard to Rosamund, Mrs. Brett saw at once that she would be Lucy's
worst enemy, and she determined in her own mind to take the girl in tow.

"I will just knock some of her pride out of her, to begin with," thought
the good lady.

Accordingly, when tea was over, and every scrap of bread and butter had
been consumed, she selected Rosamund as the person to wash up the
tea-things.

"Why me?" said Rosamund, opening her pretty brown eyes in some
astonishment.

"Because you are the tallest, and you look the strongest," said Aunt
Susan. "Now, be quick about it.--Lucy, did you bring out the towel?"

"I did," said Lucy; "and the little wooden bowl, and here is hot water.
And do you want me to help, Aunt Susy?"

"Help, child? Of course you shall help. Rosamund shall wash and you
shall dry. Now then, be as quick as ever you can."

The two girls were thus brought face to face with each other. Mrs. Brett
looked at her watch, sai