burst Hetty Hancock, like a tempestuous
north wind, proclaiming without either hesitation or reserve the
important tidings.

"I say, isn't it a joke? There's actually a new boarder coming
to-morrow."

"New girls seem to choose odd times to come nowadays," said Lennie. "Why
didn't she wait till the half term--it's only about two weeks off?"

"Perhaps she's been shipwrecked, like I was," suggested Gipsy.

"Not a bit of it! She doesn't come from far. Her home's only about ten
miles off, I believe. Her name's Leonora Parker."

"Parker! Parker! Surely not the Parkers of Ribblestone Abbey?" commented
Norah Bell.

"I really don't know."

"But I know!" put in Barbara Kendrick, delighted to score at last by her
superior information. "They are the Parkers of Ribblestone Abbey."

"Then they're most enormously rich people."

"Yes, millionaires! And Leonora's the only child."

"So she's an heiress!"

"Rather--an heiress of millions."

"You might call her a millionairess, in fact," chuckled Gipsy.

"Good for you, Yankee Doodle!"

"I say, it's rather a joke her coming here, isn't it?" said Norah Bell.
"A millionaire's daughter! I wonder what she'll be like?"

"Sure to have the best of everything," said Daisy Scatcherd; "the
loveliest dresses and the most expensive hats."

"She won't be able to wear anything but her school 'sailor' here!"
commented Dilys. "You needn't imagine she'll come decked out with
diamonds, Daisy."

"She'll have absolutely unlimited pocket-money."

"And be able to buy chocolates and walnut creams by the pound!" added
Barbara enviously.

"Wonder what Form and what dormitory she'll be in?"

"Well, at any rate I shan't be the last new girl," said Gipsy. "I'm glad
to retire from the position."

"Yes, Yankee Doodle. Your little nose will be quite put out of joint."

"A millionairess at Briarcroft! Doesn't it sound magnificent?"

"What a set of sillies you all are!" said Dilys. "I'm not going to make
any fuss over Leonora, even if she can buy chocolates by the pound. I'll
wait and see how I like her before I give my opinion. She mayn't be nice
at all."

In spite of Dilys's attitude of aloofness the others could not help
anticipating with the keenest eagerness the advent of a fresh fellow
boarder. The personality of the "millionairess", as they nicknamed her,
was a subject of much speculation, and a whole row of noses was
flattened against the panes of the Juniors' sitting-room window to