't fork out unless she feels inclined, I can tell
you that, my child."

"Just you leave it to me. I'll manage it by fair means or foul."

"Won't a subscription list make it rather awkward for Gipsy? You know
she can't give anything," whispered Hetty Hancock to Dilys.

"Not at all, the way I'm going to do it. I'll take care of Gipsy, you'll
see--make it easy for her, but nick in Leonora for more than she
bargains."

"You're cleverer than I thought you were."

"Ah, you haven't plumbed the depths of my genius yet, my good child. Now
when Leonora----"

"Hush! Here she comes."

The millionairess walked to the fireplace, and stood leaning over the
high fender, sharpening a cherished stump of lead pencil.

"We're getting up a subscription," began Dilys, opening the attack
without further delay. "It's to buy a present for Miss Edith's birthday.
You'd like us to put your name down, wouldn't you?"

"Well, I'm not sure," replied Leonora cautiously. "What are most of you
giving?"

"Half a crown," replied a chorus of voices.

"I've been at Briarcroft such a short time," demurred Leonora. "Perhaps
it would really be better if the present came from you, who are all old
pupils."

"There's something in that," said Dilys. "Both you and Gipsy Latimer
have only been here a little while, so it would be more appropriate,
after all, to leave you both out of it, and let it be an old girls'
gift. Lennie, do you hear? You're not to put down either Gipsy or
Leonora, however much they beg and pray."

"Right-oh!" said Lennie rather sulkily. She thought that Dilys, in her
delicacy for Gipsy, was sparing Leonora too much. But Dilys gave her a
withering look, which so plainly implied: "Trust me to mind my own
business" that she began hastily to hum a tune.

"Perhaps you'd like to give Miss Edith something on your own account,"
suggested Dilys craftily to the millionairess.

"Exactly. It would be far better than my joining with the rest of you,"
agreed Leonora, jumping at such an easy way out.

"Tell me what it's to be, then, and we'll ask Miss Lindsay to order it."

"Oh! I can get it myself, thanks."

"We're not allowed. All shopping has to be done through Miss Lindsay. I
should suggest a book."

"I dare say that would do. There was one of yours that Miss Edith was
looking at yesterday."

"Do you mean my small 'Christina Rossetti'? All right. Lennie, put down
that Leonora Parker wants to order a copy of Christina Rossetti's