e her company to an extent that Meg would by no
means allow.

"She's my friend, and hasn't come here to play with little boys. Run
away to the nursery, and leave us alone!" she commanded, enforcing her
words by a process of summary ejection, regardless of all wails.

Gipsy had further to form an acquaintance with two dogs, three cats, a
dormouse, and a tame starling, before she was considered intimate with
the whole household, but after that she felt thoroughly at home.

The Gordons were a particularly jolly, merry, happy-go-lucky set of
young people, and they made their guest so entirely welcome that at the
end of a few days she might have known them all for years. Even the
bashful Billy soon ceased turning crimson whenever he spoke to her,
while Eppie and Molly disputed fiercely over the honour of sitting next
to her at tea. It happened to be a fine Easter, so outdoor occupations
were in full swing. Gipsy was an ardent tennis player, and revelled in
golf also. She and Meg and Donald made many cycling excursions, for the
neighbourhood was pretty and the roads were good. With packets of
sandwiches tied to their handlebars they would start off for a whole
day's ride, to explore some ruined abbey or ancient castle, or to get a
picturesque view of the fells. Donald, who was keen on collecting birds'
eggs, would often stop the party, to hunt for nests in the hedges or
banks; while Meg, whose hobby at present was wild flowers, kept a
watchful eye for any fresh specimens that she might find growing by the
roadside.

Mr. Gordon was an enthusiastic member of an Alpine Club, and he would
sometimes take the elder and more reliable members of his family on to
the fells for mountaineering practice. Many of the rocks afforded
excellent training for Switzerland, without involving any special
danger. These climbs were something quite new for Gipsy, and an immense
delight. She was very fearless, and had a steady head, so she proved an
apt pupil. Mr. Gordon would show her exactly how she must place her feet
and hold herself so as to take advantage of the tiniest and narrowest
ledges of rock, and she much enjoyed the excitement of accomplishing,
under his guidance, what would have appeared to her impossible
performances without his skilled advice. Meg and Donald had already
received some training, and when Gipsy was sufficiently advanced to be
able to keep up with them, Mr. Gordon allowed them all three to venture
with him on a more