n of the May, mother, I'm to be Queen of the May!"
--_Tennyson_.

Agnetta had been quite wrong in saying that Lilac had any idea of being
Queen. At the school that afternoon, when amidst breathless silence the
Mistress had counted up the votes and said: "Lilac White is chosen
Queen", it had been such a surprise to her that she had stood as though
in a dream. Her companions nudged her on either side. "It's you that's
Queen," they whispered; and at length she awoke to the wonderful fact
that it was not Agnetta or anyone else who had the most votes, but she
herself, Lilac White. She was Queen! Looking round, still half-puzzled
to believe such a wonderful thing, she saw a great many pleased faces,
and heard Mrs Leigh say: "I think you have chosen very well, and I am
glad Lilac will be Queen this year." It was, then, really true. "How
pleased Mother'll be!" was her first thought; but her second was not so
pleasant, for her eye fell on Agnetta. It was the only sullen face
there; disappointment and vexation were written upon it, and there was
no answering glance of sympathy from the downcast eyes. Lilac was an
impulsive child, and affection for her friend made her forget everything
else for the moment. She left her place, went up to Mrs Leigh, who was
talking to the schoolmistress, and held one arm out straight in front of
her.

"Well, Lilac," said Mrs Leigh kindly, "what is it?"

"Please, ma'am," said Lilac, dropping a curtsy, "if they don't mind, I'd
rather Agnetta Greenways was Queen."

"Oh, that's quite out of the question," said Mrs Leigh decidedly; "when
the Queen's been once chosen it can't be altered. Why, I should have
thought you would have been pleased."

Lilac hung her head, and went back to her place rather abashed. She was
pleased, and she did not like Mrs Leigh to think she did not care. Her
whole heart was full of delight at receiving such an honour, but at the
same time it was hard for Agnetta, who had so set her mind on being
Queen. If only she could be Queen too! That being impossible, Lilac
had done her best in offering to give it up, and it was disappointing to
find that her friend, far from being grateful, was cross and sulky with
her and quite out of temper. When the other children crowded round
Lilac with pleased faces Agnetta held back, and had not one kind word to
say, but refusing an advances flung herself away from her companions and
rushed home full of wrath. Lilac looked af