o Cheltenham for a rose show. Hugo declined the rose show,
but gratefully accepted the drive. He would potter about the town while
Mr. Withells inspected the flowers. The Grange head-gardener had
several exhibits, and was to be taken on the front seat.

They started soon after breakfast and would be gone the whole day, for
it was an hour and three-quarters run by road and two by train.

"I wish he had offered to take you," Jan said to Meg when the big motor
had vanished out of the drive. "It would have been so nice for you to
see Major Morton."

"And sit bodkin between Hugo and Mr. Withells or on one of those horrid
little folding-seats--no, thank you! When I go to see my poor little
papa I shall go by train by myself. I'll choose a day when their dear
father can help you with the children."

After lunch Meg began to find fault with Jan's appearance. "I simply
won't see you in that old grey skirt a minute longer--go and put on a
white frock--a nice white frock. You've got plenty."

"Who is always grumbling about the washing? Besides, I want to garden."

"You can't garden this afternoon. On such a lovely day it's your duty to
dress in accordance with it. I'm going to clean up my children, and then
we'll all go down to the post-office to buy stamps and show ourselves.
_You_ ought to call on Lady Mary--you know you ought. Go and change, and
then come and see if I approve of you. You might leave a card at the
vicarage, too. I know they're going to the rose show, so you'd be quite
safe."

"You're a nuisance, Meg," Jan complained. "Let you and little Fay go
swanking down the village if you like, but why can't you leave Tony and
me to potter comfortably in our old clothes?"

"I'm tired of your old clothes; I want you to look decent for once. You
haven't done anything I asked you for ages. You might as well do this."

Jan sighed. "It seems rather absurd when you yourself say every soul we
know will be at the flower show."

"I never said anything of the kind. I said Mrs. Fream was going to the
flower show. Hurry up, Jan."

* * * * *

"Well, will I do? Will I satisfy the hedges and ditches, do you think?"
Jan asked later, as she appeared in the hall clad in the white raiment
Meg had commanded.

Meg turned her round. "Very nice indeed," she said. "I'm glad you put on
the expensive one. It's funny why the very plain things cost such a lot.
I like the black hat with your white hair. Yes,