herine
was already a pupil at the school, the question was considered settled.
I was to be sent after the Easter holidays, and Uncle Herbert determined
that Lucy should accompany me. We were full of the importance of our
departure.

"We're to learn German and dancing," said Lucy. "And music from an
Italian master. Our school clothes won't be made by Miss Jenkins; Mother
is going to take us to her own dressmaker. We're each to have a new
trunk, and umbrellas with silver tops."

Aunt Agatha escorted us herself to The Hollies, for she had not yet
seen either the school or the neighbourhood, though she had had an
interview with Mrs. Marshall in London. It seemed a long journey into
Derbyshire, and our pent-up excitement had plenty of time to cool while
the train ran through the rather uninteresting scenery of Northampton
and Leicester, but it burst out again with renewed vigour when we at
length drew up at the little station of Helston Spa.

With what curiosity we viewed every other girl upon the platform,
wondering whether she were bound for the same destination as ourselves,
and how soon we should get to know her. We looked rather longingly at an
omnibus laden with a jolly, laughing crew, who seemed to be in charge of
a teacher; but my aunt bustled us into a cab, and we drove away along a
white limestone road, bordered with tall crags on the one side and a
brawling stream on the other.

The Hollies proved to be an old-fashioned red-brick house with a trim
garden, and playing-fields beyond.

"It's a nice open situation, and the air feels bracing," said Aunt
Agatha, sniffing the breeze as if to test its quality. "I notice that it
faces south, and there's a pretty view over the woods and hills. It
ought to be healthy, I'm sure, so far away from London smoke and fog."

Lucy and I looked with delight at the gray hills in the distance, and
the line of fresh green trees which fringed the river; after the long,
dull streets of our suburban home, it was pleasant to feel that our
school was in the country.

Mrs. Marshall received new arrivals in the drawing-room, and when we had
bidden a rather hasty good-bye to Aunt Agatha, who was returning to town
by the next train, and had unpacked our boxes in the pretty little
bedroom which we were to share together, we were ushered down to the
play-room by a teacher, to make the acquaintance of our school-fellows.
There was a pause in the loud hum of conversation as the door opened,