light snow, but on days of blizzard there was
Swedish drill or dancing in the big class-room, to work off the
superfluous energy accumulated during hours of sitting still at lessons.

One afternoon, when driving sleet and showers swept past the house, and
an inclement sky hid every hint of sunshine, the twenty girls, clad in
their gymnasium costumes, were hard at work doing Indian club exercises.
Dulcie, who stood in the vicinity of the window, could watch the
raindrops splashing on the pane, and see the wet tree-tops waving about
in the wind, and runnels of water coursing down the drive like little
rivulets. It was the sort of afternoon when nobody who could help it
would choose to be out, and a visitor to the Hall seemed about the most
unlikely event on the face of the earth. Judge her surprise, therefore,
when she heard the hoot of a motor-horn, and the next instant saw,
coming up the drive, the well-known Daimler touring car from Cheverley
Chase. In her excitement she almost dropped her clubs. Had Cousin Clare
come over to see them? Or had Everard a holiday? She longed to
communicate the thrilling news to Lilias, but the music was still going
on, and her arms must move in time to it. She waited in a flutter of
expectation, revolving all kinds of delightful possibilities that might
occur. Cousin Clare would surely send a cake and a box of chocolates,
even if she had not come herself. Five minutes passed, then Davis, the
parlor-maid, opened the door, and whispered a brief message to Miss
Perkins. The mistress held up her hand and stopped the exercises.

"Lilias and Dulcie are wanted at once in the study," she said.

Amid the astonished looks of their companions, the two girls put down
their clubs and left the room, Dulcie hastily telling her sister, as
they hurried down the passage, how she had seen the car from the window.
They tapped at the study door, and entered full of pleasant
anticipation. Miss Walters was standing by the fire, with a letter in
her hand.

"Come in, girls," she said gravely. "I've sent for you because I have
something very sad to tell you. Can you prepare your minds for a great
shock? Your Grandfather was taken ill suddenly last night, and passed
away this morning. Your cousin has sent the car to fetch you both home.
Go at once and change your dresses, and Miss Harvey will help you to
pack a few clothes. The chauffeur is having some tea, but you must not
keep him waiting very long. I can't te