receive Madame Leslie, I should like to know. I don't
want to see her!"

"Neither do I, only I _do_ wonder what she's like, all the same,"
ventured Dulcie. "Can she speak English? And will she take over the
whole place, and make us feel it's hers?"

"No doubt she will. We shall have to take very back seats indeed! It's
just too disgusting for words. I really think Mr. Bowden needn't have
forced this upon us."

"The girls will be ever so sorry for us!"

"I know; and that's just what I hate. I can't bear to be pitied."

The Easter exodus seemed very different indeed from the happy breaking
up of last Christmas. No "Rajah" and "Peri" with glossy coats and
arching necks came to take Lilias and Dulcie from school, and give them
the delight of a ride over the hills, though Milner arrived with the
car, and told them that he was to fetch their three younger brothers on
the following morning. The Chase seemed lonely and deserted with nobody
to welcome them except the servants. It brought back vividly those few
sad days of drawn blinds, and the memory of the long black line slowly
disappearing down the drive. They had supper by themselves, and spent a
very quiet evening reading in the drawing-room. The advent next day of
Roland, Bevis, and Clifford certainly enlivened the atmosphere, and
things would have felt like old times again had it not been for the
shadow of the arrival of the heiress. A telegram had been received from
Cousin Clare announcing the train, and the car was to meet them at the
station on that same evening. Winder and the other servants were
bustling about getting the house in order for its new mistress. A log
fire was lighted in the hall, and plants in pots were carried in from
the conservatory. The Union Jack fluttered from over the porch, and the
gardener had put up some decorations with the word "Welcome."

Five very sober young people stood in the drawing-room and watched as
the car came up the drive to the front door. Next minute they heard
Cousin Clare's cheerful voice calling to them, and they came shyly forth
into the hall.

Standing on the Persian rug in front of the log fire was a girl of about
fourteen, an erect, slender, graceful little figure, with dark silky
hair hanging in loose curls, and wonderful bright eyes that were dark
and yet full of light and seemed to shine like stars. For an instant she
included the Ingletons in one comprehensive glance, then her whole face
broke into eager smi