you won't feel dull. We shall all
think of you and wish you were with us, I know. A very happy Christmas
to you."

"The same to you, my dears, and many of them. Goodbye, goodbye; and,
mind, no nonsense at the station. I look to you, Lesbia, to keep the
others in order."

"Trust me, Miss Martyn; we'll be very careful."

"I really think I ought to have gone with you and seen you safely off,
and----"

"No, no, no--you may really trust us. We've all of us travelled before,
and we will behave, honour bright!"

[Sidenote: Off for the Holidays]

And with a further chorus of farewells and Christmas wishes, the six or
seven girls, varying in age from twelve to seventeen, who had been
taking their places in the station 'bus, waved their hands and blew
kisses through the windows as the door slammed, and it rolled down the
drive of Seaton Lodge over the crisp, hard-frozen snow. And more and
more indistinct grew the merry farewells, till the gate was reached, and
the conveyance turning into the lane, the noisy occupants were hidden
from sight and hearing to the kindly-faced, smiling lady, who, with a
thick shawl wrapped about her shoulders, stood watching its departure on
the hall steps.

For some moments longer she remained silent, immovable, her eyes
directed towards the distant gate. But her glance went far beyond. It
had crossed the gulf of many years, and was searching the land of "Never
More."

At length the look on her face changed, and with a sigh she turned on
her heel and re-entered the house.

And how strangely silent it had suddenly become! It no longer rang with
the joyous young voices that had echoed through it that morning,
revelling in the freedom of the commencement of the Christmas holidays.

Selina Martyn heaved another sigh; she missed her young charges; her
resident French governess had left the previous day for her home at
Neuilly; and now, with the exception of the servants, she had the house
to herself, and she hated it.

A feeling of depression was on her, but she fought against it; there was
much to be done. Christmas would be on her in a couple of days, and no
sooner would that be passed than the bills would pour in; and in order
to satisfy them her own accounts must go out. Then there were all the
rooms to be put straight, for schoolgirls are by no means the most tidy
of beings. She had plenty of work before her, and she faced it.

But evening came at last, and found her somewhat weary af