to have all the credit of the
generosity at your father's expense."

Diana flushed up to her hair, and down over her neck.

"Do you think me a slacker?" she asked.

"Yes; in this respect I certainly do. If you were prepared to deny
yourself anything it would be different, but you're not. You like to
call the child _your_ foundling, but personally you've done nothing for
her. It's Miss Chadwick who's had the wakeful nights."

Diana did not urge in self-defence that she would willingly have taken
the baby to bed with her if she had been allowed; she knew it was
useless to offer arguments or excuses. She was busy thinking. Miss
Todd's reproaches stung her like a whip. She would let the school see
that she was not the pampered, spoilt darling that they imagined. On
that score she was determined. Sacrifices! She was quite prepared to
make sacrifices if they were necessary. Nobody should again have the
chance of telling her that she did her generosity at other people's
expense. An idea swept through her mind, and she set her teeth.

"Does it cost more than twelve and six a week to keep Lady?" she asked.

"Considerably more; though I don't suppose you've ever concerned
yourself about the cost," returned Miss Todd sarcastically.

"Might I hand Lady over to the school for the rest of the term, then,
and pay for the baby instead? I'd square it up with Father. He wouldn't
mind about the riding when I explained."

Miss Todd looked Diana squarely in the face. Pupil and mistress met each
other's eyes. The Principal's voice softened when she spoke.

"Yes; if you like to do this, Diana, I could arrange it. We want another
school pony. You could take your turn with Lady once a week, the same as
the other girls. By the end of the term we should know whether the
'Home' would receive the baby. Meantime, Mrs. Jones would take good care
of her."

"Then I guess it's fixed," said Diana rather hoarsely.

CHAPTER XIX

Ambitions

The poor little foundling, pending her mother's trial at the Assizes,
was boarded out in the village with Mrs. Jones, and Diana had permission
to see her twice a week. Miss Todd communicated with the "Home for
Destitute Children", and received the reply that, should the mother be
convicted, as seemed only too probable, they would be ready to receive
the baby, and would apply to the judge for an order for entire charge,
so that it should not be claimed and taken away to a possibly criminal
life whe