d
it as lucidly as Mr. Bramshaw could. The next question was, to whom to
apply? and, after as much as was expedient had been said in favour of
each, it was decided that, as Sir Henry Walkinghame was abroad, no one
knew exactly where, it would be best to go to the fountain-head, and
write at once to the principal of the college. But who was to write?
Flora proposed Mr. Ramsden as the fittest person, but this was
negatived. Every one declared that he would never take the trouble, and
Miss Rich began to agitate her pens. By this time, however, Mrs. Ward,
who was opposite to the Gothic clock-tower, began to look uneasy, and
suggested, in a nervous manner, that it was half-past five, and she was
afraid Mr. Ward would be kept waiting for his dinner. Mrs. Grey began
to have like fears, that Mr. Grey would be come in from his ride after
banking hours. The other ladies began to think of tea, and the meeting
decided on adjourning till that day next week, when the committee would
sit upon Miss Rich's letter.

"My dear Miss Flora!" began Miss Rich, adhering to her as they parted
with the rest at the end of the street, "how am I to write to a
principal? Am I to begin Reverend Sir, or My Lord, or is he Venerable,
like an archdeacon? What is his name, and what am I to say?"

"Why, it is not a correspondence much in my line," said Flora, laughing.

"Ah! but you are so intimate with Dr. Hoxton, and your brothers at
Oxford! You must know--"

"I'll take advice," said Flora good-naturedly. "Shall I come, and call
before Friday, and tell you the result?"

"Oh, pray! It will be a real favour! Good-morning--"

"There," said Flora, as the sisters turned homewards, "Cherry is not
going to be turned out just yet!"

"How could you, Flora? Now they will have that man from Whitford, and
you said not a word against it!"

"What was the use of adding to the hubbub? A little opposition would
make them determined on having him. You will see, Ethel, we shall get
the ground on our own terms, and then it will be time to settle about
the mistress. If the harvest holidays were not over, we would try to
send Cherry to a training-school, so as to leave them no excuse."

"I hate all this management and contrivance. It would be more honest to
speak our minds, and not pretend to agree with them."

"My dear Ethel! have I spoken a word contrary to my opinion? It is not
fit for me, a girl of twenty, to go disputing and dragooning as you
would have me; bu