re went into raptures about her, when talking to her sisters
afterwards.

'She is not a bit goody or eccentric, as Hugh hinted. She talked and
laughed as naturally as any one; and she has such a lovely face.
Dresses very quietly, but with good taste; and is such a graceful
woman! She is quite the nicest person I have met for a long time. I
am dying to see her in her own home. I am sure it must be a charming
one. She drove over in an open carriage with a handsome pair of
horses; and has offered to take us for drives whenever we like.'

'We really must afford ourselves a small trap,' said Gwen. 'We cannot
do without it in the country. If we had a donkey, it would be better
than nothing!'

'_I_ wouldn't go in a donkey-cart,' said Clare, with disdain.

'Then you could stay at home. Agatha, what do you say? We have a
stable. How much will it cost, do you think?'

When once Gwen took a matter in hand, she generally carried it through;
and very shortly after, the sisters were the proud possessors of a
little two-wheeled trap, and a small rough pony. This was a great
convenience as well as pleasure to them, and when Clare had a fit of
the blues, she would go off to Brambleton and do some shopping, and
return quite interested and eager to tell all she had seen and heard.
She met Miss Villars on one of her expeditions, and she asked her to go
and have a cup of tea with her before she returned home. This Clare
willingly did. She had not been to the house before, though Agatha and
Gwen had; but she found it quite answered her expectations. It was an
ideal old-fashioned country house, and Miss Villars was a perfect
hostess. She introduced Clare to a delicate-looking girl staying with
her: 'This is Miss Audrey Foster, who enjoys the country quite as much
as you do.'

'It is paradise to me,' said the girl enthusiastically. 'I am a
Londoner, and have never stayed in the country before.'

Clare looked at her, and noted that her shabby serge dress and pale
pinched face seemed strangely incongruous with her surroundings. But
when she had left the room shortly afterwards, Miss Villars said: 'Miss
Foster is the eldest daughter of an East End vicar. She has not had a
holiday or any change from home since her school-days; and she is
mother and governess to five younger brothers and sisters. I hope to
send her back a different creature. It is a great pleasure to give
pleasure to other people, is it not?'

'I don't