thetically. She was not very deeply interested in
Mrs. Baynes or Mrs. Newton. She had only met the former twice in her
life, and Mrs. Newton, her mother's aunt, was not a remarkably
attractive old lady. On the few occasions when she saw Lesbia she
invariably said she was just going to send her a present and would buy
her a book, but she never remembered to keep her promise and the parcel
had not yet arrived. Lesbia, who had waited for it since her sixth year,
was of the opinion that it never would come.

With school friends and relations bemoaning her departure it was rather
hard to take a hopeful view of the future. The only person who
encouraged her was Miss Pratt.

"Going to Canada," she commented. "You lucky girl! I wish I could go
myself. It's a splendidly go-ahead country. There's some chance for
people out there."

"That's what Paul and Minnie say," thought Lesbia, "but of course they
have each other and the children. I'm sure Miss Pratt would be welcome
to go in my place. I'd much rather stay in dear old England if I was
asked."

CHAPTER V

Lesbia Burns her Boats

There was so much to be done before the Hiltons set sail for Canada that
the brief fortnight seemed to slide away like a few days. Lesbia
attended school, but her lessons went to the winds, amply justifying
Miss Tatham's decision that the news of her impending departure would
unsettle her work. Unsettle her? How was it possible to do any work at
all when she could count the days and say "This time next week I shall
be upon the ocean"? She dreaded the voyage. On the few occasions, during
summer holidays, that she had been for a sea trip, she had proved a poor
sailor. Though Paul assured her the motion would be far less on a big
steamer than on a small yacht, she would not take his word for it.

"I shall wish myself at the bottom before we've passed Queenstown," she
declared tragically.

At school some little mystery was apparently going on. The girls would
be talking, then would stop suddenly when she approached. She wondered
about it vaguely. It was explained on her last day, when, at four
o'clock, she was asked by Theodora Johnson to come into the gymnasium.
Her own form and quite a number from the Sixth and from VB and IVA were
assembled there. To her surprise she seemed to be the centre of
attraction. Everybody looked first at her, and then at Theodora, who
began to make a speech.

"We're all very sorry you're leaving the school,