es and will
gladly teach her to make herself useful in the _house_. In my opinion
all young people ought to learn _housework_. It is far too much
_neglected_ in these days, and is of more _real importance_ than most of
what is taught them at _school_."

Lesbia's face, on reading such an offer, was gloom personified. She had
shirked going to Canada and helping Minnie to look after Julie, Steve,
and Bunty, but with Aunt Newton her position would evidently be ten
times worse. It was certainly "out of the frying-pan into the fire". The
old lady was fussy and fidgetty, and neither companions nor servants
ever stayed with her for long. To fill up the gaps in her domestic
arrangements seemed an appalling prospect. Fortunately, the letter did
not appeal to Mrs. Patterson's sensible, practical mind.

"This won't do at all," she said briefly, knitting her brows. "Untrained
domestic work is a blind alley and leads nowhere. Lesbia must be put in
the way of making a proper living. Every girl nowadays ought to have her
own career. I shall go and speak to Miss Tatham about it."

Miss Tatham, kind, wise, and experienced in counselling many pupils in
the choice of their future professions, gave the best advice she could.
Mrs. Patterson came home and talked the matter over with her husband,
then announced to Lesbia the result of their cogitations.

"We will give you a home with us, but we can't afford to pay for your
education as well. Miss Tatham has made a very generous offer. She says
the school is understaffed and that the governors have consented to her
obtaining some extra assistance. She suggests that after Christmas you
should be received as a governess-pupil. You could give a certain amount
of help with the juniors, and your teaching should cancel all your
school expenses. It's a splendid plan, and the only one possible in the
circumstances. Perhaps Mrs. Newton and Mrs. Baynes will help a little
with your clothing, and then we shall manage. As I expected, your fees
were paid at the High School up to Christmas, so you are to begin again
next Monday. There's still a fortnight of the term left, and you may
just as well take advantage of it."

Lesbia heaved a sigh of intense relief at these arrangements. She had
hardly realized in the old days that such things as fees existed, they
had been Paul's affair entirely, but now that the grown-ups had settled
these matters to their satisfaction, she could once more return to the
High