ot till I leave school, and that's a whole term and a half off, with
the Easter holidays thrown in. You'll have to wait!"

CHAPTER XIII

Rosemary's Secret

The fresh year flew on wings. The snowdrops--fair maids of
February--faded in the school garden, and their pale, ethereal,
green-tipped blossoms were replaced by golden daffodils that seemed to
reflect the stronger sunshine. Mezereon and other fragrant shrubs put
out sweet-scented flowers, and the great white arum lilies were throwing
up their sheaths. Violets and early primroses might be searched for
under sheltered hedgerows, and the Japanese cherry-trees were bursting
into bud. Mother Nature seemed to be shaking her garments, and getting
ready for the great carnival of Spring.

With the longer days, Lorraine was often up at Windy Howe. It was the
sort of household where you could arrive at any time without presenting
an apology for your intrusion.

"You must take us just as you find us," said Claudia. "You know I'm glad
to see you, Lorraine, but I shan't treat you as a visitor, and have you
shown into the drawing-room. You don't mind?"

Claudia was sitting in the nursery, rocking the latest addition to the
Castleton family, a tiny white bundle, with golden down on its pink
head. She nursed it dutifully, patting its back with the experience
gained with seven other younger brothers and sisters.

"Yes, it's rather sweet," she agreed, in answer to a comment from
Lorraine. "I'd like them all right if they didn't cry so much; it's such
a nuisance when they're perpetually squalling. The fact is I'm fed up
with children. I never seem able to get away from them here. I've the
greatest difficulty in doing my home lessons. Violet's always asking me
to take the baby or Perugia, and Lilith and Constable are generally
tearing about somewhere, to say nothing of Beata and Romola and Madox.
Lorraine, I've _quite_ made up my mind. I'm seventeen now, and I'm
leaving school this summer. I'm _not_ going to stay at home and just
help with the children! It isn't good enough!"

"What would you like to do?" asked Lorraine, watching with sympathy
while her friend made another effort to soothe the obstreperous new
little brother to sleep.

"I don't know!" said Claudia forlornly. "I don't seem good for anything
except to do odd jobs. Perhaps I'll go on the land. It would be a change
to make hay and hoe turnips. I should be away from Violet, anyhow. We've
been squabbling ag