our luck?" asked Lorraine.

"Any day now; but it will be bad luck."

"Then I shall call every day on my way home from school to see if you've
had a letter."

Lorraine kept her word, and each afternoon took the path by the harbour
instead of the direct road up the hill. Day after day passed, and the
post-woman had not yet delivered the longed-for official communication.

"No news is good news!" cheered Lorraine. "Mr. Saunders had his
rejection last week, so Claudia told me. Mr. Castleton only heard this
morning."

"How many has he in?"

"Three--the view of Tangy Point from the beach, Madox wheeling Perugia
in the barrow, and the portrait of Madame Bertier. Claudia says they're
immensely relieved, because even Mr. Gilbertson is 'out' this year. Here
comes the second post! Is there anything for you? I'm going to see!"

Lorraine, in her impatience, tore down the wooden steps of the studio,
and waylaid the post-woman. She came back like a triumphant whirlwind,
waving a letter.

"I believe this is 'it'. Oh, do open it quick! I can't wait. I never
felt so excited to know anything in all my life! I could scream!"

Margaret, equally agitated, nevertheless kept her feelings under
control, and opened the envelope with outward calm, though her fingers
trembled noticeably. She looked at the enclosure, flushed crimson, and,
turning to Lorraine, dropped a mock curtsy.

"Madam Kilmeny," she announced, "I'm happy to be able to inform you that
your portrait is to appear upon the walls of the Royal Academy!"

"Oh, hurrah!" jodelled Lorraine, careering round the studio in an
ecstatic dance, somewhat to the peril of various studies on easels. "I
_knew_ it would get in, Carina! I had a kind of premonition that it
would!"

"And I had a premonition the other way entirely. I never was so
surprised in my life! You've been my little mascot, and brought me the
luck!"

"No, indeed; it's your own cleverness. It's a beautiful painting.
Claudia says even her father admired it, and he scarcely ever allows
anybody's work is decent except his own."

"I certainly take praise from Mr. Castleton as a compliment," admitted
Margaret. "I'm glad to hear that he liked it. Well, this is actually my
first real artistic success. I don't know myself this afternoon. I feel
an inch taller than usual."

"And so do I, to think I'm going to be hung in the Academy! Of course, I
know you've idealized me out of all recognition; but there's a
foundation o