ow!"

"Certainly not--you must wait. No, it's no use your guessing, for I
shan't say whether you're right or wrong."

Lorraine's guesses, which were of rather a wild description, did not
come anywhere near the real truth, which was sprung upon her a few days
later by her enterprising friend. It was nothing more or less than an
invitation to go up to London with Miss Lindsay and see "Kilmeny" for
herself on the wall of Burlington House.

"I daren't tell you beforehand in case it should be an impossible
scheme," said Margaret, "but your mother gives permission, and I saw
Miss Kingsley myself, and she promised you a few days' holiday. I told
her it was part of your education to see the Academy, and she quite
agrees with me. So you're to go!"

This was news indeed! Lorraine was half crazy with joy. Though she had
turned seventeen, she had never yet been to London. Porthkeverne was a
long journey from town, and any holidays which she had taken had been to
visit relations in other parts of the country. She had envied Rosemary
when the latter started for the College of Music; now she was actually
to see the great city for herself, and in company with Carina, of all
delightful people in the world. They were to go up for a whole precious
week, and to stay in a hotel--Lorraine had never yet stayed in a
hotel--and they were to do theatres, and as many of the sights as could
possibly be crammed into the short space of time. The prospect was
dazzling. Monica, catching in her breath sharply, decreed: "You're the
biggest lucker I've ever met, Lorraine!"

Clothes, of course, were a paramount topic.

"I can't let Miss Lindsay take a Cinderella with her to London," said
Mother, looking over the fashionable advertisements in the papers, and
trying to decide what was the most suitable costume for a girl of
seventeen. "You want something to look smart in at the Academy, and yet
that won't get soiled directly with going about in motor omnibuses. Now
this is a sweet dress! I'd like you in this, but it would be ruined in
five minutes if you were caught in a shower; and how can we guarantee
fine weather? Does your umbrella want re-covering? If there isn't time
to have it done, Rosemary must lend you her new one."

By dint of much eager cogitation on the part of the whole family,
Lorraine's wardrobe was at last satisfactorily arranged and packed in a
suit case. She herself, in a new grey coat and skirt and a grey
travelling hat trimmed w