carried senseless into the great house, and the recognition of Clare
and the discomfiture of her foes would take place. How could Dolores
shut the book at such a critical moment!

So there she was sitting in the midst of her scattered books, when the
galloping and scampering began again, and Mysie knocked at the door to
tell her there were pears, apples, biscuits, and milk in the dining-
room, and that after consuming them, lessons had to be learnt for the
next day, and then would follow amusements, evening toilette, seven
o'clock tea, and either games or reading aloud till bedtime. As to the
books, Mysie stood aghast.

'I thought nurse and Lois had done them all for you.'

'They did them all wrong, so I took them down.'

Oh, dear! We must put them in, or there'll be a report.'

'A report!'

'Yes, Nurse Halfpenny reports us whenever she doesn't find our rooms
tidy, and then we get a bad mark. Perhaps mamma wouldn't give you one
this first day, but it is best to make sure. Shall I help you, or you
won't have time to eat any pears?'

Dolores was thankful for help, and the books were scrambled in anyhow
on the shelves; for Mysie's good nature was endangering her share of
the afternoon's gouter, though perhaps it consoled her that her
curiosity was gratified by a hasty glance at the backs of her cousin's
story-books.