"Well, you goaded me to it!" Darsie declared in self-vindication. "I can't stand it when boys are superior. Why must they sneer and jeer because a girl wants to go in for the same training as themselves, especially when she has to make her own living afterwards? In our two cases it's more important for me than for you, for you will be a rich landowner, and I shall be a poor school marm. You ought to be kind and sympathetic, and do all you can to cheer me on, instead of being lofty and blighting." Ralph Percival looked down at her with his handsome, quizzical eyes-- "I don't mind betting that _you'll_ never be a school marm!" he said calmly; and at that very moment, round a bend of the path, the two girls came suddenly into view, trotting briskly towards the river. They waved their hands, and tore down upon the visitor in lively welcome. "There you are! This _is_ nice. Bates said you were in the garden, so we just flew and changed, and rushed off in pursuit. So glad you had Ralph to amuse you. The mill's working! We guessed you'd be there looking on..." "There's nothing to see but the old wheel creaking round. Tea is far more to the point. I'm dying for some, and I'm sure--er--Miss--er-- Garnett is, too! She's had a tiring afternoon." "Er--Miss--er--Garnett's name is Darsie. You can always call a girl by her Christian name till her hair's up," said Darsie quickly, and Ralph immediately availed himself of the permission. "All right, Darsie. It's a jolly little name. Much easier to say." Rather to Darsie's disappointment tea was served in the drawing-room in formal, grown-up fashion, Mrs Percival presiding over the little table, with its shining silver and fine old-world china. There were hot, brown little scones, crisp buttered toast, iced cakes, thick cream, and other indigestible luxuries, which came as an agreeable change from Lady Hayes's careful dietary, and Darsie was acutely conscious of the beauty and elegance of the room. How small and poky and drab the home drawing- room would appear in comparison! How different the outlook on another row of red-brick houses, from the sweep of green lawns, and the avenue of great beech-trees seen through the four long French windows which broke the side of this long, low room! How different her own life promised to be from those of the two girls by her side--the girls who had just returned from a ride on their own horses over their own land! ... They would never need to worry about money; their role in life for the next few years would consist in being pretty and agreeable, wearing charming frocks, visiting at friends' houses, travelling in summer, hunting in winter, and, finally, making suitable Carriages, settling down as mistresses of other luxurious houses, and living happily ever after!