"It depends I should say on who gives her the lift up, and if she is adaptable to circumstances." "Not altogether. I wonder if it will really end in her happiness. That girl is at present perfectly free and fearless. She has a strong personality, and is just at the age when she is most easily influenced. If she adapts herself too readily to the new world in which you are about to place her, there is a chance of her being conformed to it, and of it robbing her of her sincerity and unaffectedness." "Oh, you dear old pessimist! I won't wait to hear any more of your doleful prophecies," said Sheila laughing. "I only hope Peter will be more hopeful. Anyhow, whatever anybody says I am bent on trying to turn that pretty little tramp into a lovely lady. And I shall do it!" And with a nod of determination Sheila left the room. CHAPTER IX PETER'S OPINION WHO on earth was that? Peter Fortescue had come to see Sheila after having been away for three weeks, and as he made his way towards some chairs he saw placed on the lawn, he had come face to face with a stranger. What a lovely girl! He had never seen such a wealth of auburn hair or such expressive eyes as she turned towards him. He was perfectly sure too that she was wearing one of Sheila's dresses. Where had this new friend of Sheila's sprung from? Peter lifted his hat and asked if she could tell him where Miss Dennison could be found. The answer, or rather the words in which the answer was given, gave him a shock. It neither matched the face nor the frock. What did it mean? This must be due to some freak of his young cousin—some preposterous freak. He turned in search of her and on entering the hall caught sight of Sheila flying down the stairs to meet him. "I've got such a surprise for you," she exclaimed. "Have you seen her?" "I suppose your surprise is sitting at this moment in the garden, isn't she?" said Peter. "Don't you think her lovely? And did you notice her hair? Come," she added, "I want to tell you all about it." Sheila led the way into the library where she told her story. "You are not half so interested in it as I thought you would be," said the girl, when somewhat out of breath she came to an end of her explanation, "or is it that you don't approve. You might say something." "You have not given me time to speak," said Peter laughing. "We can't both talk at once." "How disagreeable you are! I've been longing to tell you, and you make no comment whatever." "Do you want me to say what I really think about it? Yes? Very well then; I wish you had consulted me before you made any definite plan about keeping this girl. The plan is fraught with difficulties, and in fact is quite impossible." "But what difficulties are there? I could understand your view if Meg was not a really nice girl, but she is sweet, and so ready to learn. She is a most apt pupil." "Then you have, I suppose, constituted yourself as her teacher?"