Her doubts came simply from the wonder as to whether she had not concluded too much from his words and built upon them too fairy-like a castle. With a gesture she flung all her wonders and troubles out upon the gold- swept lawn and trained all her attention to the chatter among the girls around her. She admired Jane D'Arcy very much; she was so "elegant." Everything that Jane wore became her slim straight body, and her pale pointed face was always a little languid in expression, as though daily life were an exhausting affair and not intended for superior persons. She had been told, from a very early day, that her voice was "low and musical," so she always spoke in whispers which gave her thoughts an importance that they might not otherwise have possessed. Very different was little Betty Callender, round and rosy like an apple, with freckles on her nose and bright blue eyes. She laughed a great deal and liked to agree with everything that any one said. "If you ask me," said Jane in her fascinating whisper, "there's a lot of nonsense about this old Jubilee." "Oh, do you think so?" said Joan. "Yes. Old Victoria's been on the throne long enough, 'Tis time we had somebody else." Joan was very much shocked by this and said so. "I don't think we ought to be governed by _old_ people," said Jane. "Every one over seventy ought to be buried whether they wish it or no." Joan laughed aloud. "Of course they wouldn't wish it," she said. Laughter came, now here, now there, from different parts of the room. Every one was very gay from the triple sense that they were the elect of Polchester, that they were doing important work, and that summer was coming. Jane D'Arcy tossed her head. "Father says that perhaps he'll be taking us to London for it," she whispered. "I wouldn't go if any one offered me," said Joan. "It's Polchester I want to see it at, not London. Of course I'd love to see the Queen, but it would probably be only for a moment, and all the rest would be horrible crowds with nobody knowing you. While here! Oh! it will be lovely!" Jane smiled. "Poor child. Of course you know nothing about London. How should you? Give me a week in London and you can have your old Polchester for ever. What ever happens in Polchester? Silly old croquet parties and a dance in the Assembly Rooms. And _never_ any one new." "Well, there _is_ some one new," said Betty Callender, "I saw her this morning." "Her? Who?" asked Jane, with the scorn of one who has already made up her mind to despise. "I was with mother going through the market and Lady St. Leath came by in an open carriage. She was with her. Mother says she's a Miss Daubeney from London--and oh! she's perfectly lovely! and mother says she's to marry Lord St. Leath----" "Oh! I heard she was coming," said Jane, still scornfully. "How silly you are, Betty! You think any one lovely if she comes from London."