"There's no use in it," said Merry. "Father will never change. We'll get some other dreadfully dull daily governess, and some other fearfully depressing music-master, and we'll never be like Molly and Belle and Maggie and our cousin Aneta. It does seem hard." "We must try not to be discontented," said Cicely. "Then we had best not ask Maggie here too often," replied Merry. "Oh, but they're all coming up to-morrow morning, for I have asked them," said Cicely. "Dear, dear!" replied Merry. "We may as well have what fun we can," remarked Cicely, "for you know we shall be going to the seaside in ten days." CHAPTER VIII. MRS. WARD'S SCHOOL. It is to be regretted that Mr. Cardew spent a restless night. Mrs. Cardew, on the contrary, slept with the utmost peace. She trusted so absolutely in her husband's judgment and in in his power to do the very best he could on all possible occasions for her and hers that she was never deeply troubled about anything. Her dear husband must not be forced to live in London if he did not like to do so, and some arrangement must be made for the girls' home education if he could not see his way to sending them to school. Great, therefore, was her astonishment on the following morning when he came hastily into her room. "My dear," he said, "I am off to London for the day." "What for?" she asked. "I will tell you, darling, when I return to-night." "Cyril, may I not come with you?" "I think not, my love. Make all the young people as happy as you can. I'm just off to the station, in the motor-car." Mr. Cardew left his wife's room. The girls were told at breakfast that their father had gone to London; but as this frequently happened, and was invariably connected with that business which they knew nothing whatever about, they were not keenly interested. As a matter of fact, they were much more absorbed in getting things ready for the entertainment of their friends; and in this Mrs. Cardew very heartily joined them. She proposed that during Maggie Howland's visit the five girls should have as happy a time together as possible; and as the weather was perfect the invariable picnics and gipsy teas were arranged for their benefit. "You can all make yourselves happy here to-day, my darlings," said Mrs. Cardew, addressing Cicely and Merry. "To-morrow, when your father is here, the Tristrams, he and I, and you girls will have a very pleasant picnic to the Aldersleigh woods. We will arrange it to-day, for there is nothing your father enjoys more than a whole, long, happy day in the open air. I will speak to Mrs. Fairlight, and tell her to have all things in readiness for our picnic." "Oh mummy, how good! how good!" said Merry, clasping her mother's hand. Then she added, "Mummy, is it true that Miss Beverley is never going to teach us any more?" "I am afraid it is only too true, Merry; but this is holiday-time, darling; we needn't talk of your education just at present."