"I understand all that," said Chester, in his decided way; "but all the same, this new girl is the Flint heiress, and will eventually be the owner of Primrose Farm--that dear old place that has belonged to the Flints for generations." "So she will," said Stella; "and it's perfectly horrid! I think Miss Priscilla ought to deed the place to Ladybird. That child loves every nook and corner of it. In the short time she has been here she has made herself a part of it, and I can no more think of Primrose Hall without Ladybird, than without Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda." "But in a few years," said Chester, musingly, "there will be no Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda." "Of course," said Stella, "that's what I often think. And after they're gone, that place must belong to Ladybird." "But it can't, dear," said Chester. "You see, Lavinia is the rightful heir, and of course, after the death of the old ladies, the farm must belong to her. But they aren't dead yet," he went on, cheerfully, "and meantime I have troubles of my own. Little girl, when are you going to marry me?" "Is that one of your troubles?" said Stella, smiling straight into his brown eyes. "It will be a trouble," said Chester, "until you tell me the day when my troubles shall end." "Then you'll be troubled for a good while," said Stella, still smiling, "because I'm not going to marry you for ever and ever so long." "You're not! Well, I just guess you are, miss!" "Indeed!" said Stella. "And, pray, what have _you_ to say about it?" "Oh, I haven't anything to say," responded young Humphreys, airily; "but I can scream for help; I'll call in Ladybird." "Here she is now," called Ladybird's cheery voice. "What do you want of her?" "Nothing," called back Stella, quickly; "nothing but your delightful society. Come and sit with us." "Thank you, we will," said Ladybird, who was accompanied by Lavinia; and the two children came and seated themselves on the grass under the old apple-tree. "We're getting acquainted with each other," said Ladybird, as, drawing a long sigh, she settled herself in a comfortable position, and rolled Cloppy into a small ball in her lap. "How do you like the process?" said Stella, turning to Lavinia with a pleasant smile. "She doesn't like it a bit," said Ladybird; "but she's too polite to say so. You see," she went on, "we're half-sisters, Lavinia and I, and so we only half like each other. She only likes half the things I like. She likes me, but she doesn't like Cloppy. She likes my aunts,--her aunts, I mean,--but she doesn't like Primrose Hall." "Well, then, what of us?" said Chester, indicating himself and Stella. "I suppose she likes only one." "I suppose so," said Ladybird, her eyes dancing; "but I don't know which one." "Never mind," said Stella, hastily. "We don't want to know which one. We're both vain enough now. But tell me, Lavinia, don't you like Primrose Hall?"