"Oh well, I loathe them myself, and I always shall do. You never get any satisfaction out of them, however pretty they may be, for as soon as people see them, they begin groaning and saying, `Oh, dear, dear, autumn flowers already! How sad it is. Winter will soon be upon us.'" Dorothy sniffed derisively. It was evident that no support was to be expected from her on the dahlia question, and Rhoda felt that only time and experience could prove to her the folly of her position. When all the out-buildings had been explained, Kathleen led the way down a winding path which seemed to lead to nowhere in particular, but rather to come to an abrupt _cul-de-sac_ in the shape of a high grey wall. Her companions wondered at her choice, but she went forward with an air of determination, so that there was nothing left but to follow, and hope soon to return to more interesting scenes. When she came to the end of the path, however, she stood still and began to smile with a most baffling air of mystery. What did it mean? What were they expected to see? The girls wheeled to and fro, looked at the paths, the beds, the flowers, frowned in bewilderment, and then suddenly lifted their eyes to the wall, and uttered simultaneous exclamations of surprise. The wall was dotted over with little tablets of stone, on each of which was a neatly engraved inscription, and each inscription bore the name of a girl at its head. Rhoda craned forward and read first one and then another: "...Winifred Barton, joined Hurst Manor, September, 189--, left Christmas, 189--. The youngest pupil who ever obtained honours in Mathematics in the Oxford Local Examinations." "Elizabeth Charrington, an old pupil of the school, obtained First Class in the Honours School of Modern History at Oxford." "Eleanor Newman, joined Hurst Manor, September, 189--, left Mid., 189--. Beloved by her fellow-students as the kindest and most loyal of friends, the most unselfish of competitors. Held in grateful remembrance for the power of her influence and example." "Fanny Elder. For two years Games President of the school. Winner of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Tournament, 189--. Holder of Edinburgh Golf Cup, 189--. A just and fearless sportswoman..." The list of names went on indefinitely, but Rhoda had read enough to inflame curiosity, and wheeled eagerly round to confront Kathleen. "What is it? What does it mean? Who puts them up? Is it just the cleverest girls?--"