The Manor House School

ni

There was not a trace of any secret exit to be found. The opening through whi

It's like magic!"

uppose she'll have to com

id Cicely, w

former expedition-a low, long-drawn-out moaning, as of someone i

ting anybody?" cried Cicel

ng on. I'm afraid it's something that won't b

she comes out of

caught us. Let us go outside and close the door again, and watc

ough they relieved each other more than once in m

and won't come out till we've g

uld she

g at us all the time thro

akes me feel quite cr

ircumstances alter cases, and they considered they were justified in their plan of a

y. "She must have a prisoner shut up t

er sounds inside the room that they did not hear footsteps sounding up the wi

y embarrassed. Monica must have seen them peeping through the keyhole, and they knew they had been discovered in a somewhat doubtful and discreditable occupation. They could

e, and then Monica recov

thought you were with the ot

ndsay, trying to pass the matter off carelessly. "Miss

quiet voice. "If you like to come downstairs with me I'll show you some of the curiosities in my

utes in explaining her various treasures. She was most kind, and spared no trouble, but the others could not get over their confusi

lantern room?" demanded Linds

the secret?"

rying to find out. Perhaps sh

dea, and require

ffin' was warning Scott about," said Cice

ons at present, and one can hardly speak about those. She might be offended, a

and underhand, in any case. I'm so

't help it, and

we just

Lindsay decidedly. "We'd

, as usual

be misunderstood for a little while; afterwards she would appreciate what they had been doing for her, and would thank them accordingly. They

recall such mundane matters as the capital of Mexico, or the date of Magna Charta, when thei

mory. "You both did far better at Winterburn Lodge. I cannot understand why your work should have fallen off so much lately. T

ly to attract them. They admired the shape of her nose and her long chestnut hair, and considered her dignified manner absolute perfection. They used to follow her about at a respectful distance, longing to i

ves," grumbled Cicely. "Eleanor Wright was quite rude when I offer

ibly mean," a

tion, might have run considerable danger of being spoilt. She took her sudden popularity, however, very serenely, and scarcely seeme

r, like a nightingale among sparrows,

uite silly over Monica. I admire her very much myself, but I don't go and kiss her ja

you're a

common sense left,

ly a few minutes' walk away from the Manor. One afternoon Miss Russell, happening to meet Lindsay and Cicely

g their idol in private. They found Monica preparing her French lesson in the s

ned their errand, leading the way through a Fren

and hair slightly streaked with grey. She did not rise from her sofa when they

o obey. So you are two of Monica's little friends? Well, now you are here, you had better stay for tea. The letter? Oh, I'll send Jenny, our ma

the only girls in the school who had been thus favoured, and they felt that their present enj

old place? I expect Monica will have told you most of the legends. No! Why, Monica, what have you been thinking

red Monica, "we've been so busy playing tennis when we were not at les

rtenay. "We certainly ought to let Lindsay and Cicely hear the tale of

usied herself in arranging cushions and seeing that everything was placed for the invalid's greatest com

in the bees," she said. "Do you remember the day when

the walk where the roses grow. I shan'

ke outwitted Sir Humphrey Warden. I wish

indsay and Cicely; "we'd li

nay. "I suppose you need not be back in school until half-past five? Hav

ten," sa

ar end, of a girl in a white dress, h

them all. We always say it's

brother, Sir Piers, was also one of the hottest supporters of the crown. When Cromwell came into power, Sir Piers had to flee for his life. He was chased from on

t his sister in the garden, and though she exclaimed with joy at seeing him, she immediately mad

At any moment they expected he might arrive with a troop of soldiers. Piers must stay where he was, and she would run and bring him the key of the boathouse; then, under cover of

s she was returning down the avenue she found she was just too late. There was a tramp

ection of your house, and with your permission I will give myself

rant blossoms,' replied Monica hastily. 'I will presen

ew her every movement would be watched. No one could be trusted, for the servants (so she feared) had all been b

madam,' said Sir Humphrey, who was an admirer

, not this red one; it is overblown, and will fall directly. 'Tis but fit to

the hedge to the foot of the box tree where her brother was lying concealed; then,

got safely away to France, and returned in triumph to his estates when Charles II came to his own again. As a remembrance of his wonderful escape, he caused his sister's portrait to be painted, wi

asked Lindsay, who had been d

live in Devonshire. I believe she kept one of the roses treas

as christened after

the Courtenays, though I do not think any of th

guard your fortunes

have been a long while in telling it. Monica, dear, it is twenty minutes past five. Lindsay and Cicely must hurry back to school

," said Lindsay, as Monica walked with

doctor says it would do her good to spend next winter in the south of Italy, but that, I'm afraid, will be quite impossible. She ought to go, it

MONICA WAS

ce of her companions, and wishing them a ha

g to say," remarked Cicely,

," replied Lindsay. "Oh! it does seem hard, when they need it so badly, t

hey have to stay in England for the winter. I don't believe she would enjoy a pen