were ladies, and would not be patronized. Her task had seemed easy
enough when she assured Miss Martineau that the poor young Mainwarings
must be helped. When she ordered her carriage and drove into Rosebury
she made up her mind to discuss their affairs boldly with them, and to
offer them practical advice, and, if necessary, substantial
assistance. The eldest girl, if she was at all presentable, might be
got into some family as a nursery governess or companion, and she felt
quite sure that she had sufficient interest to procure admissions for
Jasmine and Daisy into some of the schools especially started to
educate the orphan daughters of army men.

But in the garden, although it was a very shabby little garden, this
programme did not seem quite so easy. Jasmine and Daisy were
delightful children; they hailed her instantly as a comrade; they
thought nothing whatever of her wealth or her position. Shortlands
conveyed no meaning to their unsophisticated minds; they fully
believed that Mrs. Ellsworthy envied them their carnations, and would
have been made happy by the possession of a kitten similar to the
Pink. Primrose, on the contrary, was proud and shy, and had no idea of
treating any stranger in a confidential manner.

Mrs. Ellsworthy chatted on, but she never got beyond commonplaces; she
invited the girls to visit her at Shortlands, and Primrose, reading a
great desire in Daisy's blue eyes, answered simply, "Thank you; we
shall like to come very much."

"I'll manage it when I get them to my own house," thought Mrs.
Ellsworthy; "it's quite absurd to be baffled by three little chits,
but I'll settle everything in a satisfactory fashion when I get them
to Shortlands."