of cold water trickling down her back when Miss Mainwaring replied
quietly--

"London is a long way off, Poppy--why are you going there?"

"I has an aunt in the boarding-house way, Miss Primrose--she keeps a
very select establishment; and most particular; don't admit no
gentlemen. It's for ladies only, aunt's boarding-house is, miss, and
she wrote to mother that it's a flourishing concern, and she wants a
girl who will be honest, and handy, and country-bred, to help wait on
the ladies. She has offered the situation to me, miss, as in duty
bound, I being her own niece, and mother is pleased to accept. I calls
it a dazzling prospect, Miss Primrose."

"I am delighted," began Primrose; but Jasmine interrupted her.
"Dazzling," she repeated, "of course it is dazzling, Poppy. I am so
very glad you are going. I only wish I were going. If there is a
wonderful, delightful, charming place, it is London. I have read about
it, and I have dreamed about it, and I have pictured it. What fun you
will have! Of course your aunt will take you to see all the sights.
Oh, do sit down. Primrose, we ought to tell her about the places she
should see, ought we not?"

Primrose nodded, and Poppy dropped on to the edge of the nearest
chair, and, clasping her red and hard-worked hands in front of her,
prepared herself to listen.

"First of all, Poppy," began Jasmine, after waiting for her sister to
speak; but Primrose was strangely silent.