"Primrose, I am not at all afraid of you on paper. You, Primrose, are
proud and independent. You are also sadly obstinate, and it is
extremely probable that you will take your own way, which I can see
beforehand will not be a wise one."

"Oh! oh! oh!" came interruption No. 2 to the reading of the letter,
and Jasmine's arms were flung tightly round Primrose's neck.

"How can she talk of you like that? How little she knows you, my
'queen of roses.'"

Primrose smiled, kissed Jasmine between her eyebrows and went on
reading.

"Jasmine's character," continued Mrs. Ellsworthy in her letter, "is as
yet unformed. She has high aspirations and generous impulses--if she
is well managed, and if you don't spoil her, Primrose, she will
probably develop into a very noble woman. I love Jasmine very dearly
already.

"As to your little sister, she is as fresh, and innocent, and dainty
as her name; but take warning, Primrose, she is not over strong--there
is a look about the little one which makes me dread the thought of her
encountering any of the roughnesses of life.

"Now, my dear girl, I have read my little bit of a lecture; you are
probably extremely angry with me, but I don't care. I now come to the
practical part of my letter; I am desirous to help you three, and I
want to help you in the way most suited to your individual characters.
The sad fact cannot be gain-said--you must give up your home--you must