And so it was a very bright time that came to finish up those happy
Beecham days. The end of it all was saying "good-bye" to grandmamma and
cousins one fine, frosty morning, just the other side of New Year's Day,
and driving off between papa and mamma.

When you think of my first evening in that drawing-room, perhaps you
will wonder at the doubtful look which I know there was on my face, and
which made papa look right into my eyes, questioning, as he said,

"Whether I wanted to go home or not."




XI.

_GOOD-BYE TO BEECHAM._


Was I glad to go home or sorry? How could I tell? When it came to the
train, it was all such fun that I chattered away to mamma as fast as
possible about the stations we should pass, and the things we should
see, till I saw an old gentleman opposite exchanging smiles with mamma.
That made me feel shy, and shrink back into the corner silent enough;
and with the silence came a sigh, and five minutes later mamma's
question surprised me, in a fit of melancholy thought, about all that I
had left behind me. When would Lottie and I meet again? And how should
we know which was getting on best with the history? Ah, those nice
history lessons, with all those exciting stories and our favourite
heroes, who would read them with me now? I am not at all sure that I did