"Yours sincerely,

"MARGARET OLIPHANT."

Maggie did not read the letter after she had written it. She put it
into an envelope and directed it. Here was a large and bold hand and
the address was swiftly written

"GEOFFREY HAMMOND, ESQ.,

"St. Hilda's,

"Kingsdene."

She stamped her letter and, late as it was, took it down herself and
deposited it in the post-bag.

The next morning, when the students strolled in to breakfast, many
pairs of eyes were raised with a new curiosity to watch Priscilla
Peel. Even Maggie, as she drank her coffee and munched a piece of dry
toast, for she was a very poor eater, could not help flashing a keen
and interested glance at the young girl as she came into the room.

Prissie was the reverse of fashionable in her attire; her neat brown
cashmere dress had been made by Aunt Raby. The hemming, the stitching,
the gathering, the frilling which went to make up this useful garment
were neat, were even exquisite; but then, Aunt Raby was not gifted
with a stylish cut. Prissie's hair was smoothly parted, but the thick
plait on the back of the neck was by no means artistically coiled.