to be out."

"If there are nice invitations, I shall be quite ready to accept them
for you."

"But I am too old for the schoolroom and lessons and masters."

"Too old or too wise?" said Magdalen laughing.

"I have got into the highest form in everything. Every one at
Filston of my age is leaving off all the bother."

"Not Agatha."

"Oh, but Agatha is--!"

"Is what?

"Agatha is awfully clever, and wants to be something!"

"Something? But do you want to evaporate? To be nothing at all, I
mean," said Magdalen, seeing her first word was bewildering, and
Thekla put in -

"Flapsy couldn't go off in steam, could she? Isn't that
evaporating?"

"I think what she wants is to be a young lady at large! Eh, Vera?
Only I don't quite see how that is to be managed, even if it is quite
a worthy ambition. But we will talk that over another time. Do you