"
"I'll manage it when I get them to my own house," thought Mrs.
Ellsworthy; "it's quite absurd to be baffled by three little chits,
but I'll settle everything in a satisfactory fashion when I get them
to Shortlands."
Aloud she said, "My dears, I shall be very glad to see you--and can
you come to-morrow? To-morrow I shall be quite alone."
"Primrose," burst from Daisy, "there's a Newfoundland dog, and a
mastiff, and two English terriers at Shortlands. The Newfoundland is
black and woolly and the mastiff is tawny, like a lion."
"Will you really show us over your beautiful conservatories?" asked
Jasmine. "Primrose, she was telling us about her flowers; and they
must be lovely."
"I'll show you everything, and take you everywhere," responded Mrs.
Ellsworthy, stooping down to kiss Jasmine's upturned face. "You'll
bring your sisters to-morrow, Miss Mainwaring," she continued, turning
to the grave Primrose.
"Thank you--yes. It is kind of you to ask us," answered Primrose.
Mrs. Ellsworthy drove away in state, and the sisters saw her off from
their door-steps. They made a pretty group as they stood
together--Daisy's arms clasped her elder sister's waist, and Jasmine
shaded her dark eyes from the full blaze of the sun with her little
white dimpled hand.
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