Shortlands conveyed no meaning to their unsophisticated minds; they fully believed that Mrs.Ellsworthy envied them their carnations, and would have been made happy by the possession of a kitten similar to the Pink.

Primrose, on the contrary, was proud and shy, and had no idea of treating any stranger in a confidential manner.
Mrs.Ellsworthy chatted on, but she never got beyond commonplaces; she invited the girls to visit her at Shortlands, and Primrose, reading a great desire in Daisy's blue eyes, answered simply, "Thank you; we shall like to come very much." "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.