Page:George Weston--The apple-tree girl.djvu/117

 "I want you to come and stay with us," said Mrs. Phair.

"Oh, thank you, but I couldn't!" gasped Charlotte.

"But, my dear; why not?"

"I—I only brought a few things with me."

"I think you're very sensible; but really, that has nothing to do with it. It isn't your clothes, you know, that Mr. Phair and I would like to have with us. It's yourself. You've no idea how interested we are in you, and how we hope you'll win."

"But I should feel so mortified if I didn't win," protested poor Charlotte.

"Then let us put it this way," said Mrs. Phair: "if you win you'll come and spend a week or two with us."

"I should love to," said Charlotte. "But it's a terrible big 'If!’"

Next day the contestants had narrowed down to four. To Charlotte's relief she wasn't matched against Lady