Meade L. T. - The Girls of St. Wode's стр 10.

I beseech of you, dear, she said, not to leave the children alone with that pernicious girl. Stay in the room yourself. When you perceive that the conversation is getting into dangerous channels, turn it, my dear child. Now, remember, Lettie, I trust you. Everything depends on your discretion.

I will do what I can, of course, Aunt Helen; but I must frankly admit that I shall have very little influence.

I only wish Providence had made you one of my daughters. If you and Marjorie, for instance, had been my daughters, and Eileen had been you, then things might have been quite pleasant, for you would have influenced Marjorie and brought her back again into the right ways. As it is, however

As it is, we must make the best of things, said Letitia.

There came a ring at the hall-door, and Mrs. Acheson and the redoubtable Belle were ushered in. Mrs. Acheson, in her usual somewhat diffident manner, kissed Mrs. Chetwynd, and then Belle flew up to her and gave her a little peck on her cheek.

How do? she cried. Where are the girls? I am most anxious to see them at once. Pray, dont ring; Ill run up to them. I know the old schoolroom. I have a great deal to say. You know I go up again next week, and can think of nothing else. But I determined that whoever else was left in the cold, I must interview Marjorie and Eileen. Mother, have you got my small Virgil in your bag? I am writing a paper on that great man, and I wish to read it to the girls in order to get their opinion.

They know nothing whatever about the classics, interrupted Mrs. Chetwynd. I believe they are going out for a walk; would you like to go with them?

I dont think we shall have time for that, replied Belle. Ill find them; dont you trouble.

She nodded to Mrs. Chetwynd and to her mother in a friendly, offhand style, and left the room. Mrs. Chetwynd glanced at Letitia, of whom Belle had not taken the slightest notice, and the young girl followed the eccentric, scholarly undergraduate of St. Wodes upstairs.

Marjorie and Eileen had an old-fashioned schoolroom at the top of the house, They had cleaned it out themselves,

and put it into order according to their individual tastes. It was now neat and bare. Marjorie, still wearing her shabby serge dress, was standing near an open window. She was holding a long, yellow canary on her finger, and whistling to the bird, who pecked at her in happy confidence.

Eileen was putting some pins into a great rent in her petticoat. The door was burst open, and Belle rushed in.

How do, dears, both? she said in a friendly voice. Pray dont rush at me and devour me with kisses; we never go on in that way at North Hall. My dear Marjorie, how you have grown! Oh! I am pleased to see you in that plain serge dress; and Eileen petticoat out of order? Never mind here, this pin will set it finally right.

Do stop for a moment, Belle. Of course I am delighted to see you, said Marjorie, but I must put Daffodil back into his cage.

She crossed the room, still holding the bird on her finger, opened the door of his cage, and let him fly in. She then shut the cage-door and came back to where her friend was standing.

I didnt know you wore spectacles, Belle, she said.

Yes, dear, my sight is bad. I have been to Wiesbaden to the celebrated oculist, and he has ordered these special glasses. I have astigmatism in one eye, and have therefore to wear special spectacles. By the way, Marjorie, you look as if you ought to be short-sighted.

Ought to be short-sighted? said Marjorie. I am not; I have excellent sight.

You ought to be, repeated Belle; it gives one a distinguished look. In all probability you will be very short-sighted when you come to college. Most scholarly girls I see by the shape of your brow that you are meant to be scholarly are obliged to wear spectacles.

When I come to college! replied Marjorie, and I am supposed to be a scholarly girl. Delightful! And yet I am not sure that I wish to be scholarly; but what a dear delicious creature you are, Belle! Sit down; do sit down.

Thanks, said Belle. She squatted down on a wooden bench in an ungainly fashion, crossing one leg over the other.

Letitia now advanced; she had been standing near the door.

Who is that young person? said Belle, raising her very short-sighted eyes, and staring hard at Lettie.

You know quite well who I am, replied Letitia. I am the cousin who has always lived with the twins. We are all three eighteen, and we are coming out in about a week or a fortnight.

We are not coming out, said Eileen.

Coming out! cried Marjorie. Now, Lettie, for goodness sake, dont be silly. You know that unpleasant matter has been arranged. Perhaps you would like to go down to the drawing-room to mother and Mrs. Acheson. Eileen and I have a great deal to say to Belle.

No, I mean to stay and listen, replied Lettie. I may have a good deal to say to Belle on my own account.

Stay, if you wish to, said Belle; but I dont suppose for a moment our conversation will interest you. You are fashionable; and that is quite enough. Marjorie, what is it you have to say?