Meade L. T. - The Girls of St. Wode's стр 26.

Of course you wont, you silly girl; I am working for honors, I told you.

Well, well; do let me finish. Suppose I undertake the tidying of the whole room?

But, my dear, good creature, I like it untidy. I hate to have everything in its place. When things are in their right places they can never be found; thats my opinion. Do you see my study table? I know exactly where I have put my things; but, if anybody attempts to tidy them, woe betide my comfort in the future! Well, I see you are good-natured, and I dont want to be disagreeable. You have a nice face, too, and I dare say we shall pull together all right. If you wish to tidy just round my table, you may. For instance, if you see my stockings on the floor, you can roll them up and pop them into my drawer, any drawer, it doesnt matter which; and, if I do forget to put my boots outside at night, you may gather them up with your own and fling them on the landing. Oh, dear, dear, it is such a worry even to speak about it! But what I was about to say, continued Miss Colchester, is this: You may tidy for me if you please; but there is one point on which I am resolved. This table is never to be touched. The housemaid knows it, and now I warn you. Think what it means to me I may make a note, through my brain may be evolved an idea, which a careless housemaid may throw into the waste-paper basket. Just think what it would

mean! How do you suppose I am to work in a place like this if I think of small, petty things which occupy home-girls? You are a home-girl: have you a tidy mother? Of course you have.

Yes, said Leslie, and a very hard-working and clever mother, too. She spends a great deal of her time out, but she has trained my sisters and myself

I do believe you are going to quote that awful proverb about a place for everything, said Miss Colchester. Dont, I beg of you.

I was thinking of it. I did not mean to quote it, said Leslie.

Well, I must not waste any more time talking. I suppose you must have your way. I am afraid your bedstead is a little uncomfortable. The spring is broken; but you dont mind, do you?

I do mind, answered Leslie. I shall ask to have the spring mended to-morrow. There is no good in having an uncomfortable bed; but for to-night it does not matter.

Oh, I see you are going to be good-natured! That is your screen you can take the best of the two, because I never open mine. You can paste any pictures you like on it if you are given that way; but I hope to goodness you are not. The screen is to put round your washhand-stand. That is your table, and that is your chest of drawers. Now, for goodness sake, like a dear, good creature, put your things in order, and dont speak to me again. I must go on with my calculus of finite differences.

What do you mean? asked Leslie.

Do you wish for an explanation? If so, pray sit down opposite to me and dont expect to stir for a week; it will take me at least as long to explain the matter. Oh, dont say any more just now, and do move as softly as you can! Do just consider that my winning honors in mathematics is a little more important than that your drawers should be in immaculate order. Do you comprehend?

Perfectly.

Well, dont say another word.

The red-haired maiden returned to her desk, stuffed both her hands through her fiery locks, which stuck out now like great wings on each side of her head, and began murmuring slowly to herself.

Leslie stood still for a moment with a sense of dismay stealing over her.

What is to be done? she thought. Miss Colchester is a very peculiar girl. What does a calculus of finite differences mean? I almost wish dear old Lew had been mathematical, then perhaps I should have known. Well, never mind; I wont disturb that poor, dear scholarly girl; but unpack my things I simply must.

Thanks to her mothers excellent training, Leslie was a proficient in the art of stowing away things in small spaces; and before the gong for dinner sounded she had put all her belongings away, had arranged the screen round her washhand-stand, and had even brought out much-loved photographs of her mother and her brother Llewellyn to ornament the top of her chest of drawers. These gave a home look to the room, and she glanced at them with satisfaction. Her bedstead, turned into a sofa by day by means of a crimson rug, was now tidy and in order, and Leslie sat down on the edge of it waiting for Annie Colchester to stir.

The second gong pealed through the house, and Annie suddenly started to her feet.

Good gracious! Oh, I forgot all about you. What is your name?

Leslie Gilroy.

Leslie Gilroy, please tell me if that is the first or second gong?

The second, replied Leslie.

And who are you? continued Annie Colchester, gazing in a sort of vacant way at her roomfellow.

The girl who has come to share your room.

And you have put all your things away and made no noise? Excellent! Did you say that that was the second gong, Miss

Leslie Gilroy is my name.

Is that the second gong?

The second gong sounded two or three minutes ago.