A Modern Tomboy

hair, soft brown eyes to match, and a kindly, gentle face. Lucy was somewhat prim, very neat in her person, with thick fair hair which sh

Mrs. Merriman, turning to her daughter as she spoke. "

re there, mother?"

ar friend Lady Everett's only daughter; then there is Annie Millar, whom I do not know

uoted Lucy in a low tone. "Have

r, of co

er ever s

ear friend La

, when have you see

it is so nice to think she sho

must be quite satisfied. Well, that means tw

e both f

e others

r that. Then there is Phyllis Flower. Think of any one with such a dear name-Phyllis and Flower!

hese girls must come to us and form the beginning of a school, why, we must behave acc

t them over. Laura Everett, fourteen; Annie Millar, ditto; Rosamund Cunliffe, fifteen; and Phyllis Flower, thirteen. Then there is Jane Denton. Well, I know nothing whatever about her except that her mother says she is a good girl, and

Lucy. "Really and truly, mother, I wish we had

s work as a professor. There is no other manner in which to earn money. Why not take the

vernesses. To think of having a creature like Mademoiselle Omont living in the house! And then,

can," said Mrs. Merrim

s in different-colored dresses, with bright faces, eager eyes, suddenly appeared in view. The

Won't you get down? It will be nice to stretch your legs in walking up the avenue. Your luggage, of co

hat irresponsive hand of a tall, pale girl, who

hich is Laura? For I want to welcome the de

r now extricated herself from the group of her companion

rapturously ki

may be certain I will do my utmost to m

ett?" said Lucy, speaking stiffly; "

irls went o

mind her ways. "Which is-now let me guess-which is Phyllis Flower? I am longing to know her. An

ave Jane's hand an a

can't quite make out yet-will be the wit of the school. Ah! you are Agnes Sparkes?" and Mr

l. "But I do not-I am neither witty nor beautiful, and I know I am not clever. I have got just nothing but my name. I'd rather like to live up to it; but somehow I don't think I can. Perhaps I may at Sunnyside. It seems such a novel idea to come t

he avenue, followed by her new pupils. She looked something like a well-groomed pony herself, and the girls were much amused at her way of greet

t vestige of order, and all these girls being spoken to at the gate. Mother has no dignity. It is really terr

into the house, and were much pleased with the arrangements made for their comfort. The old house of Sunnyside was one of the prettiest in the southwest of England. It had spacious grounds, b

d showed their appreciation by behaving in a hoydenish and school-girl fashion. They laughed and joked with each other, declaring that Mrs. Merriman was quite too funny for anything, but that she was also an old dear; that Lucy was rat

ather, who was always satisfied to make the best of things, his motto being peace on any terms, and who was surp

saw her approaching. "Why, what is the

at anything you'd feel hot and indignant now. Oh, father dear,

cy! Have

ave. They'll waylay yo

don't specially wa

n't suppose they will find the paddock before to-morrow. Fat

mother abused. Talk on any other

it is very

s done lately? She has taken the bull by the horns and saved us from absolute ruin. By her plucky ways and determination has she no

d till the resident governesses had arrived. But now they are there, all of them, as merry and jocular as you like, running about the place, racing here and there, and devouring all our best

y extra cost whatever. We are being very well paid for these girls, we know they are all ladies, and your mother will be happy and i

, father, you always make me ashamed of myself.

, go back to them all and try to help your mother. The governesses will come to-morrow, and the day after lessons will be

indly eyes. There were few men more beloved than Professor Merriman. He had given some really great books to the world, and was a scholar in the truest

ous life, surely I can endure anything. But I do hope he won't get to like any of those girls. Perhaps he will. Perhaps he will eve

at and cotton gloves, was no other than Phyllis Flower. She ran up to Lucy, and stood

for it was delightful to her to hear t

were arguing about it. Agnes said it couldn't be, but I sai

said Lucy. "He c

m; but we would love to look at him sometim

is well enough he will dine with us,"

g angrily, for there was a tone in Lucy's voice which she could scarcely stand.

rl after a pause. "We are all girls togeth

are you

fift

nd a half. How old d

ge. You ar

ing whatever to be jealous of in me. I am not clever, I am not good-looking; in short, I am nothing at all, just the most ordinary person. But I can tell yo

quite as frank and free as Mrs. Merriman herself, lai

est character among us is Rosamun

me," interrupt

th whom she comes in contact; and she does it quite nicely, to

what she is l

t tall, dark, pretty-looking girl,

k I know who

is like. As for Janey Denton, she is just a good sort, something like me. And Laura Everett is very proud of her family, and she is clever. And Annie Millar is Laura's shadow, and does nothing whatever except what Laura wishes. Then there is Agnes Sparkes. She is supposed t