A Modern Tomboy

ing unusual about her. The professor was charmed with her intelligent remarks, her interest in the architecture of the very old churc

on the subject, and even invited her to go into his library in the course of t

raising innocent eyes to the professor's face. "Will it matte

ternal glance of

ve to see spirited and happy girls like yourself devoting themselves to periods of thought and

d in some astonishment, but Ros

cattered here and there, and Jane ran up

fere with me, Janey. I am going to my room, to begin with. I want to have a good long

ions: some to the neighboring woods, three girls together to the bank of the river, others with books into hammocks or cosy seats in the pretty

time," thou

foot to Lady Jane's place. She had not an idea where to go, but trusted to find the way by making inquiries. Once she was safe out of the neighborhood of those odious girls, as she was ple

nday-school in the village, and asked her

Miss Irene in a tantrum this afternoon! Do you me

rent impertinence on account of the interest wh

ng lady is enough to upset the nerves of the stoutest person. I have come out now, and glad I am to be away.

"so please tell me how; and what is the name o

is well enough, but it is Miss Irene. Well, I wish you luck. You walk straight down this road for a mile or

what impertinent curtsy

feeling more interested

ng person, and to young people she is doubtless delightful. Anyhow, I expect I shall have some fun; and as my absence is certain t

some of the dust off her pretty patent shoes. She shook out her pale-blue muslin dress, arranged her hat becomingly, and went up the drive, looking as dainty and as unlike an-ordinary English school-girl as girl could look. She knew, the value of appearances, and was determined to make the best of them. Of course, her mother had told her much of Lady Jane. Lady Jane was her mother's greatest friend when they were both girls together;

hung from a chain by the side of a Gothic column, and a man-servan

ane Ashlei

saw, just for a brief moment, a girl in red, swinging backward and forward idly in a swing suspended from two stalwart boughs. The girl had somewhat wild eyes, a very bright face, and a mischievous expression round her lips. When she saw Rosamund she leaped from the swing, and disappeared from view, and the next moment Lady Jane sailed into the room. The contrast between the girl in red and the lady in deep mournin

t afterward, for I married my dearly beloved husband and lived in the country, whereas she traveled a good deal over the world. But still we d

last birthday,"

you look old

htening. "I want to be grown-up," she con

think of sending yo

iman, and mother hates ordinary schools, and she thought this would just do. And then all of a sudden she remembered that you lived near, although she did not say an

y Jane's face there passed an expression of absolute pain. After a m

ou for me to sp

tion, dear. Who

ome here to-day, and you said you would send me back to-night, and I was so pleased; but when I spoke about it to Mr. Merr

" said Lady Jane,

ldn't stand it. Why should I be coerced and told t

a noble gentleman," s

loring, and a sense of a

ou are not going to send me back now that I have b

stand that when he says a thing he means it. I will try and intercede for you on this occasion. I myself do not think it at all wrong that you should come and minister to the wants of a lonely woman on Sunday.

you be lonely wh

irl whom Rosamund had seen swinging at the other end of the sunlit lawn appeared on the scene. She was one of the most beautiful girls Rosamund, who th

ing pale, "what is the matter

nto a chair, then drew herself a littl

her," she said.

und Cunliffe," wa

m about her voice which seemed to exercise

me out, and I'll swing you? You'd like to ha

rene's only reply to this was to jump up as suddenly as she had seated h

a bit of spirit about you. Oh! they all tell stories about me; but I'm not half

. I don't know

te like your look. May I pu

ses you," s

what might be called a good old sort, and there's nothing p

e I cann

ou! she can't knock much learning into me. She is as terrified of me as she can be, is old Frosty. She and I had a squabble in the passage; she said I was not to come in because I had my red dress on. You know, it's only a year since father died, and mother is in deep mourning still; but I will wear red-it is my

do talk in

don't much mind. I like you to be cheeky. Well, here

alk about and talk before you swing me. I mus

. Oh, by the way, you didn't understa

t. But why do you tal

said if there was a dear-I was very fond of dad-if there was a dear, sober, conscient

y funny Engl

fashion that I really cannot keep indoors. No rain that ever was heard of could keep me in, and no frost, either. And I have lain sometimes on the snow for an hour at a time and enjoyed it. And there's scarcely a night that I spend in bed. I get out, whatever poor old Frosty may

ee them some day. Sometimes I think they will meet me in the meadows or in the forest, which is two miles away, or even in the lake, for I suppose fairies can swim. But they have never come yet. If they came I'd ask them to let me go back to them, for I do so hate indoor life and civilization and refinement. And now you see the sort I am, and if you are the sort I somehow think you are, why shouldn't we be friends? Perhaps you are a changeling, too. You know that dress doesn't suit y

ssion of Lady Jane's face, and it seemed to signify relief and approval. Rosamund said to herself, "We all have our missions in life; perhaps mine is to reclaim this wild, extraordinary creature. I shouldn't a bit mind trying. Of course, I don't approve of her; but she is lovely. She ha

she looked doubtful. "I cannot sit long,"

ll, and af

l take it in the boat together. We will get into the very middle of the strea

your mother'

has been with me for close on four months. She is very worried. She was quite fat when she came, and now she is a sort of walking skeleton, and it is all owing to me, because I do work her so hard and terrify her so; and she can't teach me anything, however hard she tries. I tell you I'm a changeling, and changelings can't be taught.

would give notice the next day, but she didn't. She is very poor, an

is, Irene, that you are-whether changeling or

le mouth pouted, and some pearly teeth showed beneath. She clinched her small hands, and then said stoutly, "Hurrah!

scrap afraid of yo

e got to order our tea to be sent to the boat, and we will get into mid-stream

for Lady Jane said I had done wrong to come here; and if I did wrong to come, I suppose I

am glad you are full of faults too. Do s

s rather naughty, although she is so good now. So I thi

r to sink into the apathy of my beloved mother would be beyond endurance. Bu

ness, its uncouth make, she ran as gracefully as a young fawn. Soon she had disappeared round the corner, an

ike you. Are you going to be good to her?" s

is so beautiful!" said Rosamund, with sudden enth

t the means of reform. Only sometimes I fear--But here she comes. She must not

y Jane if she might go into the boat with Ir

xcept myself. Now, I was just watching you, and you kept nodding your head all the time. What were you saying? I kno

the sort," said

I am a great eavesdropper. Oh, I am not a bit ashamed of it-not a bit-so you needn't begin to preach. She tells them to try and reform me. She says money is no object if only I can be reformed. As though a changeling could be reformed! She has been asking you to reform me, hasn't she? I know her little ways, dear, good old Mumsy-pums. But she can't reform a changeling. Now the boat is ready, and Betty is toiling for dear

must. I ought not to

treme naughtiness, could in the end be managed by her, brought such a rush of interest into her life that she forgot everything else for the moment; and, besides, Irene

night by dressing up and making my eyes fiery,

y bedroom. If you will only give me back my key and let me lock my door

fun if I hadn't power over you. There, that will do.

was a good one, the wages exceedingly liberal, and Lady Jane the kindest and most patient of mistresses. In sh

he was my governess, but I was quite tired of her, and knew the fright she would get in when I took her out in the boat. I never take those who are dead sick with fright; but I took her, and she was nearly drowned-not quite, for I can swim in almost any water, and I held her up and brought her safe to land. But she left that evening. She was a poor thing, absolutely determined to stop. I hated her the moment I saw her face, it was so white and pasty; and she wasn't at all interesting. She couldn't tell stories; she didn't believe in changelings. She had never read the Arabian Nights. She knew hardly any history; but she was great at dates. Oh, she was a horror! She was rather fond of grammar, too, and odds and ends of things that aren't a bit interesting. And needlew

don't intend to go over th

do you mean by that

and down makes me a little bit sea-sick. I am not your governess. I am just a girl who has come to live at the Merrimans', and I can make myself very pleasant to y

way, Rosamund. You really are not afraid, so just you take one oar and I will take the other, and we will get into

n oar as she spoke; and with a few vigorous strokes the girls

ing them from her boudoir win

ld friend's child, too. Oh, why was I given such a creature as Irene to bring up and lo

of the provisions were first-rate, the most delicious cakes of all sorts and descriptions, with a few other dainties in the shape

t tremendous hold over her. I wish you would tell me some of the sort of things she used to do; because if I can say, 'I go

rt of things you have

world do you

tance, she was

s and snails and worms, and that sort of thing, out of

aid of you, and I say you are cruel when you terrify the s

he current if you say an

d, "for I will keep this oar, a

a moment, and her small, wild, charming face seemed to lighten

nly don't scold me too much at first. Let us be jolly

nd, I suppose, on the people I

't kno

m? Why, they li

nd here. There is a Merriman calle

t I don't care for

st for the express purpose of finding out her faults, and then

nly struck by the gentle tone which

that terrible Miss Carter, who was nearly drowned, went straight from us to them, and has remained with them ever since. Of course, she told them about the boat, and the current in the middle of the lake, and the waterfall. I have been rather curious to see them, and to give them

y," said Rosamund. "But then, I am not a bit too good myself, so I suppose that is why I tolerate yo