A Terrible Tomboy

riend, to-day I s

thy manner ha

g-room one afternoon, where her aunt was busy adding u

t Helen, pausing in the midst of her butcher's bill. 'I have not

the dancing-class on Fridays, and Maud and I always dance together, and I sim

who she is. I cannot have you making friends

ls right down to her waist, and Muriel's almost grown up, though she's only as old as Lilian.

said Aunt Helen, smiling. 'Lilian, can't you tell m

, and then in London before they came here. Muriel plays the violin, and they know ever so many musical people, and go to the concerts every week at the Assembly Rooms. It is Maud's birthday on the thirteenth, and they have invited us all three. Mrs. Middleton was at the dancing-class

unt Helen. 'And if he says "Yes,"

be likely to resist the combined coaxings of the trio. 'We

y; the anomaly of a country gentleman who ploughed his own fields was felt to be too much for the neighbouring squires, and one by one the 'county' had ceased to call. Truly adversity is a great winnower o

better at home. She took it very patiently, poor child! and came downstairs to see the others start off in the little pony-trap, Bobby resplendent in a clean white sailor suit, and Peggy in a pale-blue sprigge

d pretty brown curls under the little white hat, and thinking that Peggy gre

nt Helen. 'And don't forget to thank

n't be any other folk's children t

for comfort, and a blue sky without a hint of rain clouds. Pixie was fresh, and kept up a fine pace, scarcely slacking for the hills, so they soon got over the ground. They were within a mile of Warford, and were going along at a quick trot, when, without any warning, a carriage and pair came suddenly dashing up behind from a side road, and passed them, gi

call them back, and teach them good manners. They nearly graze

hen they would have spoilt their own varn

k the road belongs to them, anyhow. If David had been with us I don't believe they would have done it; bu

guests were already assembled on the lawn, both grown-ups and children, a very smart compan

ggy drew up with a litt

You've not brought your groom? George, just run into the house, will you, and ring f

r of elegantly-dressed ladies, and for a moment s

han, Mother,'

sters, my dear. We were charmed with them at the dancing-class. And your bro

Bobby came forward politely to shake hands, and was marched off aft

on to Peggy, as Maud turned away to welcome new guests. 'There are seve

ut they only nodded, and did not come forward to speak to her. A sudden wave of shyness came over her, a

med to be mutual, for the elder child nudged the younger, and Peggy could see that they were looking her up and down, and evidently taking in all the details of her costume. The Vaughans had not been brought up to think much about clothes

stylish, and she did not take any more notice of Peggy, nor come up to introduce her to other people, and make her feel happy and at home. There were a great many elder people present, but they all stood laughing and tal

. 'Some of the others are going to play. Do you know Phyllis and Marjorie Norton?' indicating the owners of the l

e was dealing out the mallets and arranging the sides with much energ

ot thought there would be such a large and fashionable assembly of guests, and had hoped that she would have her dear Maud to herself for a short time, at any rate, and be shown the doves,

ht. 'There are such heaps of people here to-day. I wish they wou

d before, to judge by their absolute lack of skill. Peggy was standing waiting for her turn, while the others clustered round a rather difficult stroke of Marjorie Norton's, when she saw Phyllis, whose ball had been left distinctly wired, hurriedly push it with her foot into a better position. Peggy had been accu

she said haughtily. 'You have n

, and she had not spoken a word, yet she had an unpleasant feeling

You shall take two hoops, and send ze black ball avay. Ti

to the great delight of her little partners, they all pegged out, amid the

tled about with cups and plates. Much against her inclinations, Peggy found herself sitting side by side with Phyllis Norton. Bobby was a long way off, among a jolly set of boys, whose sho

oming here,' she remarked at last. 'Weren'

over us. I don't think he's a v

ryone else get out of the way,' said Phyllis calmly. 'Do you li

rswen Abbey,'

passed it on our way to Wyngates. Why, you're quite in t

High School. We d

rows. 'Well, I suppose it's all right for farmer's dau

ed by, and perhaps it is all the better, for we are saved from bitter words, which, once spoken, are not easily forgotten by the hearers, however keenly we may regret them ourselves. As it

, at last taking some notice of her friend. 'We've

f orchids and rare plants, which were much admired by the young visitors, though simple Peggy could not help thinking they were not half so pretty as the roses and lilies in the old garden at home, and certainly the

always likes to go up for a while during the season. We've so many friends, don't you know. I expect we shall have a l

a theatre in her life, could only stand and listen. She felt so shy and stupid, and so apart from the other girls, that she began to wish heartily that she had never come, and long for the

beautiful white Persian kitten, who submitted to pettings wit

genuinely fond of her pets, and liked t

oment, leading a fine S

ent for it, and puss only saved her life by springing up a yew-tree close by. The poor little creature was so terrified that she leaped

ver shall I do?' shrieked Maud, wringing

er, or somebody,

rescue. She was up the yew-tree in two leaps and a bound, and by crawling along an overhanging bough, clinging to a branch

grazed hands and rumpled frock. 'You're really too good! Withers mi

' remarked Peggy dryly, feeling rather snubbed; for several of the girls

tall, brown-bearded man, who had been a silent spectat

aimed Maud. 'Where

, I think, is a true friend in need. What, Miss Peggy Vaughan? Any relation to the Vaughans of Gorswen Abbey? Then

MANAGED TO SEIZE PUSS BY

alter the whole atmosphere. Maud's supercilious manner slipped away from her like magic, and she became once more the pleasant Maud of the dancing-class, and her friends, feeling the change, soon left off trying

their frocks nice? Scandalous! Come along, all of you, and we'll get up some mixed sports. I stopped in the town, and filled my pocke

-ups in the sports, and his jolly, hearty good spirits seemed so infectious that almost before they realized what they were doing, elegant ladies were holding up skipping-ropes, and smart young gentlemen fl

s, sack-races, three-legged races-she was ready to compete in all, and, to h

and several people asked who that charming little girl was, with th

ear at Oxford. A fine-looking fellow he was, too!' said a he

one of the county, in fact,' said Mrs. Middleton, gushi

anner, and Muriel remembered to send her love to Lilian, and say she was

when she got home, that she liked him the best o

w the Middletons-but he says he lived in England once, and used t

shortly, with a flush on the cheek

ted Peggy, 'that he is quite t

obby so sleepy he can scarcely keep his eyes open