Girls of the Forest
henever they moved. They made their presence felt when they spoke, when they sat down, and when they rose up. They were with them at dinner; they were with them whenever Miss T
ou prune the fruit trees. Don't you remember the time when John got a very good gardener from Southampton to come and look over our trees? The
, and hundreds of tiny pears, and a lot of lovely branches; and I began
t did he
, 'If I was your pa I'd do a little
a lau
id the pears were? And we had such heaps of apples; and the gooseberries and raspberri
de a sligh
ave an old aunt here without your turning into a mentor. We all know what you want to say, but please don't
I won't,"
his isn't Nancy King! Oh, welcome, N
sed to be in flourishing circumstances. Nancy was his only child. She had been sent to a fashionable school at Brighton, and considered herself quite a young lady. She came whenever she like
Muses. What's up now? I have heard m
r seat, ran up to the girl, and took her hand. "Come and sit here-
say to you. But, dear
t the equally neat costumes of the other girls. Then finally she gazed long and pensively at Penelope, w
"what has this nursery baby to d
"I'm schoolroom. Don't tell me I'm nursery, because I'm no
t half, nor quarter, as nice as you were when I saw you last. I've just come home for good, you know. I mean to have a jolly time at Margate by-and-by. And oh! my boy cousins and my two greatest chums
aid Verena. "We're not a bi
y old friends; and although you are as poor as church mice, you are quite a good sort. I have always said so-always. I've be
said Verena. "We are not
. "Oh, how hot it is! Pen, for goodness' sake r
lingly enough. Nancy
o us. We three girls at The Hollies, and my two boy cousins, Tom and Jack, have
d Verena. "But we can't
pense whatever. I'll stump up for the whole. Father gives me so much money that I have at the present moment over five pounds in the savings-bank. We will light fires in a clearing not far from here
oo lovely!" said Briar. "I'
en, you s
ould not hear of
; "we must go. It would
e eight girls wi
aid you'd be frumped up like anything, and all the gay life taken out of
" said Pauline. "All our time is occupied. Lessons b
id Nancy. "All the world has a ho
s we must begin at once. She is quite right, I'm sure; although of course we scarcely like it. An
I'm not bothered with any of them. Oh! here comes Pen. It's nonsense to have a child like that out of the nursery. We'd best not say anything before her. V
st go!" sa
g," said
ena was
eaf. How red your face
ooking girl, and by no means pretty. She snatch
ut! And what a stupid, good-for-nothing leaf you've brought! Fet
es flashed fire, an
I would jus
you would what
ow! And I'll
of the child. She danced backwards
fine," said Penelope;
ldren had not. It had been from her earliest days her earnest desire to curry favor with those in authority, and yet to act quite as naughtily as any one else when she thought no one was looking. Even when quite a tiny child Penelope was wont to sit as still as a mouse in nurse's presence. If
seful in the nursery, fairly tidy in her habits, and fairly helpful. But even nurse was wont to
e was promoted to the schoolroom, with its superior privileges and-alas! alas!-also its undoubted drawbacks. She, who hated lessons, must now try to read; she must also try to write, and must make valiant efforts to spell. Above and beyond all these things, she had to do one yet harder-she had to sit mute as a mouse for a couple of hours daily, with her hands neatly folded in her lap; and by-and-by she had to struggle with her clumsy little fingers to make hideous noises on the cracked old piano. These things were not agreeable to the wild child, and so uncomfortable and restrained had she felt during the first morning's lessons that she almost resolved t
her into trouble. I'll get them
igure as she stood thus in her short holland overall, her stout bare legs, brown as berries, slig
f. "Aunt Sophy shall find out that
he house. She found Miss Sophia sitting by her writing-table. Miss Sophia had a headache; teaching was not her
d a slightly cross person who t
he said; "and don't run into the r
ought for to know. I
ause of you,'
of you. I am very
you will prove your af
ds!" remark
at you said
bovver
derstand. Run away, no
or to know. Nanc
s Nanc
grand. She has gold bangles on her arms, and tinkling gold things round her neck, and she's here, and I thought course you ought fo
ot wish you to tell tales of your
disgust, not only with Nancy King and Miss T
me; but she don't seem to care for anybody. I'll just rush away to nursey this very minute and tell her how I love being a sch
," thought Miss Tredgold when
pen suspended,
e fear within me that occasions may arise when Penelope would prove deceitful. There! what am I saying? A motherless child-my own niece-surely I ought to love her. Yes, I do love her. I will try to love them all. What did she say about a girl sitting on the lawn with my girls? It is nice to talk of the Dales as my girls; i
gnified fashion came up to the secluded nook where the girls, with Nancy King in their midst, were enjoying themselves. They were all talking eagerly. Nancy King was seated
ancy! What sc
hed, Verena looked puzzled, and Pauline's expression se
ou all doing?" sudden
r heated brows. She had an instinctive feeling that she had never before seen any one so dignified and magnificent as Miss Sophia Tredgold. She knew that this was the case, although Miss Sophia's dress was almost dowdy, and the little
ould be a lady if she chose, "may
," interru
" repeated Verena. "We have know
Miss King?" sa
on," as she termed Miss Kin
ved? Will you all go quietly indoors?-Miss King, my nieces are beginning their studies
ect school-very; and now that I have left, I like to feel that I am accomplished. None of you girls can beat me on the piano. I know nearly all the girls' songs in San Toy and the Belle of New York. Father loves to hear me when
gold. "I am sorry, Miss King, to disturb a pleasant meeting, but my g
d her capacio
, I'm sure. Good-day, madam.-Good-bye, Renny. I'll look you up another
awkwardly, switching her shoulders and swaying fr
Miss Tredgold when she had watched the dep
ophia. We have known her a
since you were little children does not reply to my question. Who is she? Where does she come from? Who is her fat
gentlefolk,"
spoke. Her eyes were bright, and t
"She is the daughter of Farmer King, who keeps a very jolly house; and
nterposed Adelaide; "the juiciest you
, and I dislike its name," said Miss Soph
n them further. She
uch of this," whispe
nd clasped Briar's little
e and proceeded to th
se attention to lessons. I shall not stay in the room, but you, Verena, are monitress during my absence. Please understand that I expect honor. Honor requires that you should study, and that
t?" burst from the lips o
have a personal acquaintance with that gloomy country. Now far
had belonged to their father's family for generations. There was a time in the past when to be a Dale of The Dales meant to be rich, honored, and respected. But, alas! the Dales, like many other old families, had gone under. Money had failed; purses had become empty; lands had been sold; the house had dwindled down to its present shabby dimensions; and if Miss Tredgold had not appeared on the scene, there would have been little chance of Mr. Dale's ten daughters
how to spell, and what happened long, long
auline's angry thought. "Oh! must I really work out these
lish history. "Oh, dear! that midnight picnic, and Nancy's face, and the dancing in the glades of the Forest. It wou
hair. Pauline saw the movement, and a wave of sympathy flashed between the sisters. P
. Never before, too, had they been so hungry for tea; and certainly never before had they seen such a delightful and tempting meal as that which was now laid for them on the lawn. The new parlor-maid had brought it out and placed it on various little tables. A silver teapot reposed on a silver tray; the cups and sauce
thing of that sort. I will say there are some nice things about Aunt Sophia. This is certai
uline, "but, as you say, Briar, thi
took her seat opposite the hissing u
this place. At the end of that
ldn't!" sa
not, Renny? You ar
Pauline; they are distinctly
!" said
t used to constitute tea on many days when there was no Aunt Sophia came
s Tredgold had seen that each plate was piled with good things, and that ev
d to give you some pleasant information. I attended a tea-party last year in a
it is not lesso
ed down to the Thames. It was the property of a very great friend of mine, and she had invited what
scinating a picture that they almost wished to be present at such a scene as she described. She spoke of the girls of the London world in their pretty dresses, and the matrons in their richer garments;
ty; but rather stiff, w
not yet accustomed to self-restraint, but to those who b
Pauline; "and I should hate fe
you mean
you are putti
ulie!" sa
th me if I speak. I can't imagine any one getti
and looked with her downrigh
out presently. Perhaps you may not like it, but some people do. In your case there is no saying. To-morrow I will tell you another story, but it shall be of the graver and sadder side of life. That story will also intr
said
she knew exactly what was coming. Pauline mus
eated the
t the courtly grace, the sweet refinement, the elegant manners, the words that speak of due knowledg
id Verena slowly, "what y
r certain circumstances, you, to
s," sai
manners, and suitable dress would make you quite the sort of girl who would appear amongst my cultivated friends in th
rhaps be her wor
s. If the time comes when she is in need or in trouble, I should be deeply sorry to think you would not help her, but as a friend she is to cease to exist for you. This is my firm command to all of you girls. There are to be no two voices on the subject. You may not agree with me now, and you may think me hard, but I insist on having my own way. You