Modern Broods

e, my beloved? c

Brow

iting for Gillian, who was to come home at the same time. There was so much discussion of the new golf ground, that Vera had hardly a hand or a glan

anly fellow he looks!" she exclaimed, as she

d. "You will be delighted with his work. I never saw a

son's little boy," added Vera

done; indeed, he has sket

Romeo, too,

nd she was his mother, and they both were martyrs. I will t

Sister must be much pleased with hi

," owned Paula. "He does not seem to w

reated like a common house-pain

ne does so,"

per at St. Kenelm's Vicarage with Lady Flight, and l

a says that Primrose Merrifield says that her Aunt Jane-that

at to do wit

e is a talk of Lord Somebody's yacht coming in, that she would never treat h

re doing," said Agatha, "when he wa

id not want to be talked of," said

e church and at the Sisters'. Those dear Sisters! Ther

o me to be treating our o

id Vera, in a

not introduce to her, because you do not th

g how little Sister Beata knew of the situation, of which she only

gate of the Goyle, where Magdalen and Thekla were ready to meet them; and they trooped merrily up the hill, Agatha keeping to Magdalen's side in a way that struck her as friendly and affec

architecture; all were touched on for further discussion by and by as they sat at the evening meal, and then on the chairs and cushions in the verandah; and through all there was no exclusion of the elder sister, but rat

her sisters, and neglects such as were not the offspring of tender familiarity, but of an indifference akin to rudeness. Magdalen had endured, knowing how bad it was for their manners, but unwilling to become more of an anno

al and ambitious. The difference had been from her intercourse with persons slightly her elders, but who did not look on authorities as natural enemies, to be tolerated for one's own good. There had been a development of the conscience and soul even in this

ed to come, when summoned, to hear how well Thekla could read French. In the meantime she wa

ula. "You'll be heard in the dining-room, a

aid Vera, pulling up t

" laughed Pau

go and wipe th

in M.A.'s fidgets

ence to the head of the ho

le Paula argued, "Really, Nag, life is not long e

n on a wrong tack with our sister. I

med Vera, dashing in b

ant it as a nickname

ument was beginning, which Agatha cut sh

g the real M.A. that she i

id Vera; "and so she will if she

senses?"

that it is hardly kind or right to put that sort of label u

touch on the chord of gratitude; and Paul

a libel as

ister or Magdalen, the whole

, as my father did, would make her feel nearer

aid Paula. "She can never be the

so over my music; calling out if I make ever so

icely. Just listen! But I can't bear her dragging us off to that

aid that Miss Prescott had brought quite new life and spirit to the poor old man, who h

l wean her from the old parochial idea. Why, she would not let me give my winter

made me darn first," cried Vera. "She is ever so much

degree of comparison," sa

hats, but only did up the old ones, and not with feathers

t is cruel,

hat difference does it make wh

those lovely wreaths

if one is to have nothing chic? And she won't let me have a hockey outfit.

whether her dear Merri

ut you will know soon. Did I not h

ne, but it will be all swells

with the swells, if you mean the Merrifiel

d Vera, "if he would not be always so s

o have it on the very day that St. Milburga's Guild

to keep clear of

self to Vera, she declared, "And she won't let us join the Girls' Magazine Club, be

s," chimed in Paula, "or only baby stories fit for Thekla. She made me retur

on her table? and I'm sure he was

atha. "He was a great Saint befo

to thwart us," cried Vera. "It i

at one conjunction caused an outburst. "Oh, Nag, Nag, if

"Oh, Nag, Nag, they are cutting the hay in the high torr field,

olongation into a groan, "i

said Paula; "but never mind, we wi

At first it was about Oxford matters, very interesting, but public and external to the home, and it did not draw the cords materially closer; but when Thekla had privately decided that even hanging upon the newly recovered Nag was not worth

junior classes," said Agatha; "bet

ld like to go to the High School at Rockquay, but there are found

est playfellow. She seems very

ather wistfully. "I thi

Magdalen answered with a kiss and tearful smile, "Do

pressure of the hand and the eyes that

to her own eyes, though she smiled through

now what that me

dalen; "but I must have got into the groove, and I suppose I do not always remember h

said Agatha. "Are those Sisters n

they were not unattached, or belonged to some regular Sisterhood. I wish she had taken in

tractive; she is so wrapped up

I am giving a garden party next we

nt on its not clashing with s

d heard what is settled. I have invited peop

s painting the ceiling at St. Kenelm's

am glad he is doing so well. I heard Eccles and Beamster were to do the decoratio

ecorations at St. Kenelm's and their artist; but it turned out that he was gone to spend Sunday at the Cathed

Besides, it was not likely to be pleasant to a stranger who knew no one but the Flights and Hendersons, and those professionally. Agatha told her sisters, and with one voice they declared that the

y think, Nag, I did have a jolly

en she lent

l and I took a jolly spin along the cliff road; and it was such screaming fun. Only once we thought we saw old

does no

ttle nun's schoolgirl mind? She would only make no

was afraid to meet his father

au, who never gives them any peace

't think that makes it any better. I s

ust for the fun of the thing, and to try how it goes. One can't be kept

ss in such an unladylike way w

and it cost her a bitter pang of mistrust; but she abstained from inquiries, thinking that they might only do harm. But she bought a