Monitress Merle

cal

fternoon. They had to tell him all their adventures during the summer holidays and about the changes at 'The Moorings,' and he also had much to rela

the girls' questions. "The lawyers are very decent to me and give me pretty well all I want. In the sprin

st live for Easter!"

he time!" added Merle. "What

er, could certainl

g as yachting, but it had its interests. There was the Magazine, of which Mavis was editress, and to which many spicy

boarders, and they seemed determined to keep all its privileges to themselves. They fixed upon a play, shared the cast amo

come in?" d

consulting us! We're as much on the Committe

s holding meetings. We wanted to set to work at once and rehearse, and there weren't enough pa

e kettle black then, if

rselves, I shou

iss Mitchell seemed to tak

ay at four o'clock either, because the boarders must get their walk before tea. It would upset all our arr

me table as her idol, and could indulge in private chats with her during the evenings. Miss Mitchell was perfectly well aware of Merle's infatuation, but did not encourage it too deeply. She meant to be quite impartial, and to have no favourites. Moreover, she was very modern and unsentimental, and disliked what

e me!" she said to

d a daily buttonhole of flowers upon the teacher's desk, but, led by Muriel, the Fifth form rallied, and one morning each of them appeared with a kindred posy an

e flowers, but unless it's my birthday or some special occasion I'm afraid I really don't know what to do

e had heard Miss Mitchell express a wish to look at, and, after lingering about in the classroom,

er held to mark her place,

g, thanks! At present my days a

luable Jessop, who had been so many years in Dr. Tremayne's service-was leaving to take charge of a widower brother, and a young parlour-maid was coming in her place. Several rooms were cleared to make way for Dr. Ramsay's possessions, and a large motor van arrived bearing some of his furniture from Whinburn. Mrs. Ramsay was to have a little upstairs drawing-room of her own, in which to deposit her special treasures, and her husband was to turn the gun-room into his study. The delight and excitement of welcoming her father and mother made Merle temporarily dethrone Miss Mitchell in her heart. It

to find time to do some sketching. I've hardly touched my paintbo

as I leave school. He didn't jump at the offer! Wasn't it ungrateful of him? He doesn't deserve to have a da

wing too much for him, and he was glad to be able to share the numerous visits, so the arrangement of joi

eel it. I'm fond of my brother, and willing to look after him and the shop, but I'll miss the patients here

d see you, Jessop, and tell you

r you come. Let me know beforehand if you can, and I'll ma

assured her. "Those heavy things with holes in them that they se

d, and Merle thought hard things of Iva. If she could have kept her feelings locked in her own breast it would not have mattered so much, but she was a true daughter of Jupiter, and, when provoked, could not refrain from shooting her arrows of bitter words. They quarrelled about the silliest trifles: the loan of an indiarubber, the loss of a pencil, or some slight differences of opinion, over which they would argue

d she care? I'm sure I don't mind her walking ab

wanted Iva to mind, and was extremely anno

e celebrated 'Largo.' She went through her performance quite creditably, took her music, and turned from the piano. Then she saw that during her absence Kitty had commandeered her seat next to Iva. For a moment Merle stood with a look of the b

r everybody, you'd get on bet

hing unless you care? You'd better swop me for a nice, little, tame, harmless sister guaranteed nev

esting!" laughed Mavis

"I think I prefer t

storms a

certainly! But we expect to ha

aturally those on whom the choice fell went through agonies in the matter of practising. After hearing so much about great composers and the proper interpretation of t

right mood and get a gramophone record taken of it that could be put on at the concert, I shouldn't mind. It would

g. They would all do their best, but none had reached a very high level in the matter of attainment. Miss Mitchell, with memories o

two good performers to come

y isn't anybody whom we could ask. Mrs. Carey used to play, but she's out of

rather an o

she invited Miss Fanny, Miss Mitchell, and the elder boarders, asked them to bring their music, and went

included in the invitation

t come. I know because Romola told me

D BROUGHT HER WONDERF

an of her to

e playing

he pleasant evening they had had, and ho

said Iva. "She has a beautiful voice, and it will give things such a lift. Miss Mitchell is as pleased as

y attitude and made herself so objectionable that Merle raved in private, a

. "The 17th? Well, I have an idea! No! I don't mean

, Mummie? I

my advice and don't worr

bably turn out

y when a few days had gone by, and they had almost forgotten the incident, th

both went to St. Cyprian's and were in the same form with Miss Mitchell. She'll be so pleased to meet them again! Cousin Sheila says Miss Lancaster promises to play at your school

give a recital in Exeter on the 15th, so that she would be in the neighbourhood and able easily to come on to Durracombe. She made her headquarters at Kirkton, so Mrs. Ramsay explained, but travelled much about the country playin

because I want Mildred to be happy, yet it would be a wicked shame if she flung her talent to the winds, as s

uch thrilled at the prospect of meeting her old friends, and highly appreciated the privilege of a violin solo at the concert. The girls

y violin at home

great artists who find fault-they understand the difficulties only too well-it's the carping critics who can't p

e. Mildred Lancaster was a most charming personality, and although she had been so f?ted on concert platforms, she was absolutely simple and unaffected in private life. She had bro

thing were to happen to it I believe I'd give up music! It's bee

ked, so that with the school there was quite a large audience. It was arranged to take the girls' part of the programme first, and the visitors' solos afterwards, a pro

and will make a musicia

rself into

s studying singing in London," purred Miss Pollar

r entire mastery of her instrument was a revelation to most of the girls. T

fter this, however good the records!" dec

of you to tea to-morrow-hasn't s

d in the invitation in spite

. "Two blacks never make a white! The best way of 'getting even' with people is to do them a kindness. That stops the whole thing and

ed charming with late flowers in its vases and a blazing log fire. Miss Mitchell, having snatched a private chat with her two old school friends, was radiant. Jessop, who had heard full details of the occasion, had insisted on coming over to bake the cakes, and hovered in the background l

I think we know how to

private a

pulls the string