Monitress Merle

e-t

eat fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared. Sh

nless you have most beautif

our while bothering o

arty clap to the boarders' performance, a really magnanimous attitude on the part of Mavis, who had lent a pale pink silk dress to Nes

of our own in the hols," she whisp

s simply into fits, though of

S COMING TO STAY. Mrs. Ramsay had invited him for a three weeks' visit to Bridge House, and he was to arrive on December 23rd. He had always been a great favourite with Dr. Tremayne, who thought that the boy's positi

r, and they were very curious to know what he was like. Any misgivings which they may have cherished vanished instantly, however, at the first sight of Clive. He was a very big boy of twelve, as tall as Merle, with merry grey eyes that looked capable of fun. He was, of course, full of the affairs of his own preparatory school, b

d her younger daughter down from the coach-house roof

Merle's excuse. "If I didn't keep him quiet he'd kick up no end

njoyment mixed with the phi

it. We ought to enjoy our ow

ured pictures from annuals on its bare walls, and made it look quite pretty. Tom lighted them a blazing fire every day, and tended it during their absence with the care of a vestal virgin, so they were extremel

ences of young people had been confined to scho

imes, how different life would have been to me if my mother had lived. It's hard not to have e

here yoursel

a voyage round the world in a yacht. The fact is I can't quite see my future. I'm going to Cambridge, but after that things a

enty of time to think things over while you're at Colleg

that. I'm having t

called her 'Soeurette' (little sister) and was always ready for some joke with her. She and Clive together led him a li

good in the world to be

gets it, then!

elton College to taking motoring lessons, for he hoped to buy a car some day, a

ous and thinks I'm going to run her into the ditch! Wait till I've had my c

bike, if you like, Soe

ay, if they'

out on the quiet and I'll guarantee to ride it. Let's do i

Bevis naturally wished to explore the Durracombe district, and they had not been to Chagmouth since his arrival, and knew nothing of what was going on there. One drizzling morning, however, when they were

Tudor. "Isn't your man about

ll fetch him!" and Merle dar

le?" asked Mavis, strokin

wipe down, please" (as Tom led Armorelle away to the stable), "she's too fat and gets easily hot!

into the house

Merle. "We've made the ha

I'm too splashed to be fit for the drawing-room. I

our Cousin Clive," said Mavis

o a basket chair and looked rou

ht of taking over the harness room! 'Pon my word, it's cosy! Y

out

asked her to get up a concert in aid of something or other, I don't know what it's for! The new Vicar's as bad as the old one for wanting money, and the Mater's perpetually raising the wind for the parish with entertainments. She's worked all her local stars rather hard, so you can imagine she pounced upon an

vis, as Tudor p

m developed measles! The other two are contact cases and, of course, they're not allowed on the boards. You can't act 'Hamlet' with

y no unde

p her empty programme but all her stars were huffy because they hadn't been asked before, and they said they had colds or they wanted to go to their grandmothers' funerals, or some such excuse. Back comes the Mater almost in tears and says she really doesn't know whatever

when is th

ht at 7

cott! We

me acting and they don't mind what it's like so long as it makes them laugh and they get their money's worth. The Mater'll send the car over

through the thing we di

oking at

r, and if we get stage fright and can't go on w

ave written a note but there was some other hitch about the refreshments and she was interviewing the scho

We haven't ask

rs. Ramsay in your car and stopped them

ing!" exclaimed Mavis as Tudor rode away

er fun! Cheer up, Bevis! Don't look such a scared owl

Isabella?" g

e, if I'm

-you c

ive and I are the same height and really rather alike, and if we

ise me as Uncle Cash

as you did last night. We're not going to let you off! Don't y

in the evenings to an audience of Aunt Nellie, Uncle David, and Father and Mother. Their last performance had really been so succ

sked to appear on a pub

there to see us!

y of us," said Mavis, hunting for a pair of spectacles she had misla

provinces, or anything else they like. They'll think far more of us if