The Story Book Girls

wer Sho

it mean

ith a wire comb at straight unruly hair. It had always annoyed Mabel that Jea

y decided, and Elma and Betty had invaded the room be

't want it! Didn't want it, when we're dying to go! And then o

d began to gather long heavy

p! I shall soon take it

irls,

oice at the door

always gone together before, and

aid Mrs. Leighton. "I do not like any

ning braid of hair, till long ends were brought in front. She put these

ighton, "I've asked you

d Jean, disengaging

t down rather he

sorry for being spitefu

we spiteful, tha

bed, looking s

ft out of things now

as though she

take your turn. You don't come wherever your fa

might occasionally take

e flower show last

d Mabel said it was like carrying four bassinettes in a row, and snap

ven then," said Jean

t the same when you grow up. I won't allow you to be down on po

never would have thought that Mabel could be so priggish. Do you know why she wouldn't have us? I'm

very good, let me tell you, very sweet and nice when you were babies and she just a little thing. She nursed you, Elma and Betty, often and often, and

led a nuisance," said J

ad of moping Jean might be golfing, and Elma and Betty having tea at

m how selfish th

ried three rep

d Betty likes her rabbits, and Jean despises me because I don

mum

nto town and get Jean's new hat, and take tea at Crowther's, and drive home if my poor old leg

your gloves, and do be quick, mummy," cr

ner to getting her off to her roo

alled out Jean to Elma. "And I think I ought

ton's gentle rule was sorely tried for quite a long time in this way. Although she reasoned with the yo

begin by being selfish, you know. There are few enough things happening here not to spread the opportu

d be very impartia

ed a superior air, which became

an, amiably engaging her in conversation in the o

tudied manner and stared

observed Adelaide

than human bei

t's most i

k afterwards," said Mabel grandl

an faintly. "I think Mab

nd to the traitorous remark of Mabel's about Adelaide Maud. It seemed as though her head could hold nothing else but that one idea about Adelaide Maud, until suddenly it dawned on her that it was really rather fine and grand of Mabel that she should talk in this negligent manner of any one so magnificent. This reflection gave her the greatest possible comfort. To be condescending, even in a mere frame of mind, to the Story Book Girls seemed like the swineherd becoming a prince. Elma began to think how jolly it would be to hear Mabel saying, "You know, my dear Helen, I don't think you ought to wear heliotrope, it hardly suits you." There was something very delicious in having Mabel starchy and proud after all. Elma heard her coming upstairs to her bedroom to dress for dinner just the

nner. She took a hand glass and had first a side view, then a back view of t

u don't look en--thu

ty to-night. Mozart and Betty! Isn't it stale? I hate Mozart, and I hate drumming a

ys be tacked on to Betty or to Jean o

ou've had a

ma had certainly intended to comfort Mabel, y

nteenth birthday present, a fine

. He made me feel like a criminal all afternoon. These navy men like lots of girls round them. One or two more don't make the difference to them that it makes to us. A

on rocking with the sudden

awfully hard to get us all peacefully grown up. Betty will have the best of it. I shall simply

o the flower show without Jean?" as

should have presented her with the one and

behave," said Mabel, with a to

he ticket. You weren't made to be bullied. I was. I fe

nd that because of the children. It's always been like that. And now when I'm longing to go to dances and balls, I've got to go right off after dinner and play

papa has been listening to us all thes

earing Betty scrape on her fiddle every night as she does nowadays. Instead, y

elfish," said Elma gravely. "I think t

the unclasping

ow there isn't so selfish a person in the wo

in her mouth, then rele

Grace wait on her. And she's done it. There's nothing succeeds l

internal," being supposed to like what was invariably referred to in that household as "the bed of pain," to

ie? Who would ever go to bed for all the

that I should be obliged to lie in bed like Miss Annie, and have somebody nice and sympathetic come in and stroke my hand!

l sat suddenly on the couch bes

, "if people treat you in that stiff seve

ightly hysterical quality which made each girl cry when the other began, rose in r

say something

to cry too," a

ey both

managed to counsel at last. "I thought you were a beast--but it's

t it," gro

anding. Almost as unde

u think papa

ction of the afternoon they had spent in the cheery presence of Mrs