The Story Book Girls

ory Boo

th Cuthbert when the

ally di

ld have been mo

slipped from her arms, and she stood spell-bound, gazing at the Story Books. Mrs. Dudgeon was there, looking half a size larger than any ordinary person. An osprey waved luxurian

d was with M

Maud wa

d seemed sti

at home?" Mrs

ng out of the way in a

come in," sh

when Betty happened to be flying out, and they had not even had time to ring f

ut a word of warning. Jean was singing at the piano--atrociously. Jean might know t

d have been

eft Mrs. Dudgeon and Adelaide Maud in

ily," said Mrs.

Maud neve

frantically to othe

d tragedy

afternoon dress for another in which to receive Mr

excited when he asked which "Story Book." Elma said, "Oh, you know, the o

ares what you have on? The mater is quite right. She is just as nice in a morning

see us nicely dre

abel in that blue

ed at him

g, in her blue gown, and Bertha had shown them ceremo

" said Mabel with a conscience

e rucking! How

n us that we shoul

ked from one

ou been up to now?" h

aid Betty accusingly. She rather liked airing Mabel's mis

ud, as you call her, won't ever come near

aud who's in the dra

w in his bre

ert, you a

a bit of an idiot about bandaging. I told hi

testy in h

dren. Old Dudgeon will be sniffing round to see how much money t

was awfully sti

said Mabel with dignity. "The Dudgeon

us on that point. This beastly side of mine! Why can't we

Mabel. "It's because we've admired t

u may spare yourself the agony of wanting to see her. I think they m

od old chat with the mater

n't you? Instead of talking about the flower show or the boat r

as it when Betty was a baby--yes, it was, and saying

Oh, mother mine, if you do that!"

white osprey quite graciously animated, then a blue and wide one in turquoise, which from that foreshortened view completely hid the shimmering gold of the hair of Adelaide Maud. Mrs. Leighton was weirdly self-possessed

hed four stricken fig

I did so want to meet them.

!" groan

be polite--isn't it a

us

ur best thank

hadn't minded a bit that Cuthbert h

you to cal

he banister rail, after the door shu

all of you, listening there like a

le girls all about it,"

smiled as she

't I often told you that listeners hea

reminded Mabel, softly. "Thin

her mind than she would tell them. S

getting too much

ed Cuthbert in an

ey are very gratefu

ck on his

y determined. He had the fine forehead which so distinguished his father, with the same clear-cut features, and a chin of which the outline was strong and yet fran

hat familiar appeal in his eyes, w

ays that Mr. Dudgeon had always a great respect for your father. He knew what he had d

," said Jean, with

ness in her voice which arrested the flippancy of the gir

elaide Maud,

e determined face. It took so

me?" he asked abruptly. "Or p

rd about you," said

there may be in a

," said Mrs. Leighton lamely

s afternoon calls

, and they are rather anxious about her. She is very upset,

a time I shall have when I'm w

man--to be careless of so much appreciation, and from t

their gardener if he had happened to pull one of 'em out of a pond. It's

martness and good breeding, located herself? Elma gave a small scream of rapture. On the bend of the couch, where the upholstering ran into a convenient groove for hiding things, she found a little handkerchief. It was of very delicate cambric, finely embroidered. Elma's first terror,

, "I shall find out whether

manner. The enervating news was thus conveyed to he

ave been the "Ideal" person. Elma rather hoped that Hermione used scent. This would prov

s. She would not take that depressing view of the people upstairs with regard to the Story Books. She

Maud, "who is that sweet

eighton, "that's

refined amount of rapture, "Oh, is that Mabel?

f this conversation. She would have been so cert

ps, girls," Miss Stanton, head of deportment, informed them in school. "Get your shoulder muscles into o

ief distractedly to her lips, the

vely! It was reall

derly f

acknowledged the Cardinal Wolseley chair. It did not occur to her to think that Mrs. Dudgeon might size up the whole appearance of that charming room in a request for pillars and Georgian mirrors, and beaded-work cushions. It is not given to every

," said the imaginary Mrs. Leig

erged Elma. Some one w

ed wildly, and clutc

to her that he, as an invalid, might be allowe

kerchief," she said. "We sha

t the bit

that what you girls

oked at it very co

u," he sa

imed with round eyes, "yo

n she deserves it," said the hero of yesterda

word, chucky,

lma honourably, y

mpanions after all. They did exac

n to the handkerchief. But of course they would neve

he thought, and then gladly poured

nt little soul,

ry extraasperat