Seven Little Australians

ess of Swe

not ye

learn: happi

d so dull but

a jam tin filled with oatmeal, that she used in the water every time she washed, having read it was a great complexion beautifier. And nightly she rubbed vaseline on her hands and slept

ome of being sixteen, and havi

was going to twice a week, and after an exchange of chocolates

ped in everything, and was considerably wiser

d the young girl took to them with avidity, surprised at the new world into which they took her; for

es in which the heroines in the novels invariably dressed their hair. A pigtail done in three was very unromantic. That was why, as a sort of compromise, she cut herself a fringe and began to frizz out

skirts of two or three of her frocks off the band, inserted a piece of lining for lengthening purposes, and then added a frill to the waists

ese things wer

ly grew dissatisfi

ite in a horrified way. She never called her friend Meg, pron

ought I to be?" she said in a low tone; and Aldith had answered, "Eighteen-or nineteen, Marguerite

nd every night and morning Meg pulled away ruthlessly at her corset laces, and crushed her beautiful little body into narrower space. She had

e sweet blossom-like face, and soft, calm eyes, could have guessed what torture was being felt beneath the now pretty, welt-fitting dre

h?" she asked once faintly, after a French lesso

Oh, you mustn't leave it off, of course,

nce Meg pursued h

all, and, indeed, had she done, so would not have thought very gravely of it, for it was only four

ad said un

ressmaker certainly fits better than Miss Quinn"; and fooli

r to utter shame, but unfortunately for Meg's constitution she w

wn gloves, and umbrella of the undertaker's niece?" And twice a week, after they had answered irrelevantly, "No, but the surgeon had some beer, some mustard, and the dinner-gong," Aldith conducted her friend slowly up and down that happy hunting-

h for all her foolishness, would fancy she detected a patronizing, amused air in these gentlemen's manners. As, indeed, there often was; they were chiefly men wh

n, Marguerite," she said, taking no notice whatever of Baby, who had, with much difficulty, b

ff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," had only

d up with

Aldiff,"

Meg suggested, gently, catchin

Then she relented, and put one caress

fy iss you will say ze

said impatiently, "I have an enthralling s

interested

inted little face; "go and play Noah's Ark with Bunty

m NOW," Baby sa

pet-run away at once like a good girl, and I

up at her si

rd, an' we all hates you here, 'ceps Meg; and Pip says you're ze jammiest girl out, an' I wis'

She put out her little hand and gave the guest's arm in its muslin sleeve a sharp, scientific pinch

apologies and coaxings to get her into an amiable frame of mind

as engaged, engaged to be married! Oh! wasn't it heavenly? Wasn't it romantic?-and to

sily blinded;" Aldith said. "I know true love when I see it. Though certain

views were hardly for

Aldith continued thoughtfully, "and a sold

ike Guy Deloraine in 'Angelina's Ambition'." A

ure. "To have a dark, handsome man with proud black eyes just dying with love for you, going down

"We're not old enough, thoug

your own stepmother. Plenty of girls are actually married at sixteen, Marguerite, and a man

; "and, Marguerite, be sure you make yourself look very nice-wear your cornflower dress, and see if Mrs.

id Meg, c

urtney boys-Andrew Courtney told Beatrice he thought you seemed a ni

"Aldith, how ought the ribbon to go on

the oracle, said. "I'm glad you're going to, dear, it loo

ench?" she said, as sh

ke a point of having no mistakes; and, Janet Green, whose hats are always four seasons behind the fa

n her full length in a most undignified

of string and B