More William

May

re him. William attended a mixed school because his parents hoped that feminine influence might have a mellowing effect upon his character. As yet the mellowing was not apparent. He was roused from his

st be her courtiers. I want you all to vote to-morrow. Put down on a piece of paper the name of the little

remarked William to his family at d

derably when he discovered t

f animal at all?" h

in it, then," he said whe

Fish was very fair, and was dressed always in that shade of blue that shrieks aloud t

eyes if you'll vote for

d William

she bar

if you want. There's nothing to stop you givin' me six

n my name on the paper if I give you s

William. "I can

am returned one as being under regulation size, and

ne Fish. "They'll make you ill an' di

was, after all, the beauty of the form and she always wore blue. And now she was to be May Queen. Her prestige was established for ever. "Little angel," murmured the elder girls. The small boys fought for her favou

iced her vaguely in school before and had hardly looked upon her as a distinct personality. But one recreation in the playground he stood leaning again

m in the distance. William had discovered that his scowl annoyed her, and since then had given it little rest. But there was no satisfaction in scowling at the back of her well-curled head, so he relaxed his scowl and let his gaze wander round the playground. And it fell upon Bettine. Bettin

position had brought him again within range of Evangeline F

ed Bettine shyl

ock?" was Willia

ttine, noddin

han't be buying any for a long time," he added bitterly, "'cause an ole ball s

d underst

. "I'll like you jus' as much if

am bl

ow you liked

y. "I like your face an'

barrassment and delight. He plunged his hands into his pockets a

all," he said in r

for me," said

aypole when Evangeline's Queen. Wo

xploded Wil

it?" said Bett

gain. "Dancin' round a p

e's so

hiny hair an' I don' like her narsy blue clothes, an' I don' like her narsy face, an' I

pau

rew a dee

she said. "I like

ke her?" s

edy. Did you know sh

"I can b'lieve anything of anyon

eatin' cakes-she goes on ea

then," prophesied William sol

er so beautiful whe

nicer," sa

mall pale f

," she

like to be

es," s

the discomfiture of Evangeline Fis

cause. William accorded her a certain grudging admiration. Not once did she falter or faint. Iced cakes, cream cakes, pastries melted away before her and never did she lose her ethereal angelic appearance. Tight golden ringlets, blue eyes, fa

f the Maypole dance an

ing admiration. Iced cakes, cream ca

o hold the queen's trai

William in horror

ld little Queen Evangeline's train. I'm sure you

transferring his sc

ion. William was the only boy in the form who w

ns. I've never bin taught 'bout holdin' trains. I might do it wrong on the

of practices," said

ine pressed a small

she murmured. "I save

s tou

orrow," he said, adding hasti

ence till he had

n a tone of unusual politeness, handing

am, you'll look so ni

won't! You don't know the th

he gasped in awe

f you was goin' to be

in," she said earnestly. "I'd-I'd-I

y Kings?" said William, stun

't there be

, only p'raps Miss Dewhu

ing May Kings, does it? I wun't mind

was, on the wh

am Brown. No, not so far away-you'll pull the train off. Walk when the Queen walks, William Brown, don't

o be dressed in smocks and the "maidens" in print dresses, and the Maypole dance was to be performed round Ev

re gazing wistfully at Evangeline Fish, who was coquetting (wi

or her to be May Q

o hold up her rotten ole train an' listen to her narsy squeaky

the garden and pressed it into

-box and make holes for its breath and it'll live ever s

William she took it

o Bettine. She pirouetted near him in her sky-blue garments, she to

e Robert had made William's life miserable. He had objected to William's unbrushed hair and unmanicured hands, and untidy person, and noisy habits. He had bitterly demanded what She would think on being asked to a house where she might meet such an individual as William; he had insisted that William should be taught habits of cleanliness and silence before She came; he had hinted darkly that a man who had William for a brother was hampered considerably in his love affairs because She would think it was a queer kind of family where anyone like William was allowed to grow up. He had res

lives and ruining their happiness. He had implied that when William met with the One and Only Love of his Life he need look for no help or assistance from him (Robert), because he (William) had dashed to the ground his (Robert's) cup of happiness, because he'd never in his life met anyone before like Miss Laing, and never would again, and he (William) had simply condemned him to a lonely and miserable old age, because who'd want to marry anyone that asked them to lunch and then gave them

de for once. An old uncle came to

t a Maypole, I he

was all Wi

the May Day festival. Sometimes William made such a fool

old festival, and quite an honour to take part i

her," sai

fixed up in the field near the school, and the li

ood gazing up the road by which Evangeline Fish must come to the school. For Evangeli

he gree

. She had wo

the school with me

ll loi

awful

nt to be too early. I'm the most 'portant person, and I wan

er tightly-w

minute," said William. "I'

shed an

aid, and followed hi

!" he

're all for you. Go on. Eat 'em a

d. Rows of cakes lay round the shed, pastries, a

Eat 'em all. You can eat an' eat an' eat. There's lots an

liam!" s

ated ov

may

me," said William. "

eyes seemed to sta

e said i

ants and pastry. William made for the door, then he paused, gazed wistfully at th

t frock was at the

l out. They're waiting to begin. Miss Dewhurst's out there. They're all com

n and shu

be May Queen," he

said in

I'm goin'

pped his

!" he

y. Over Bettine's print frock he drew a crumpled gauze slip with wings, torn in several pla

she said. "How l

small 'bus conductor's cap with a toy set of tickets and clippers. He placed the cap upon his head with its peak over one eye. It was the only official headgear he had been able to procure. Then

by the hand and led h

as William and Bettine appeared. William's father, mother and sister were in the front row. Robert was not there. Robert had declined to come t

nd in hand upon the little platform whi

nd in hand upon the little platform whi

and eyes wide. The old fiddler, who was rather short-sighted, struck up the strains, and the dancers began to dance. The audience relaxed, leaning back in the

of pageant. Good Luck or something. It's not qu

s? I always thought Miss Dewhurst had

te a common look to the whole thing. I wonder who

There always seems to be something queer about anything he's in. I've noticed it often. But I hope he's

ognised her possessions,

o knew William, was

ther was smi

look at him now. He's got a very important part, and he said nothing about it

hand holding hers and the Maypole dancers dancing

wood-shed was just beginn