A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days

ature E

d taken Lindenlea. She had decided that the climate of Leamstead was too relaxing; and when, on a motor tour with a cousin in the North, she happened to pass through the village of Latchworth, and noticed the pretty, rambling old house to let on the top of the hill, she had

vondale College. The house is so near to the station that she can travel by train into Coleminster every day, and return at four o'clock. I'm never able to make up my mind to spare her to go to a boarding school; but, on the other hand, I don't approve of girls being taught at home by private governesses. The College exactly solves the pro

Mrs. Clarke could not help fussing over her one treasure, and Alison's education, amusements, clothes, and, above all, health, were her supreme interests in life. The girl

nse of justice. In her heart of hearts she hated to be spoilt or in any way favoured. She would have liked to be one of a large family, and she greatly envied girls with younger brothers and sisters to care for. Dearly as she loved her mother, it was often a real trial to her to be idolized in public. She was quick to catch the amused smile of visitors who listened while her praises were sung, and the everlasting subject of her health was discussed; and to detect the disapproval with which they noticed her numerous indulgences. She felt it unfair that strangers, and even friends, seemed to consider her selfish for

ng alike with everyone else. She was soon on good terms with her classmates, for she was merry and humorous as well as accommodating. Her friendship with Dorothy increased daily. As

the rule at Holly Cottage; no luxuries could be afforded, and pleasures were mostly of a kind that did not involve any great expenditure. It was rarely that Aunt Barbara indulged herself even to the extent of a concert ticket or a piece of new music. A fr

en all were talking of a play or an exhibition, to have to confess that she had not been, and to hear the others say pityingly: "Why, Dorothy, you never go anywhere!" Her clothes, made by Aunt Barbara at home, though beautifully

gh which Dorothy was passing; but she knew that the girl must fight her own battle before she learnt to set the right value on this world's possessions, and to discover for herself what things are really of worth. With Dorothy's character Miss Sherbourne often felt as though she were working in the dark. She did her best to impress her own personality upon

ng, about a month after the term began, "I don't like Hope

was a tolerably nice girl

e and Blanche Hall and Irene Jackson go together now

if they do it literally

le, and Hope's never tired of talking about them. Then she comes to school wearing heaps of bangles and rings and things, and she makes one feel she doesn't consider one's clothes anything to hers. She saw my blue skirt had been lengthened, for she nudged Irene and laughed, and sai

take no notice,

her part, because she often dines at their house. And the worst of it is, it's true. Miss Pitman isn't quite fair. Hope and Blanche and Irene make the most tremendous fuss of her, and she always

rot

otices how down she is on me. If I do the le

ral is, don't do the

ulled a l

aculate; if one could, one would be a saint, not an ordinary girl. I can't resist talking sometimes, or shuffling my feet, or fidgeting with

acher. She could not bear to curry favour, and, seeing that Hope and some of the others were trying by every means in their power

eams in the interval," she thought. "It seems like bribery, and I should t

She lacked power to enforce good discipline, and tried to supply her deficiency by making a bid for popularity among her girls. She dearly loved the little attentions they paid her: she liked to pin a rose on her dress, or carry home a bunch of hothouse flowers; she found tickets for concerts or lectures most acceptable; an

her grievances to Alison in the train. "She deliberately helped Blanche out

hat's the matter with Miss Pitman-she's ambitious to climb. She wouldn't accept the Parkers' invitation (they only live in a se

d want to come. All the same, it's disgus

her desk at nine o'clock was absent also. Perhaps she missed it, for she was both impatient and snappy in her manner during the lessons, waxed sarcastic when No?lle Kennedy demanded an explanation of a rat

allow you to stoop over your desk in that way. If you're shortsigh

difficult to remember physical culture during the agonies of following a quick dict

at eleven o'clock. "You'll see, I shall only get 'Moder

'll mark it l

ever judges

he names on the labels

es, or Hope wouldn't al

l write my exercise in your book, and you can writ

e'll do it; but don't tell a soul. Le

ttered herself at the end of the half-hour that she had turned out a decidedly creditable piece of work. She blotted it with great satisfaction, and by rather officiously collecting the books of several girls who sat near, and placing hers in the middle of the pile, she managed to hand it to the monitress without showing the incriminati

" whispered Dorothy. "Now let

cell

lesti

ook for

given me 'Excellent' if she'd known it was mine. I

the

en extremely clever, and congratulated themselves upon the success of their little plot; but it was to have a sequel which neither of them expected in the least. Miss Tempest taught literature throughout the sc

lf set the paper this week, and I want to see what standard you have reached indi

hen it came to her turn she answered "Excellent". Alison, taking the cue from her, answered "Fair". Evidently the exercises had not reached a very high standard of merit that day. There were a few

tly. Dorothy Greenfield said 'Excellent'. Now I particularly remember th

d to Dorothy with

ur mark!"

hy, sticking to her point,

your ex

uation. She was very pale as she passed up the book. Miss Tempest opened it and glared first at the

th while to attempt to deceive me with so palpable a

matter. The whole thing had happened so suddenly that there seemed no time to cudgel up a word in s

othy? Do you consider such conduct worthy of

ice at the back; and Alison Clarke stood up, b

nything about

r' is really mine, and here is Dorothy's, marked 'Excellent', in my book. If you'll p

heless examined the exercise, which

nfield's writing, Mis

he characteristics," ad

each other's book?" enqui

ce took an even dee

e honest each to take the mark we'd really gained. I

th the culprits, who at that moment would have given a great deal to have

Dorothy after school. "Miss Pitman wil

at you so keenly. Well, there's one good thin

she'll

teacher likes to be

got into an uncommonly big scr

for me than for you, as

ck! And probably I shan't have anot