A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days

rom

elt extremely at a loss when one morning she looked out of the carriage window

't worry over me to such an extent; it must be a perfect nuisance to have to wear galoshes just on the chance of its raining, and to swathe a Shetland shawl over your mouth if

occupation she was reduced to taking out her books and looking over her lessons. Both in the mid-morning interval and the half-hour before dinner she missed Alison exceedingly. She tried to fil

are for historical tales. I should like to know what you do want! Be quick and take something, or I shall just lock the ca

hat the others were doing. It was not the day for a dramatic rehearsal, and nothing particular was going on. Some of the girls were playing rounders, but most were standi

nner is over," said Hope; "but I bel

will be worth it," replied Blanche. "I hear there are

g about?" said Dorothy to Addie P

suppose it will be ever such a swell affair. They were laying down red carpets when I passed this

lanche going to

and so do Annie Gray and Joyce Hickson. I woul

bout it," ret

er doubtful adventure. There was no exact rule that the girls should not leave the College duri

ses. When a thing hasn't been forbidden, I suppose it's allowed. St. Peter's is

t, she "did a bolt". She much preferred going by herself to joining Addie Parker and Bertha Warren, so she scurried

o you've sneaked a

ng," returned Dorothy.

n't we, indeed?"

mpest might happen to make a bother about it if she heard. One n

e mustn'

certainly won't t

her

ver to breathe one single word tha

I'm likely to go tellin

omise not to tell any bo

ser

said Hope, catch

y, who, seeing Bertha Warren and Addie Par

the ceremony. All the seats seemed taken as she entered, but she marched confidently up t

e you one of the Miss

ered Doroth

pews is for the invited guests-general public's only a

eel hot and uncomfortable. Several people in the pews had turned to look at her. No doubt they considered her an impertinent intruder. Her cheeks flamed at the idea. The churchyard seemed almost as full as the church, though the crowd there was of a totally different description. The possibility of witnessing the wedding had

e path and the lich-gate. She was wedged rather tightly between two nursemaids, and the basket of a gr

come!" sa

e charge in her arms. It was difficult to see, for the awning rather hid the view from those in the churchyard above the path. All that Dorothy caught was a glimpse o

ything at all. It wasn't worth the trouble of comin

e the faces under them. She was half inclined to struggle through the grou

e past!" she ejacu

entrance, so she made a push for the side gate; then taking a short cut by a small street, she scurried back to school. Sh

ff?" cried Addie. "You are

d-every one of u

aimed Joyce Hickson. "I nev

almost plump

our

n? Who caught yo

st. Didn't

not

nk your g

e was

bride had gone in. Phyllis saw her first, and passed on a 'Cave', b

ur school hats in the di

he do?" ask

shaking in my shoes! I didn't know whether I dared come back

a worse pickle stil

ould. Anyhow,

'Look out f

A tempest,

raging Tempe

the bell, and I have

hough?" asked Dorothy, a

as for Miss Russell-it makes me want to be married myself! It was almost worth while being caught to see i

hy looked round for Hope and Blanche. They slipped in at the last moment, rather re

r food values. Dorothy's mind was in a ferment. What was about to happen? She had not thought it any great crime to go to see the wedding, but apparently such an acti

tion, or are you not attending,

the door opened, and Miss Tempest entered. There was a perceptible shudder amongst those girls whose consciences told them they were to blame. Addie Parker and Bertha Warren

t there is a very important matter upon which I must speak at once. Adeline P

the five girls resp

were doing at St. Peter

courage to ve

ermission to le

dead silence amo

ay boarders are not allowed to

un icily, was waxing more stern and

e rules? I say you five, for I saw you and took your names; but I certainly noticed another Avondale hat among the crow

table prick. She had many faults, but conce

Tempest," she sai

othy dropped her eyes. Miss Tem

y whose pe

girls weren't allowed to go out. We none of us

an unheard-of thing for day boarders to leave until four o'clock, and could not be allowed for an instant. I am astonished that y

y didn't--"

y. "I don't wish to hear any further excuses. Y

the truth!" bu

l have to request you to leave the College altogether. I

urther to exculpate herself. She stood twisting her hands nervously, and (I regret to say) with a very stubborn expres

t St. Peter's this afternoon?" she

till, with eyes that dared not raise th

nd half-past two. If it is too wet to go into the playground, they must stay in the classrooms. Any of the six who enters the gymnasium during the prohibited time must report h

more than the scolding. Her contempt for Hope and Blanche was supreme, but she was angry, all the same, at their meanness. She was far too proud to cry like Addie Parker, whose

drawing, and she was able to give a mechanical atten

mistress at the close of the class. "I can only giv

ppened. Miss Giles gave her a warning look, as if she were disposed to tell her to lose an order mark; but seeing perhap

up to her, and whispered in her ear: "Remember your promise!

serve it," mu

honour-if you have any hon

t. I'm not going to blab. I've enough self-respect to keep a promise when I've once made it, though, as I said be

omise me faithfully you won't tell. I'll bring you a

rnfully. "I've told you already that I don't bre

girls fell into line again as they marched

st of the Form had plenty t

declared Ruth Harmon. "You'll be in M

orothy; "not so bad, indeed, because I wasn't caught, and yet

, if you hadn't answered he

r I didn't know

heek above everything. I shouldn't care to be in your

her in a knot. How hard it was to keep her unwelcome secret! She felt as if in comm

one than some-yourself n

r tantrums to-da

t you all are! I wish to go

How thankful she was that Avondale was a day school, and that she could

would be dreadful to have to endure this all the evening. Oh dear, I hate the pla

le sitting-room, with its bright fire and a cosy tea laid ready on the oak table. After the storms and whirlwinds of school, h

ed out her accumulation of troubles. "I've got to keep that promise, but I can't do it with any good grace, and I still feel that Miss Tempest was unjust, because nobody had ever sa

little scrap your own fault? I fancy at the bottom you knew that dinner girls aren't expected to run out into the t

ared hard

just flare up and explode-I can't help it. I'm quite different at home. I wish I

at present, and the temper is the enemy. Won't you be a Red Cross Knight, and ride out

mes to life again, ready for another go at me. There, Auntie! yes, I'll