A Patriotic Schoolgirl

Boardin

yourself and blink an eye! What a dormouse you are! D'yo

me in the back," grunted an injured voice from the next bed. "

able. Marjorie leaned over and took a keen survey of that por

works! I thought you'd more pluck. If you're going to arrive at Brackenfield with a red nose and your eyes all bunged up, I'll disown y

e comfort offered her. As its consistency was decidedly of a stick-jaw nature

rily. "Cheer oh! I call it a stunt to be going to Brackenfi

and you are not shy, and you always get on with people. You know I'm a mum mouse, and I hate strangers. I shal

ght and practical work on the part of Mother, two aunts, and a dressmaker had preceded the packing of those boxes, for the requirements of Brackenfield seemed numerous, and the list of essential garments resembled a trousseau. There were school skirts and blouses, gymnasium costumes, Sunday dresses, evening wear and party frocks, to say no

aptly described as "a little madam", and it was owing to the very turbulent effect of her presence in the family that she had been packed off early to school, "to find her level among other girls, and leave a little peace at home", as Aunt Vera expressed it. "Finding one's level" is generally rather a stormy process; so, after four years of give-and-take at Hilton House, Marjorie was, on the whole, not at all sorry to leave, and transfer her energies to another sphere. She meant well, but she was always cock-sure that she was right, and though this line of action may serve with weaker characters, it is liable to cause friction when practised upon equals or elders whose views are also self-opinionated.

fiddle with a good grace. She was not at all clever or imaginative, but very affectionate, and had been the pet of the family at home. She was a neat, pretty little thing, with big blue eyes and arched eyebrows and silky curls, exactly like a Sir Joshua Reynolds portrait, and she had a pathetic way of saying, "Oh, Marjorie!" when snubbed by her elder sister. According to Aunt Vera, if Marjorie neede

nd that among companions of her own age she might perhaps find a few congenial friends who would help her to realize that she had entered her teens, and would interest her in girlish matters. Poor Dona by no means shared her mother's sa

th three years of preparatory-school experience behind him. "I felt a bit queer myself, y

a shame I should have to go at all! You can't an

ey'll limit you to a week's wailing, and if you don't turn off the tap after that, they'll send for a doctor, who'll prescribe Turkey rhubarb and senna mixed with quinine. It's a stock school prescription for shirking; harmless, you know, but par

eally? Will

Injun,

as I did, though I still hate the

who had just left school, had been called up, and was going into training, and after Marjorie and Dona followed Peter, Cyril, and Joan. Marjorie and Dona always declared that if they could have been consulted in the matter of precedence, they would not have chosen to arrive in t

she assured the others. "Think

such as this: 'Wanted situation as only daughter in eligible family, eight brothers and sisters given in exchang

'd like would be for Mother to take me away for a year, or let me study Art, or Music, or something, ju

llowed to stop at home,"

e had decided that they were to be educated at Brackenfield College, their boxes were ready packed

ebury to get the London train, and a teacher is to meet you at Euston. You'll know her by the Brackenfield badge, and be sure you don't speak to anyone else. Call out of the window for a porter when you reach Rosebury. You've p

ing to the front, and filled the corridor. Dona and Marjorie were crammed in between a stout woman, who nursed a basket containing a mewing kitten, and a wizened little man with an irritating cough. Opposite sat three Tommies, and an elderly lady with a long thin nose and prominent teeth, who entered into conversation with the soldiers, and proffered them much good advice, with an epitome of her ideas on the conduct of the war.

line," observed one of the Tom

, and are ready to drop with fatigue at their posts," began the thin lady nervously. "I've always had a horror of railway accid

s a particularly good-looking head, with twi

k they'll get us back to the front this time. We'll probably have

an express roared by, after which event their tra

goodness there'll be no more stops. It's running the thing very fine, I can tell y

o get themselves and their belongings out of the carriage, the very few porters available had already been commandeered by other people. The girls ran to the van at the back of the train, where the guard

ll miss the London train! I know we shall

o drag it along the platform, but its weight was prohi

," said a voice at her elbow. "If you want the E

g Tommy who had leaned out of the carriage window when

ing the doors," he urged. "Here, I'll take

nd set off post-haste along the platform, while Marjorie and Dona, much encumbered with their bags and a few odd parcels, followed in his wak

t, the whistle sounded, the guard jumped into the van, and, with a loud clanging

o hours for the next. You'll get your luggage, at any rate. Oh, it's all right!" as Marjorie

him," commented Dona, st

-there was no mistaking

wondered whether she would wait for the next train, and, if she did not, how they were going to get across London to the Great Western railway station. Marjorie felt very doubt

ne, and buy something to read at the bookstall,"

she thought it seemed interesting. The two hours were over at last, and the girls and their luggage were safely installed in the London train by a porter. It was a long journey to Euston. After their early start and the excitement at Rosebury both felt tired, and even Marjorie looked decidedly sober when they reached their destination. Each was wearing the

eren't so stupid! I can't make them listen to me. The taxis will all be taken up if we're not q

soldier, as Marjorie impulsively stopped him and urg

and we've found a porter

or you everywhere. Who is this you're speaking to? You don't know? Then come along wi

kable Brackenfield badge, so her words carried authority. She bustled the girls off in

ress. "Why didn't you go and stand under the clock, as you were told in the He

he Tommy," whispered Dona to Marjorie,

st put up with a four-wheeler. I couldn't see any clock, and no wonder we missed h

m I," retu

to co