Monica's Choice

wish her to come to

message to her wilful young granddaughter, and, how many more times would she have the same thing to do? Her aristocratic features wore a perturb

was impossible, of course, to take her with him, and poor Helen was so opposed to boarding-schools. But it has certainly been a mistake having her here. Such an unruly,

cter, albeit it wore an unpleasant scowl at the present moment. Pushing the door to behind her with no gentle hand, so that it slammed violently, causing a jingling a

at you had sent fo

s. Beauchamp sat erect, and spoke with much annoyance, as she gav

began, in severe tones,

r feelings, but doors always seem to slip out of my fingers. What did you want

xpressions which flitted across the old lady's

. "How you can possibly allow yourself to speak to me in such a man

f the whip about the ears of a thoroughbred mare. She started, and tears of wound

vering with anger, and her head thrown back

he would never have dreamed of address

hompson is enough to provoke a saint," she added, sot

w best to deliver the lecture she had undertaken to give Monica. A startled exclamation from her grandchild, who had been mo

gone; I do cal

old lady, rising from her chair and fo

has g

ooked incredulous. "I was in the yard when you sent for me, and he was telling me

yard? I am sure it is there that you pick up all the vulgar expressions you are so c

ll control of her words; "she's a sly old cat, that's what she is, spyin

gry, but who held herself in admirable check. "It is quite time that some one contro

ays been tabooed. "Oh! grandmamma, do! I would really behave well there." And she seized one of the old lady's white hands impulsively in her warm, and deci

her; for Monica had a warm heart hidden away somewhere, which no one but her father had ever reached. "I was going to say, when you so rudely interrupted me again, that as you have had four governesses withi

erably at the beginning of her grandmo

faction. It was to this end that she had made the lives of her long-su

that you will never go to a boardi

ever have forbidden it. He thought no end of Harrow, and I'm sure he would

tiously, and her glance fell on a foreign letter lying on her

grandmamma? Is there a lette

s a letter for you," Mrs. Beauchamp repeated, sl

to snatch it up, but her

have been so incorrigible that I was compelled to let him know. And now this letter has come in reply to mine, and your father is grieved beyond expression. No doubt he will tell you the

Mrs. Beauchamp breathed a sigh of relief, and rang the bell for tea; the l

a domain. But not so Monica; one of her worst failings was untidiness. The shoes which she had worn out of doors that morning, and which had been carelessly tossed in a corner, were making dirty little puddles on the blue and white linoleum: for she had been caught in a heavy April shower. Her hat and jacket had been tossed promiscuously on to the most convenient chair; one glove was lying on the bed, the other--well, as a matter of fact she ha

young lady's room in order) called them. "I can't seem to keep things tidy nohow," she would confide to the kitchenmai

ute chaos she would have been oblivious of it, while she held a thin s

order to secure privacy, she flung herself into the little

y different. It was evident that he was deeply concerned about her behaviour to her grandmother and governesses, and the thought of her fast growing up into a headstrong, self-willed young woman grieved him terribly. He spoke of the loving litt

and much-loved child, and although the knowledge was painful, it was very salutary. With eyes blinded with tears, so that the writing seemed blurred and indistinct, s

it's all so stiff and dull here, and I am so lonely without any friend." For several minutes she wept on unre

tioningly as the youngest recruit, and if my Monica would be a true soldier's daughter, she must learn first of all to be obedient. It is

m confident of this, my child, that if you took Jesus Christ as your Example, you would grow day by day more li

l the time I have been here she has never said a word about it, except to ask me once or twice if I remember to say my prayers. Neither did any of the governesses, except Miss Romaine, and grand-mamma was glad when she went, because she said she had such 'peculiar views.' Wel

or over an hour. She told him of her son's desire that Monica sho

y on his knee. "We are just beyond the suburban limits here, you see, and consequently suffer in various ways. Let me see, there

vely. "The late Mrs. Conrad had a very strong o

y no means agreed with the late Mrs. Beauchamp's views; "then I do not

Schools; there is no restriction as to the social position of the scho

age, and have the opportunity of plenty of open-air exercise, and yet be under firm, but well-regulated control. As regards its educational system, I venture to say that in very few respects can the High School methods be improved upon. Of course, the girls are drawn from

still wore its perturbed look; "Monica is so rash, she would be just

ys heard that the Osmington school is one of the best, and Mr. Drury and C

greed his client, not without some misgivings, still. "The distance is the difficulty;

ho live at a distance bicycle

all; they seem to become boys as soon as they can toddle. No, Monica shall not have a bicycle. If she must go to the school, she must; but she will walk when fin

n to make all necessary arrangements. He was a childless man himself, but he felt sure that had he possesse