Monica's Choice

mal when she rose in the morning, and remembered there were two long, long days to be got through before she could expect to see any of them again. She fully intende

the vicarage (an invitation, by the way, which she now wished she had not been so

r, to use a common phrase, "she got out of bed the wrong side" that Saturday mor

breakfast time to say "would Miss Monica please have her breakfast, and then amuse herself as quie

ld be likely to be able to tell her more about the Franklyns, and whether Monica might safely be allowed to mix with them. Now, with this cold, the drive would be impossible, and perhaps several days would elapse before she would get full permission to make a friend of Olive. It certainly was vexing; it almost seemed to the dis

, with the result that the silver cream jug, which she had carelessly placed near the edge of the table, tipped over, and spilling its co

ow!" and she endeavoured to mop up the cream with he

, in despair, as the carpet seemed to get worse u

on the scene, and that worthy held up her hands

nd. There'll be a nasty looking stain, however much we get it out. That's the worst of these felts," an

seemed to take great pleasure in reminding poor Monica, "it always would." She turned her attention to

a, so partikler as she always is about the silver things, o

it infra dig. of a lady to strike a menial! She had not learnt the lesson "that he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city." So, merely shrugging her sho

, meditating upon the scene that would be enacted late

he got into more trouble. So after lounging about in the schoolroom for half an hour

hold of Monica, and she felt absolutely reckless. Old Richards was nowhere to be seen, so she proceeded to enjoy herself thoroughly, by visiting "Be

open, when she espied Tom, the stable-boy, in the harness-roo

ra briskness. He was a bright little chap of fourteen, only recently introduced into the Carson Rise stabl

who was rather grudging of praise, could find no fault in the little lad, who was as

looking admiringly at C?sar, as he pawed the ground impatient

thought he were a bit of a tartar, miss." And Tom put down a piece of harness with evident pride in the high state of polish which his efforts had

came slowly out of the harness-room, b

e had an intense scorn for those who were afraid. "You'll never be any good for a

a. "I ain't a mite afraid of 'im, but Mr. Richards 'e said, said 'e: 'Now, Tom, you leave that there pony alone,' says 'e. 'If 'e

. "You wouldn't bite me, would you, old boy?" she added to the little chestnut, who eyed her

the pony made a grab at the girlish fingers, and Monica realised too late that she would have been wiser to pay attentio

pain and anger, as she bound her hand, fortunately the lef

him, and Tom stood helplessly by, his very soul in his liquid grey eyes, wishing with all h

tter go indoors, and get something to do your 'and g

s evident desire to make matters a little easier

or she felt a curious sensation all over her, and was seized with a desire to fall into the first chair s

negar bottle. "La, what a nasty grip the little beast give you!" she added, as the handkerchief fell off, and revealed the extent of the damage. "Get a bow

onica's cheeks. She was, perhaps, the only one of all the servants who had any affection for the girl whos

e woman bound the hand up in some soft old linen, and Monica prepared to leave the kitchen regions. Bu

o the word, and hastily improvising a sling from a black and white check tie, which s

or it required all her self-control to keep her

f to put on it, miss," she called after the g

ame face to face with Barnes, who had been in search of

he missis so poorly, too. But there, 'tis one consolation the doctor will be here in a few minut

you have a bit of rest in this easy chair, miss," she said, pushing forward a cosy basket chair, and Monica sank among the cushions w

er grandmother. He examined the bite carefully, and commiserated with her on the unfortunate mishap, but said it was not at all a serious matter. H

n, my dear child," said he with a smile, "or you might not get o

ld! In fact, I ought not to have gone into the stables at all." And she looked up saucily into the kind old face bending over her. But

learn. My lassie," he added, tenderly, but solemnly, as he smoothed her ruffled hair with a fatherly touch, "how much longer are you going on fighting against Him? Why don't you surrender arms, and

it, and Dr. Marley feeling that, at any rate, the seed had been sown in the rebellious young heart, forbore to say more. But as he drove on to his next patie

e of his words remained with her, and she refrained from being saucy or off-hand. Indeed, Mrs. Beaucha

urther punishment, on condition that she did not disobey again. Fully intending at the moment to keep her promise, Monica said she would rememb

hat unfortunate morning, taking care not to spare herself in the least; but she felt too shy to say much in reply to his letter, the only remark she made being: "I have been thinking about what you wrote, dad dear, and I mean to try and learn the hard lesson, but I haven't fou

Franklyns. It was such a lovely sunny afternoon that Mrs. Drury had given permission for the trio

zily in the garden chairs, having done ample justice to the cocoanut cake and ra

e, "but I must say I wish Mon

n apologetic glance at Amethyst, for sh

spoil everything, and we had such lovely times together before she came." And her lips trembled,

ear, I am sure. And I don't think Monica will make much difference, because, you see, she lives so far away. A

ach other, and I always feel like a fish out of wate

t-golf, as best they could, all against