The Children of Wilton Chase

te bed, Then she opened her eyes, raised her head

pouring into the room; the clock

elp her over her toilet this morning; she would dress, and go out into the garden. The boys were at home; it was going to be a brilliant day. Marjorie's contented hea

s over her plump face, and repeated her prayers. Once, long ago now, Mrs. Wilton had given the children, Marjorie among the

r. She recalled the expression on her mother's face, and could have t

ult for this humble little girl really to pray. No one in the house guessed at Marjorie's prayer, or troubled their heads about her comforting, comfortable, unselfi

is morning, when Ermengarde

're dressed. Don't go for a m

she had half opened, and went

?" sh

I talk to you, I'll get wide-awake. Can'

Ermie. Eric may be up, and he has promised to show m

I'll have a headache most likely this afternoon.

rst sleep," said Marjorie. "

s your fault. You might be considerate, Maggie; you're the most thoughtles

e awake, Ermie?" asked Marjorie. "Please tel

with you from this out. I

be all everybody. Now,

arde l

course you are a good little thing. Now l

at Miss Nelson never found out a

icked

e colored

Nelson told you not. Of course you were dreadfully wicked,

have. I had forgotten all about that drive. And now you rem

bout me. What

ar, I hope the

e, it's a

are you sure the sky

t a flake anywhe

o-day-we girls, I mean. He says we might have a picnic,

, clasping her hands. "

always will think f

thought first of

horrid habits, casting

ont of her, and closed her lips.

is in the gar

really obey. I know father is going to London to-day, and he will leave by the early train. And what I want you to do is this, Maggie; to wait

watch for the carriage, and perhaps Macnab will let us drive rou

any more words with her siste

engarde until the meal was over. Her salutation of the little girl was scarcely more cold than usual, and Ermie s

ion. She rushed into the room with her

n honor of the boys. A lovely whole holiday! Father has gone to London, but he scribbled you a messag

me and sit down to breakfast," said her governess

g forward in that courteous way which always won the heart of the governess,

ourse, Basil," re

gether over the delights of the day which lay before them. The holiday spirit was caught up by the youn

al hubbub, she touched Er

ith you, my dear

rose to comply. The governess to

e door,"

ngarde stood before her. Her f

you now repeat you

ness at Miss Nelson's manner. Now her brow cleared. She recited the

nary exploit of a noble-hearted child. I grieve to say there are few s

--" began

d, from yourself. You would tell another lie. You would decei

which shook with anger. "Am I to be-are dreadful things to

standing your refractory and rebellio

my dear tea

and direct disobedience from you. You are full of faults, but I did not t

w very pale. "Did-did Marjorie

er. She's worth twenty of you. Think of your

ngarde. "I said I'd go, a

pray God to bring you to a different state of mind. You th

o another. There was not a trace of

ught I must tell a

e started

ved not

e grew

unish you severely. The full extent of that punishment I have not yet determined

Miss Nelson. Do say yes, Miss Nelson. It would be terrible not to have the holiday with Basil, and for Basil to know the re

the day you feel it most. I am sorry for you, but I cannot, I dare not

the room, locking t

ent, as if she was stunned. Then she r

ent back to t

sence. No, Basil; you must not ask me. You must be happy without your sister to-day, and trust that what is rig

on't you, Miss Nels

wild young creatures like you to emb

he babies come

rse can acc

pity about

rie. You must trust your go

utting her finger to her lip when she was harassed about anythin

the cook, my dear,

eft the room. In the

about Ermie?"

said Marjorie. "I

me, won't y

ittle-little-headstrong, and Miss Nelson,

bout the picnic without Ermengarde, and I do consider it provoki

in discipline," said Marjorie, pu

rst out

he said. "You are only a baby; wor

aid Marjorie, i

ie, consulted her about the viands. She replied solemnly, and tried to look interested, but the zest had go

is discovered. Don't be a bit frightened though, for Basi

-me-not wreath in blue on the flap, and before the schoolroom party started

of the note gave her a slight feeling of satisfaction, and a glow of gratitude to her little sister rushed over her. But then sh

y to Miss Nelson, and now she wants to come round me with this letter, after her horrid tell-tale way. Little monkey! Horrid, ugly little thing, too. Tell-tale-tit, your to

anger scarcely knew any bounds. They were away, the whole happy party, and she was shut up in a dull room, compelled to endure

nd yet Ermengarde was now thoroughly convinced that the little girl had been the one to tell of her misdemeanor. She did not trouble herself to examine proofs.

low whistle under the open window. She rushed over to it

; "do go away, please. I hate y

gic over it. It's only for a da

your holidays-the fi

follow. Bear it with a good

t you had gone w

ggie has promised to se

if she could

ugh. I'd back Maggie any day nev

th everyone. It's a very

ng distorted. You know whose pet you are, as w

ly your pe

ow you are. So is Maggie, t

peech brought the cloud once

ggie is everyone'

too childish. You are under punishment, I don't know for what. Of course I'm a

? Prett

. I have brought

them? I'm a p

ll, fair lady, you see if your knight ca

cord which he had weighted wi

will soon be in poss

she recognized as Marjorie's most treasured receptacle f

course I shan't botanize without you to-day, never fear. By-by

n, cleared the haha at the e

unched her apples. That basket contained more than apples. There was one large peach, and two slices of rich plumcake were stowed away und

began to read. She felt almost comfortable now; the punishment was not so unbearable when a brother sympathized and a sister lent of her best. The

afterward. Ermengarde thought she would ask Marjorie when she had told, how she had told, and where. She felt that

bedience of the day before, but she was no longer in a state of despair, for her punishment seemed finite

herself, neatly dressed in a pink cotton frock and white sun-bonnet. Her legs were encased in nice black stockings, and her small dainty feet wore shining

mely pretty face, blushed, l

u were away with the others. Father has helped to take

usy? Tell me about them

ie, she did laugh wonderful, and Master Eric, he just dashe

Basil the

ing back the boat for Master Basil, and I thought for sure you'd

But I've been most basely t

d revealed her whole charming curly golden head. She was a beautiful

ly some one has told tales about me, and so I have been punished, and have bee

re keenly as she related them. Susy

to punish a lady like you, Miss Ermengarde,

"She's dreadfully prejudiced; I fin

"It ain't for me to say it, but she don't seem fit company for the lik

ay out," said Ermengarde. "I h

have, miss

de. She leaned farther out of the window,

were passing,

if you like, miss. I'm

Susy; I can't shout to you from the wind

e never was a truer saying

lthough he retained his post as gamekeeper, was regarded by Mr. Wilton as a somewhat shady character. Ermengarde fancied she liked Susy b

s having ears, Ermengarde

aid. "I have got into one scrape.

yet, miss. The men are

me of the hou

u think I'd get you into trouble on my account? Oh, dear

you coul

asy done, if you'll

n has to bring me my meals, and no one in all

iss. Oh, Miss Ermengard

Well, as you can't come and keep m

eep me out. I'll hide my basket of eggs behind that

? What fun! You are

t and se

ed to grow a few feet from the window, with the lightness and agility of a cat. When she reached a ce

out your two

t Susy was standing by her side i

grand things before. Tell me, Miss Ermengarde, do all

e pictures of Miss

at is, that one in the white dress, and long

e, and looked at a large, somewhat faded miniature which held a pl

. "Why, she has a look of Miss Nelson hersel

ng. She's awfully inquisitive. I don't interest myself in matters in which I have no concern. Now come over and sit by the window, Susy. You

won't catch me poachi

oachers, which she had partly heard from her father, and partly made up herself. Ermengarde used to hold her breath while she listened. Between these thrilling tales, Susan artfully flattered. It was not necessary to make her compliments too delicate. She c

the room, Ermie was once more certain that Marjorie had betrayed her, that Miss Nelson was

in some dinner for Ermie. When the key was heard in the lock, S

e side of discipline; she thought that the children of the present day sadly needed correction; and when one of the young Wiltons was punished, she generally owned to a sense of rejoicing. That did not, however, prevent her supplying the cul

t of her cupboard

nd forks for one, I'll eat first, of course, but you can wash the things up, and have a goo

nderful hungry, Miss Ermengarde, and

. She brought in a couple of peaches

ll the duck! And the tart, too! Well, I do call that greedy. Where's the sorrow that w

the duck, really, Hu

. Miss Ermengarde, you certainly will be very ill, and you deserve it. No, I won't leave these peaches and grapes

he kitchen, where she remarked

k any young lady could eat so much. And

for eating so much duck. Susy was retorting with some passion that she had not had

momentary irritation had cooled down, she adroitly changed the subject. Once more she administered bro

t I wouldn't. I ain't a lady like you, Mis

, Susy? How would

nd I'd have a talk with him. I'd let him kn

about her like th

nd treated worse than a baby, and punished as if we were back in feudal ages, I say that the o

hed sort of smile which always abashed Susy. "Yes, Miss Nelson is very suitable with the child

n a tone of rapture. "I'm only twelve,

ou are not presented, you have no future. It is quite a different matter with me. I

a select seminar

. No; I should like my father to allow me to pursue my own educati

talk very

awn, and going to th

erness of yours out. It would be tit for tat with me. Could

said Ermengarde. "Miss Ne

Certainly I'd do someth

She put her head out of the window. Susy prepared

ter get into the cupboard. Hide as fast as you can. Miss Nelson is certain to come up here, the very f

lieve that her fun was so nearly over-was dragged and almost pushed into the cupboard. When she had go

rgetting of me, Miss Ermie, or I'll be found a moldified skeleton here, by and by." Susy's tone was tearful, and E

rayed. Do be quiet, Susy!" wh

m door was unlocked, a

u talking to some one

oetry over," said Ermengarde

lie. She had yet to learn that one

roving your mind, Ermi

girl, took one of her co

e, I have yielded to his request. I have come back to say that I forgive you, Ermie. You will try to obey me in future, my dear child, and this punishment, owing to Basil's intercession, may be considered a

ing her tears back. But for Susy's presence in the cupboard this sudden forgiveness and deliverance would

nd deliberately disobey me again. Cheer up now, Ermengarde; the past is past. You must ask God to give you strength to do better in the future, my dear. And-one thing-I wa

a little sob. She rushed out of the room. When she

the key of my cupboard," she said

it in your pocket,

starving for their tea. I promised to show Basil some photographs which I h