Hollowmell / or, A Schoolgirl's Mission

d she, being quite ready, they proceeded without delay to carry

de of it by Mr. Kimberley for the convenience of his work-people, and even yet the beauty of the scene would not have been marred by the pretty picturesque-looking little red brick houses with their white-coppiced windows and green-painted sashes, if the carelessness and disorder which reigned within had not

re both well acquainted by sight, and being rewarded by stares of stony indifference. They went into the empty cottage, and Mabel cried out with pleasur

pleasanter place to live in myself, nor

hen that time came she would make this one a present to Mabel, unless indeed, she would allow her t

on their way back to make inquiries concernin

ld's mother was quite a young woman, probably not over twenty-two, yet there were two other children playing on the floor, while she her

she produced two chairs, talking in a pleasant, though rather loud voice all the time. They thanked her, but would not sit down,

o the end of the glade. "It is my soonest way home, and I have got

papa to-night. I'll just whisper to you whether

e a free subject, and liable to be discu

sented Minnie,

ore! You would open your lips to say something every five minutes, and then suddenly recollecting yourself, you would

e lau

I did not dream that my efforts would be appre

so," advised Mabel. "An

unfolded to him her scheme for the reformation of Hollowmell. He was, of course, greatly surprised, and at

as possible what she wished to do. "And as for reforming them, I don't think that possible, I don't indeed. You had bett

common methods, besides I shall only have to do with the children at first; I want to try to influence the older people through them. Come

amuffins who would never thank her for her trouble, but finally gave in, to the unbounded delight of Minnie, who, it may be remarked, had never entert

aid before him her financial scheme, in a business-

ion that I want it. It is only because it looks finer, and it is so great a satisfaction to have such a thing that I wanted it-in fact, only to grati

he won't stand it, and as for your vanity, you don't overstate it a bit; but we'll s

again, before retiring for the night. "Please keep it a secret from

d to me to mention it to them, but it is just as w

n have everything

see you make a good use of it. We'll arrange

d herself scarcely able to sleep that night for dreaming of the w

afforded Minnie. It is just possible, indeed, that the consideration of their project occupied rather more of their attention on that day, at least, than the sermon did. Mabel had to take herself to task severely several times during the afternoon service, and

w undertaking, that she could not manage to give more than a small part of her attention to her lessons. This was a matter of no small g

een pretty successful too, in keeping her books together since her promise to do so, they sometimes reverted

om her work, and at last observed in her most sarcastic manner th

ared up i

of what you know nothing. It may be so. Sharp things cost more, I dare say,

ed with mock politeness, "at what obj

and putting her books which she had now collected under her arm, she walked out without even waiting for Mabel, lest she should find t

bad as any of the people she had been flattering herself she could reform. What was she to do?

reshed and strengthened, and after a little while something came into her mind which she had, only by chance, heard the minister say yesterday. She could not tell the exact words, for s

nce at the time, and having gone wrong at the beginning, I naturally fell into a great many other scrapes. I must remember that about present duty. I

ge, and occupied themselves for about two hours busily and happily in rendering it fit for their purpose. They were determined to do all

dragged by Minnie from their place of concealment in a large attic, where such things were allowed to acc

e morning, when the lazy inhabitants were still wrapped in slumber, the hour being discrimin

it to all the houses which contained children, and asked leave that they might attend a

re going to stand, and whether they would not include parents also in their invitations, Others affected anger, and wondered what the "likes of them" had to do c

, unaffected graciousness, and seemed when she left their dirty and untidy d

ry utensils for the preparation of their entertainment. These absorbed the greater part of

g, for they had mutually agreed that all the eatables were to be of their own manufacture-unless, indee

rnt to make gingerbread of quite an uncommon quality, which was also to make its appearance; and va

re completed, both girls came to the conclusion that working for the good and happiness

inging-class to tea? How I did fret about the cake-basket being old-fashioned, and

on the subject of the drawing-room cu

that was all because I wished to make a show before the girls, not to have them enjoy themselves. Now it is quite different. We

forgotten to provide ourselves with confect

after them immediately-or stay! Perhaps you could get the

ave time which is precious," agr

pon their possessions with a delightful sense of proprietorship and satisfaction, after a solemn mutual reminder

ers in the parlour when she came in, f

akfast's over and leaving your poor unhappy encumbrances of brothers to amuse themselves as best they can during the long hours of a Saturday morning.

ce all week and every day of the week, with nothing more amusing than that highly respectable o

ssly at their rueful faces, "What would you like me to do for your a

ess as any other girl could

ght?" enquired Minnie saucily. "P

so the better, I should say-but you might have a little consideration for the feeling

omething to eat. In my opinion, the best way to amuse one's self under the present circumstances,

him on the head, "you're a sound philos

sense, and common necessity," he continued in a sepulchral voice, "and I rather think Pope had the

nbounded satisfaction. By this time they had made the transition from the parlour to the dining-room, where, on the table just by Minnie's plate lay

culiar writing-I never saw anything

ll upon it, but quickly recovering himself, he glanced at it indifferently, and rem

ired by all in turn, with the exception of Charlie, who stood somewhat aloof, humming a tune with a strained assumption of

with a laugh as she made the last assertion, "Some of the girls call her 'Soda'

ld, some information relative to an examination for which they were both working. Sh

a look that was more than merely critical. He put it down hastily as she entered, and remembering his former indifference, she enquired laughingly if he was trying to discover the writer's character from her caligraphy. He laughed

s almost Mona's self, and any one who would be likely to fall in love with it would be almost likely to fall in love with her. She is just as beautiful and delicate and sharp," she continued

ad to do, and soon forgot the circumstance among the multitu

efore four o'clock, and had a pretty exciting sc