We Girls: a Home Story

the Marchbanks's pa

took a great fa

put a new idea i

ich the facile fingers were to carry ou

three heads of t

rst place, as Mrs. Van Alstyne said, there was the name,-"a making fo

the head turned as a bird's does, with a small, shy, all-alive movement; and the bright eye glanced up at you, ready to catch electric meanings from your own. When she talked to you in return, she talked all over; with quie

of it; and something lasted from the gladness just enough to keep out of her head any painful, conscious question of how she was se

ut. She did not go deep; hence she took quick

ther it was or not. It was pleasant to have them find it out; but she would have been just as lovely if they had not. Is a party so very particular a thing to be lovely in? I wonder what makes the difference. She might have stood on that same

e; somebody's cousin, brought with them there. She looked pleased and self-forgetful, differently from Rose in her prettiness; she looked as if she had p

to be awfully homely, and to know it, and to go right on and have a good time just the same

ver knew was like that," said Leslie

ty years, "it was pretty much over then, wasn't it? But I

arbara had been on t

h wicket after wicket, as if they could not help it; and after they had well distanced the rest, just toling each other along over the ground, till

ayne said; "but they might make much of it, for it w

away for the time, to come up again with tremendous charge pres

k her head.

you might make them as gay as you liked. There are ten rings, and each player throws them all at each turn. The object is to string them up over a s

minute, and then

ld anybody e

n't thought of it

d let me have it all to myself for a while? And then," she added, as the stray ball was driven up the lawn again, and the playe

all with one of her precise little taps, and, putting the two beside each other with her mallet, sent them up rollicking into the thick of the fight, where the final hand-to-hand struggle was taking place between the last two wickets and the stake. Everybody was there in a bunch when she came

ite and Barbara, upon an old remembered basis of ten years ago, when he had gone away to school and give

or, looking through at the girls laying away ribbons and pulling down

not get into that place without her considering-fit coming over her, she sat with h

ening, nearly. She alw

I'm sure I didn't play all the evening. Mrs. Van Alstyne sang Tennyson's 'Brook,' aunt; and the music splashe

" said Mrs. Holabird, coming and putting her hand on the

ok in my head, 'going on forever-ever! go-ing-on-forever!'" An

gain, turning her head and touching her lips to the mother-hand on her chair. She

saying, at the same moment, in the room beyond. "And you can bring out your old ribbon-box for the bowing-up,

it," said Rosamond. "We must k

Harry Goldthwaite, and went round all the rest of the evening wi

ss or inelegantly excited about anything. "But I do think the gi

r too," said Barba

new boards would do for summer weather, mother said. "If it had been

of her thinking and the brook

er so, although they said her touch and expression were wonderful, and that her fingers were like little flying magnets, th

was no good teacher in the town who gave lessons at the houses, and Lily was not strong enough to go regularly to Mr. Viertelnote. Besides, she had picked up

bout Reba, except that Reba was strong enough; only th

first, is exceedingly needed since Miss Robbyns went away," said Mrs. Marchb

netism that guided them, for in her brain quite other quick

they would let me at home. Then I could go to Mr. Viertelnote. I think I could

ng tinkle of that lovely trembling ripple of accompaniment, until the late moon got round to the south

own late to

pushing ba

wn in town? I'm going out for a stramble. A pa

my errand would need to be with Mrs. G

ie. Rosamond, why can't you come too? It's a

-foot lieutenant

n't signify. And he used to be a

ll used to be," s

I did want to see him, about those-pat

oubt," sai

olabird gave her her coffee. "Because I and mother have got a s

d corner," said Mrs. Holabird, as Ruth sat, forget

ehind me so. Mrs. Lewis Marchbanks and Jeannie Hadden praised my playing; more than I could tell you, really; and Mrs. Marchbanks wants a-" Ruth stopped, and laughed at the word that was coming-"lady-teach

her two hands laid against her cheeks. Mrs. Holabird leaned h

ure I wouldn't just as lief! I would lie

. But it wouldn't be

n the last word. "It always is, when people talk about its being go

ntil now, she had only been considering whether she could, and if Mrs. Holabir

senna are different from mine, pretty often. I guess it's he

un, Barbara, and I'm

and positive. But if you're going to retain me on your side, you'll have to lay the case be

ght round and

Mrs. Hadden and Mrs. Lewis Marchban

e childre

's all I know, pretty much

like you for it! But I

just those

e. But if we made it a regular family delegation-besides, it will take as much as all me to manage the second. Rosamond is very elegant to-day. Last night's twilight isn't over. And it's funny

he was conscientious. What she said,

ome in so terribly askew, like good old Mr. Isosceles, sidling

ody else would

obody else

starts up. They don't know

offer to teach

ight. I shouldn't

ppy. She knew she had gamed

e went into Mrs. Marchbanks's library alone

she had her justification for her attempt from Mrs. Marchbanks's own lips, and she must take up her opportunity as it cam

ondering not a little what had brought the child,

playing; and that you had nobody just now to teach Lily. I thought, perhaps, you might be willing to try me; for I should like to do it,

; because she did not let herself be magnetized into a false consciousness of somebody else's self, and think and speak according to their notions of things, or her reflected notion of what they would t

ere to those who go for it; if i

rchbank

s. Holab

she alwa

frank and amusing; an authorized seeking of employment was somewhat different. Still, she was kind enough; the impression had been

t be quite equal to Mr. Viertelnote's doing the same thi

see Mrs. Hadden about Reba; and then I might begin first,

let us see. I do like your playing, Ruth. I think you have really a char

w," said Ruth. "I think I could

bring Lily forward to where you are; if you can do it, I will pay it to you. If

. "Then in half a quarter I could begin. An

d it to anybody who was going to try to earn money, and whom she meant to patronize. But Ruth took it singly; she was not two persons,-one who

been patron kind, Mrs.

e thing! When will y

s. She came home with a rapid ste

he piazza, winding the rope rings with blue and scarlet a

spliced it up himself, that morning, and had brought

inner was ready; and Harry

ooch of stove-polish across her arm, and a very indiscriminate-colored apron. She put one plate upon ano

d; but talked with a most r

and bring a stake, painted vermilion and white, with a little gilt ball on the

d, with real feeling. "To have just

thout much mercy, "when she al

is noiseless and perfect serving, and to know that they think it is the 'mainspring of life' (that's just what Mrs. Van Alstyne said about it the other day); and then to have to hit

horoughness of desire for it. She knew she wanted it every day, and that nobody hated shams, or company contrivances, more heartily. She took great tr

over to wh

Somebody has got to be in the shading

ble indefinite

can't draw them anywhere but in the middle of the stripes. And people that are right in the middle have to 'toe the mark.' It's the edge, aft