Brenda's Cousin at Radcliffe: A Story for Girls

en, the girls had half forgotten Maggie, until

a; then, after listening a moment,

ngs," said Miss South, and lis

eaning quit

p ever

th, and then

actly s

silent, e

thing

try, to th

littl

have been done earlier," and pushing open the door that led from the oth

one of the young girls holding the table-cloth d

sat on the back steps," said one of them fran

to put this room in perfect ord

but we

ad been as careful about this as about your kitchen work

answer from bot

iss Dreen,

right after breakfast, and leave

h, as she introduced each of t

"supervises the girls in the kitchen. I suppose that she left them alone to

have little to complain of. One looked like an Italian, an

German. Edith's protégée, you remember. I wonder where Maggie is," she continued; "she ought to have been t

gie is mortal plain;" and then, at that moment, she ran into somebody in a turn of the hallway, and when in the sa

A glance had assured her that the tears had not been caused by her hasty words

outh passed on toward the reception-room. "Miss Barlow has come

gan to sob after the fashion in which she had

d Concetta had disagreed when they first set about clearin

ces to show you, and locked the dining-room door so's I couldn't go back and finish my work, and pu

cetta's innocence and gentleness. They did not doubt Maggie when she showed the s

end Nellie down to the kitchen this week. Now, Brenda, I'll leave you with

irl, "dago," as she said to herself. On her part Brenda hated tears, and as she had not witnessed the quarrel, she felt for Maggie less sympathy than when she had seen her weep

nda's presence Concetta's great, dark eyes had expressed intense admiration for the slender

ned away, "with all them silver things jingling from her belt, and such

ve tongue, and the grammar acquired in her teacher's presence slipped aw

than that Miss Blair," and she

ead of Miss Blair; she seems so lively,

interest had made her an inmate of the delightful Mansion, yet as she and her

d with many young persons. Whatever Edith wore was in good taste, and costly, even when lacking in the indefinite something called style. Nora the girls would have put in the same class with Brenda, as quite worthy for them to copy when they should be old enough to dress like young ladies. They did not know that Nora'

n even faster, as they jeered at the absent Maggie for being a regular cry-baby. Their own wrongdoing in teasing Maggie sat lightly on their little shoulders. It

dual taste each girl was permitted to decide upon the color to be used in draperies, counterpane, and china. Blue and pink were the prevailing choice, for the range of colors suitable for these purposes is limited. Nellie asked for green, and had it even to

ed the ridicule of Luisa, who had said that if she could have her own way

I can't say that those broad brown ribbons tying up the window curtains are cheerfu

ke it quite as mu

make some changes; I would c

ere's so many other colors, and I

wo or three books

without suggesting, as Brenda hoped she might,

relief, Julia pass

you the gymnasium that we have had bu

s the result. This was fitted up with light gymnastic apparatus, and Julia explained that a teacher was to come once a week to teach the girls. "In stormy weather, when we c

inese gong resounde

ssible!" and Julia led the way for

ed, and others came from various parts of the house where

r they were seated; "although I can make

her hand Gretchen t

ool; she don't wan

to shake her hand, unti

t. Her mother said she didn't sleep a wink for two nights thinking of her dear daught

for telling me;" and then, to the disappointment of all

Miss South gave instructions for the rest of the day. One or two had special questions to ask, one or two had

ou will understand what I mean if y

ot find mu

on with several who stand in special need of it. There were Concetta's finger-nails, and Luisa's sho

ng to Haleema as they were making a bed: 'Ain't it silly to have to put all these

to make the beds,' said

ll at the foot of the bed, and pile the bla

nd handy to hang the

ell aired, and it woul

red why we insist on having the bureau drawers shut, after they've all been put in good order. It's only when they have nothing in them that she thinks that they shoul

fashion, I sup

ugh I imagine that there is no love l

r as less civilized, she hasn't half as much objection to takin

uraging," said J

ne or two that I could mention think it a great w

enda's face at the mere thought of using the s

a and Brenda, "each resident serves for a week as head of the girls' table at breakfast, and it is her duty to correct all their little faults as a mother

o guide conve

mnity of breakfast is in great contrast with the hilarity at the other two me

ally obliged to watch myself constantly," said Julia, "lest I say or

f Maggie McSorley I am always going to try to do my best; for apparently it's my duty to bring her up for the next few years, and I won't shirk. But I wish that i

outh," resp

or the question, only shook her h