Brenda's Cousin at Radcliffe: A Story for Girls

istmas, Brenda seemed undisturbed, although

and probably he wishes to stay over New Year's. We

gnes exchan

he writt

yes-bu

him in Washington all winter. "I received my letter only last night," Ralph hastened to add, lest Brenda should feel sl

n Washington. Brenda, forgetting that she herself had really reproached him for his idleness in Bosto

of his practising law, it is much better for him to have his mind occupied. It would be bad for you both

't very str

ely built up in a year, and your father has plans for him. It is no secret, so I may tell you that a new branch of the business is to be establ

Arthur

es

y this winter. I believe that he is j

nse, B

patience, for Arthur's letters came at long intervals. Although she did not hear from him directly,

pondence. After Christmas Belle and her mother had gone to Washington, and in her very first letter she mentioned having met Ar

t a great favorite he was with this one or that one. "He is an immense favorite, and I

ble had Arthur been nearer. If the truth were told, Brenda amused herself rather sadly. Society wearied her, but she had not strength of mind to give it up altogether. To the delight, however, of Maggie McSorley, she went more often to

da had never been noted for her patience. Yet the discipline was better for her even than for the younger girls as she guided their needles and watched them take the rig

the instruction. She had already, like many little Italian girls, served an apprenticeship in embroidery under her aunt. She did not intend to deceive any one in joining Brenda's class, but she could not bear the idea that she, among all the girls, should be depriv

e, and occasional spare hours she gave with great good-will to a class in literature. Amy was still devoted to her early love, "The Faery Queen," and once in a while, like Mr. Wegg, of fragrant memory, she dropped into p

om her during the summer. What Haleema herself wrote, and what the head worker at the Settlement told her about Haleema's home life, convinced her that the little Syrian was exactly the kind of candidate desired for the Mansion school, and she was really pleased with her judgment when, after the first week or two, she heard Miss South and Julia praising the quickness and docility of her protégée. Haleema, however, was not a young person capable of grea

r for a half-hour of "gossip," as she called it. Sometimes she arrived at the house before the class was over, and then, if she slipped into the class-room, Amy had not the heart to send her out. Amy protested that her work was by no means up to the standard that Bre

ven if they are not really exciting, I'll pro

e me?" qu

ut. Everything seems so dull and stupid this winter, that I'm going to try a hom?op

questions, and as they walked across the Common to the station they ta

lmost abruptly, referring to an old pla

didly. I hardly ever see

utting it-pleased beca

hat he has no time for other things. He has come to Wellesley only once

doing his duty by remaining at his post in Washington. But unlike Amy, she did not feel pleased that he could so contentedly keep his back turned t

information that she gave her was intended to please or to trouble her. She wrote, for example,

er cared so very much for Clarissa Herter, she was pleased now to recall that she had heard that Clarissa had in the end been more popular, or rather better liked, than Annabel. She remembered that Annabel's father was a politician, and when a second letter c

starting the work Miss South had not counted on her aid. Other girls, more enthusiastic in the beginning, had given less

stiss Rowe, for example, one of the most valued of the residents, who, after a year in society, had

It would have spoiled it all had you known. But each of us little girls ha

suppose that I ought to blush,

t you never thought about mine. But there was one with some lovely mother-of-pearl ornaments. In fact, I s

ar Anstiss, for I have an idea that I received no other that ye

ou thought some extraor

ary. But to tell you the truth, I suspe

u went to College," sa

n it, and at times she went home for a week or two, returning, however, always on the

tiss said it was merely avariciousness on their part, as her father was earning good pay. "When I came to investigate," she said, "I found that he was only her ste

a interru

Miss Dreen says that she's a bor

urage her to study still further. She says she'd like to be a cook, but it seems to me that

h by being a cook

lthough we do not expect the greatest results this first year, still I am sure that you will admit that the girls have learned something, and Ph?be shall exhibit one of her mod

ought to her, and she made conscientious visits to Gretchen, and in turn reported her progress to the old gardener. But there was a certain coldness in her manner that the young girls felt. They thought that she was not really interested in them, and her visits were never greeted with the delig

nda had exclaimed to Miss South after first seeing Concetta

pretty, although," a little apologetically, "we all understand here at the Mansion that 'handsome is what handsome does' shoul

he implied reproof; "but the comparisons that

not to let them think that any girl is preferred by any

tried to make her jealous, was unwilling to bel

embroidery patterns; she could have sent it down by her man just as well," co

perhaps that she polished her glasses

r house. You see she always invites me to go up to

ontinued provokingly si

about the beautiful cathedrals. She thinks I remember them all, but it is what I have heard the elders say, and she

Maggie gruffly; "I

at the moment to bring Maggie to the point of tears. Maggie wept with unusual ease, and just now Concetta was not anx

wed her with her eyes, and when her goddess addressed her she always blushed deeply. Mrs. McSorley was constantly putting poor Maggie thro