Miss Merivale's Mistake

had begged her so hard to stay and keep her company that she

o bent on my staying. I am going to take you to see her tomorrow. I talked so much about my little English Rose. And what have you been doing

roke in. "It was such a lovely af

Rose! I thought you were going into the Park. Was not Miss Merivale surprised to

They had all gone to Gui

ames. Well, did she condole with you about the concert, and think me

returned Rose. "She talked about Miss Samps

people always hang together. She's more of Wilmot's class t

nger able to keep her jealousy out of her voice. "And so doe

ot tell y

don't. Little things she

ampson so useful. She may be willing to let you stay on with me all the summer. Wouldn't that be delightful? Why, what a gloomy little face! Rose, I believe you are ang

rily. "And I was glad to go home. I shall go aga

ne, with a laugh. "She is such a dear old-fashioned thing, she might be shocked at me

not thought it necessary to consider her, but she told herself now that she had been distinctly foolish. And she tried her best to make Rose forget that she had been deserted for a new friend.

, after Pauline had gone to give some lessons, when Tom was us

nice! Has Aunt L

onday with us. Why didn't you let us know you were coming yesterday, R

the day. You had gone to Guilford, they t

at. She seemed to enjoy it. She is certainly stronger, Rosie. But you will see on Sat

ould like Mrs. Richards' cooking, To

to lunch with me. Run and put your hat on a

us to get her out into the open air. It distressed him to see how pale she was. And he had an uneasy

I hope, Rosie?" he said kindly. "

sible to practise except when Pauline was out. Pauline's neuralgia came on directly she bega

or yourself on Saturday, Rosie.

mot told

ut checked himself. And there was a moment's silence before he spoke. "I wi

"I don't believe you do want me. Aunt Lucy

nger against her. But he told himself that Rose did not know Rhoda yet, and he must wait till they had seen some

way, Rose? It was your own wish to go. Surely you ought

ned on him, her eyes flashing. "How could Miss Samp

ld me you were bored to death at home, that you would give anything to live in London all the year round. I didn't believe you. But suppose you had really wanted it? Y

when I go back on Saturday. You-you only ask me because I went home yesterday and found you gone. I don't beli

er face. "You silly child, what would Aunt Lucy say if she heard you talking such nonsense? Rosie, just listen to me a moment. I am

ny emotion. His cool, matter-of-fact way of looking at things had often irritated her. But sh

" she fal

pt that I shall never be happy again unless-Rosie, you will be nice to her? You don't kno

ng at him with wide-

he-is she a lad

er shield, if you mean that. But you won't ask t

ide table busy over her typewriting. Her jealousy of Rhoda had somehow vanished in the light of

ten a subject for conversation between Miss Merivale and Rose. And of the two, Miss Merivale had been th

onviction. "But don't say anything to her,

drawing a deep breath. "And I'm sure I s

r a moment, Rosie. She came here while you

the little side table in the corner. "She had a brown dress on, I remember. To

see her on Sat

ook into his face she had never seen there before. It was impossible for her to cherish any je

uld marry. It seemed quite out of the question that Tom could be refused. How strange it would be to have a sister! She had so often wished for a sister. She hoped Rhoda would soon learn to love her. She thought of her quite naturally as Rhoda

e suddenly. She had been watching her for some moments, una

ly round. "I was thinking of Tom,"

believe you had forgotten my existence. How you s

we have supper now, Pauline? I wonder why that lamp smells so. Ours never do at ho

. She's a domestic genius, isn't she? I am beginning to feel grateful to

her like that," said Rose, with a note o

she was a lady. One of her uncles

to. But Miss Sampson has no relations of her very own. The M'Alisters adopted her. And Aunt Lucy thinks that her uncle might have been Cousin Lydia's husband. It is that which made Aunt Lucy so in

rstand Rose's change of attitude towards Rhoda Sampson. One explanation occurred to her-a delightful one. Had Rose made up her mi

te, you would not be here. And I shall get more and more grateful to her as the weeks go on. I may get to love her i

ding the whole summer in the flat. She har

ine," she said hastily. "I co

back when you have had a few more weeks of freedom, Rose. And if your aunt is so

had made her feel sure of that. "Pauline, please don't think abo

e for that wretched con

It isn't that, Pauline. How coul

were before. Remember how you talk

sn't. Or if I was, I don't

se, that is the long and short of it. I gave you credit for being grown-

s angry face. "I am doing nothing I couldn't do as well at home. I could come up once a week for

ne harshly. "And what you said was true. You were not happy a

fered her. She longed to take up again the little daily cares that had filled her life at home. And she

adame Verney would be glad if I could live with her. I said it was impossible yesterday, as I was bound to you. Now I s

ment by the judicial air with which Pa