A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days

a Rem

cussing the many invitations they had received and the dances they expected to attend, and to feel that a visit to the vicarage was all the festivity that would be likely to come her way. There were no parti

and parties like other girls;" and she went home with the old wrink

thy of how much she had given up on her behalf, or of what real sacrifice it entailed to send her

y small pension goes back to the owner of the Sherbourne estate. I shall be able to leave you no

e a teacher?" aske

on what I can have you trained

the girl seemed dissatisfied, though she was

Aunt Barbara. "Was I wise to send her to Avondale, I wonder? Is it having the effect of

ed her unkindly. The prospect of gaining her own living was extremely distasteful to he

lf when I was grown up," she thought bitter

not given her more, and it never struck her to think of what she might give to the world. It seemed as if she could no longer enjoy all the little simple occupations in which she had been

just idle about the house doing nothing at all. Why can't y

I wish you'd leave me alone, Ma

s less patient and forbearing than Aunt Barbara, and hinte

d drearier still for Aunt Barbara, who made many efforts to interest the girl, and, failing utterly, went ab

ottage was glad when

work, say I, and they're much better than mooning about with naught to do

f becoming a teacher did not strike her as an inspiring goal for her efforts. She put the ide

she remarked one day at school. "

sell. "Why, I'd love it! I mean to g

own living? I thought your fathe

does it thoroughly. I have a cousin who's a class mistress at a big school near London, and she's so happy-her girls just

gest it at first, she turned it over in her mind. She was astonishe

ght. "I wonder why? It's something about Grace that makes one feel-we

art in a play that the members were acting, just for practice. It was an honour to be included in the "Dramatic", for its numbers were lim

ng," said Mary Galloway. "She's as sh

Edwards. "What's the matter with her at present is that

mark exactly,"

same lines as the Girl Guides. The main object was character training, as developed through work for others. Every member of the Guild was pledged to Chivalry, Patriotism, Self-reliance, and Helpfulness; and her aim was to acqu

e thought it was something like the Boy Scouts, and she said she couldn't have me ca

n't to go o

let me go to the Field Ambulance meetings, though; she's afraid I'll catch cold. But

he ambulance w

go to at least one camp,

alled, though it began primarily with a

d the girl being a doll to be played with. This idea does not meet our present-day standards in England. We do not want our girls to grow up dolls, but helpful comrades and worthy citizens of the Empire. It is terrible to me to think of girls, after their schooldays are over, leading aimless, idle, profitless lives, when there is plenty of good work waiting to be done in the world. 'To whom much is committed, of the same shall much be required', and the education you receive here

dged herself to observe the rules, and received the badge

sader!" laughed Dorothy,

test of all crusades," s

to see rows of girls lying prostrate on the floor, while amateur nurses knelt by their sides, placing their legs in splints contrived out of hockey sticks, binding up their jaws, or lifting them tenderly and carrying them on improvised stretchers with a swinging "step both togeth

Harmon got mixed one day in the diagnosis, and insis

rolling me over like a log!"

the water from your mouth," insisted Ruth. "It's no us

rowning! I have

t? I thought you were one of those who we

said Alison. "I only bargain that they stick

e," said Dorothy. "I can hold my

ad a broken jaw, and that's a she

e were trying treatment f

hat; it was a 'phy

inting. Who'll do an elegan

burnt feather makes me cough, and last time you simpl

ded to organize a camp drill, and to take them for an afternoon's practice in field

ed-carry some of them to transport wagons, and make wind screens for others, and of course bind them all up first. We're to have a lot of little boys from the Orphanage for soldiers-that's why Miss Te

ed to persuade her mother to allow her t

for ages; and we shan't be standing still-we shall be busy running about all

Meeting," said Mrs. Clarke. "I could hard

yes, ages! Do, darling Motherkins! I should so enjoy it, and-oh yes, I'll put a Shetlan

ther, Birdie," replied

had been engaged as their temporary camp was close to the Orphanage, and they found all ready for them on their arrival, from the stretchers to the row of nice little boys in uniform upon whom they were to operate. Everything was strictly business-like. The officers and patrol leaders at once took command, and began to instruct each group

e affair. A blank charge was fired, at which sign

lew at the sound of the guns, and pounced u

wounded?" she enq

e, because another lady's got me already. She looks at me and she s

your hip in,

on't bury us unle

thy, as she hurried away to find a p

d little fellow, who lay under the shade of the hedge with

lungs, and leg shattered,

ind you up first, and then call for someone to help to carry you. Can you

t you do tic

finished. Now your leg. W

s really shattered, I'd r

or help. Here comes a corporal. Where's my stretcher sling? Now, Marjorie, let us lift

cookery, the first-aid workers, the nursing sisters at the hospital,

e directions of a supposed army surgeon, was immensely proud of herself, and hal

ning little scamp) assured me his case required beef tea immediately it was ready in the camp kitchen. He asked if I'd brought any chocolate. Another was

carrying round water. "We each want to practise every part of the work so as to be ready for emergencies. It isn't a really eas

. I wish we hadn't to catch the 4.15 train; I should have liked to stay

other promised to drive over for

asked Dorothy. "Then walk home with Aunt Barbara

. I imagined somehow she'd be much older than that. I think she's ever so pretty. I hop

n, and was much taken with Miss Sherbourne's appearance. She had not been in Hurford befor

here instead. Oh, look at that dear little place with the porch all covered with cr

your mother?" said Miss Sherbourne. "We

ur stamps! You always promised to bring them to school, but you

stand at the gate and stop the trap from passing,

mine Dorothy's various possessions. After a few minutes

please to come at once," s

ppose I shall have to go, though. Where's your aunt? I want to say

ttage, though she had the good manners to conceal her feelings and speak politel

g Meeting. But we must hurry home now. Here's your shawl, and put

r Alison, dutifully subm

ve you tucked the rug thoroughly r

te of the encumbrance of the golf cape. "I'd like to come again and--" But here her mother w

e, though I wish she had allowed Alison to stay for a few minutes longer. It's a funny thing,

in Coleminster?"

much farther back than that. I sh

, who was laying the tea table. "I remembered her fas

ny occasions. If she was blunt and abrupt in her manners, she was a very faithful soul, and her north-country brains

er memory than I have," returned Miss Sh

out it now, so I suppose I can speak before her? Well, that lady in the trap to-day is the s

Martha?" exclai

a face. I'd take my oath

not rem

that anyone would recognize you. It's my opinion she knew us both, a