Hollowmell / or, A Schoolgirl's Mission

could not go down to see Mabel as she had intende

at the rain as it poured, and whirled, and beat upon the glass, as if in glorious enjoyment of some long-meditated reven

Seymour, who hailed the prospect of such an advantageous

se fire-place, in which blazed what Archie

a kitchen was such a jolly place before-upon my word, I didn't. It fairly beats anything in the way of drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, or parlours that ever occurred

answered Minnie laughing. "Only you see it isn't always

for them, and keep this one for ourselves? I don't see any good reason why the best apartment in the house sh

r two. "And not spoil your digestion by grumbling. When you have a house I have no d

he space of two minutes, and then gave it as the result of his cogitatio

of some description. Hastily groping his way back, he made an essay in another direction, and dived into a passage which ultimately landed him in a coal-cellar. On returning from this second unsuccessful expedition he discovered a

, and running to the rescue, while the others followed with various

of people, you," he continued, when he had seated himself in the chair Ned had vacated in his astonishment. "To sit here comfortably and li

overcome with amusement to offer any observations whatever. "But we thought you had changed your mind

rity to a poor shipwrecked and tempest-tossed mariner, by pitching over half-a-dozen of those ap

of his comfortable position, "when you manage to us

ouldn't be so enthusiastic for a minute or so," and he settled himself down i

d his tongue, and hunt up another chair with the best grace he could as

conversation turned on the miner's dispute, and the scene

ng. I said they were all bricks, didn't

ve understood it as such at all, so I didn't apprise them of your delicate attention-the girls, I mean." Archie pondered over this for seve

hat I never half believed there was any

d Seymour, disdainfully, "the commonest

charity but the essence of

ligion is based upon the difference, in an eccles

of Christ," asserted Mi

t hitherto on the subject. "It deserves a voice, you know, since it has 'just

nie, "since it is in itself the fountain of justice as well as of mercy, i

at it is, according t

nswered Minnie, "Pure religion and undefiled, is to visit the fatherless and

at any rate. Is that your

eligion, but no one who has really felt its pow

g up to the first proposition. Even I, who know little about it

ms absurd to you-to me it is the true and only one, and that is by following closely t

onsidered

the turgid intellects of those miners. I suppose that as long as minds of that calibre exist, there must also exis

tolerated for what it can do in the way of working on the emotions of those who are altogether governed by them, you are wrong.

ho are already freed by other mea

to gather slowly in her eyes. It pained her t

ough the influence of the Gospel of Christ, and I don't know anything of the other means you talk about. You know I a

s that?" as

, and a death beyond the grave," replied Minnie, solemnly, "a

y isn't alike, but it must make a change of some kind, even in people who live the best lives outwardly, before they realize the power of reli

nowledge that there is something within us which isn't of a piece with the corruptible part of our nature-something

mean the soul

earth-it must be supernatural. It cannot be a substance, and therefore it cannot be killed or

chie came in, and leaning on the back of her chair with one arm round her neck, began in his usual impulsive fashion. "I say Minnie, Ned and I were talking it over-you know, what we were talking about last night-well, we had a long talk after we went to bed and

asing prayers on her brothers' behalf; nevertheless, she was a good deal perplexed about the queer ideas he seemed to entertain on

hie to disappear as he usually did when any of her friends visited her. But this time Archie did not move, and after a minute he s

nnie, wondering wh

You see," he said turning to Mabel, "I can't bear to leave anything half

g them, and begged that they wou

perhaps you may help us-me, at any rate, to u

bel, "I am afraid there is little h

uld not have displayed any emotion, but the boy's keen eyes noticed how the shadows deepened in hers,

ation when it was offered her and God did the rest. That's easy enough-or looks so at the first glance, but when you come to try it, why, there's nothing more difficult in the whole world. It's just like Co

u will be wondering at yourself bec

not seem to get any nearer a solution of his difficulties, and at last

, but feeling assured by his earnestness that he would not long remain in the dark

innie's had been, and for the first time since its occurren

as too dangerously pleasant. "I didn't think of it before, but now the hall wo

easily enough," agreed Mabel, "What a deal

oh, don't you think we might go round t

the sooner it's s

and glowing as the sunset sky; without stopping to consider that he was on the public road, or regarding the amused look of passers-by, he caught Minnie round the neck and kisse

rchie replied that Minnie understood him, and did no

to accompany them, being of opinion that they were better fitted to carry out arrangements of such

hie," said Minnie with a look which he w

n an undertone as Seymour and Mabel walked

onate voice, that Archie was moved to kiss her again, and then she ran off

left word that if any of the young ladies from the Hollow called, he wished particularly to see them. A

all," he observed, addressing Minnie

ssed it would be vacant now, as

iends," put in the little man, smiling

se, but most of all for the purpose they have in view, and not to be behind hand in doing a good turn when I can, I must beg of

would rather pay for the hall, till Seymour, who had until now been a mere spectator of the p

and a little less quixotic. Does it not occur to you that it is perhaps a little selfish, trying to secure the mo

ame to a standstill, quite overcome

Mabel, and finally so did Minnie herself,

strolled slowly home, Seymour remarked, "What a quiet, sensible little woman your friend is-a

ed as the extreme opposite of quiet and sensible," was the only

n "people with a great deal more sense

nd observed that now he was disparaging himself-a

ie's news, and some few, who had hitherto held back fearing public ridicule, were now eager to join the

y her pride, and the conviction that it would degrade her to place herself in the ranks and acknowledge Minnie Kimberly as her head and leader as the other girls chee

they discussed their plans with a zest and good-humour such as seldom prevails when a company of girls have under

g all the more, listening eagerly to every different suggestion-rejecting this one in her own mind, and approving tha

tandstill by the entrance of the Principal and teachers rather

e had that morning received the result of the examination, and would now read it to the school, as it was probably a matter of interes

of Mona's name as the taker of the Latin prize was a matter of astonishment to all, and rather a blow to most of them, as it had been confidently expected that Minnie would take it, and to no one did i

ight be; moreover, Mona did not care much about the prize she did not care to have the name of being first merely, her ambition was to be first, and feel herself first. She knew

en herself so when the hour arrived she resol

e showed me her translation-one which would have been no shame to a gradu

the Latin competition. I was naturally anxious to know what motives influenced her in this course, but sh

sented to her that it was her duty to consider the interests of the school as well as her own feelings. She became quite distressed at this,

in her and could not effect my purpose, so I s

nd then without a word went on with her music.

ecured a seat beside Mabel, and launched at

"what do you think of the

about it at all but I do not see how

you to be aware of Minnie's intentio

now of it," r

out that intention?" demanded Mona, impatiently, almost forgetting her

d Mabel, quietly, "and I would have been the last to advise her to do

at was her real reason? you know she did not give any to Miss Marsden. Don't be afraid

er, I will tell you what she gave to me as such. She said that she had studied Latin so long with her brothers, that she would be able to place any one at a disadvantage who was obliged t

proud of it. I remember how regretfully she looked at it, when she told me she was not going to send it after all, a

to be known and appreciated-but I wouldn't have cared for the prize in comparison with the translati

"but I don't consider myself at liberty to

all this while about my conduct to Minnie. Often I have been on the point of giving in and acknowledging how wrong it was, but my pride has always stood in the way and dared me to do it. I don't think I am a co

ative Mabel, but it being within school hours, and consequently such an exhibition being altogether out of the question, she merely slipped her hand into Mona's and gave it a hearty squeeze which was

ered Mona, after a long pau

bel, as she rolled up

erhaps die out all together. Accordingly, she watched diligently for an opportunity to speak to Minnie, which seemed to be a particularl

re of Mona's presence. She did not speak, but continued her search, and Mona looked at her wistfully

r out, "I-have been so-so-unjust

ment, and then with impulsive swiftness flung her arms round her ne

ve in connection with it-forgot everything in her new friendsh

ndam enemies and rivals, but neither Mona, nor Minnie, nor Mabel, who alone knew any of the circums

n the admiration as well as the gratitude of all, by the remarkable genius she display

gain than the satisfaction of the young ladies to whom she had now the opportunity of propounding them, indeed, it was a matter of such universal congratulation when Mona Cameron joined them that, had Minnie been just a little less anxious for the good of others, and a little more desirous of her own glorification, she would c