Chapter 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 26

Chapter 11.

Jane Hayward, junior teacher, and Kate Darcy, senior pupil at Miss Glenn's Select Boarding School, are bosom friends. They are dying for an opportunity to inspect each other's valentines, which articles, though strictly prohibited, are by no means prevented from entering the sacred precincts. It is a part of Miss Hay ward's duty to select and sort out the wool for those children who are too awkward to wind their own without spoiling it. For this purpose she retires to the furthest corner of the room from her chief, carrying a pile of Berlin wool and fingering. Kate immediately volunteered assistance. ' Come here, Midget ; I want you to hold the wool while Jane winds it. No one will see your head between us. We are going to read our valentines. You're not to tell, mind.' And the lively girl placed Lina between herself and Jane in such a position that, if Miss Glenn did glance that way, she could only perceive two heads and two pairs of hands. ' There was a rare old kick-up at our house last, night ; I was so glad I was home to see the fun,' Kate observed, after their respective missives had been hastily inspected and put out of sight again.

' About a valentine ? '

' Yes,' said Kate (who by the way was Miss Glenn's* favourite pupil, chiefly on account of her ' faultlessly polite address, so pleasantly free from slang ! '). ' That prig of a cousin of mine, " Bar Tom," got it, and repudiated it. Law, Jane, if you'd seen the writing ! " Baker Tom " brought it in at tea-time, and sent it all round the table before he allowed "Bar Tom" to get it, talking such rubbish the while about " Love's disguise." He vowed the young lady who directed that deserved his unswerving devotion while life lasted. I didn't think it was so clever ; it was overdone. No one could write so badly if they didn't try to. I'd have suspected you, Jane, only you're such awful spoons on him. The capitals were just what your writing-class might attempt.' Miss Hayward bit her lip and tossed her head indignantly, not relishing the 'soft impeachment,' and Kate rattled on : ' Uncle and ma were at the table — so was Dick ; they both glowered at him. Poor fellow ! he's down for everything.' ' They must think a deal of your cousin if they resent such a trifle as an uncomplimentary valentine. I should imagine they would not notice such a thing.' ' Oh, it wasn't that exactly,' Kate answered ; ' they're such sticklers for etiquette lately, and the form of the address was taken for a family affront. "Mr Bar Tom, Albion Hotel," was too much for undo, who wants people to forget that one of his nephews carried the bread basket, and the other sold nobblers without a license, in Flyer's Creek. I daren't say " Bar Tom " or " Bakor Tom " in his presence, though I am such a favourite. " Who tho devil is that thing from?" he roared. " Bar Tom " flung the letter right in front of Dick, and said, "That cub, I suppose. You have wasted your powder this time, young man. I won't receive it ; you can burn it, if you like." Dick said he wouldn't waste a stamp on him—

that he never sent it. Oh my ! you should have heard them—" You did ! " "I didn't 1" till I thought they'd shy the cups at each other. Ma threatened to box Dick's ears ; uncle threatened to kick " Bar Tom " ; " Baker Tom" pretended to make peace, but all the time keeping the string up. I supposo it would not have been noticed only that so many offensive valentines had been sent to our place this year. I only considered them good fun, but uncle and ma considered them rude because they alluded to the time we were poor. I expect to hear when I go home that the two 'Toms have had it out to-day. Wasn't it a pity to burn the valentine without reading it ? I tried to fish it out of the fire, but I was not smart enough.' ' Take the wool off that child's hands, Kate. See how white she has turned.' - 'Oh my, Jane, she's going to faint ! What ails you, Midget ? Are you tired ? ' ' ' I'm too hot, and my hands are tired, that's all,' said Lina. And she resumed her sampler with a troubled, scared look, not pleasant to see on so young a face. From the depths of her never empty pockets Kate brought a couple of peaches. . ' I'll do a bit of your work while you are eating them : they're so nice and cool.' ' Kate.' 'What?' , ' About the valentine. Go on.'

* I can't go any further. It's burnt.' ' But you said your cousins might quarrel about it to-day. Do they not agree ? If not, why not ? Tell me, Kate ; you know I tell you everything.' ' I know, and I tell you everything about myself, but ma forbids me to speak of family matters at school. If I tell you, mind you must not speak of it again. It's about a waitress we had once. She was such a pretty girl, and so nice, and so good. Ma said it was such a pity that she was not educated. She was quite lady-like while she kept silent. The two Toms took fire directly she came into the house. She preferred "Bar Tom"; nobody falls in love with " Baker Tom," though he's the nicest by a long chalk. Well, after a few months she began to attend the evening class next door, and treated both my cousins so coolly that ma was satisfied that she did not care for either. Everything went on comfortably until some one told uncle that whenever she went out "Bar Tom" -flame part of the way home with her. This riled him awfully — he's such a dreadful old match-maker, and his heart is set on "Bar Tom" marrying Miss Bamford. Next morning he began to storm at the waitress. Tom never spoke ; he just looked at him, and went out. He was back in a minute, and tapping the girl on the shoulder, said :

4 " You have listened to enough of this. Get on your hat and come away. There is a cab at the side door."

' Then uncle turned on him. Tom only said :

' " Fire away, old man— l don't mind you in the least ; but I'm sorry you have insulted a respectable girl for being in my company." ' He and the Waitress drove off together. He came back in the evening, to pack up and leave. But dear old uncle's temper had cooled. He entreated him to stay, and even offered^ to apologise to the girl. He would do anything for "Bar Tom.' ? He didn't leave. He's hardly been the same with any of us since. He never speaks to "Baker Tom" if he can avoid it. I suppose he blames him for carrying tales.' 4 What became of the waitress, Kate 1 ' ' That's what we could never find out. Some said they were privately married, but none of us believed it. Captain Fraser, of the You Yangs, told ma that he saw her in Sydney about a month ago;' ' Miss Hayward ! ' said a sharp voice from the upper end of the room, ' are you going to loiter over that wool all the afternoon ? '

' Coming, Miss Glenn.' ' Miss Glenn,' said Kate, in her most winning tones, • I am going to ask a very great favour. Will you promise beforehand that I shall not be refused 1 '

Miss Glenn smiled benignantly on her wealthy pupil, but would not commit herself to a promise. What did she wish ?

' I want you to allow Miss Hayward to come home with me this evening, and stay until Monday. I have never seen the Campaspe Falls, and uncle is going in that direction tomorrow. He offered to take me with him, but I do not care to go without Miss Hayward. May she come ? '

' Ah, well, it is hard to say no to such a persuasive young lady. Yes, she may go.' ' Look sharp, Jane ! ' she whispered, when school was dismissed. 'I am going home Lina Lee's way. Uncle said I could have three seats, and I've just thought of taking Midget if her mother lets her come. Oh, bother my cousin ! Ten chances to one he'll be too disagreeable to come if ho thinks wo want him. Anyhow, there will be plenty of room for Lina too. You could sit in my lap, little one.'

Lina squeezed her hand gratefully, and the trio started.

' Oh, do let me go, mamma,' pleaded Lina so earnestly, that Mrs Lee could not refuse, and the invitation was accordingly accopted. It would be hard to describe Lina's feelings as she listened to the discourse of Miss Hayward and Kate. A confused feeling of guilt crept over her. She knew she could never be happy again until she had undone the mischief she had been the unwitting cause of. She shrank from telling her mother, because she had reproved her for undertaking a task so much beyond her abilities. She had been sent the next afternoon to return the comb, but could not find its former owner. The thought of the morrow's excursion calmed her troubled mind, because it would give her an opportunity of making an explanation to 'Mr Bar Tom."' If all else failed, she would tell Miss Darcy.