WHO BEGAN IT?

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 16 (Supplement)

WHO BEGAN IT?

(By S. K. Ensdaile.)

XConoluded from last week.) “ That’s Just It, Miss Bentham, I did notice It. I (began to talk to Enid on purpose so that she shouldn’t notioe the hoard and be knocked into the water. But I never, never thought she would he really hurt—” Frances, now fairly launched, told the whole story fully to the housemlstress." Having heard the affair to a close Miss Bentham did not seek to minimize matters, but she felt a very genuine sympathy for the girl who had thus brought upon her best friend an illness from which the house-mistress, posted with exaot intelligence, had ohly too much cause to fear that she might not recover. She told Frances that she might come to her room for news at intervals, and comforted by this Frances returned to her own house. There ensued two days of restless anxiety. Between lessons Frances ran across for news;■ she .seemed, as she said to Molly, to live on Miss Bentham’s door-mat. The mistress was patient, feeling more and more sorry for the white-faoed inquirer as she turned away mutely on receiving the news that there was little change. Lessons for Frances were now a torment; she could not concentrate. Leisure time was even worse. She gave up all games and abandoned the river. Her only relief was to walk with Molly, who listened with sympathy to her talk of Enid and bore with her self-reproaches. It was after one of these walks, as the two girls were passing In front of Randolph House, that Miss Bentham’© window was thrown up. She beckoned to the girls. France’s heart almost stopped beating. She dashed up the stairs and met Miss Bentham at the door of her room. “Is it—is it—” she stammered, hardly knowing what she said. The mistress drew her into the room. “We think it Is better news," she said. “ The doctor hopes that by tomorrow she may definitely pronounce Enid out of danger." “ Oh, Miss Bentham!” said Frances, struggling with the tears of relief which threatened to overwhelm her. “ The dootor says that onoe she begins, her recovery will probably he rapid," went on the mistress, "as she has an excellent constitution. You

have muoh to be thankful for, Frances." Further than this Miss Bentham did not seek to improve the occasion. It was not her way. Frances sped off. Much to be thankful for! She should think so. And to think that she had risked something so precious as Enid for her own stupid temper and silly prfde. Of course It had all been her fault from the beginning she now told herself. Indeed, she told herself this ©o often and so firmly during Enid’s -convalescence that, two months later, when Enid had finally recovered, the following amusing conversation might have been heard in the water-mead-ows near Holliwell, where the two girls were seated on a wi'low trunk, eating marshmallows and talking. Enid said : “ Funny to t' k of St. Chad’s as head of the rive., isn’t it, and Monica Tedworth as cap lain of boats? You might have rowed, you know. There was no need for you to stand down because of me.” “ Do you think I was likely to row while you were lying ill? Not likely. I’ve got some sense of sport.” “ You must have felt fnightful,” said Enid. “ Really it was worse for you than for me." “ Nonsense, it was you who had the pat on the head and nearly croaked in consequence. And it was such a shame for you when the whole thing was my fault from the very beginning. It was I who backed too hard that day and spoilt our trick." “No such thing. I backed too hard myself.” “ No you didn't." “ I did.’’ " Rubbish I" “'Rubbish [yourfeelfF’ ‘ Well, don’t get in a wax over it.” “ I'm not in a wax. It’s you. It’s your red hair.” ‘ It’s your Irishness.” “ It’s ’’ “ It’s ’’ And suddenly they remembered. “ Have another mallow,’ said Enid livkwardly. “ There’s only one left. Let's aave it between us, what!” “ And agree together—" said Enid. “That we both began it," concluded Frances. * [The End.]