ALMOST A DILEMMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue VI, 10 February 1900, Page 286

ALMOST A DILEMMA.

••1 don’t care if you do think it's mean! We've borne it long enough, and it's time a stop was put to it!” said Violet Tremaine to her younger sister Daisy.

“But, Violet, you know you deserved it!” said Daisy. “Oh. shut up! You're as bad as she is!" almost screamed Violet.

"Well, promise me you won’t do what you said,” remonstrated Daisy, looking very anxious. "1 sh'a’nt promise anything of the sort!” And Violet dashed out of the room and banged the door.

Violet and Daisy were the only daughters in a large family of boys, and I am afraid Violet was a little bit spoiled. She was a very pretty girl, and had had a great deal of notice taken of her, which did not fall to the share of the plainer Daisy.

The little girls had been taught by their mother until they were eleven and twelve years old. and then Mrs Tremaine engaged a governess to undertake their education. Miss Hall was quite young, and a very sweet girl into the bargain; and at first Violet had taken a violent fancy to her. and gushed over her as much as possible: but. then. Violet was on her best behaviour, and Miss Hall thought her elder pupil was a very sweet girl. Then the summer holidays came, and Violet went to stay with her godmother. who spoilt her unmercifully, and the consequence was. when school began again, Violet was a changed girl. She put on grown-up airs, and would not bear any contradiction at all. Things had gone from bad to worse for a month, and Violet was constantly in disgrace with her gover-

The dav before our story begins Violet had cheated at her arithmetic. She could not do a rule-of-three sum. and was all the morning over it, not

trying in the least, but sulky anti naughty; and Miss Hall had told her she could not go out till the sum was done. When lessons were over. Miss Hall and Daisy went out, and Violet was left alone in the schoolroom. A very wicked thought eame to her. Why should she not look at the key to her arithmetic book, which she knew was in the cupboard? No sooner thought of than done, and she put down the answer quickly on her slate, and put the book away hurriedly. She did not notice a small piece of paper that had fallen out of the book, and was lying on the table; but when Miss Hall eame in, and Violet showed her the sum. she saw the piece of paper, and at once taxed her pupil with looking at the key. Violet denied it stoutly; but Miss Hall knew she was telling an untruth, and so she had to be severely punished. There was to be a grand tea-party in honour of Robin's fourteenth birthday. Robin was one of the boys, and Violet's punishment was that she was not allowed to join in the fun, but to go to bed instead. So that is why she was so eross. She had formed a plan in her own mind how “to pay Miss Hall out,” and had taken Daisy into her confidence. Her plan was this: Miss Hall's brother. whom she had not seen for years, was in England, and Mrs Tremaine had invited him to come and spend the week-end with them and see his sister. Beatrice Hall was delighted. and her brother had gladly accepted the invitation. Now. Violet decided that he should not come. She would contrive to send him a telegram telling him not to come.

When Violet rushed out of the room she ran upstairs and put on her hat, and was off down to the village before anyone could imagine it possible. She sent the following telegram to Mr Hall:—“Don’t come. Am writing. Do not write to me. —BEATRICE.” Her heart beat very fast as she paid the sixpence and came out of the post office. On the Saturday Miss Hall was all excitement, for she expected her brother. Mrs Tremaine told John to bring the carriage and take her to the station. As Violet saw it go off she chuckled to herself. “What a sell,” she said. “She won’t forget it in a hurry, and not be so ready to punish me.” Two hours went by and then the carriage returned. Poor Miss Hall! She looked so unhappy as she came in. She rushed into the house and found Mrs Tremaine and told her her brother had not come. “Oh, you’ll hear later on in the day, dear, why he hasn’t come,” said Mrs Tremaine. But no letter came, and all Sunday went by and no word from him arrived. Miss Hall was nearly distracted, as she knew her brother had to return to India in a few days. She also knew it was no good writing to him, as he had told her he was leaving his rooms on the Saturday before. Violet was delighted with the success of her scheme, and did her lessons extra well. Daisy felt most miserable, as she knew the whole story, but was a loyal little sister and could not betray Violet. On the Tuesday morning there was a loud rat-tat-tat at the door, and Mary eame in and told Miss Hall a gentleman wanted to see- her. It was her brother. “Why, Bee.” he exclaimed, “how badly you have treated me. I waited and waited for your letter to follow the telegram, but it did not come, and as I go to India on Friday I felt I must come down and see you, as you had told me not to write.”

“Not to write. “Oh, Jack, what do you mean?” Miss Hall cried. Then an explanation took place. “But who could have sent the wire?” Mr Hall asked. The little girls were in the room, and to everyone’s surprise Violet spoke. "1 sent it.” “You? Oh, Violet, how could you?” Miss Hall exclaimed. “Well, it was to pay you out, and I think 1 have done so,” and Violet tossed her head. Neither Miss Hall nor her brother spoke. Not a single word of reproach did she hear. Mr Hall took his sister out for a walk and the children were left alone. “I suppose she’ll go and tell mother.” said Violet, when they were alone “And you deserve it.” said Daisy. “I never felt so sorry for anyone in mv life as I do for Miss Hall.” Violet’s heart was hard. She felt she did not care, especially as she was sure Miss Hall would punish her for her wickedness. But in that she was mistaken. No mention was made by her or her brother. In fact, the latter was most kind and ehatty to the naughty girl. I think this touched Violet more than anything, for on the Thursday night, when Mr Hall was leaving Violet stole up to him and put her hand in his. “You don’t know what a cad T feel.” she said. “Will you—can you forgive me?”

“Yes, I can and will, Violet,” Jack Hall replied. “Only don’t be such a mean girl again. A girl with your face must not be mean. You should make your life as good as your looks. Will you try?”

Violet’s tears came. She tried to gulp them down, but could not.

“And you and she never told mother?” she sobbed.

“Of course we. didn’t. We are not sneaks.”

There was a great reconciliation between Violet and her governess, and now Violet will not hear a word against Miss Hall, for “she is such a brick, yon know,” she says. And 1 think she is, too. Don’t you?