Show I 1 0 I 1 shell sh e 11 ia A ROMANCE wilden 1 0 o I 1 d e n I 1 J IV continued you don t seem altogether happy in here a cheery voice call calls out at sit this moment as an shell a somewhat mocking face ace appear appears at the open window happy 1 cries ruby derisively would you eel feel happy caged up with a couple of 0 young bear bears the have been behaving shamefully ham eully have they return shell in a tone todo which blob denoted doubt aa as she he steps tn in w over the low window ledge and gently begin begins to stroke mug e 6 hair which haa has become disheveled through her various I 1 ahe be chud child nestles up against her side lib clasping clai ping her skirts firmly aa as it for or protection tec tion while hob indulges in a vigorous welcoming nod and for or he know known be he la Is not allowed to speak yei yes they have given roe me quite a headache pursues ruby pressing her band hand to her brow I 1 I 1 hall shall be fit for or nothing the reel rest of 0 the day it I 1 cant got rid of 0 it I 1 wish you would hear bear the children read for we I 1 why should IT answers shell bluntly aa an you know I 1 diss disapprove ot 0 their coming here and I 1 told you from the first to expect no help from rom mel trial shell speaks in french that the children may not understand but meg guesses with the quick instinct of childhood that the la to refusing to take charce charge of them I 1 ou bear me read sell iho she lisp with a look of 0 almost piteous entreaty on her baby face me will be dood shell looka looks down for a moment with unrelenting eyes ey esthen then abe catches meg u up in her strong young arms gly give s her bar a resounding kiss and turning to ruby says all right it if you are tired I 1 doat dont mind looking after them till they are fetched only I 1 dont profesa to be a good had at teaching I 1 I 1 with wish you would rit t be ao so rough with them says ruby riling rising from her chair with a sigh ot of intense relief now ua us la Is happye arles bob sliding dg down from bla his chair and stretching retching at hia his wall arms with delight aa as ruby disappears but ua us go on our lessons says shall gravely all alar acquiesces bob as e begins to hunt for their reading book you fit sit down in the big chair and have meg on your lap like you did last time and I 1 can stand beside you my dear children tan t it rathar hot for that kind of arrangement expostulate shell as meg leg springe springs into her arc art whilst bob installs himself with bla his arm around her neck but the children only know that they love her and want jo in be aa an near her as possible any auch such minor consideration as the state of the thermo mett la Is a matter supreme ou preme indifference to their inexperienced and consequently selfish little minas that evening as luck will have it w when hen the children come tn in to dessert their father begins to question quett lon them aa ail to their conduct I 1 hope you were both very good children thia this morning be saya says helping each to a plentiful supply of straw berries no pa us berry berr v good falters meg with downcast eyes ana and burning cheeks dear me that Is in very sad says hobert robert champley with a laugh ing glance across the table at ted I 1 how did you misbehave yourselves youra elves 1 I know tree times four re piles meg looking deeply abashed that waa was extremely wicked of you says her father smiling and now that meg haa has made an open confession contee eion of her ans alne we must hear bear your enormities mr dobby bobby laughs hs we uncle how did Y you on offend miss wilden bob heaven a profound sigh 1 I did some fluk dreadful be he says in a low sh shamed a med v voice 0 le e something dreadful dread fulT repeat re ted looking intensely amused come out with it a papa dear don t be angry wid bob he be djan t know interposes meg suddenly laying bold hold of her father a e arm and hugging bugging it vigorously dear me this ie Is getting alarming what did you do bob dob I 1 aska asks br champley with real interest bob rob takes a kind of gulp to swallow down his hi fear and then h be a says in an awestruck tole vole tol e 1 I pulled her hair out good gracious gra cloua whose hairr asks bis father looking startled misa miss wilden a expiates explains bob much alarmed at the sensation hia his announcement had created you young villainy exclaims his acle cie what induced you to attack a lady like that I 1 1 I attack her says poor bob on the verge of sobs 1 I just pulled out her pins for fun when abe she was setting my copy and then all her hair tumbled down on the carpet not all hastened to explain meg only a lot of it ted champley la Is elded with a violent fit of coughing which sends him over to the window for relief whiltz his elder brother aa an sude suddenly enly develops a cold which necessitates a vast amount of handkerchief play before le lie speak 1 again then he be caya tays quietly lr to bob abat wae was very ungentlemanly y of q you nod and it I 1 hear of your being rude vain I 1 shall punish you 11 V abis threat from his usually ent nt father has ouch a depressing ming effect on hobs bobs spirits that be he makes up tip his hi mind to eschew temptation for tho fu ture lure alias wild n wont won t love you it you dont dehava like a gentleman con finues the father scie severely rely ag an ampro palate ending to hie his reprimand Us dont don t love 1 mits wilden bert herb ageg with great dignity she the Is ft a nanty cr old 1 use tinz 11 2 1 says u her father fattier placing his hand under ber her chin aa and smiling down into her ryes eyes it you ion don t love mir miss wilden I 1 am afraid you must be a hardened little vre fth for I 1 with a drear sigh alas she la Is only too devoted to youl meg hakes shakes her head in an uncomprehending pre way and repeats with it determined little pout ua Us dont like lier her us u lovea loves bell sell yes us loves dear chell chimes in bob eagerly she tells tolls us lovely stories my dear misguided children your affection for miss shell Is decidedly misplaced here interrupts their uncle returning from his big post at the win dow she like boys and girls at all not like little boys and derest repeats meg qu te to taken aback by such in an extraordinary statement no indeed in fact she gave me to understand that she be almost hated them repeats ted much amused at the childrens look of horror so I 1 strongly advise you not to wast waste your young affections on such an ive object the warning being clothed in IR words beyond their understanding makes no impression on the childrens minds but their strong prefer preference enco tor for the younger sister strikes their father forcibly and he catchin himself murmur log more than once in a wondering erint tone Us loves shell us loves dea shell I 1 after that it often happens that ru by under some triffley fleg arelt at or other shifts 1 burden of her self imposed task on zu u shell a young shoulders he she has ban a headache or Is in busy or has ha letters to write and then shell taking pity on the poor children who are sure to have a rough time of it if ruby Is disinclined for them devotes her morning to their instruction and amusement she bribes them to be good at their lessons by the promise of a romp la in the grounds when their task Is in completed and eo so it happens that robert champley Cha ropley chancing to drive over him self elf to fetch them ono lato late june morning comes cornea upon an unexpected and to him a charming sight on a moss grown mound at the front of a copper beech sits site shell in a dark print gown with her bright hair coiled around and around with daisy chains which the children a busy fingers have bays been weaving whilst ebe she tells them a wonderful tale from fairyland so engrossed are ara all three that they do not become awais of the intruders Intrude re approach until be he has descended from the trap and walked quietly to a few paces of their resting place then a about shout of papa papal from meg rouses muses them all from their ideal world to a realistic one shell starts from her lowly seat to the very roots of her hair and put puts on as an forbidding a look as she can well assume I 1 ob pa it Is 50 jolly you yoa come and listen tool cries dob bob eager that bis his father should participate in their enjoyment joy ment the princess Is shut up in a dark room because her wicked godmother woo wont t allow her ever to see sea the sunshine and the prince la in keeping guard outside her tower with a carriage and six sit to carry ber her sway away to at an island blazing with light it if he be sets gets the chance 11 rather trying for her eyes won t it be I 1 should be inclined to recommend her a pair of spectacles till she its bied to the glare laughs robert champley as be he shakes hands with shell dut but shell has become fossilized ehg shake hands limply puts on a stolid conventional expression and drawing her small figure up to its fullest height tries to look exceedingly dignified her efforts are somewhat marred by the daisies so profusely twisted around her head but as she to Is happily forgetful of their presence they do not trouble her sell dear abe she have blue ape spectacle spectacles did the het cries meg shocked at such a very unromantic suggestion 1 I don t know I 1 am sure I 1 responds shell in a tone of cold indifference but oo 00 does know cries meg waxing impatient and shaking shell sheila a skirts la ln her anxiety lo 10 nave the doubt settled 1 I am afraid my ray children are wearying you miss mind shell says say their father rather stiffly dut but I 1 leave lave just come oer to carry then away 1 I find the easiest way to keep them quiet lu ho to tell hui u stories says shell bluntly aud ungraciously 1 I am voia sorry that you should be plit to IM so much trouble particularly as an you dislike children remarks mr champley with a curious and rather satirical clauce glauce at her flower docked brad head oh it do docent cerit therl matters tt erl answers I 1 4 1 A 1 shell 14 4 now then young monkey monkeys it you ia are ready we may aa as well 11 start be I 1 ay says pointing to the trap which la Is waiting in the avenue 1 I am going to lake take J you for a drive right around by ur the 4 w J ca take sell bell too pit pa plead pleads met me I 1 catching catch inc her fa father theria hand and fairly A jumping u m with delit delight ht with pleasure plea oure if it ahe she will only con J a sent to go Is t hia his ready answer whilst I 1 lie dart darts an tin amused 1 glanie glance at the girls V flushed vexed face I 1 11 no thank thanks 1 I hate driving toa wa wit it I 1 ponda ponds shell curtly you seem to hare have a great many do f to stations miss shell says the gentleman sarcastically 1 1 I have la Is shell s laconic anwer answer t 5 well then since we cant persuade t S ii you to accompany ui us we may an well start come children childre nl 1 ani makila 1 n no ni i effort to hake shake handi hands be he raises had 1 i hat politely A latent fear that she he baa has been in 4 w hospitable assails shell v 11 won wont t you RO go up n the houser 1 3 kli 14 abw carl A no thank you youat since nce i 1 have been a x fortunate enough to meet with the children bere here good morning I 1 I 1 good morning answers shell stiff ly ir and quite ignoring the two little it facea faces that are turned up to her tur for a goodbye good bye klit kiss A papa li to ue us naughty aaka asks meg aa an ahe she trots over to the trap beside her father 1 I I bope hope not why I 1 be he demand demands I 1 gh gently 4 cause shell kiss us an I 1 wera meg in a wondering tone J klee kiss youl repeats her father I 1 laughing she looked tar far more likely A to bite dut but till the same aa as lie makes the assertion a R memory of shell aa as be he first came to her with sparkling ipar spar kling klint eye eyes and etling smiling lips and tb tbt two children kneeling beside her rles rl es before his bl 11 mental vision 11 0 well have you got rid of those ji little to foments ments aike asks ruby languidly d I 1 looking up from her book as shell enten enters the room r I their father jutt jast come for 1 them answers chell shortly their ob where la he u cries ruby starting arting it from her chair 1 11 I want ant to consult him about doba bobs 1 writing and I 1 raut must peak speak about the burns I 1 am afraid she IA la not very careful mets Megs banda hands were quite dirty thia thin morning where la is he be where did you leave him I 1 cl i I 1 he lie is down by the aea sea I 1 leave bim he be let me answers shell A I 1 I 1 why did no one tell me be he waa was here I 1 abka ahks ruby angrily I 1 he lie dido dida I 1 come to the bouse house I 1 waa was in the drive with the chil children dmn and till u picked them up 4 how illow very st strange rangel 1 but it la Is all your fault taking them out the foolish I 1 way you do I 1 suppose you wera were romping like a tomboy tom torn boy when he h came 1 I was telling them stories anyway you were a ridiculous object I 1 says ruby with such an obviously scornful sneer that shell instinctively glances across the cocin acx m at her reception in the mirror then for the first time becoming aware of her profuse decoration is with a sudden access of wrath she teara tears the daisies her hair whilst tears of mortin mortification rise to her eyes 1 I wouldn t have bad had him see me so for a hundred pounds she ay says angrily f S what non n of I 1 dont burro t that be he even noticed them observed 1 v ruby with cutting scorn 1 4 ah ab perhaps noti murmurs shell with a sigh of relief and yet thinking think lne A it over she remembers clearly that 4 1 twice or three times during their short interview she noticed aa an amused smile AI a flicker icker over his face I 1 to be continued 2 0 jg |