| Show i Shell E A ROMANCE J JI I I I 1 W. W W CHAPTER IV Continued You dont don't seem altogether happy inhere in inhere here a cheery voice calls out at this moment moment as Shells Shell's somewhat mocking lace face appears at the open window derisively Happy cries Ruby Would you feel happy caged up with witha la 10 a couple of young bears The children have ave been behaving shamefully Have they returns Shell in a tone denotes doubt as she st steps ps In over lover over the tho low window ledge and gently to stroke Megs Meg's hair which has become disheveled through her va va- various various various rious emotions The child nestles up against her side clasping her skirts firmly as if it for protection pro pro- while Bob indulges in a vigor vigor- vigorous ous us welcoming nod for he knows he Is not ot of allowed to speak Yes they have given me quite a headache pursues Ruby pressing her to fo her brow I shall be fit for the rest of the day if it I cant can't get Irid of It I wish you would hear the children read rend for me Why should I U answers Shell bluntly As you know I disapprove of their coming here here and I 1 told you youw w tram from the first to expect no help from fromme me i Shell speaks in French Trench that the chIl- chIl 5 dren may not understand but Meg guesses with the quick instinct of ot childhood that she is refusing to take charge of them 0 You hear me read lead Sell she lisps with a look of almost piteous entreaty ton Ion her baby face Me will be dood Shell looks down for a moment with unrelenting eyes then eyes then she catches Meg rap alp in her strong young arms gives her herA A resounding kiss and turning to Ruby says says All right right right-If if you are tired I 1 dont don't mind looking after them till they are only fetched only I dont don't profess to be a good hand at teaching I wish you wouldn't b be so rough I With ith them says Ruby rising from her chair with a sigh of intense relief Now us Is happy cries Bob slid slid- sliding J 9 ing Ong down from his chair and stretching his small arms with delight as Ruby r disappears But us must go on with our lessons lessons les- les les les- sons ons says Shell gravely All right acquiesces Bob as he begins begins be- be be be- gins to hunt for tor their reading book You sit down in the big chair and Slave have Meg on your lap like Ilke you did last dast time and an I can stand beside you My dear children Isn't it rather hot or that kind of arrangement expostulates expostulates ex ex- ex- ex postulates 1 Shell as Meg springs Into her arms whilst Bob Installs him him- melt belf with his arm around her neck But the children only know that they love her and want to be as near her ber r as possible any such minor consideration consideration con con- as the state of the thermo thermo- eter is a a. matter of supreme Indifference Indifference Indifference ence to their inex inexperienced and con conse consequently selfish little minds That evening as luck will have It when hen the children come In to dessert their father begins to question them as asto j to ito their conduct I hope you were both very good hildren this morning he says helpIng helping help- help Ing each to a plentiful supply of straw straw- berries No pa us pa-us us wasn't berry good falters fallera fall faIt ers era Meg with downcast eyes and burning burn burn- burning ing ng cheeks Dear me me that that is very sad Meg Jays ays Robert Champley with a laughIng laugh laugh- lag Ing glance across the tha table at Te Ted d How did you misbehave yourselves I 1 didn't know tree times four replies re re- replies plies pUce Meg looking deeply abashed That was as extremely wicked of you says saya her father smiling And now that Meg has made an open en confession of her sins we must bear hear your your enormities Mr Bobby laughs his uncle How did you offend offen d Miss Wilden Bob heaves a profound sigh I did dreadful he says say s In En a low shamed voice j Something dreadful repeats Ted looking ely amused Come out Come out with It Papa dea dont don't be angry wId Bo Bohe Bob Bobbe b he be he didn't now Interposes Meg 15 suddenly laying bold hold of her fathers father's s arm srm rm and hug bug ing log It vigorously Dear me this Is getting alarmIng alarm alarm- lag Ing What did you do Bob asks ask s Mr Champley Chample with real interests Interest s Bob takes a kind of gulp to swallow swallow k low down his hiJ fear fear and and then he sayIn says say s In an awestruck voice loice oice I I I pulle ulle Hair out bus Good whose s-whose whose hair ask aks s his hla father 1 poking Joking startled k Miss Wilden's explains Bob muc much h alarmed at the sensation his announcement announce ment had created You You young villain exclaims hi his s uncle n Wh it tt induced you to attack attar y R lady ladylike like Ilke hat hat sT i S SI I didn't attack her says poor Bob on the verge of ot sobs I Just juat pulled out her pins for fun when she was setting my copy and then all her hair tumbled down on the carpet Not all aU hastened t to explain Meg Meg Meg- only a lot of it it Ted Champley Is seized with a a violent violent violent vio vio- lent fit of coughing which sends him over to the window for relief whilst his elder eJder brother as suddenly develops a cold which necessitates a vas vast t amount of handkerchief play before e he speaks again then he says quietly ey y to Bob Bob Bob- That was was' very ungentlemanly o of f you and if I hear of your being rude rud e again I 1 shall shan punish you CHAPTER V V. This threat from his usually indulgent indulgent ent eat father has such a depressing effect on Bobs Bob's spirits that he makes up hi his s mind to eschew temptation for the fu fu- ture Miss WIlden wont won't love you If yo you u dont don't behave like Uke a gentleman continues continues continues con con- the father se severely sev as an appropriate appropriate appropriate ending to his reprimand Us dont don't love Miss Wilden here herb e interrupts Meg with great dignity she is a nasty cross old ting Nonsense Meg says her father placing his hand under her chin an and d smiling down into her eyes ees If f you dont don't love Miss Wilden I am afraid you f must be a hardened little wretch for forwith forwith for forwith with a dreary alas sigh sigh alas she Is only y too devoted to you Meg shakes her head In an uncomprehending way and repeats with a determined little pout pout pout- Us dont don't like Ilke her her us us loves Sell Sen Yes us loves dear Shell chimes chime s In Bob eagerly She tells us lovely stories My dear misguided children your you affection for Miss Shell SheIl Is decidedly misplaced here interrupts their uncle returning from his post at the win win- dow She doesn't like boys and girls girl s at all Not like Ilke little boys and derIs repeats re repeats re- re peats Meg quite taken aback by such suet an extraordinary statement No Indeed Indeed Indeed-in in fact she gave me t to o od understand that she almost hated hate d them repeats Ted much amused a athe at atthe atthe t tI the childrens children's look of horror So I strongly advise you rot to waste your you r young affections on such an unresponsive ive ire object The warning being clothed In words word beyond their understanding makes a no o Impression on the childrens children's minds but their strong preference for th the e younger sister strikes their father forcibly forcibly forc fore ably and he catches himself murmurIng murmurIng murmur murmur- Ing more than once in a wondering g Us tone t tone Us loves Shell SheIl us loves dear dea r Shell After that it often otten happens that Ruby Ruby Ru Ru- by under by-under under some trifling pretext or other shifts shUts the burden of her self imposed d task on to Shells Shell's young shoulders shoulders- she has a headache or is busy or ha has s letters to write and then Shell taking taken g pity on the poor children who children who ar are e sure to have a rough time of it If it Ruby Rub Rubis y is disinclined for them them devotes devotes he her r morning to their instruction an and I amusement She bribes them to be good at their thet r lessons by the promise of a romp i ithe in inthe inthe n the grounds when their task is completed completed com corn and so It happens that Robert Rober t Champley chancing to drive over himself himself himself him him- self to fetch them one late June mornIng morning morn morn- ing comes upon an unexpected and t thim to o him a charming sight On a moss-grown moss mound at the front t of a copper-beech copper sits Shell SheIl In n a der dark C print gown with her her bright hair toile coiled d around and around with with daisy-chains daisy which the childrens children's busy fingers have hav S been weaving whilst she tells them a wonderful tale from Fairyland So engrossed are all three that the thedo they y do not become aware of the Intruders Intruder's s approach until he has descended fro from m the trap and walked quietly to with n na a few paces of their resting place thea then thena 1 a shout of Papa papa from big Meg g rouses them all from their ideal world worl I to a realistic one Shell starts her lowly seat crimsons to the very roots of her hair and puts on as forbidding a look as sh she e can well assume Oh pa It Is so jolly you volt come an and d listen too tool cries Bob eager that ht his s father should participate in their en en- The princess Is shut up i in ina Ina n a dark room because her wicked godmother godmother godmother god god- mother wont won't allow her ever to se sethe see seethe seethe e the sunshine and the prince is keeping keepin g guard outside her tower with a carriage earning e and six to carry her away to an Island isian d blazing with 11 light t. t If he gets th the e chance Rather trying for her eyes wont won t it be I 1 should be Inclined to recommend recommend recommend mend her a pair of till ah the ahe e t. t gets gots use used 1 to the glare laughs Robert Champley as he shakes hands hani frith Shell But Shell has become fossilized Sho Bhe shakes hands limply puts on a stolid conventional expression and drawing her small figure up to its fullest height helpt tries to look exceedingly dignified Her efforts are aro somewhat marred by the daisies so profusely twisted around her head but as she is happily forgetful l lof of their presence they do not trouble her Sell dear she didn't have blue p c- c did she cries Meg shocked at such a very unromantic suggestion I dont don't know I am sure responds Shell in a tone of cold indifference But oo 00 does doe know cries Meg waxing waxing wax wax- ing impatient and shaking Shells Shell's skirts shirts In her anxiety to have the doubt settled I am afraid my children are wearyIng wearyIng wearying weary- weary Ing you Miss Shell says their father rather stiffly stilly But I 1 have Just com coma over to carry them away I find the easiest way to keep them quiet is to tell them stories says Shell bluntly and ungraciously I am very sorry that you should be put to so much trouble particularly as you dislike children remarks Mr Champley with a curious and rather satirical glance at t her flower-decked flower head Oh It doesn't matter I answers Shell condescendingly Now then young monkeys monkeys-If monkeys If you are ready we may as well start he ho says pointing to the trap which is waIting waiting waiting wait waIt- ing in the avenue I am going to take you yon for a drive right around by the sea Take Sell too pa pleads Meg catching her fathers father's hand and fairly jumping with delight With pleasure Jf H 1 she ells will only consent consent consent con con- sent to go Is his ready answer whilst he darts an amused glance trance at the girls girl's flushed vexed face No thanks thanks thanks-I I hate driving re responds re- re sp spends Shell curtly You seem to have a great many detestations detestations detestations de de- Miss Shell says the gentleman gentleman gentleman gen gen- lly fly I r have Is Shells Shell's laconic answer Well then since we cant can't persuade you to accompany us we may as well start Come children and children I and and making no effort to shake hands he raises Ms hs hat politely A latent fear that she has been inhospitable Inhospitable in inhospitable in- in hospitable assails Shell Wont you go up to the house she asks almost eagerly No thank you since you since I 1 have been fortunate enough to meet with the children here Good morning Good morning answers Shell AUff ly and quite ignoring the two little faces that are turned up to her for tor a a good-bye good kiss Papa is us naughty asks Meg Megas as she trots over oyer to the trap beside her father I r hope not Why he demands absently Cause Shell didn't kiss us answers answers an an- ewers Meg in a a. wondering wandering tone Kiss you repeats her father laughing She looked far more likely to bite But all the same as he be makes the tho assertion a memory of Shell as he first came to her with sparkling eyes and smiling lips and the two children kneeling beside her rises before his mental vision Well have you got rid of those little torments asks Ruby languidly looking up from her book as Sn Shell ll n en- en enters enters en en- tern the room Their father has Just come for them answers Shell shortly Their father father oh oh where is he cries Ruby starting from her chair I want to consult him abc about It Bobs Bob's writing and I must speak about the nurse nuree I am afraid she Is ie not very careful Megs careful Megs Meg's hands were q quite lite dirty this morning Where Is he where he-where where did you leave him He is down by the sea I I didn't leave him him him-he he left me answers anS Shell Why did no one tell me he ha was here asks Ruby angrily He didn't come conte to the house I was in the drive with the children and he picked them up there How Haw very strange But it is la all your fault taking them out the foolish foolIsh foolish fool fool- ish way you do I 1 suppose you were romping like boy torn a when he came I was telling them stories Anyway you were a ridiculous object object ob oh- says Ruby with such an as obviously ob obviously ob ob- scornful sneer that Shell instinctively in in- glances across s the room at ather ather ather her reflection In the he mirror then for forthe forthe the first time becoming aware award of her profuse decorations With a sudden Budden access of wrath she tears the daisies from om her hair whilst tears of mortification cation rise to her eyes I I wouldn't have had him sea see me so ao for a hundred pounds she says angrily What nonsense I 1 dont don't suppose that he ho even noticed them observes Ruby with cutting scorn Ah perhaps not nott murmurs Shell with a sigh of relief and yet thinking It over she remembers clearly that twice or three times s during their short Interview she noticed an amused smile emilo flicker over his face T To be Continued r |
