Silverthorns

by Mrs. Molesworth

were not very far off.

  "Don't go to lessons again immediately you come in," she said. "`Allwork and no play' makes dull girls as well as dull boys. Come into thedrawing-room. Jerry came in looking so shivery that I am going to givehim a cup of my afternoon tea. Come too, dear, and let us three have afew minutes cosily together. The other boys won't be home yet."

  Charlotte hesitated.

  "Mamma," she said, "I must work hard--harder than ever; and then--Ichanged my blue frock immediately. You know I promised you I would, andif any one should come in I would not look very nice," and she glancedat the old brown dress.

  "Nonsense, dear. It is most unlikely that any one will come on such aday. And take my word for it, you will work far better if you giveyourself a little interval--a pleasant little interval."

  Mrs Waldron opened the drawing-room door as she spoke, and Charlottefollowed her. It did look pleasant and inviting, for well-worn as wasmuch of the furniture, simple--in these days of plush and lace andgorgeous Eastern draperies--as were the few additions that had been madeto it from time to time, Charlotte's mother possessed the touch thatseems born with some people, of making a room attractive. Her extreme,exquisite neatness had to do with it--the real underlying spirit oforder, which has nothing in common with cold primness or the vulgarhiding away from observation of the occupations of daily life; andjoined to this a keen perception of colour, a quick eye and hand for allcombinations which give pleasure.

  "I can always tell when mamma has been in a room," Charlotte would say,rather dolefully. "I wonder if I shall ever learn to give things thelook she does."

  The tea-table was drawn up near the fire, and Jerry was seated on a lowchair beside it.

  "Oh, mamma," he exclaimed, "I thought you were never coming. I havemade the tea to perfection. Oh, and here's Charlotte too. How jolly!It isn't often that we three get a cosy tea together like this."

  "Are you warmer now, my boy?" his mother asked. "You are verybluey-white-looking still."

  For Jerry, unable to run or even to walk fast, was apt to catch badcolds in chilly weather.

  "I'm all right, thank you, mother. I'm quite hungry. Look, Charlotte,"and he raised the cover of a neat little china dish on the table, "isn'tthat nice? I bought it for a present to mother. I got it from the oldmuffin-man--he was just passing. That's why mamma invited me to tea, Iexpect."

  Charlotte's face relaxed. It was impossible to look and feel gloomywith such a welcome.

  "It isn't fair for me to come too," she said in her own pleasant voice;"one muffin isn't too much for two."

  "Nor for one, when it's a proper tea," said Jerry.

  "But this isn't, you know. This is only a slight refection. We'regoing to have our proper school-room tea as usual of course."

  "And how have you got on to-day, Charlotte?" asked her mother, when themuffin and the tea had been discussed. She was a little anxious tohear, though careful not to let it be seen that she was so.

  Charlotte's face clouded over.

  "Mamma," she said, "I think you had better not ask me. You know I wouldtell you and Jerry more than anybody--but--I want to be good, and Ican't, and--perhaps there are some bad feelings that it's best not tospeak about."

  Jerry looked up with fullest sympathy in his thin white face.

  "I don't know," said Mrs Waldron. "I can't judge unless you tell me alittle. Is it about that young girl, Charlotte? Has she come?"

  "Yes; she was there all day."

  "Well, is she disagreeable? Does she interfere with you in any way?"

  "In every way, mamma. At least I feel sure it is going to be in everyway. She's--she's to be in my class for everything. She's--it's nogood hiding the truth--she's awfully clever and far on, and ahead of usall."

  Mrs Waldron's face looked grave. She felt such sympathy with Charlottethat she was almost shocked at herself. She was only human! She hadhoped that her child might be spared the special rivalry which she knewwould touch her the most acutely.

  "Are you not fanciful, dear? How can you possibly be sure in one daythat Miss--what is her name?"

  "Meredon, mamma. Claudia Meredon--isn't it a lovely name?" saidCharlotte with a rather curious smile. "Even her name is uncommon andbeautiful." Mrs Waldron could not help laughing.

  "You are going too far, my dear child. I am sure your own name is quitenice enough. You have no reason to be ashamed of it."

  "Ashamed of it! no, mamma," said Charlotte with heightened colour. "Itisn't that."

  "But you are fanciful, dear, about Miss Meredon. How can you be sure inone day that she is going to distance you in all your lessons?"

  "She will do so in German, any way," said Charlotte gloomily, "and thatis almost the worst of all. Oh, mamma, if you had heard HerrMarklestatter to-day! Just out of contradiction I got an extradifficult piece to translate, and I stumbled over it rather, I know. Atanother time I wouldn't have minded, and he wouldn't have minded. Butto-day--"

  "He wanted you to show off before the new girl of course, and verylikely you did too, and that made you worse," said Jerry bluntly.

  "Perhaps," Charlotte agreed. "But oh, mamma, you would have been sorryfor me," and her voice broke.

  "I am sorry for you, my dear. It is a battle you have to fight. Butyou must be brave--about your lessons; you know _we_ know you always doyour best. That should keep you happy."

  Charlotte gave a deep sigh. But before she left the room she stoopedand kissed her mother.

  "Thank you, mamma," she said.

  Jerry followed her to the school-room.

  "Jerry," she said, as she sat down and spread out her books, "I musthave had a sort of feeling that this girl was to do me harm. It is nottrue that things are even--she has _everything_, you see. The worst ofit is, that I almost believe she is good."

  "Charlotte!" exclaimed Jerry.

  "Yes, it sounds awful, but you know what I mean. It makes it horriderof me to hate her, and I'm afraid I do. At least if she gets the Germanprize--the one he gives for composition at the end of the term--Ishall."

  "Shall what?"

  "Hate her," said Charlotte, grimly.

  Jerry said no more.

  Had Claudia Meredon "everything?"

  Charlotte would assuredly have thought so more firmly than ever had sheseen her at the moment when she was thus speaking of her. She wasdriving up the Silverthorns avenue in the pretty pony-carriage whichLady Mildred had appropriated to her use. It was a chilly evening, andthe rain had been falling by heavy fits and starts all day. MissMeredon was well wrapped up, however, and she drove fast. Her cheekswere glowing with excitement, and even in that most unbecoming ofattire, a waterproof cloak, she looked, as Charlotte had almost bitterlyallowed, "lovely." Her bright hair crept out in little wavy curls fromunder her black hat, her eyes were sparkling--she looked a picture ofhappiness.

  "Don't ring," she said quickly to the groom, as she threw him the reins,"I'll let myself in," and she was out of the carriage and up the stepsin a moment.

  The great front door was fastened from within, but Claudia ran round theterrace to a side entrance which she knew she should find open. Andwithout waiting to take off even her waterproof, she flew down apassage, across the large hall, and into a smaller one, on to whichopened the drawing-room where Lady Mildred usually sat when alone.

  "She cannot but be pleased," thought the girl; "and if I am very quick,I may be able to write a word home to-night."

  She opened the door, and as she did so she seemed to bring in with her agust of the fresh breezy autumn air. The lady who was reading by thefire, or possibly dozing, for the light was growing faint, started andshivered.

  "Claudia," she exclaimed, "for any sake, shut the door. How can you beso inconsiderate?"

  Miss Meredon closed the door gently and came forward.

  "Oh, Aunt Mildred, forgive me; I am so sorry," she replied in her brighteager voice. "I was in such a hurry to tell you how capitally I havegot on. I have
been so happy. The school is delightful. And, aunt,only fancy--won't mamma and all of them be pleased? The German masterdid so praise me! I am to be in the highest class, and--and--he said itwould do the others good to have me with them. It's not for myself I amso pleased--it's for papa and mamma. And to think that I never hadGerman lessons from any one but mamma."

  She ran on so eagerly that it would have been almost impossible to stopher. And when she at last came to a halt, out of breath, Lady Mildreddid not at once speak. When she did her