’Thank you, Ada.  There’s nothing like brothers and sisters for telling one home-truths.  I suppose it is the penalty of having been a regular Paul Pry in my childhood, in spite of poor Eleanor making me learn “Meddlesome Matty” as soon as I could speak.  I always do and always shall have ringing in my ears—–­

’"Oh! what a pretty box is this,
I’ll open it,” said little Miss.’

’Well, you know you always do know or find out everything about everybody, and it is very useful.’

‘Useful as a bloodhound is, eh?’

‘Oh no, not that, Jenny.’

’As a ferret, or a terrier, perhaps.  I suppose I cannot help that, though,’ she added, rather sadly.  ’I have tried hard to cure the slander and gossip that goes with curiosity.  I am sorry it results in repulsion with that girl; but I suppose I can only go on and let her find out that my bark, or my eye, is worse than my bite.’

‘You are so good, so everything, Jenny,’ said Adeline, ’that I am sure you will have her confidence in time, if only you won’t poke after it.’

Which made Miss Mohun laugh, though her heart was heavy, for she had looked forward to having a friend and companion in the young generation.

Gillian meantime went her way.

One morning, after her mathematical class was over, she was delayed for about ten minutes by the head mistress, to whom she had brought a message from her aunt, and thus did not come out at noon at the same time as the day scholars.  On issuing into the street, where as yet there was hardly any traffic, except what was connected with the two schools, she perceived that a party of boys were besetting a little girl who was trying to turn down the cross road to Bellevue, barring her way, and executing a derisive war-dance around her, and when she, almost crying, made an attempt to dash by, pulling at her plaited tail, with derisive shouts, even Gillian’s call, ’Boys, boys, how can you be so disgraceful!’ did not check them.  One made a face and put his tongue out, while the biggest called out, ‘Thank you, teacher,’ and Gillian perceived to her horror, that they were no street boys, but Mrs. Edgar’s, and that Fergus was one of them.  That he cried in dismay, ‘Don’t, Stebbing!  It’s my sister,’ was no consolation, as she charged in among them, catching hold of her brother, as she said,

’I could not believe that you could behave in such a disgraceful manner!’

All the other tormentors rushed away headlong, except Stebbing, who, in some compunction, said—–­

‘I beg your pardon, Miss Merrifield, I had no notion it was you.’

‘You are making it no better,’ said Gillian.  ’The gentlemen I am used to know how to behave properly to any woman or girl.  My father would be very sorry that my brother has been thrown into such company.’

And she walked away with her head extremely high, having certainly given Master Stebbing a good lesson.  Fergus ran after her.  ’Gill, Gill, you won’t tell.’