24 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

said garments, looking very suggestive of a
dreadful wound.

Netty does not look at the case from this
point of view however, for, seizing the in-
jured young lady from the gravel walk where
she fell, she marches up to me, and saying,
“Youre a nasty Madge, and I don’t love
you,” she throws her treasure deliberately in
my face, and with a burst of tears rushes to
Miss Montgomery and hides her head in her
dress. With some governesses this would
have been a case of dry bread for tea, no
doubt; but, thank goodness, ours is not this
sort of person, for I must say that, notwith-
standing our being such an unruly set, she
manages us to perfection with her gentle
firmness and kindness, and the consequence
is we all dote on her, and what is more,
we all obey her like—like—one o’clock!—
(Jack’s usual simile). Even he says she’s a
regular brick, which is a great concession on
his ‘part, as he professes to hate ladies. But
to return,—

Miss Montgomery after soothing and con-