Citation
The holiday prize

Material Information

Title:
The holiday prize a modern fairy tale
Series Title:
'Snug corner' series
Creator:
Adams, Ellinor Davenport
Skeaping, K. M. ( Illustrator )
Jarrold and Sons
Place of Publication:
London
Publisher:
Jarrold & Sons
Manufacturer:
Jarrold and Sons
Publication Date:
Language:
English
Physical Description:
205, [19] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Selfishness -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Loyalty -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Generosity -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Courage -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Chivalry -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Knights and knighthood -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Contests -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Ponies -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Play -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Amusements -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Country life -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Children -- Juvenile fiction -- England ( lcsh )
Sponsors -- Juvenile fiction ( lcsh )
Publishers' catalogues -- 1896 ( rbgenr )
Bldn -- 1896
Genre:
Publishers' catalogues ( rbgenr )
novel ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
England -- London
England -- Norwich
England -- Yarmouth
Target Audience:
juvenile ( marctarget )

Notes

Summary:
When her godchildren assemble for the summer holidays Miss Elizabeth offers a prize to the godson who should be the most perfect embodiment of a knight; the winner selects his prize which turns out to be a pony.
General Note:
Publisher's catalogue follows text.
Statement of Responsibility:
by Ellinor Davenport Adams ; illustrated by K.M. Skeaping.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
This item is presumed to be in the public domain. The University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not claim any copyright interest in this item. Users of this work have responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions may require permission of the copyright holder. The Smathers Libraries would like to learn more about this item and invite individuals or organizations to contact The Department of Special and Area Studies Collections (special@uflib.ufl.edu) with any additional information they can provide.
Resource Identifier:
026558995 ( ALEPH )
ALG1133 ( NOTIS )
233022990 ( OCLC )

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Full Text


ae



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Sita:



tien




desigpris
reat



cetlrkese ht













THE HOLIDAY PRIZE



2 ! i MY

yf Km Skeaping —

“Now, good Sir Eustace, all is over with you!"—#, 39.

-





A Modern Fairy Tale

; BY :
Ellinor Davenport Adams. |P
. Axthor of
“Comrades True,”
“The Disagreeable Duke,”
s etc., etc.

3 in attr 4 oe. 2 ed Py Reeth
SSR ERE re ESSE ited ce Epos eet SE

SS
——_—— AG

ILLUSTRATED BY

K MM. SKEAPING

Yost
LT eT
yy (ale Peay i 2

5 aN
oy fi Ve
fy i)
ij wy Ag
p ro Ts b
( ‘ vriy |
wy
Si ‘ ip 7, Nae
Sy \ a =e I
nih 4 pepe rewiae
‘ ’ Ey Hata See
A a AS
) PRI nik
i

W/



N LTTUNIANVIVG
1B SPE
ba s > ny Kein
LONDON: JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C.

[AU rights reserved]
ome





THE ‘SNUG CORNER’ SERIES.

Crown 8vo0, Art Linen, 3/6 each.

OUR LITTLE SUNBEAMS: Srortes For THE LITTLE ONES.
By Auice F. Jackson, Author of ‘‘Fairy Tales and True,”
. ‘The Doll’s Dressmaker,” &c. Illustrated by K. M. SKEAPING.

THE LITTLE MEN IN SCARLET, anp oTHER Fairy
TaLes. By Frances H. Low, Author of “Queen Victoria’s
Dolls,” &c. “Illustrated by J. J. GuTHRIE.

THE HOLIDAY PRIZE: A Movern Fairy Tate. By
EvLiinor Davenrort Apams, Author of ‘‘Comrades True,”
“Colonel Russell's Baby,” ‘Robin’s Ride,” &c. Illustrated by
K. M. SkEapina.



WAR nas nee
' London: JARROLD-& SONS, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
And of all Booksellers.



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
“Now, GOOD SIR EUSTACE, ALL IS OVER WITH

you!” - + cf > ” Frontispiece
WHILE HER MAID ARRANGED HER TRESSES - Io
“THE DALESMAN’S LAMENT” - -" - 16
QUEEN OF YONDER SELFISH TROOP - . 19
HE BOWED LOW TO AMABEL - - - 23
POETIC FERVOUR - -. - - 34
A DELICIOUS DOZE - a 2 s 2 37
EMPTY HIS POCKETS WITH SPEED -" - 44.
§YOU ARE BEWITCHED!” - - - =. 40
AND STILL THE MUSE WAS COY - - - 55
“WHAT IS THE MATTER, AMABEL?” a - 58

*TO-MORROW SHE SHALL LIE IN A HAMMOCK ALL

DAY” - - o - - 65
INTO A NEIGHBOURING BRAMBLE-BED 7 276
ONE AND ALL DECLINED LEMONADE - = - 17
DOROTHY WAS BENDING EASILY OVER HER BAT - 81

THE VICTORIOUS BALL WAS IN THE HANDS OF THE
WICKET-KEEPER = - - - 89



8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

CECILY SHOWED EDMUND A LARGE BOX OF CHOCO- .

LATE CREAMS - 7 2 = 2

“DO TRY, DEAR FLORIAN, TO LOOK. A LITTLE MORE
UNHAPPY !” - - - - -

WINIFRED WON EASILY S 2 = e
.HE TRAMPLED SAVAGELY AMONG THE NETTLES -

HE EMBRACED HER AS FONDLY AS -HIS CAPE AND
HOOD WOULD ALLOW .HIM o a =

EUSTACE STEPPED QUIETLY IN HER WAKE =

THE TWO SISTERS OF MERCY STOLE QUIETLY OUT
OF THE COTTAGE = - - -

THE GIRLS’ HATS BLEW OFF 2 <) 0
THEY CARRIED LOADS OF FERNS o cS =

THEY PLAYED GAMES IN THE WOODS

UNPACKING THE BASKETS = - - -

LITTLE LYNETTE - - G2 - - ©

THEY PRESENTED A ‘PICTURE © = cs

_ PULLING OFF SHOES AND HATS - - =
BUT ALREADY A FIRM HAND GRASPED HIS COLLAR
“ONLY ONE GIRL.WOULD ADMIT IT” - -
‘J MEAN TO KEEP HIM” - Sy eeae S
HER .FAVOURITE GODSON - < y

THE COAL-BLACK PONY, |. - - - =

PAGE

95

99
106

109

115
I2I

127
133
139
148
153

157
163
170
173
185
192
196

203





THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. -

CHARTER ST

HE boys and girls were gathered




together on the big tennis-ground
at Squire Montague’s. The Squire
had the privilege of being father
to three of them; and it was a privilege of
which he never was allowed to think too
lightly.

But there were plenty of youngsters besides
the rosy group who ruled Cowslip Grange.
The Rectory contributed two; and various
esteemed residents in or about the village
of Cowslip Meadows—residents. such as the
doctor, two or three retired colonels, a naval
captain, a. lawyer’s: widow, and _half-a-dozen



10 THE HOLIDAV PRIZE.

unattached lovers of a country life and peace
cf mind—provided a quota of boys and girls
to play pranks all through the long summer
holidays. _

The children dominated the village. The
_ fathers and mothers were unaffectedly proud
of their offspring, who were quite remarkable
for their high spirits and good looks.
Nobody dreamed of finding fault with them
—nzobody, at least, except the Squire’s maiden
sister, Miss Elizabeth Montague. - By her
own express desire, shé had acted as god-
mother to all the boys; and it was, in their
eyes, her single virtue that she never forgot
a birthday. As all her godsons grew up she
could not help»~detecting flaws of © character
which moved her:alarm; and -since she was
sincerely desirous of their reformation, she
had ‘spent many anxious days and nighfs in
making plans for their improvement. i

Miss Elizabeth Montague was of an
extremely romantic cast of mind. She kept
a copy of Froissart on her dressing-table,
- and read it diligently every morning while
her maid arranged her ‘tresses. It was



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 11

because no living man was sufficiently knightiy
in nature and manners to reach’ her ideal
that the fair Miss Montague had remained
single. Only a really chivalric soul might
link with hers. The. perfect knight: had not



While her maid arranged her tresses.—#. 10,

appeared ; and it was the yearning of Eliza-
beth’s heart to train one up herself. For this
purpose she determined to secure a share in
the upbringing of the greatest possible number
of boys. [That a girl might be chivalric
never entered Miss Elizabeth's head.] She



12 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

became godmother to all the boys of fait
degree living at Cowslip Meadows; and so
much did her general amiability and high
principle commend themselves to the appre-
ciation of her friends, that they willingly
promised she should scold, lecture, or reprove
their sons just as often as she chose.

Miss Elizabeth invited the boys to tea
every Sunday evening in the Christmas,
Easter, and Midsummer holidays; and after
tea, she told or read to them for an hour or
so stories of all the famous knights. While
the stories were fresh the boys enjoyed them
thoroughly, and went. home full of valiant
thoughts and with a fixed resolve to be a
modern. Bayard,»-Black Prince, or King
Arthur. But as the elder boys grew they
became a little tired of being obliged to
hear the same tales over and over again for
the benefit of the younger ones; and they
forgot to ‘be Bayards, and were sure only
that they hated the sounds of their own
names, all of which had been Miss Elizabeth’s
choice, and were more or less knightly if
their Owners were not.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 13

7 One point on which Miss Elizabeth insisted
strongly was courtesy to maidens; and it
was this doctrine which made life a burden
to her godsons. For there were just as!
many girls as boys in Cowslip Meadows, so
that it occurred to Miss Elizabeth to allot
to every boy a girl, towards whom shé
recommended him to practise the knightly
virtues of patience, politeness, and _ self-
denial
It will be at once perceived how miserable
was the lot of the boys. At holiday times
they were, through the despotic will of their
godmother, tied to a. crowd of tyrannical, .
irresponsible, and unbearable girls, every one
of whom was licensed to be as selfish as she
pleased, since her function was merely to
test to the uttermost the chivalric capacity . of
her allotted boy. Life in the holidays must
have become insupportable save for a singular
fact, The girls, in spite of each inducement
to the contrary, grew up remarkably like the
boys in temper, taste, and habit; and it
occasionally happened, when playing together,
that the whole crew forgot unnatural restric-



14 - THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

tions, and romped and larked and enjoyed
themselves like any other girls and boys.
But this relapse into amiability occurred but
seldom; and, had it not been for Florian—!

It was a lovely June day, and all the
children, as has been said, were gathered on
the tennis-ground at Cowslip Grange. There
were three courts, and in each four players.
Now, every player was a girl.

The boys were huddled in a heap under
‘ the bushes bordering the west side of the
ground. They had come together the better
to discuss their wrongs. There was not the
faintest chance that they, would be allowed
to play tennis, unless the girls should become
too tired to hold*their racquets; and this was
a remote possibility.

About the boys to-day: was an increased
bitterness of mien. They were only just set
free from their lessons, and they had come
forth from their dreary schoolrooms to find
the fresh summer days poisoned by an addi-
tional development of Miss Elizabeth’s designs
for their training. Despairing of precept and
example, good Miss Montague would stoop



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 15

to bribe. She had offered a magnificent
“Holiday Prize” to be competed for by her
godsons. The prize was to be the thing
the winner most wished for, irrespective of
costliness, rarity, or beauty. The boys were
for a moment in a seventh heaven of blissful
dreams. Suddenly Miss Elizabeth proclaimed
her conditions,

The Prize was to be given to the boy who,
throughout the holidays, should bear himself
in the -fashion most nearly approaching the
degree of perfect knighthood,

This was bad enough; but while each boy
was fervently vowing to be a Bayard, by
hook or by crook, for six whole weeks, Miss
Elizabeth continued :

The Prize would be awarded, amid due
solemnities, by the majority-vote of the
girls.

Here the boys groanéd aloud. They fore-
saw a cruel fate, and events justified their
worst anticipations. They were at the pres-
ent moment aching for a game at tennis;
but the courts were manned with—girls. If
they might not play tennis, they would fain



16 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

ride, or race, or fish, or cricket, but they
were chained to the ground by the tyranny
of—girls. They had to find the lost balls,
mend the broken nets, keep the scores, and
act umpires—in short, to do everything which
was the legitimate work of girls.

AFTER
YE
Youn e

G



“The Dalesman’s Lament.”—#. 17.

“Fellows!” cried Maurice — energetically,
“we cannot stand this any longer. It is of
no use to try to get on with girls) When
they rang the Great Fagging Bell, 1 was in
the middle of cleaning my rabbit-hutch.”



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 17

“T,” said the dismal voice of Rupert,
‘‘was just mounting Jamie Telfer—”

“And JI,” said Lancelot, in breathless
echo of his brother, ‘had quite mounted °
Johnnie Armstrang—”

*To go a-raiding,” finished both boys, in
unimaginable depths of gloom.

“T,” remarked Aylmer, lifting his chin. from
the depths of a Byronic collar, “had got into
my second verse. If those girls had left me
in peace for just a few hours, I should have
finished Zhe Dalesman’s Lament, and we
could have sung it at our next gathering.”

“Gathering!” repeated Rupert, chuckling
hoarsely, “when, I wonder, shall we have a
real gathering again?”

“If we held one now,” grumbled Edmund,
“the girls would tilt. at the ring and we
should hold the ponies.”

“The girls would wrestle and fence and
box,” added Cyril and Maurice together,
“and we should be spectators, and clap
them.” .

“7 should be the Queen of Beauty,”
sneered the cynical Tristan, ‘and my fair

B



13 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

cousin Dorothy would wear my favour in
her helm!”

- “Jt is abominable!” shouted passionate
Guy.

A bitter assent came from the lips of
Eustace, who, with cheeks propped moodily
on hands, glared resentfully at the flying
figures in the courts’ He was the hand-
somest, the bravest, and the proudest of all
the boys; and he, more than all, writhed
under the slavery imposed by Miss Elizabeth’s
whim. He almost hated the sight of a girl
—especially of the girl Miss Elizabeth had
linked with him—of Gladys, queen of yonder
selfish troop. Everyone knew that Eustace
alone scorned the thought of contending for
the “Holiday Prize” [though everyone knew,
also, that he, only son of a poor soldier, had
a wild longing to possess a certain coal-black
pony, and thus to call a steed all his own], but
because of the obligations of good-fellowship,
he submitted to cast his lot in with that of
his friends.

“It is abominable!” shouted Guy again.

The nearest girl caught the words, and



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. "49

turned, laughing gaily, to shake her finger
at the speaker. She was Hilda, Guy’s own

girl Guy coloured furiously, and prayed
that Hilda’s side might lose.

Meanwhile, Maurice and Florian were
engaging in an animated argument.









Sl j

|





mai {—



Queen of yonder selfish troop.-.Z. 18, ~

“T say we will not stand it,” insisted
Maurice. ‘Either we will all of us renounce
our chances for the ‘Holiday Prize,’ or ‘we
will cast lots for the fellow who is to have
it; and the rest of us will back out and



20 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

enjoy ourselves while he fetches and carries
and grinds for every one of those girls.”

A chorus of assent applauded the sugges-
tions of clear-headed Maurice.

“Stay!” besought Florian, whose gentle
melancholy always inclined him to the office
of peacemaker, since. the sounds of strife
interfered with his brooding calm. ‘‘ There
is one other way.”

The whole of the boys turned their eyes
on the meditative face of Florian. Each
boy was in his heart reluctant to lose all
hope of the great Prize, for each was cer-
tain that he would -find no difficulty in
claiming the thing whe most wished for.

« Suppose,” began Florian, looking round
him persuasively, ‘“‘suppose we were to come
to terms with the girls? Suppose we were
to reason with them?”

“To reason with girls?” drawled Tristan.
“As though a girl were ever fair, or just, or
reasonable!”

“Stay!” again implored Florian, “We
have not yet tried. Let us send an embassy
to Gladys and request that she and all the



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. . 21

girls will parley with us awhile. “Eustace
can be our spokesman, and Gladys theirs.”

“Agreed!” cried all the boys except
‘Eustace, who was anxious to point out that
he detested Gladys, and that as he had no
‘personal interest in the matter, he was the
last boy to be chosen as mediator.

“That is the very reason why you. will
best represent us,” said Florian easily; but
here Eustace interrupted with the declaration
that sooner than meet Gladys in such a way
as would obdzge him to be civil to her, he |
would rush off and spend the whole of his
holidays with his Aunt Tabitha Ann, at
Muddipool.

The boys did not wish to lose the com-
pany of Eustace, whom they regarded as
‘the best of fellows when undisturbed by the
presence of girls; so they decided unani-
mously that the mild-mannered Florian was
the fittest person to carry out his own pro-
posal.

So Florian uprose and went forth from
his comrades, waving a white pocket-
handkerchief as a flag of truce. The girls



22 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

paused in their play; and after some hurried
whispering, sent out Amabel, Florian’s own
girl, to meet the ambassador.

Amabel was by nature so amiable and
unselfish that it was always with the greatest
difficulty that she followed the lead of her
companions in tyrannising over the boys.
She, among the girls, was as Florian among
the boys—a chartered peacemaker, consoler,
and mistress of gentlest argument; so that
Florian’s hopes rose when he saw who had
been commissioned to greet him, and he
bowed low to Amabel and tried to speak
her fair.

“That last stroke of yours, , Amabel, was
perfect,” he remarked pleasantly. “I am
certain you will be champion of all England
some day. You girls are beating us boys
at tennis altogether.”

‘“No wonder!” growled Guy in the dis-
tance, “seeing they get all the practice!”

“You shall have the courts while we are
‘in at tea,” promised Amabel good-naturedly.

“But we, also, shall be in at tea,” said
Florian. ‘Still, we will not speak of that.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 723

Will you carry a message, Amabel, from all
the boys to all the girls? We have a plan
to tell you about, and if you will agree to
it, we may all be happy together, instead of



He bowed low to Amabel.—#. 22.

only the girls being happy while we poor
boys are miserable.” Florian lowered his
voice to a most pathetic sweetness. ‘ Think
how much jollier it would be.”



24 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Tt does sound sensible,” said Amabel
demurely, ‘and I'll see what the others
think.”

Florian bowed again and waited with
patience. The girls grouped themselves
round Gladys, whose dark eyes gleamed
haughtily as they swept the ranks of the
rebellious boys. Presently. she stepped out
from the phalanx of maidens and moved
towards Florian, her companions a yard or
two in her rear.

“So you boys have made a ‘plan,’” she
exclaimed scornfully. ‘Well, we will come
to hear it; but make haste, Florian, for we
wish to finish our game. Remember, I will
not listen to anythiif¢ Eustace may say, so -
you need not try to have him for a leader.
You had better send him. and one or -
two others to hunt for a ball we have just
lost among the rhododendrons.” 7

Florian bowed humbly.

“YT will myself hunt for the ball by-and-
by,” he said; ‘but we very much wish to
be all present when our plan is proposed.”

“All right,” replied Gladys shortly, and



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 25

the girls passed on in a sweeping rush of
silken smocks and embroidered frocks and
waving locks. In spite of themselves, the
frowns of the boys disappeared for a moment
at sight of the enemy. Never were eyes
refreshed by a bonnier troop of girls. It
was surely feasible to suppose that only: hard
fate had made them tyrants.

As soon as both parties were within hail
‘of one another the boys rose and massed
themselves behind Florian, while the girls
remained grouped in the wake of Gladys.
It was noticeable that the eyes of each girl
turned immediately. towards those of her
particular boy; and that while the former
glimmered with fun, the latter shone - with
helpless resentment.

“Be. quick, Florian,” commanded Gladys
impatiently. . fee

Florian never had been known to be in a
hurry; but fear for the unfortunate con-
sequences of delay now hastened speech,
and in quite a few words he made clear to
the intelligence of the girls the united mind
of the boys. ae



26 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“We appeal to your sense of justice,”
finished Florian diplomatically, ‘we want you
to see that it really is not right that we
never should have any fun. We do not wish
to take anything from you either. But when
the game is tennis, you might let us have a
turn; and then, when we are in the cricket-
field, we will not ask you to field all the
while.”

“Oh!” said Gladys carelessly, “you need
not waste your time in asking us to field at
all, because we much prefer to stay away.
As you talk about ‘fairness’ and ‘ justice,’
we will be fair and just. We will keep the
tennis-courts, and you may have the cricket-
field. If you do not*céme where we are, we
will agree not to order you to do anything for
us. You can muffle up the Great Fagging
Bell at once, if you like. We can quite
well play by ourselves.”

“You cannot call that ‘just’ and ‘fair,’”
broke out Guy indignantly ; ‘for you know it
would mean losing all our chances of the
‘Holiday Prize.” It is part of the condi-
tions that we are to keep together—worse

”
!

‘luck



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 27

“What a greedy boy!” laughed Hilda
mischievously. “He wants to be ‘polite to
girls only for the sake of a prize!” She
turned, shrugging her shoulders, to Amabel.
“IT wish Miss Elizabeth hadn't given me
Guy for my boy!”

“Hush!” begged gentle Amabel. ‘“ You
will hurt poor Guy’s feelings.”

“Will she, just!” sneered Tristan.

“What Guy says is true,” continued
Florian mildly, ‘“‘and we boys are all of us
really quite sure that you would like one of
us to have the Prize.”

“We do not object to your trying for it,”
said Gladys with more condescension. ‘ But
we cannot have boys near us without making
them useful.”

“We are quite willing to be useful,” said
Florian courteously. ‘‘Who would not enjoy
fagging for a girl? But a boy, like a girl,
knows how to amuse himself. A boy can
fly a kite, spin a top, shoot an alley, run a
race, bowl a ball, hold a bat, or a racquet, or
a rod, ride a pony, or let an. arrow fly—well
—almost as well as a girl.”



28 2 ELE LO EE DANA RUZ,

‘Oh, nonsense!” chorussed the girls.

“At anyrate, he likes to try,” reasoned
Florian amiably, “‘and we want you only to
go shares with us. Now, Gladys, won't you
agree to this? Shall we take it in turns to
choose the games, and play together peace-
ably? Suppose the boys have one day, and
the girls another, alternately? If you will
be Brothers on Boy Days, we will be
Sisters on Girl Days; and so we shall
“keep friends, and not quarrel, and it will
not be so fearfully difficult to try for the
‘Holiday Prize.’ ”

“J think,” said Gladys, after a pause for
reflection, “that there ought to be two Girl
Days to one Boy Day.”

“But we have as many games as you
have,” argued Florian. “If you will be
borderers a-raiding, and huntsmien a-slaying,
and pirates a-stealing, and gold-diggers a-
nuggeting with us, why, we will be fairies and
witches and sisters of mercy and persecuted
maidens with you. And I believe you really
like our plays best!” |

This seemed to be a master-stroke, for



TITHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. . 29

there was a subdued murmur of assent
among the girls.

“Tf you will promise that,” said Gladys
(and there was a brilliant light in her
dancing eyes), “why, we will agree to what
you propose, Florian. . We will all play
together, and we will have Girl Days and
Boy Days alternately.”

“Wait!” cried a voice, and Eustace,
detaching himself from his comrades, stood
cut with a mien to the full as haughty as
that of Gladys. His eyes had remained
fixed on hers by an influence against which
he strove in vain; his rooted distrust of her
generosity made him suspect that her smiling
promise hid designs on the peace of the
too credulous- boys, “If we are to make a
compact with girls, let it be only for a short
time.”

“Certainly!” responded Gladys instantly.
“We should decline to bind ourselves to put
up with Boy Days for long.”

“Come, Eustace!” remonstrated Florian
chivalrously, “you know we can trust
Gladys. But this is Saturday. Suppose we



30 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

‘begin on Monday and try my plan for a
week ?”

“Very well,” said Cre nodes with
grace and dignity. “On Monday morning,
at nine o’clock, we will meet here and choose
our game for the day. Oh! And, of course,
we shall have first turn?”

“Of course/” said Florian, bowing pro-
foundly. ‘And as that is our tea-bell,
suppose we go in, and after tea Bey blind-
man’s buff on the lawn?”

As Gladys raised no objection, the rest of
the girls joined all the boys, except Eustace,
in a friendly cheer; and the whole troop ran
off to the house with every sign of amity.

The blindman’s buff was a distinguished
success, and Florian received with becoming
modesty the congratulations of all his com-
rades on his admirable diplomacy.







(Cin VU PINE IG

AD Y private arrangement, the girls
and boys mustered, on the follow-



ing Monday morning, at separate
places; and thence proceeded in
orderly array to the tennis-ground at Cowslip
Grange. The boys were in splendid spirits,
and disposed to fall in comfortably with any
proposal for the spending of the first Girl
Day. Eager to assure Gladys and her
followers that no advantage would be taken
of their sacrifice to the laws of fairness and
justice, they were ready to fetch and carry
and slave for each and every one of their
girl-allies. Had they not a blissful morrow
to which they might: look forward?—a
morrow on which the~ girls, in. their turn,
would be prepared to.sink individual and



32... LHE HOLIDAY: PRIZE,” ~~

general likings, and let the chosen playground
be ruled by the spirit of boyhood.

Gladys greeted Eustace with a compara-
tively civil nod, and requested him. to inform
his comrades that the day was to be spent
at a distant and lonely part of the Common
which stretched away from that end of the
village furthest from the Grange. The spot.
selected was one which possessed very great
attractions for all sensible persons. It was
remote from the nearest road. It was visited.
by keen east winds, which had blasted the
few stunted firs encircling it, and cropped
its ill-nurtured grass into brown patches. It
had clumps of stragelirg gorse and _breast-
high, tough-stemmed bracken, among which
bloody foes could lie in ambush. It had
caves half-hidden by convenient brushwood.
It had a stream to furnish water for a tea-
kettle, and an abundance of dry twigs and
cones to be lighted for a fire, It had, in
short, every conceivable requisite for the
fascinating game of Witches.

By an odd coincidence, the fir-trees rising
at intervals round this enchanting place were:



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 223°

twelve in number; and each girl.had, from
time immennorial, claimed one of them as her
own. Here each was wont to bring her
own particular boy when she had any
important secret to confide to him, or any
perilous duty. which she wished him to
undertake. So that the boys were not in
the least surprised when, on arriving at the
Witches’ Lair, they were requested to repair,
each by himself, to the immediate neigh-
bourhood ~of the twelve fir-trees. When
they reached their goals, they were ~too
far apart for conversation; but this they
did not mind, since the July sun was already
hot, and they were not sorry to rest after
the long climb from the village road.
Eustace curled up on the short turf in his
favourite attitude—elbows on knees and chin
on hands. He supposed Gladys would soon
come and send him on some errand; but
this morning he was unwilling to find fault,
even with imperious Gladys. His thoughts
roved far from the scene about him, and
carried him back to the old knightly days
and to the tales of chivalry he had_ heard
i Cc



34 . THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

from Miss Elizabeth, or read for himself—
tales which Eustace really loved, though he
liked better still his father’s stories of Have-:
lock and Lawrence and Gordon. :

Aylmer stretched himself at full-length
beneath the fir-tree consecrated to the fancies
of golden-haired Clarice, drew out his note-
book, and determined to finish the second



Poetic Fervour.—. 34.

verse of The Dalesman’s Lament. For the
time, everything was still, and inspiring of
poetic fervour; and Aylmer was soon strug-
gling with an awkward metre which he had
been at pains to invent for his own con-
fusion.

Rupert congratulated himself that a quiet



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. ‘35

pool of .the Witches’ Burn lay right under
Berta’s tree; for he suspected that his curls
were out of order, and he wanted to arrange
his necktie in a knot he had admired when
displayed on the shirt-front of an elder
brother. °

Edmund crept into the shadow of some
gorse bushes close to Cecily’s tree; and
having glanced round rapidly, drew from his
pockets a private supply of nuts, all of which
he trusted to demolish before Cecily should
make her appearance. He was aware that
he could not hope for Cecily’s vote if he
did not offer to share with her his spoil.

Guy, for once calm, and indignant with
nobody, simply pulled his hat low over his
eyes to keep off the broiling sun, and lolled
at ease under Hilda’s tree. Let Hilda tease
and plague as she chose, her time would be
short. To-morrow—!

Bevis arrived at the foot of the fir belong-
ing to Lynette, and at once began to try if
he could clamber to its lowest branch. This
was high above his head, and, as he was by
no means an adept at climbing, his short

e



"36 “THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

arms and sturdy legs exerted themselves in
vain. But Bevis was a’ very ‘simple-minded
boy; and when he was too tired to wriggle
up the fir-trunk any longer, he still stood
blinking up at the nearest branch, and think-
‘ing how nice it would be if only he could
get there. '

Lancelot was at great pains to make him-
self ‘comfortable under .Winifred’s tree. As
it was so hot, he was sure. he could do
without -his jacket as: an article of clothing,
and he quickly turned. it into a. pillow. In
three minutes he was in a delicious doze.
Lancelot was the greatest of Miss Elizabeth’s
disappointments among+the boys. She had
given to him the name of Arthur's most
famous knight; and, alas! he never was so
happy -as when lying still and doing nothing.

Cyril crouched in a heap beneath the tree
claimed by Mildred. He was certain it was
the barest, the ugliest, the nastiest of all the
trees. He was sure no boy wore so hot a
suit as himself He was convinced no girl
knew how to be so provoking as Mildred,
He hated “Witches” worse than any other



ILHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 37.

game. He was by nature and profession an
ill-used varlet; and he made a half-hearted
attempt for the Prize while positive before-
hand that all the Fates had determined he
should not get it.



A delicious doze.—. 36.

Maurice paced up and down near Erica’s
fir-tree, and wished to goodness that the girls
would make up their minds what they wanted,
and engage the whole party in some sensible,
straightforward game instead of expecting a
‘fellow to fancy himself a witch or a fairy.



38 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Wilfred began to collect the fallen cones
under Adeline’s tree. Adeline might order
him to collect cones, and would surely be
_ pleased to find her wishes forestalled. Wilfred
was in extreme awe of the girls, and sincerely
desired to propitiate them. And if his energy
in collecting cones should induce them to
bestow on him their votes, he was sure that
the possession of a wheel-barrow for his
garden would leave him nothing on earth to
wish for.

Florian willingly retired to ake meagre
shade cast by the gaunt boughs of Amabel’s
fir-tree. His thoughts dwelt pleasantly on
Amabel, whose courtesy had yesterday helped
his adventurous mission. Florian smiled at
the sunlit scenery below him, and was
placidly content.

Tristan flung an arm about Dorothy's fir-
stem and laughed mockingly under his breath,

«Td like to know what those girls are up
to—some trick, or my name isn’t Tristan
Beaudesert. Never mind! We'll have our
innings to-morrow!”

And Tristan continued to chuckle mock-



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 39

ingly, and to invent disagreeable speeches
with which to quench Dorothy’s impertinence
when the dawn of a Boy Day should give
license to his tongue.

Eustace, curled under Gladys’s tree, was
charging with Prince Eugene (in imagination),
when Gladys herself came. quickly through
the gorse and bracken and stood in front
of him. She stood only for a - moment.
Suddenly, with a shake of her head, which
threw her long dark hair all over her face,
she began to revolve slowly about .Eustace
in a weird dance which she accompanied
by strange sounds intended to represent a
goblin incantation. Presently she came to a
pause, with forefinger pointed at Eustace,
whom she addressed in a hoarse whisper.

“Now, good Sir Eustace, all is over with
you! In vain will it be to cry out on Fate,
for Hecate herself has spoken your doom.
Know, Eustace, that you are bewitched ; and
that you may not move from the magic
circle woven by Hecate till the sun sinks
low in yonder heavens !”

“Oh, indeed!” replied Eustace indiffer-
ently. “All right.”



40 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Gladys was a good deal disappointed. She
truly desired to annoy Eustace, and to worry
him into a squabble which might excuse a
little real tyranny. Indeed, she spent several
minutes in tantalizing descriptions of the cap-
ital fun the girls intended to enjoy within
the Witches’ Lair, while a circle of bewitched
boys kept unwilling watch and ward.

“You are our victims,” explained Gladys
with great unction. ‘We have lured you to
our den in order to torment you properly.
You are valiant Knights laid under a cruel
spell.”

‘And suppose we choose to break the spell
and escape ?” suggested Eustace.

“You can’t,” returned Gladys triumphantly.
“This is a Girl Day, and we've a right to
arrange our own game. You are on honour
not to spoil it.”

“Very well,” said Eustace, after a moment’s
silence. “If I’m bewitched, I suppose I am.”

“Good-bye, Sir Knight,” said Gladys,
“Bread and water shall be served to you by
my goblins at noonday and at even.”

“Good-bye, Hecate,” responded Eustace ;



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 41

and Gladys went dancing back through the
bracken.
Meanwhile, each of the other girls had
repaired to her own tree, and with similar
awesome ceremonies had woven spells over.
her waiting slave. The information that
during the long, beautiful summer day they
were to play the part of Victims to the
baleful influences of the girl-witches struck
despair to the souls of most of the boys.
They realized that as they had given their
promise to let the day’s diversions be accord-
ing to the fancy of the girls, they were
powerless to release themselves without a
break of faith which would certainly forfeit
all claims to the Holiday Prize. .
Aylmer heard his sentence pronounced by
the smiling lips of plump little Clarice—a
girl to whose golden locks and sleepy brown
eyes he had in vain dedicated flattering
verse. Clarice pronounced his best rhymes
to be tiresome rubbish; and heard his most
ambitious efforts with irrepressible giggles. —
“Well,” said Aylmer, recognizing immedi-
ately (as did each boy in his own case) the



ao THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

hopelessness of resistance to girl-whims, “I
don’t much mind if I do stick here. I
shall have my Lament done. by sunset; so
good-day, Madam Broomstick! A poet is
indifferent to the claims of appetite. Bread
and water will do very well.”

“Before I leave you, Sir Knight,” said
Clarice, her round cheeks dimpling with
delight, “I warn you that I have bewitched
yonder note-book and pencil, and all the
pencils and papers in your bulgy pockets.
You are to give them up to me. And if
you make a single scrap of poetry in your
head to-day, you'll break the spell and spoil
our game, and you “shan’t have our Prize
votes |”

“Oh, I say!” groaned Aylmer. And he
_ would have pleaded—but Clarice was inexor-
able; and she went off with ten pencils and
dozens of scraps of paper, leaving behind
her a wretched boy.

As for Rupert, he was first bemicned by
Berta, and then made to listen to a long
lecture on the snares of vanity.

“Throughout this livelong day, Sir Rupert,”



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 43

said Berta, ‘‘you shall not once behold your
own face. You shall sit here with your back
to my tree and to that stream into which
you have been gazing. Thus will you learn
to think of something beside yourself.”

Rupert began to lament; but Berta imme-
diately pointed out the penalty of disobedience ;
and Rupert was compelled. to abandon for
. a whole day the successful knotting of his
new tie. 3

Cecily danced into the neighbourhood of
Edmund just as his hand ‘dived into his
pockets for a second supply of nuts. He
heard his doom with comparative philosophy
until his intended fare was mentioned.

“Bread and water indeed!” he cried indig-
nantly. ‘Oh, you greedy pigs of girls! All
those lovely cakes and apples and sandwiches
and tarts we boys clubbed to bring for a
feast—you aren’t going to have them and
not give us any?”

“That’s just what we are going to do,
though,” said Cecily, who was always a little
snappy because she hated being the comrade
of a boy who cared so much about eating,



44 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

«And, listen, Sir Edmund, Knight of the
Gooseberry Pie! I have bewitched every one
of your pockets. You have nuts and biscuits
in them: you always have nuts and biscuits
in them. I command you to turn every

one of your pockets out.”



She helped him to empty his pockets with speed.—/. 44.

Edmund muttered sulkily; but Cecily
reminded him quietly of the Prize votes;
and as he then set to work very slowly,
she made him stand still while she helped
him to empty his pockets with speed.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 45.

The edible contents of Edmund’s pockets
were then spread in a row on the turf. They
were :

Sixty-four nuts.

Twenty sweet biscuits.

Three cakes of toffee.

Six apples.

One sausage-roll (much squashed).

Two apple-tarts and a jam puff e frag-

ments).
“Who is oe I wonders inquired
Cecily sternly: ‘“ Look you, Sir Edmund;
half these goodies have you stolen from’ the
luncheon- PES ses as you lurked behind in-the
village.”

“T didn’t!” moaned Ba

“You did. And mind, a knight ahs tells
stories is not the one to win a Prize.”
Cecily pulled out a pencil, and wrote -on
an old .envelope a complete inventory of
the provender spread on the turf. “There!
now I know exactly what you have brought.
You shall stay here, Sir Edmund, with all
these nice things in front: of you; but you
shall not. touch. one of them. They are
bewitched, and are not for you.” :



46 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Oh, don’t leave them, then!” implored
Edmund. “Don’t make me see them if I
mayn't eat them!”

“Such is the punishment of greediness!”
laughed Cecily ; and she ran merrily away.

Guy received his sentence with an outburst
of fiery scorn. Of course, the more he raged
the more Hilda laughed, until Guy, beside
himself with passion, declared that he would
at that moment rush back to Cowslip Grange
and smash to pieces everything he could
get hold of which belonged to a girl. This
mild threat only made Hilda’s laughter ring
from end to end of the Witches’ Lair.

Olwdo vit, Guy |” she cried, “pray, pray:
do it! You will have such a splendid chance
for the Holiday Prize afterwards! What a
lovely knight you would have made, dear
Sir Guy! Oh, you will certainly get my
vote when yous) have destroyed my new
“racquet !”

Guy turned his back on Hilda and clenched
his hands. He desired, above everything in
the world, a gun exactly like the Squire’s
favourite one; and he knew that this would



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 47.

not be beyond his reach if he should win
the Prize, for Miss Elizabeth wished her
godsons to excel in manly sports. When he
turned again and met Hilda’s eyes, he forced
himself to say:

“1 beg your pardon, Hilda.”

Guy’s face was quite pale with the effort
at self-control; and Hilda was a little sorry
for her boy, although she knew that he
begged her pardon only because he greatly
longed for a real, grown-up kind of gun.
Besides, she did not really wish him to lose
all chance of the Prize.

“There!” she laughed, dancing round him,
“TI won't tease you any more—not any more
just now, Sir Guy, dear! I will leave you
to enjoy your own company; and I’m sure

that’s the worst my spells can do for you!” —

Guy managed not to make any reply to
this taunt, which had in it the sting of truth.
Guy’s restless nature caused half his troubles ;
and he soon began to wish that Hilda would

come back, even if she worried him unmerci- .

fully. It was miserable to have nobody to
storm at,

abe



48 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Bevis was still staring up at the branches
of Lynette’s fir-tree when Lynette herself
crept mysteriously out from the furze-bushes.
Bevis was so nervous that it was naturally
a great pleasure to Lynette to startle him,
and she now startled him. thoroughly. He
nearly jumped out of his shoes when she
sprang at him from behind. with a great
“ Boo!’ which was fearfully like a witch. At
least, Bevis thought so. ,

Lynette explained to her boy that he was
bewitched, and must remain where he was
throughout the long, bright day.

‘‘Well, if. I must, I must,” said Bevis,
quite as calm a§ Eustace had been. ‘ But
do you know, Lynette, I have an idea that
it would be very jolly to sit on that branch.
Would you mind giving me a hand up?
Then you could cast your spells on me after
I got there.” 3

-“] will agree to that, Sir Bevis,” said
Lynette, giggling; and the exertions of the
pair brought success to the ambition. of
Bevis. :

“Thank you, very much, Lynette,” | said



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 49

that gentleman, as he settled himself astride
the bough. “It is as jolly as possible.”

“T am glad to hear it, Sir Knight,” replied
Lynette pertly, “for there you are, and there
you will stay. You are bewitched, and



“You are bewitched !"”—/. 49.

condemned to remain on that branch until
I give you leave to jump off it.”

“JT will sit here as long as you like,”
said Bevis quickly, ‘and I will promise not
to forget that you are a Witch, and I am

D



50 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

a Victim. Then you will give me your
vote, won’t you, dear Lynette? for I want
very much a new cricket ball of real leather.”
' “We shall see,” returned Lynette as she
ran gaily off.

Winifred found Lancelot asleep; so she
tickled him with fern-leaves and pricked him
with pine-needles till he woke. He was
asleep again before she had finished her
spell; so then she made him stand up and
listen to her respectfully.

Lancelot was by far too lazy to have any
chance of the Prize (for a boy who is asleep
half his time js of no real use to wide-
awake girls), but he did not choose to think
SO.

“T am sure I don’t want to go away from
here, Witch Winifred,” he said ‘smilingly.
“There is a nice bit of shade under this
delightful tree of yours; and the gentle mur-
mur of the brook is deliciously dozy. Never —
mind bringing the bread and water—I would
much rather be left alone.”

“I daresay’ you would!” exclaimed Wini-
fred; and springing at Lancelot she shook



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 51

him angrily. Not one among the girls was
so active and eager as Winifred; and that
was why Miss Elizabeth had named Lazy
Lance to be her boy. ‘Oh, you. are no
better than a sheep! Now listen, my valiant
Sir Lancelot! I cast my spell over you, and
forbid you to shut your eyes once until you
get into bed to-night. You are to walk
round this tree fifty times every half-hour;
and I think that ought to keep you awake!”

Lancelot was speechless with horror at his
fate ; he did not even notice Winifred’s fare- i
well glance of contempt.

“Oh, yes!” grumbled Cyril, when Mildred
made him aware of the, Witches’ decree.
“Of course you have got this up just to
spite me. You need not tell me Gladys
has planned such a stupid play, for I don’t
believe you. You needn’t pretend all the
other boys are ‘bewitched’—I- know it’s -
only I, and you are playing a trick on me
just because if I don’t keep friends with
you I can’t try for the Prize.”

“Anyway, you've to stay here,” said Mil-
dred; “‘and if you choose to sulk you. can!”



52 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

- “Qh, yes! of course I’m ‘sulking,’” grunted
Cyril. “You're the nastiest girl I ever knew,
Mildred.”

“Well, only a very nasty girl would vote
for a nasty boy, 1 suppose,” retorted Mil-
dred, ‘‘so perhaps you've a chance after all,
Sir Cyril!”

“A chance! Catch anybody giving me a
chance!” said Cyril disagreeably. ‘Why,

”



you know you've made up your mind

But Mildred was not going to hear Cyril's
snarls; and she just sprang away from him
with a provoking laugh.

Maurice was already impatient when Erica,
her blue eyes gazing dreamily round her,
glided softly through the bracken about her
tree. She loved the bracken, and the gorse,
and the little stream; she knew every wild
flower and plant by name; she sang like
any bird, and could pick up even a snail
without shrinking. Her verses were far bet-
ter than Aylmer’s; and she meant, when she
grew up, to do very wonderful things.

No girl could have been less in sympathy
with downright Maurice; the bluntness , of



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 63

whose manners Miss Elizabeth would fain
have seen smoothed by contact with Erica’s
dainty ways and self-possession.

‘Good gracious!” cried Maurice, after Erica
had moved round him three times with sylph-
like steps, pronouncing his doom meanwhile
in languid tones, “what tommy-rot you girls
do choose for your precious games! Thank
the stars, it will be our turn to-morrow, and
we'll teach you to enjoy yourselves. “I shan’t
bear malice; but for pity’s sake vanish now,
Erica, while I keep civil. You might clear, ,
off as fast as you can to oblige a fellow
who is in desperate need of a new fishing-
rod. Eh? Do, there’s a good girl.”

Erica drooped her golden head, and ee)
her boy with mournful gravity.

“Listen, fair Sir Maurice,” said the blue-
eyed witch, “the time has come when I may
haply work your good. Long have I lamented
your love of slang, and rough manners, and
neglected mind. Know that I have cast my
spell on you, and you must obey. See you
yonder shining sky? Hear you: yonder purl-
ing stream? Sit you down and take in hand



54 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

this note-book and this pencil. Ere the even-
ing-bell chimes to six hours, you must have
written for me an Ode to sky and stream in
flowing verse.” ;

‘“Good eg

‘Hush thee, fair Sir Maurice, and rebel
not! The Witch’s will is law. Let the
verse be smooth, and mayhap the fishing-rod



will reward the gentle rhymer. Fare—thee
—well!” . ;

And Erica glided gently away ; but Maurice
flung himself on his face and wished he could
be Aylmer or die. Presently he rose and
took. up the«aote-book ; for life with a new
fishing-rod would be very sweet indeed. As
the morning fled, he tugged his locks, and
bound a wet handkerchief round his brows;
and still the Muse was coy. i
' Adeline was a spoilt little monkey who
loved to domineer; and that was why she
had been selected to reform Wilfred. It
would have been hard for anybody else to
find a fault in Wilfred; but Adeline could
quarrel with a cherub at shortest notice, and
2s Wilfred did not understand the art of









eethe sunshine gleam!
Lisler to the stream!

sts Le
Re 4 S
sae




Dalkey et
1 Mark how blue the sky! a

\, Twice as blue’am I
SN -\ 4 & . an

-And still the Muse was.coy.—#. 54... ~~






“we



56 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

quarrelling, he merely wondered. The whims
of Adeline and the other girls kept him in
a perpetual state of astonishment. Adeline
hoped that the news she brought her boy
might reduce him to such a state of despair
as would be highly amusing to watch; but
Wilfred’s eyes and mouth at once arranged
themselves into complete circles—a feeble
manner of expressing his overpowering amaze-
ment. His eyes were still full moons when
Adeline brought her spells to an end.

“There!” she exclaimed triumphantly, “now
you are bewitched, and I have got rid of
you for a whvle day.”

“But why,” inquired Wilfred with great
earnestness, “why do you want to get rid
of me, dear Adeline?”

“Because you are such a silly fellow,”
replied Adeline rudely. ‘What have you
been doing all this while, Sir Goose?”

“T have been gathering all these cones for
you, Adeline,” exclaimed Wilfred. ‘ See,” he
added timidly, “what a lot I have found!—
but why am I a goose?”

““Why—why—why !” mimicked Adeline.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 57

“Why, because you can do nothing of your
own accord, but must be driven.”

“JT have gathered these cones all by my-
self,” responded Wilfred, with his head cocked
meditatively to one side. ‘“ But why must I
be driven, dear Adeline?”

“ Why—why—why !” mimicked Adeline.

“Please let me bring my cones for the
fire,” pleaded Wilfred gently. “They are
such nice cones; and, you know, unless I
keep close to you I have no chance for the
Prize. And I do so very much want a,
wheel-barrow for my garden. Why don’t you
like my cones, dear Adeline?”

“ Why—why—why!” mimicked Adeline ;
and as Wilfred’s eyes grew larger and rounder
she gave him a push and ran away.

Amabel’s happy and good-natured face was
puckered and her cheeks wet with tears as
she came with halting steps to the side of
Florian. She was crying bitterly when, with-
out being able to say a word, she sat down
all a heap on the turf. It hurt her dreadfully
to be the bearer of such a cruel message to
such a boy as Florian, whom, for her part,
she never tried to reform.



58 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Florian immediately sat down also, and
began to rub his own eyes. He was so
extremely sympathetic that the sorrows of
others were always his; and his affection for
Amabel made it very. trying to his feelings
to see her misery. ;



‘*What zs the matter, Amabel?”—#. 58,

“Oh, dear!” sobbed Amabel; ‘oh, dear!”
‘What zs the matter, Amabel?” asked
Florian anxiously, “I see you have not
broken an ‘arm or a leg, or torn your frock;

v



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 59

I don’t think you can be hungry, and you
never are cross! I do hope you haven’t the
toothache ?” i

“Oh, no!” moaned Amabel, “I ‘haven't
anything. But Gladys has planned such an
unkind game, and you'll think I’m so horrid.”

“No, I shan’t,” said Florian gallantly ;
“you couldn’t be horrid if you tried, and
I’m sure you won't try.”.

“But I am to bewitch you!” groaned
Amabel; and leaning on Florian’s shoulder,
she explained to him the part the boys were _
to play in the game of ‘“ Witches.”

Florian could not help heaving one or two
sighs. He was so sociable that the prospect
of a long day’s loneliness really depressed
him; but he strove to cheer the weeping
Amabel, and encouraged her to perform her
spells according to the orders of Gladys.

“There is one thing I will not do,”
Amabel eagerly assured him; “I will not
bring you any bread and water. Dear Sir
Florian, you shall have half my dinner; and
I will see if I cannot smuggle you some
apples and a whole bottle of lemonade.” °



60 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Florian expressed his fervent gratitude.
He thought he could have managed very
well for once on the fare accorded to Victims;
but if it would really relieve Amabel’s mind
to go shares with him, why, he would see
that she had the best of everything on the
first Boy Day. So he rubbed her cheeks
with his own pocket-handkerchief and watched
her depart in smiles.

Dorothy did not attempt to conceal her
delight while she told her tidings, which
were received by Tristan with an _ ironical
bow.

“Say to Giadys,” he said mockingly, ‘that
I humbly congratulate her on her inventive
powers. I fear the planning of such a mag-
nificent game must have kept her awake
all night. We poor boys have no chance of
- rivalling you girls in making ‘Original
Designs for Spoiling Other People’s Pleasure.’
It’s your favourite occupation, isn’t it, fair
Dorothy ?” -

“Quite our favourite,” retorted Dorothy,
with beaming glance; “except that other one
of ‘Laughing at the Airs of Ridiculous
Boys.” ;



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 61

Tristan reddened angrily; for he knew
that even his comrades laughed not a little
at his fine speeches and foolish affectations.
He considered himself a very clever fellow ;
so Miss Elizabeth hoped saucy Dorothy
might tease him out of his conceit and teach
him knightly humility.

“JT am afraid,’ sneered Tristan, ‘I don’t
appreciate as I ought the wit and resource
of girls; but pray help me, Dorothy.
What is the special joy of this particular
game? Is it the happiness of hunting. all
over the place for dry sticks, or the black- ¥
ing of your faces and hands over the bonfire,
or the lugging about of the baskets and bags,
or the spreading of your cloth and laying
of your dinner? I thought such blisses as
those were reserved for us boys.”

‘They used to be,” said Dorothy, just as
disagreeably, “but we girls are wiser now,
and see that all those things are far too
good for you. While we are scampering
about, you ‘will remain here, amiable Sir
Tristan, and practise the art of standing
first on one leg and then on the other.



62 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

You have no idea how much interested you
will be! When I bring you your prison fare,
I shall find my Victim a sadder and a wiser
boy !”

Tristan tried to remember all the nasty
things he had intended to say, but they
had gone right out of his head to leave
room for his indignation that Dorothy should
in any way get the better of him. It is
no joy to a really conceited person to be
left for a whole day with no one to admire
him except himself; and Tristan was so
sure of his own cleverness that it no longer
kept him corapany.

The hours ran on merrily enough for the
girls. They played Witches with great spirit
for their special diversion; and only Amabel
missed a boy, and Amabel missed only
Florian. Even Eustace was for a while for-
gotten. The Victims were left to their fate,
until mid-day brought their meagre fare in
the hands of Gladys’s familiars.

_ Amabel carried bread in one hand and a
cup of water in the other when she visited
Florian ; but ‘her «pockets contained an excel-



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 63

lent dinner, and she had tied a bottle of
lemonade by a string to her waist. Amabel
was afraid of Gladys’s wrath, and dared not
linger: but she laid out all her good things
in front of the delighted Florian, and left
him to enjoy the reward of persistent ami-
ability.

Indeed, the sweetness of Florian’s temper
was quite unspoilable; and his face, alone,
was decked with smiling serenity when even-
ing set the boys free from their prisons,
Freedom had come to them in the form of
a message from Gladys—a message borne to
each Victim in turn by the pert and selfish
Adeline :—

“*Sir Knight, you are to make your way
to the Cave of Hecate. There will you
find the ruins of the bonfire round which
the Witches have danced, and the remnants
of the feast which the Witches have enjoyed.
These remnants are left for the Victims;
who, after they have eaten, may shoulder
the baskets and hie them home. To-morrow,
at nine of the clock, let the meeting place
be again the tennis-ground,’”



64 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Revenge!” shouted Guy at the top of
his voice, as he stretched his cramped limbs
on the downhill way to the village.

“Revenge!” repeated Edmund ferociously.
“What did that greedy Adeline do but take
away with her even the few nuts and a
biscuit or two Cecily made me turn out of
my pockets!”

“Revenge!” echoed Cyril. ‘ Mildred always
spites me; now I'll spite Mildred!”

“Revenge!” murmured Lancelot sleepily.
“Winifred never can leave a fellow in peace.
To-morrow she shall lie in a hammock all
day !” 4

“Revenge!” cried Rupert with determin-
tion. ‘ That Berta ‘is a cheeky imp!”

“Oh, humbug!” interrupted Maurice con-
temptuously. “Do you think we're going to
spoil our day waiting about while all you
fellows try to pay off your girls for their
pranks?”

“ Besides,” argued Eustace, who, as a non-
competitor for the Prize, fitly assumed an
impartial air, “revenge is twaddle—the thing
is to enjoy ourselves to-morrow our own

way.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 65

“Perhaps,” said Tristan, in his usual drawl,
“wed better be candid. How can we
revenge ourselves on girls who don’t care
twopence what we say? TZey aren’t trying
for a Prize. You can tell your precious
Winifred to get into a hammock, Lance;



“To-morrow she shall lie in a hammock all day.”—. 64.

but pray do you think she’s such a fool as_
to do it?”

“And then,” sighed Aylmer sentimentally,
“girls are cruel but charming. Clarice has

TS



66 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

bidden me not to string a rhyme till I lie
- a-bed; or, indeed, I must have flung a verse
or two after her flying feet!”

_;Maurice broke into a great laugh. “Ha!
Aylmer, did you ever dream you had a
fellow-poet? Mercy! I wish you could have
whispered one of your blessed ‘rhymes’ in
my ear this afternoon! Miss Erica must
have had fits when Adeline carried her the
effort of my Muse. This was it :—

«See the sunshine gleam !
Listen .to the stream !
Mark how blue the sky !—

* Twice as “blue” am I!’

What of that, Poet Aylmer?”

Maurice laughed long and loudly, and
Aylmer begged that a copy of the poem
might be written out for his private study.
Meanwhile Florian had wandered ahead,
making gentle plans of peace and _ friendli-
ness. Now he turned, and linking his arm
in that of Eustace, his favourite chum, he
said persuasively : eae

“See, boys! To-morrow will be our day;



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 67:

and the girls have promised to. let us choose
the game. Suppose we forget all about to-
day, and make a fresh start?”

“Oh, I daresay!” grunted the. revengeful
ones.

“We can choose something fit for boys,”
continued Florian, ‘and yet nothing which:
the girls will dislike to play at. Then-we
needn’t quarrel.”

“Cricket, I vote!” exclaimed’ Maurice
cheerily.. “I have promised not to bear Erica
malice for giving me poetry to write; and —
if she doesn’t bear me malice for doing it,
I’m willing to bowl her slow underhands!”

It was noticeable that every face among
those of the discontents had cleared at the
mention of cricket. Edmund ceased to mourn
his nuts, Lance forgot his hammock, Rupert
remembered that he could: wear a new and
resplendent blazer, Cyril determined to be
Umpire,.and decide the fates of others instead
of allowing others to wreak malice on him-
self, and Guy expended his superfluous passion
in harmless bangs of Hilda’s basket.

The voices of the boys gradually sank



63 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

J

into harmonious murmurs ere they reached
the village and pulled up for a good-night
chat. Only Eustace was silent.

. “Tt will be first-rate, old fellow, won’t it?”
laughed Florian, dragging his friend off down
a honeysuckled lane to the Colonel’s timbered
cottage. ‘The girls have had the ground to
themselves this whole season. Not a game
have they let us play!—but we'll make up
for it on Boy Days.” 3

: “We can try!” said Eustace. And he
smiled: a little doubtfully.







CHAPTER - III.

CANNOT understand,” said
Florian sadly, ‘what makes it





so dreadfully difficult to please ~
girls—I mean, our girls.”

“T can,” returned Eustace shortly, “ it is
Gladys’s fault. She wants her own way in
everything, and the others just follow her.”

“Why does Gladys want her own way?”
inquired Wilfred, who was whittling a stick
which he meant, by-and-by, to present to
Adeline. As nobody took any notice of his
question, he went on whittling, and wondeted
meanwhile whether the stick would please
Adeline better with rings of bark left on, or
with no bark at all.

“Pooh!” exclaimed Cyril, who humped



70 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE:

his shoulders so often that they threatened
to reach the level of his ears, “the girls.
treat all you fellows well enough. They

spite only me.”
There was a loud shout of dissent.

it

QR Be eS
SE AGE
RINE >

my



Into a neighbouring bramble-bed.— Z. 71. Ys

- “Yes, they do!” persisted Cyril vindic-
tively. ‘Look at Gladys! I know she has
made Mildred decide not to vote for me.
Gladys is an awful sneak—”

’ Here Eustace crossed the road in three



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 71

bounds, and Cyril spun away into a neigh-
bouring bramble-bed:

“Snarled at her himself five minutes
ago!” muttered the fallen knight, as he
picked himself up and released his person
from the revengeful briars. “But Eustace
always spites me.”

A sense of oppression and ill usage suited
itself comfortably to Cyril's humour; so that
the grudge he owed Eustace now kept him
pleasant company, and rendered it unneces-
sary for him to run after his comrades. *

He was still far behind when the boys
turned into a shrubbery path at Cowslip
Grange, and heard the distant laughter’ on
‘the tennis-ground. . ;

“The girls are very lively!” sighed
Lancelot. “I believe if we got here at
three in the morning they would be before
us!”

‘Remember that we had to wait a quarter-
of-an-hour while somebody ‘pulled you out of
bed, Lance,” said Maurice bluntly. ‘We
are late, thanks to you. . Goodness knows, .
we didn’t need to lose a minute of our



72 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

precious day. Suppose we run on,’ Guy?
We might be tossing for sides, or something
to save time.”

fe Mercy on us!” groaned Lancelot, ‘what
an awfully tiresome fellow you are, Maurice.
Why on earth do you want to run when
you can walk?”

“Stay!” interrupted Florian, who feared
another breach of the peace, “let us rather
decide, while we are together, how we shall
play.”
“We needn't trouble ourselves,” said
Tristan, ‘the girls will do all the ‘deciding ’
fOmAusie a) ,

“No, they won't!” exclaimed Guy. “This
is a Boy Day, and we have right of choice.”

“Right!” echoed Tristan jeeringly. “ We'll
see.”

“Yes, we'll see!” cried Guy, with flushing
cheeks. “Gladys kept us to our word yester-
day; we'll keep her to hers to-day.”

“There, there!” said Maurice equitably,
“we won't begin by quarrelling. If Gladys
wins the toss, she may pick her side for
aught I care. Anything for a game!” con-



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 73

tinued Maurice, flinging his arms above his
head with a fine display of muscle. ‘Oh!
anything for a good, straightlorward game
with no pretendings.”

The other boys echoed these sensible
words most eagerly. They really pined for
a piece of hearty fun, in which they might,
for once, prove themselves superior to the .
- girl-race.

The Cowslip Meadows girls would ‘have
laughed at such a sentiment. Indeed, they
were already laughing among themselves,
and it was a difficult. matter to abate their
laughter when the boys trooped on to the
tennis-ground—the smiling face of Florian,
as ambassador of peace and justice, being
well f the front.

“Make haste, boys!” cried Gladys, just
as imperiously as though she were chief-in-
command; ‘you have kept us waiting.”

“We are very sorry,” replied Florian
pleasantly, ‘‘and we. will make up for lost
time by giving you toss-up for sides.”

Some of the boys groaned; but Eustace
said “Shut up!” and looked cuore at his
girl.



74 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“As to that,” said Gladys calmly, ‘we
couldn’t think of tossing up. Since this is
a Boy Day, you had better keep together.
Oh, yes! I’ve arranged it all, Florian. We
play ‘girls versus boys,’ ae Mildred will
stand out and be umpire.”

Maurice’s cheeks extended in a broad
chuckle. “Hooray!” he shouted, ‘“ ‘girls
versus boys’—oh, certainly!”

“No broomsticks, I suppose, Gladys?”
suggested Tristan; but, of course, the girls
gave no heed to the insult.

Cyril came on the spot in time to declare
himself umpire for the boys, and to cast a
withering look at his coadjutor, who promptly
turned her back on him and began to
examine her note-book.

Then the whole company started for the
cricket-field. It was a charming meadow,
fenced about with a high hedge, at sufficient
distance from the wicket to make the runs
for a ball placed out of bounds count as
six. The pitch was a capital one; and
though the girls had been practising regularly
since May, they had done no real damage.



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. We

’ Maurice’s eyes danced as they beheld the
smooth green turf, on which he had not for
long had a chance of displaying his abilities
as a batsman.

Eustace captained the boys and Gladys
the girls, The latter won the toss and sent
the boys in.

They started at half-past nine, with Eustace
and Maurice at the wickets. At half-past
ten the boys’ innings was over, and Eustace
had mournfully carried out his bat. The
girls’ bowling had been changed only once.
It was superb, and their ae struck the
poor boys dumb.

Indeed, they had nothing to say. A row
of crestfallen faces may express disaster more
eloquently than speech. The faces of Miss
Elizabeth’s godsons expressed absolute des-
pair. They were being beaten on their own
ground—literally on their own ground, for
the Squire had once on a time presented the
cricket-field to the Jdoys, though the girls
seemed to have forgotten the fact.

“This is awful!” groaned Maurice at last.
“For pity’s sake, Eustace, go on to bowl.



76 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Those twisters of yours ought to puzzle
Gladys; and I know—we know—she is their
best bat.”

Eustace smiled in a sphinx-like fashion;
but he said “All right!” and Maurice went
off to drown his disappointment in lemonade.
The other boys were already engaged in
this task, and Edmund seemed likely to
drown himself in lemonade before -he had
finished.

Florian had not forgotten to carry a
generous jugful of the home-made liquid to
his opponents, or to pay Amabel a graceful
compliment on the neat manner in which
she had caught him out. Amabel replied
just as gracefully that she sincerely regretted |
the necessity of cutting his score short at a
duck. :

The girls reclined under the beech-trees
in a picturesque group; and obeying a shake
of the head from Gladys, they one and all
declined lemonade.

“You are very obliging, Florian,” said
_ their captain civilly ; “but you are welcome
to the lemonade. My team are not hot; you



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 7

see, you boys have not given us much exer-
tion, Still, as this is a Boy Day, we are
willing to wait till all the jugs are empty.”
The girls waited. Eustace went from one
to the other of his team, begging them in
vain to moderate their affection for lemonade.

a Te

i tp he wee PY ;
nave Os
ICA eu Met ae

7 Mey Me yi

0, COM

f ftv ag

|



as AN
ne iD

yids ays

One and all declined lemonade.—#. 76.

“You will be perfect duffers in the field!”
he remonstrated, “and I am sure you need
all your wits about you if you mean to
get the girls out. Edmund, what are you



78 LHE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

sneaking behind that bush for? Ugh! you
are carrying off the biggest jug. : Put it
down, I am going to call time.”

. Gladys and Berta walked to the wickets,
and Eustace put himself on to bowl, with
Guy as his partner. It was soon seen that
Guy was no good at all; and as the girls
knocked about his best balls and smiled at
his worst, his temper rose till it mastered
him completely. He flung the ball at
Gladys, and flung himself off to cover-point.

As for Gladys, she caught and held the
ball with an ease which astonished Eustace,
who fea sprung forward to stop it before it
should do damage.

“Oh, don’t trouble!” remarked Gladys:
calmly, “it was an easy catch,” and she
handed. him the ball.

The two captains looked at one another.
Rage was in the heart of Eustace, but he
lifted his cap, and said stiffly,

- “Tam sorry my man was such a beast.
He shan't go on again.”
“Oh, don’t mention it!” said Gladys, and
her eyes danced with fun. .



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 79

Eustace retired, taking hurried counsel
with himself. Edmund,- who, once on a time,
had been a reliable left-hand :bowler, was at
present completely overcome with lemonade.
Bevis and Wilfred were too small to have
much strength of wrist, and nothing was
expected of them except round-eyed watch-
fulness for a chance catch. Florian was too
amiable to plan seriously the destruction of
an enemy; and he was, besides, a useful
wicket-keeper. Lancelot detested the exer-



tion required of a good bowler.. Aylmer

“You have not much choice, fair Sir
Eustace!” Gladys had crept close to her.
boy, and her voice sounded mockingly in
his ear.

“No, I haven't,” replied Eustace shortly.

“Take my advice. Put on Rupert. -He
taught Berta to bat, and he knows her
ways.” Gladys turned with a queer little
nod.

Eustace hated to take the counsel of
Gladys, but he knew it was good. Yes,
Rupert had taught Berta—as he himself had
taught Gladys, when she was a much smaller



so THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

and much nicer girl. Nicer? Well, of |
course, she must have been nicer then, when
she exacted no more fatiguing service than
a. ride pick-a-back.

Rupert came cheerily from long-field-off.
He meant to make mincemeat of his former
pupil.

But Berta made mincemeat of his balls,
and at length fell a victim to Florian’s refined
wicket-keeping. Her bails flew, and she
smilingly walked off the pitch amid profuse
compliments from her destroyer. Rupert,
thus baulked of his vengeance, was no good,
and fumed himself back to long-field-off.

Dorothy took Berta’s place, and Eustace,
profiting by Gladys’s hint, put on Tristan.
Alas! as in the case of” Rupert, the bowler’s.
very eagerness brought him to ‘confusion.
Dorothy’s roguish glance roused Tristan to
impotent anger.

The runs mounted, and the byes helped
them. In the first over, Dorothy sent
Tristan’s best ball clean out of bounds, and
shouted “Six for me!” in a triumphant and
exasperating manner. ‘

\



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. £81

“The petticoats have it!” sneered Tristan.
“Upon my word, Eustace, we had. better,
borrow our sisters’ pinafores.”

“You had better borrow your sisters’



ag

= FOR,

Dorothy was bending easily over her bat.—#. 81.

brains!” retorted Dorothy, “only I’m afraid

your heads mightn’t find room for them!”

At this Tristan flushed scarlet, and looked

ready to repeat Guy’s feat; but Dorothy

was bending easily over her bat, and he
F



82 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

was forced to make another try for her
wicket, |

The girls had begun to rate their oppo-
nents very low indeed ; and presently Dorothy
played a ball right into the chubby hands
of Bevis, who for several seconds stood
gazing at the ball as though he couldn't
believe in his own luck.

The departure of Dorothy somewhat
restored Tristan’s nerve, and he succeeded
in getting rid of Erica and Clarice before
the umpires called time, and the rival teams
adjotitned for dinner..

Edmund began earnestly to endeavour to
persuade the other boys that the moment
for revenge had now arrived. Let them
remember yesterday’s dry bread and water!

“What nonsense!” roared Maurice, who
was incapable of meanness, ‘these baskets
are crammed with goodies, and the girls
brought their share. Here, Edmund, you
idiot! help the kids with the cloth, for we
can’t trust you with the tuck.”

Edmund moved off sulkily, for he had
longed to carry a plateful of crusts to Cecily,



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 83

and invite her to spread them in a row
before her and allow him to take their
inventory.

The boys were very busy. As a rule, the
girls had taken the lead at picnics; but now,
no girl came forward with a word of advice
or command. It seemed as though they
really acknowledged the obligations and re-
strictions of a Boy Day, and were waiting
politely, beneath - the far-off beech-trees, till
summoned to the feast. The spirits of the
poor knights rose. Though beaten on the
field, there was still the Holiday Prize to
be won; and with the girls in this courteous
and unassuming mood, many votes might be
secured by assiduous attention to that appe-
tite for dainties which is known to distinguish
girls, At all events, they could ‘not fail to
appreciate the superior generosity which was
about to bid them share freely with their
victims of the day before.

The cloth was spread and neatly covered.
with provender; and by the place of each
girl. Aylmer laid a different wild. flower.
Florian sped away with his message of good-
will,



84 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

It was quite a trot ‘to the ‘beeches:
Beneath the trees there was a. mossy bank,
and along this bank, in a row, sat Gladys
and her companions. When Florian came
close he nearly gasped. Spread on the
knees of every girl was a clean white
pocket-handkerchief, on the handkerchief a
sheet of white paper, and in the middle of
the paper a tidy pile of nicely-cut sand-
wiches. The girls were eating these sand-
wiches with evident contentment, and they
were drinking milk which had been brought
to thém by a farm-lad, just disappearing
over a distant stile.

“Oh, Gladys!” exclaimed Florian, when
he had recovered himself, “have you really
begun your dinner? We boys have spread
the cloth on the turf under the oaks, and
we have unpacked the baskets and put every-
thing ready. We have pigeon-pie for you,
and tongue, and sausages, and ginger-wine,
and all sorts of goodies. We hope you will
all come.” : ’

“Dear Florian,” said Erica, languidly,
“you boys think of nothing. but eating.”



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 85

“Pray let Edmund have my share!” said
Cecily.

“Tell Lancelot I will spare him thé
trouble of waiting on me,” said dank-eyed
Winifred.

“Cyril shall not say any oitl has stolen
his dinner for spite,” laughed Mildred.

“JT won't give Guy the opportunity of
throwing jam tarts at me,” added Hilda. ~

Florian looked at the contemptuous girls
one by one, and at last fixed his appealing
eyes on Gladys.

- “Do come!” he begged eagerly.

“Thank you very much, Florian,” replied
the girls’ captain serenely; ‘but we much
prefer to stay where we are. As it is a Boy
Day, we brought our share of goodies for
your dinner; you cannot say that we have
not treated you fairly. But when my team
play cricket, they do not eat pies and cakes.
We are willing to. leave them to you boys.,
Pray tell Eustace that he will find a whole
cream-cheese in. my basket. I believe he
adores cream-cheese.”

' “Gladys!” said Florian, reproachfully, ‘you,



86 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

know that Eustace is not a fellow for grub.
He has put the cheese, which looks delicious,
_ in front of -your plate.”

“T am sorry I have forgotten his taste,”
said Gladys, mockingly.

“Come, Gladys!” coaxed Florian, “I am
sure you don’t want to spoil our Boy Day!”

“Spoil your day!” repeated Gladys mis-
chievously ; “why, have we not shown our
kindness by keeping away? On a Girl Day,
is it not our first thought to get rid of.
you?”

“T suppose it is,” owned Florian dolefully ;
and followed by the pitying eyes of Amabel,
and the laughter of all the other girls, he
moved slowly away.

- The boys heard Florian’s news in crest-
fallen silence. They were cheated out of
their intended magnanimity, and they were
piqued by the airs of superior self-restraint
assumed by their rivals. In their hearts
they feared the consequences of a too liberal
dinner; but sheer resentment impelled them
to recklessness. Eustace satisfied nature, and
then looked gloomily on while his team



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 87

ate their own dinner and that of the girls
also.

The result was painful by-and-by. Stumps
were to be drawn at five o'clock; and at a
quarter-past four, when the last of the girls’
wickets fell (Gladys carrying out her bat),
the boys positively lacked thirty runs to
avoid a single-innings defeat. It now became
the sole hope of Eustace to avert this humil-
iation. He sent in Maurice and Guy, his |
two best bats, and implored them to play
with steadiness and discretion. In vain.
Guy lost his head and his wickets at Hilda’s
first attack, and Maurice, appalled. by the
disaster, went out l.b.w in the next over.

Then the boys began to go down like
ninepins; and the score was only six when,
at a quarter to five, poor Eustace sent him-
self in, with Wilfred at the opposite end.
Wilfred was a noted blocker, who, so long
as the other fellow could get the runs, might
be counted on to prolong an innings by
masterly inactivity. Indeed, his stronghold
was threatened harmlessly while Eustace suc-
ceeded in snatching three bounders off the



83° LEE VEL OE DANG Se RFE.

pick of the girls’ bowling. The score stood
at twenty-four, and stumps would be drawn,
in five» minutes. Off flew Wilfred’s _ bails,
and the girls raised a shout of triumph.

' Bevis was last man in. Fortunately, his
stolidity was unaffected by the importance
of his present position, and he nodded
cheerily at the pale and anxious face of his
captain. Amabel, with tears of sympathy
in her eyes, resumed her attack on Eustace’s
wicket. But she was ‘too sensitive to the
troubles of others to desire the enemy’s
absolute | breakdown; and Eustace ran a
couple ‘off her next attempt. In the two
following minutes two singles fell to Eustace’s
daring bat. .The score at twenty-eight—two
runs wanted and two minutes in which to
make them. Eustace felt his heart beat high
and there was a hush over the entire field.

- At this moment Gladys stepped forward,
and took the ball from the hand of Amabel,
who fell back to: slip. Mes
' Eustace saw the eyes of his rival gleam
with mischievous glee. She had permitted
him to approach so nearly the success of his



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE: 89

modest aim only in the hope of making
his disappointment the more crushing and
complete. Eustace compressed his lips and
caught his bat with a grip of steel. Oh, to
win one sixer from the utmost skill of
haughty Gladys !



The victorious ball was in the hands of the wicket-keeper.—J. go

The captain of the girls made no unfair
dallying. The instant that Eustace stood’
prepared, the ball sped swift and sure,
Straight as an arrow, and reaching its goal



90 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

_ with an utterly disconcerting break. Eustace
raised his arm for a swipe. Alack! his
middle wicket had leapt from the soil, and
the victorious ball was in the hands of the
wicket-keeper.

The defeated captain seemed for a second
petrified. Then his heart beat with chivalrous
admiration of his pupil’s fine performance.

“Bravo, Gladys!” he shouted, his cap
waved high. ‘Bravo! Bravo! That was
a magnificent ball!”

The girls had cried “Time! Time!” and
crowded round their leader. From their
midst Gladys looked round at Eustace, and
called back to him, with flashing eyes,

“Bravo yourself, Eustace! You taught
me that break!”

The two captains exchanged glances of
generous recognition. Then Eustace waved
his cap again, and as the boys drew quickly
round, he cried,

“Now then, fellows! Hurrah for the
queen of the cricket-field!”

He led off three hearty cheers, and amid
a pleasant hubbub of congratulations and



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. OI

consolations, the boys and girls laid aside
differences and helped each other gather
together the playing-gear. And so the first
Boy Day reached a peaceful end, and the
rivals trooped homeward side by side.







CHARTERS Ve

HE ignominious failure of their



earliest attempt at the manage-



ment of their own affairs made
the boys not unwilling to greet
the seeond Girl Day with something like
toleration.. They could not well be made
more miserable than they had yesterday made
themselves by the choice of a game in which
their former pre-eminence had given place to
the triumphant superiority of the girls. Even
Maurice felt that it might be well to let
twenty-four hours elapse before they again
tempted Fate.

They had been bidden to hold themselves
in readiness at the usual time and place;
and as Maurice had agreed to rise half-an-
hour earlier in order to pull Lancelot out of



THE. HOLIDAY PRIZE. 93

bed’ and superintend his toilet, they were on
the spot at the appointed moment.

The boys noticed at once that the pleasant
camaraderie, which, the evening before, .had
distinguished their victorious opponents, was
no longer in existence. The girls, following
the example of their leader, had resumed
the various airs and graces which the boys
found so objectionable. Gladys appeared
even more haughty than her wont, as she
beckoned imperiously to the unwilling
Eustace; and each of the remaining girls,
with the exception of Amabel, greeted her
particular boy in precisely the fashion best
adapted to drive him to despair.

Clarice summoned the poetical, Aylmer
from the contemplation of a superb rose-tree,
and ordered him to repeat on the instant,
without a single mistake, the. well-known

lyric—

“‘ Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree-top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock.” —

Clarice did this because she knew that the
sound of the false rhymes, “top” and ‘rock,’



94. THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

would cause to Aylmer’s fastidious ear an
anguish corresponding exactly to that of the
severest toothache; while the utter foolish-
ness of suspending a cradle from a tree-top:
would come home to his exalted understand-
ing as a sort of torture.

Berta brought Rupert to her side on
purpose to bestow on his new necktie a
vicious tug, which destroyed immediately and
for ever its first unblemished beauty, and
made the knot he had achieved with so
much labour a regretful memory of the past.

Cecity showed Edmund a large box of
chocolate-creams, and’ remarked that it con-
tained exactly enough to go round the girls
six times,-and leave one for every boy ee
himself. 4

Hilda. observed to Guy that she was
delighted to find that he had risen in such
an excellent temper, because if he had hap-
pened, as usual, to get out of bed on the
wrong side, she should have been compelled
to send him home again to try what he
could do with the other. It is exasperating
to-hear a girl fling at you such a taunt as



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 95

this, merely because you are biting your
lips as an aid towards holding your tongue.

While these and similar encounters were
taking place, Gladys lifted up her voice: to
proclaim the day’s programme:



TO is
i) y i i
a MUTT | F HR i
Pa

Cecily showed ‘Edmund a large box of caocolate creams.—4, 94.



“Listen, boys!” she commanded. “We
have chosen for our second day one of our
Nicest girl games; and as we threw our-
Selves most heartily ‘into your chosen play
yesterday, we expect you to do the same



96 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

with ours to-day. We are going to be
Sisters of Mercy.”

The boys stifled an apprehensive groan.

“Hitherto,” continued Gladys _ smilingly,
“you have zo¢ thrown yourselves into this
game as we could have wished; and we
fear that you have therefore failed to
thoroughly enjoy it. You have merely car-
ried our baskets, and dawdled outside the
cottage doors. To-day, things will be differ-
ent. In order that you may see how
delightful this play really is, we mean you
to be’ Sisters of Mercy along with us; in
fact, we are going to let you take quite the
chief part in the game. And to help you
throw yourselves into it, we intend you to
be properly dressed. Each of us girls has
brought a waterproof cape, a hood, and a
large white pocket- -handkerchief. When you
have’ put ‘on the capes, you will kneel in
front of , us, and we will, ourselves arrange
the hoods on your heads with the handker-
chiefs tied neatly below your chins.”

The boys dared not resist. Only Guy,
whose hands shook with passion, tore half



THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 97

the buttons off Hilda’s cape before he was
fairly enveloped in it. Eustace wore an air
of proud indifference as easily as he wore
Gladys’s cape; Maurice gave to his shoulders
a mighty shrug, which burst half Erica's
seams ; and the sneer on Tristan’s face when
he knelt before his girl made Dorothy assure
him that his personal beauty was dazzling to
her eyes. |

“Now,” proclaimed Gladys, as the unlucky
boys rose and straightened their encumbered
limbs, “you are on no account to forget, for
a single moment, that you are Sisters of
Mercy.” ie,

“Dear Amabel,” murmured Florian coax-
ingly, “you always are so good-natured.
Will it not content you if I am a Brother
of Mercy? I am sure I shall be only too
delighted to be as brotherly as you please ;
but, you see, I never have been a sister,
and I am afraid I do not quite understand—
ahem Be to pretend—ahem !—that I ae
_petticoats.” —~

oe

“Never mind, dear Florian,” returned

Amabel,-sweetly ; “you need not be so par-
G



98 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

ticular’ about—details. And you may hold
-up .the skirts of my waterproof, if you
.choose—I won't tell. I trust I have not
tied that handkerchief too tightly?”

‘“Not in the least,” replied Florian gal-
lantly. “It is true that I am not accustomed
.to.a large bow just under my chin; and I
may feel, for the moment, a trifle peculiar;
but it is nothing to worry about. Shall we
-go on?”

“Just a moment, Florian,” said Amabel
-anxiously. ‘I want to give you a_ hint.
De.try, dear Florian, to look a little more
unhappy! I am so afraid that Gladys, if
she glances round and sees your sieles will
make you carry a pail.”

“Good gracious!” exclaimed Florian,
startled out of his serenity, “do Sisters of
Mercy carry pails?”

“Hush!” implored Amabel. ‘Gladys is
explaining.”

During the next two minutes Florian had
no difficulty in looking at least unhappy
‘enough to pass muster. At the bidding of
_ Gladys, the row of maidens, before whom



SSS aS

SSS SSS SSS





—p. 98.

to look a little more unhappy !”.

dear Florian,

"Do try,



100 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

the boys had been kneeling, drew to one
side, disclosing a pile of miscellaneous articles.
There were pails and scrubbing-brushes and
brooms ; baskets and bags and bundles.

“These,” called Gladys, in a clear, pitiless
voice, “are the burdens you. are about to
bear. You will see they are things very
useful to Sisters of Mercy.”

“Hanged if I see any such thing!”
groaned Maurice.

“They will help you to throw yourselves
thoroughly into the game,” continued Gladys.

“*Tf we don’t first throw ourselves into
the village pond,” remarked Tristan gloomily.

“Well, you would be quite at home in the
pond,” said Dorothy; ‘there are so many
geese in it to keep you company.”

“Make haste, boys,” commanded Gladys.
“We are ready to start. The day will not
be any too long for this delightful game.
Girls, each of you may now hand to your
own boy his appointed burden. This pail
and scrubbing-brush, Eustace, are for you.”

~ Eustace stepped forward and picked up
the two hated articles, without’ giving Gladys



Full Text




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THE HOLIDAY PRIZE
2 ! i MY

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“Now, good Sir Eustace, all is over with you!"—#, 39.

-


A Modern Fairy Tale

; BY :
Ellinor Davenport Adams. |P
. Axthor of
“Comrades True,”
“The Disagreeable Duke,”
s etc., etc.

3 in attr 4 oe. 2 ed Py Reeth
SSR ERE re ESSE ited ce Epos eet SE

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ILLUSTRATED BY

K MM. SKEAPING

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LONDON: JARROLD & SONS, 10 & 11, WARWICK LANE, E.C.

[AU rights reserved]
ome


THE ‘SNUG CORNER’ SERIES.

Crown 8vo0, Art Linen, 3/6 each.

OUR LITTLE SUNBEAMS: Srortes For THE LITTLE ONES.
By Auice F. Jackson, Author of ‘‘Fairy Tales and True,”
. ‘The Doll’s Dressmaker,” &c. Illustrated by K. M. SKEAPING.

THE LITTLE MEN IN SCARLET, anp oTHER Fairy
TaLes. By Frances H. Low, Author of “Queen Victoria’s
Dolls,” &c. “Illustrated by J. J. GuTHRIE.

THE HOLIDAY PRIZE: A Movern Fairy Tate. By
EvLiinor Davenrort Apams, Author of ‘‘Comrades True,”
“Colonel Russell's Baby,” ‘Robin’s Ride,” &c. Illustrated by
K. M. SkEapina.



WAR nas nee
' London: JARROLD-& SONS, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
And of all Booksellers.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
“Now, GOOD SIR EUSTACE, ALL IS OVER WITH

you!” - + cf > ” Frontispiece
WHILE HER MAID ARRANGED HER TRESSES - Io
“THE DALESMAN’S LAMENT” - -" - 16
QUEEN OF YONDER SELFISH TROOP - . 19
HE BOWED LOW TO AMABEL - - - 23
POETIC FERVOUR - -. - - 34
A DELICIOUS DOZE - a 2 s 2 37
EMPTY HIS POCKETS WITH SPEED -" - 44.
§YOU ARE BEWITCHED!” - - - =. 40
AND STILL THE MUSE WAS COY - - - 55
“WHAT IS THE MATTER, AMABEL?” a - 58

*TO-MORROW SHE SHALL LIE IN A HAMMOCK ALL

DAY” - - o - - 65
INTO A NEIGHBOURING BRAMBLE-BED 7 276
ONE AND ALL DECLINED LEMONADE - = - 17
DOROTHY WAS BENDING EASILY OVER HER BAT - 81

THE VICTORIOUS BALL WAS IN THE HANDS OF THE
WICKET-KEEPER = - - - 89
8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

CECILY SHOWED EDMUND A LARGE BOX OF CHOCO- .

LATE CREAMS - 7 2 = 2

“DO TRY, DEAR FLORIAN, TO LOOK. A LITTLE MORE
UNHAPPY !” - - - - -

WINIFRED WON EASILY S 2 = e
.HE TRAMPLED SAVAGELY AMONG THE NETTLES -

HE EMBRACED HER AS FONDLY AS -HIS CAPE AND
HOOD WOULD ALLOW .HIM o a =

EUSTACE STEPPED QUIETLY IN HER WAKE =

THE TWO SISTERS OF MERCY STOLE QUIETLY OUT
OF THE COTTAGE = - - -

THE GIRLS’ HATS BLEW OFF 2 <) 0
THEY CARRIED LOADS OF FERNS o cS =

THEY PLAYED GAMES IN THE WOODS

UNPACKING THE BASKETS = - - -

LITTLE LYNETTE - - G2 - - ©

THEY PRESENTED A ‘PICTURE © = cs

_ PULLING OFF SHOES AND HATS - - =
BUT ALREADY A FIRM HAND GRASPED HIS COLLAR
“ONLY ONE GIRL.WOULD ADMIT IT” - -
‘J MEAN TO KEEP HIM” - Sy eeae S
HER .FAVOURITE GODSON - < y

THE COAL-BLACK PONY, |. - - - =

PAGE

95

99
106

109

115
I2I

127
133
139
148
153

157
163
170
173
185
192
196

203


THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. -

CHARTER ST

HE boys and girls were gathered




together on the big tennis-ground
at Squire Montague’s. The Squire
had the privilege of being father
to three of them; and it was a privilege of
which he never was allowed to think too
lightly.

But there were plenty of youngsters besides
the rosy group who ruled Cowslip Grange.
The Rectory contributed two; and various
esteemed residents in or about the village
of Cowslip Meadows—residents. such as the
doctor, two or three retired colonels, a naval
captain, a. lawyer’s: widow, and _half-a-dozen
10 THE HOLIDAV PRIZE.

unattached lovers of a country life and peace
cf mind—provided a quota of boys and girls
to play pranks all through the long summer
holidays. _

The children dominated the village. The
_ fathers and mothers were unaffectedly proud
of their offspring, who were quite remarkable
for their high spirits and good looks.
Nobody dreamed of finding fault with them
—nzobody, at least, except the Squire’s maiden
sister, Miss Elizabeth Montague. - By her
own express desire, shé had acted as god-
mother to all the boys; and it was, in their
eyes, her single virtue that she never forgot
a birthday. As all her godsons grew up she
could not help»~detecting flaws of © character
which moved her:alarm; and -since she was
sincerely desirous of their reformation, she
had ‘spent many anxious days and nighfs in
making plans for their improvement. i

Miss Elizabeth Montague was of an
extremely romantic cast of mind. She kept
a copy of Froissart on her dressing-table,
- and read it diligently every morning while
her maid arranged her ‘tresses. It was
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 11

because no living man was sufficiently knightiy
in nature and manners to reach’ her ideal
that the fair Miss Montague had remained
single. Only a really chivalric soul might
link with hers. The. perfect knight: had not



While her maid arranged her tresses.—#. 10,

appeared ; and it was the yearning of Eliza-
beth’s heart to train one up herself. For this
purpose she determined to secure a share in
the upbringing of the greatest possible number
of boys. [That a girl might be chivalric
never entered Miss Elizabeth's head.] She
12 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

became godmother to all the boys of fait
degree living at Cowslip Meadows; and so
much did her general amiability and high
principle commend themselves to the appre-
ciation of her friends, that they willingly
promised she should scold, lecture, or reprove
their sons just as often as she chose.

Miss Elizabeth invited the boys to tea
every Sunday evening in the Christmas,
Easter, and Midsummer holidays; and after
tea, she told or read to them for an hour or
so stories of all the famous knights. While
the stories were fresh the boys enjoyed them
thoroughly, and went. home full of valiant
thoughts and with a fixed resolve to be a
modern. Bayard,»-Black Prince, or King
Arthur. But as the elder boys grew they
became a little tired of being obliged to
hear the same tales over and over again for
the benefit of the younger ones; and they
forgot to ‘be Bayards, and were sure only
that they hated the sounds of their own
names, all of which had been Miss Elizabeth’s
choice, and were more or less knightly if
their Owners were not.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 13

7 One point on which Miss Elizabeth insisted
strongly was courtesy to maidens; and it
was this doctrine which made life a burden
to her godsons. For there were just as!
many girls as boys in Cowslip Meadows, so
that it occurred to Miss Elizabeth to allot
to every boy a girl, towards whom shé
recommended him to practise the knightly
virtues of patience, politeness, and _ self-
denial
It will be at once perceived how miserable
was the lot of the boys. At holiday times
they were, through the despotic will of their
godmother, tied to a. crowd of tyrannical, .
irresponsible, and unbearable girls, every one
of whom was licensed to be as selfish as she
pleased, since her function was merely to
test to the uttermost the chivalric capacity . of
her allotted boy. Life in the holidays must
have become insupportable save for a singular
fact, The girls, in spite of each inducement
to the contrary, grew up remarkably like the
boys in temper, taste, and habit; and it
occasionally happened, when playing together,
that the whole crew forgot unnatural restric-
14 - THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

tions, and romped and larked and enjoyed
themselves like any other girls and boys.
But this relapse into amiability occurred but
seldom; and, had it not been for Florian—!

It was a lovely June day, and all the
children, as has been said, were gathered on
the tennis-ground at Cowslip Grange. There
were three courts, and in each four players.
Now, every player was a girl.

The boys were huddled in a heap under
‘ the bushes bordering the west side of the
ground. They had come together the better
to discuss their wrongs. There was not the
faintest chance that they, would be allowed
to play tennis, unless the girls should become
too tired to hold*their racquets; and this was
a remote possibility.

About the boys to-day: was an increased
bitterness of mien. They were only just set
free from their lessons, and they had come
forth from their dreary schoolrooms to find
the fresh summer days poisoned by an addi-
tional development of Miss Elizabeth’s designs
for their training. Despairing of precept and
example, good Miss Montague would stoop
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 15

to bribe. She had offered a magnificent
“Holiday Prize” to be competed for by her
godsons. The prize was to be the thing
the winner most wished for, irrespective of
costliness, rarity, or beauty. The boys were
for a moment in a seventh heaven of blissful
dreams. Suddenly Miss Elizabeth proclaimed
her conditions,

The Prize was to be given to the boy who,
throughout the holidays, should bear himself
in the -fashion most nearly approaching the
degree of perfect knighthood,

This was bad enough; but while each boy
was fervently vowing to be a Bayard, by
hook or by crook, for six whole weeks, Miss
Elizabeth continued :

The Prize would be awarded, amid due
solemnities, by the majority-vote of the
girls.

Here the boys groanéd aloud. They fore-
saw a cruel fate, and events justified their
worst anticipations. They were at the pres-
ent moment aching for a game at tennis;
but the courts were manned with—girls. If
they might not play tennis, they would fain
16 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

ride, or race, or fish, or cricket, but they
were chained to the ground by the tyranny
of—girls. They had to find the lost balls,
mend the broken nets, keep the scores, and
act umpires—in short, to do everything which
was the legitimate work of girls.

AFTER
YE
Youn e

G



“The Dalesman’s Lament.”—#. 17.

“Fellows!” cried Maurice — energetically,
“we cannot stand this any longer. It is of
no use to try to get on with girls) When
they rang the Great Fagging Bell, 1 was in
the middle of cleaning my rabbit-hutch.”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 17

“T,” said the dismal voice of Rupert,
‘‘was just mounting Jamie Telfer—”

“And JI,” said Lancelot, in breathless
echo of his brother, ‘had quite mounted °
Johnnie Armstrang—”

*To go a-raiding,” finished both boys, in
unimaginable depths of gloom.

“T,” remarked Aylmer, lifting his chin. from
the depths of a Byronic collar, “had got into
my second verse. If those girls had left me
in peace for just a few hours, I should have
finished Zhe Dalesman’s Lament, and we
could have sung it at our next gathering.”

“Gathering!” repeated Rupert, chuckling
hoarsely, “when, I wonder, shall we have a
real gathering again?”

“If we held one now,” grumbled Edmund,
“the girls would tilt. at the ring and we
should hold the ponies.”

“The girls would wrestle and fence and
box,” added Cyril and Maurice together,
“and we should be spectators, and clap
them.” .

“7 should be the Queen of Beauty,”
sneered the cynical Tristan, ‘and my fair

B
13 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

cousin Dorothy would wear my favour in
her helm!”

- “Jt is abominable!” shouted passionate
Guy.

A bitter assent came from the lips of
Eustace, who, with cheeks propped moodily
on hands, glared resentfully at the flying
figures in the courts’ He was the hand-
somest, the bravest, and the proudest of all
the boys; and he, more than all, writhed
under the slavery imposed by Miss Elizabeth’s
whim. He almost hated the sight of a girl
—especially of the girl Miss Elizabeth had
linked with him—of Gladys, queen of yonder
selfish troop. Everyone knew that Eustace
alone scorned the thought of contending for
the “Holiday Prize” [though everyone knew,
also, that he, only son of a poor soldier, had
a wild longing to possess a certain coal-black
pony, and thus to call a steed all his own], but
because of the obligations of good-fellowship,
he submitted to cast his lot in with that of
his friends.

“It is abominable!” shouted Guy again.

The nearest girl caught the words, and
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. "49

turned, laughing gaily, to shake her finger
at the speaker. She was Hilda, Guy’s own

girl Guy coloured furiously, and prayed
that Hilda’s side might lose.

Meanwhile, Maurice and Florian were
engaging in an animated argument.









Sl j

|





mai {—



Queen of yonder selfish troop.-.Z. 18, ~

“T say we will not stand it,” insisted
Maurice. ‘Either we will all of us renounce
our chances for the ‘Holiday Prize,’ or ‘we
will cast lots for the fellow who is to have
it; and the rest of us will back out and
20 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

enjoy ourselves while he fetches and carries
and grinds for every one of those girls.”

A chorus of assent applauded the sugges-
tions of clear-headed Maurice.

“Stay!” besought Florian, whose gentle
melancholy always inclined him to the office
of peacemaker, since. the sounds of strife
interfered with his brooding calm. ‘‘ There
is one other way.”

The whole of the boys turned their eyes
on the meditative face of Florian. Each
boy was in his heart reluctant to lose all
hope of the great Prize, for each was cer-
tain that he would -find no difficulty in
claiming the thing whe most wished for.

« Suppose,” began Florian, looking round
him persuasively, ‘“‘suppose we were to come
to terms with the girls? Suppose we were
to reason with them?”

“To reason with girls?” drawled Tristan.
“As though a girl were ever fair, or just, or
reasonable!”

“Stay!” again implored Florian, “We
have not yet tried. Let us send an embassy
to Gladys and request that she and all the
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. . 21

girls will parley with us awhile. “Eustace
can be our spokesman, and Gladys theirs.”

“Agreed!” cried all the boys except
‘Eustace, who was anxious to point out that
he detested Gladys, and that as he had no
‘personal interest in the matter, he was the
last boy to be chosen as mediator.

“That is the very reason why you. will
best represent us,” said Florian easily; but
here Eustace interrupted with the declaration
that sooner than meet Gladys in such a way
as would obdzge him to be civil to her, he |
would rush off and spend the whole of his
holidays with his Aunt Tabitha Ann, at
Muddipool.

The boys did not wish to lose the com-
pany of Eustace, whom they regarded as
‘the best of fellows when undisturbed by the
presence of girls; so they decided unani-
mously that the mild-mannered Florian was
the fittest person to carry out his own pro-
posal.

So Florian uprose and went forth from
his comrades, waving a white pocket-
handkerchief as a flag of truce. The girls
22 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

paused in their play; and after some hurried
whispering, sent out Amabel, Florian’s own
girl, to meet the ambassador.

Amabel was by nature so amiable and
unselfish that it was always with the greatest
difficulty that she followed the lead of her
companions in tyrannising over the boys.
She, among the girls, was as Florian among
the boys—a chartered peacemaker, consoler,
and mistress of gentlest argument; so that
Florian’s hopes rose when he saw who had
been commissioned to greet him, and he
bowed low to Amabel and tried to speak
her fair.

“That last stroke of yours, , Amabel, was
perfect,” he remarked pleasantly. “I am
certain you will be champion of all England
some day. You girls are beating us boys
at tennis altogether.”

‘“No wonder!” growled Guy in the dis-
tance, “seeing they get all the practice!”

“You shall have the courts while we are
‘in at tea,” promised Amabel good-naturedly.

“But we, also, shall be in at tea,” said
Florian. ‘Still, we will not speak of that.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 723

Will you carry a message, Amabel, from all
the boys to all the girls? We have a plan
to tell you about, and if you will agree to
it, we may all be happy together, instead of



He bowed low to Amabel.—#. 22.

only the girls being happy while we poor
boys are miserable.” Florian lowered his
voice to a most pathetic sweetness. ‘ Think
how much jollier it would be.”
24 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Tt does sound sensible,” said Amabel
demurely, ‘and I'll see what the others
think.”

Florian bowed again and waited with
patience. The girls grouped themselves
round Gladys, whose dark eyes gleamed
haughtily as they swept the ranks of the
rebellious boys. Presently. she stepped out
from the phalanx of maidens and moved
towards Florian, her companions a yard or
two in her rear.

“So you boys have made a ‘plan,’” she
exclaimed scornfully. ‘Well, we will come
to hear it; but make haste, Florian, for we
wish to finish our game. Remember, I will
not listen to anythiif¢ Eustace may say, so -
you need not try to have him for a leader.
You had better send him. and one or -
two others to hunt for a ball we have just
lost among the rhododendrons.” 7

Florian bowed humbly.

“YT will myself hunt for the ball by-and-
by,” he said; ‘but we very much wish to
be all present when our plan is proposed.”

“All right,” replied Gladys shortly, and
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 25

the girls passed on in a sweeping rush of
silken smocks and embroidered frocks and
waving locks. In spite of themselves, the
frowns of the boys disappeared for a moment
at sight of the enemy. Never were eyes
refreshed by a bonnier troop of girls. It
was surely feasible to suppose that only: hard
fate had made them tyrants.

As soon as both parties were within hail
‘of one another the boys rose and massed
themselves behind Florian, while the girls
remained grouped in the wake of Gladys.
It was noticeable that the eyes of each girl
turned immediately. towards those of her
particular boy; and that while the former
glimmered with fun, the latter shone - with
helpless resentment.

“Be. quick, Florian,” commanded Gladys
impatiently. . fee

Florian never had been known to be in a
hurry; but fear for the unfortunate con-
sequences of delay now hastened speech,
and in quite a few words he made clear to
the intelligence of the girls the united mind
of the boys. ae
26 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“We appeal to your sense of justice,”
finished Florian diplomatically, ‘we want you
to see that it really is not right that we
never should have any fun. We do not wish
to take anything from you either. But when
the game is tennis, you might let us have a
turn; and then, when we are in the cricket-
field, we will not ask you to field all the
while.”

“Oh!” said Gladys carelessly, “you need
not waste your time in asking us to field at
all, because we much prefer to stay away.
As you talk about ‘fairness’ and ‘ justice,’
we will be fair and just. We will keep the
tennis-courts, and you may have the cricket-
field. If you do not*céme where we are, we
will agree not to order you to do anything for
us. You can muffle up the Great Fagging
Bell at once, if you like. We can quite
well play by ourselves.”

“You cannot call that ‘just’ and ‘fair,’”
broke out Guy indignantly ; ‘for you know it
would mean losing all our chances of the
‘Holiday Prize.” It is part of the condi-
tions that we are to keep together—worse

”
!

‘luck
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 27

“What a greedy boy!” laughed Hilda
mischievously. “He wants to be ‘polite to
girls only for the sake of a prize!” She
turned, shrugging her shoulders, to Amabel.
“IT wish Miss Elizabeth hadn't given me
Guy for my boy!”

“Hush!” begged gentle Amabel. ‘“ You
will hurt poor Guy’s feelings.”

“Will she, just!” sneered Tristan.

“What Guy says is true,” continued
Florian mildly, ‘“‘and we boys are all of us
really quite sure that you would like one of
us to have the Prize.”

“We do not object to your trying for it,”
said Gladys with more condescension. ‘ But
we cannot have boys near us without making
them useful.”

“We are quite willing to be useful,” said
Florian courteously. ‘‘Who would not enjoy
fagging for a girl? But a boy, like a girl,
knows how to amuse himself. A boy can
fly a kite, spin a top, shoot an alley, run a
race, bowl a ball, hold a bat, or a racquet, or
a rod, ride a pony, or let an. arrow fly—well
—almost as well as a girl.”
28 2 ELE LO EE DANA RUZ,

‘Oh, nonsense!” chorussed the girls.

“At anyrate, he likes to try,” reasoned
Florian amiably, “‘and we want you only to
go shares with us. Now, Gladys, won't you
agree to this? Shall we take it in turns to
choose the games, and play together peace-
ably? Suppose the boys have one day, and
the girls another, alternately? If you will
be Brothers on Boy Days, we will be
Sisters on Girl Days; and so we shall
“keep friends, and not quarrel, and it will
not be so fearfully difficult to try for the
‘Holiday Prize.’ ”

“J think,” said Gladys, after a pause for
reflection, “that there ought to be two Girl
Days to one Boy Day.”

“But we have as many games as you
have,” argued Florian. “If you will be
borderers a-raiding, and huntsmien a-slaying,
and pirates a-stealing, and gold-diggers a-
nuggeting with us, why, we will be fairies and
witches and sisters of mercy and persecuted
maidens with you. And I believe you really
like our plays best!” |

This seemed to be a master-stroke, for
TITHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. . 29

there was a subdued murmur of assent
among the girls.

“Tf you will promise that,” said Gladys
(and there was a brilliant light in her
dancing eyes), “why, we will agree to what
you propose, Florian. . We will all play
together, and we will have Girl Days and
Boy Days alternately.”

“Wait!” cried a voice, and Eustace,
detaching himself from his comrades, stood
cut with a mien to the full as haughty as
that of Gladys. His eyes had remained
fixed on hers by an influence against which
he strove in vain; his rooted distrust of her
generosity made him suspect that her smiling
promise hid designs on the peace of the
too credulous- boys, “If we are to make a
compact with girls, let it be only for a short
time.”

“Certainly!” responded Gladys instantly.
“We should decline to bind ourselves to put
up with Boy Days for long.”

“Come, Eustace!” remonstrated Florian
chivalrously, “you know we can trust
Gladys. But this is Saturday. Suppose we
30 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

‘begin on Monday and try my plan for a
week ?”

“Very well,” said Cre nodes with
grace and dignity. “On Monday morning,
at nine o’clock, we will meet here and choose
our game for the day. Oh! And, of course,
we shall have first turn?”

“Of course/” said Florian, bowing pro-
foundly. ‘And as that is our tea-bell,
suppose we go in, and after tea Bey blind-
man’s buff on the lawn?”

As Gladys raised no objection, the rest of
the girls joined all the boys, except Eustace,
in a friendly cheer; and the whole troop ran
off to the house with every sign of amity.

The blindman’s buff was a distinguished
success, and Florian received with becoming
modesty the congratulations of all his com-
rades on his admirable diplomacy.




(Cin VU PINE IG

AD Y private arrangement, the girls
and boys mustered, on the follow-



ing Monday morning, at separate
places; and thence proceeded in
orderly array to the tennis-ground at Cowslip
Grange. The boys were in splendid spirits,
and disposed to fall in comfortably with any
proposal for the spending of the first Girl
Day. Eager to assure Gladys and her
followers that no advantage would be taken
of their sacrifice to the laws of fairness and
justice, they were ready to fetch and carry
and slave for each and every one of their
girl-allies. Had they not a blissful morrow
to which they might: look forward?—a
morrow on which the~ girls, in. their turn,
would be prepared to.sink individual and
32... LHE HOLIDAY: PRIZE,” ~~

general likings, and let the chosen playground
be ruled by the spirit of boyhood.

Gladys greeted Eustace with a compara-
tively civil nod, and requested him. to inform
his comrades that the day was to be spent
at a distant and lonely part of the Common
which stretched away from that end of the
village furthest from the Grange. The spot.
selected was one which possessed very great
attractions for all sensible persons. It was
remote from the nearest road. It was visited.
by keen east winds, which had blasted the
few stunted firs encircling it, and cropped
its ill-nurtured grass into brown patches. It
had clumps of stragelirg gorse and _breast-
high, tough-stemmed bracken, among which
bloody foes could lie in ambush. It had
caves half-hidden by convenient brushwood.
It had a stream to furnish water for a tea-
kettle, and an abundance of dry twigs and
cones to be lighted for a fire, It had, in
short, every conceivable requisite for the
fascinating game of Witches.

By an odd coincidence, the fir-trees rising
at intervals round this enchanting place were:
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 223°

twelve in number; and each girl.had, from
time immennorial, claimed one of them as her
own. Here each was wont to bring her
own particular boy when she had any
important secret to confide to him, or any
perilous duty. which she wished him to
undertake. So that the boys were not in
the least surprised when, on arriving at the
Witches’ Lair, they were requested to repair,
each by himself, to the immediate neigh-
bourhood ~of the twelve fir-trees. When
they reached their goals, they were ~too
far apart for conversation; but this they
did not mind, since the July sun was already
hot, and they were not sorry to rest after
the long climb from the village road.
Eustace curled up on the short turf in his
favourite attitude—elbows on knees and chin
on hands. He supposed Gladys would soon
come and send him on some errand; but
this morning he was unwilling to find fault,
even with imperious Gladys. His thoughts
roved far from the scene about him, and
carried him back to the old knightly days
and to the tales of chivalry he had_ heard
i Cc
34 . THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

from Miss Elizabeth, or read for himself—
tales which Eustace really loved, though he
liked better still his father’s stories of Have-:
lock and Lawrence and Gordon. :

Aylmer stretched himself at full-length
beneath the fir-tree consecrated to the fancies
of golden-haired Clarice, drew out his note-
book, and determined to finish the second



Poetic Fervour.—. 34.

verse of The Dalesman’s Lament. For the
time, everything was still, and inspiring of
poetic fervour; and Aylmer was soon strug-
gling with an awkward metre which he had
been at pains to invent for his own con-
fusion.

Rupert congratulated himself that a quiet
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. ‘35

pool of .the Witches’ Burn lay right under
Berta’s tree; for he suspected that his curls
were out of order, and he wanted to arrange
his necktie in a knot he had admired when
displayed on the shirt-front of an elder
brother. °

Edmund crept into the shadow of some
gorse bushes close to Cecily’s tree; and
having glanced round rapidly, drew from his
pockets a private supply of nuts, all of which
he trusted to demolish before Cecily should
make her appearance. He was aware that
he could not hope for Cecily’s vote if he
did not offer to share with her his spoil.

Guy, for once calm, and indignant with
nobody, simply pulled his hat low over his
eyes to keep off the broiling sun, and lolled
at ease under Hilda’s tree. Let Hilda tease
and plague as she chose, her time would be
short. To-morrow—!

Bevis arrived at the foot of the fir belong-
ing to Lynette, and at once began to try if
he could clamber to its lowest branch. This
was high above his head, and, as he was by
no means an adept at climbing, his short

e
"36 “THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

arms and sturdy legs exerted themselves in
vain. But Bevis was a’ very ‘simple-minded
boy; and when he was too tired to wriggle
up the fir-trunk any longer, he still stood
blinking up at the nearest branch, and think-
‘ing how nice it would be if only he could
get there. '

Lancelot was at great pains to make him-
self ‘comfortable under .Winifred’s tree. As
it was so hot, he was sure. he could do
without -his jacket as: an article of clothing,
and he quickly turned. it into a. pillow. In
three minutes he was in a delicious doze.
Lancelot was the greatest of Miss Elizabeth’s
disappointments among+the boys. She had
given to him the name of Arthur's most
famous knight; and, alas! he never was so
happy -as when lying still and doing nothing.

Cyril crouched in a heap beneath the tree
claimed by Mildred. He was certain it was
the barest, the ugliest, the nastiest of all the
trees. He was sure no boy wore so hot a
suit as himself He was convinced no girl
knew how to be so provoking as Mildred,
He hated “Witches” worse than any other
ILHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 37.

game. He was by nature and profession an
ill-used varlet; and he made a half-hearted
attempt for the Prize while positive before-
hand that all the Fates had determined he
should not get it.



A delicious doze.—. 36.

Maurice paced up and down near Erica’s
fir-tree, and wished to goodness that the girls
would make up their minds what they wanted,
and engage the whole party in some sensible,
straightforward game instead of expecting a
‘fellow to fancy himself a witch or a fairy.
38 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Wilfred began to collect the fallen cones
under Adeline’s tree. Adeline might order
him to collect cones, and would surely be
_ pleased to find her wishes forestalled. Wilfred
was in extreme awe of the girls, and sincerely
desired to propitiate them. And if his energy
in collecting cones should induce them to
bestow on him their votes, he was sure that
the possession of a wheel-barrow for his
garden would leave him nothing on earth to
wish for.

Florian willingly retired to ake meagre
shade cast by the gaunt boughs of Amabel’s
fir-tree. His thoughts dwelt pleasantly on
Amabel, whose courtesy had yesterday helped
his adventurous mission. Florian smiled at
the sunlit scenery below him, and was
placidly content.

Tristan flung an arm about Dorothy's fir-
stem and laughed mockingly under his breath,

«Td like to know what those girls are up
to—some trick, or my name isn’t Tristan
Beaudesert. Never mind! We'll have our
innings to-morrow!”

And Tristan continued to chuckle mock-
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 39

ingly, and to invent disagreeable speeches
with which to quench Dorothy’s impertinence
when the dawn of a Boy Day should give
license to his tongue.

Eustace, curled under Gladys’s tree, was
charging with Prince Eugene (in imagination),
when Gladys herself came. quickly through
the gorse and bracken and stood in front
of him. She stood only for a - moment.
Suddenly, with a shake of her head, which
threw her long dark hair all over her face,
she began to revolve slowly about .Eustace
in a weird dance which she accompanied
by strange sounds intended to represent a
goblin incantation. Presently she came to a
pause, with forefinger pointed at Eustace,
whom she addressed in a hoarse whisper.

“Now, good Sir Eustace, all is over with
you! In vain will it be to cry out on Fate,
for Hecate herself has spoken your doom.
Know, Eustace, that you are bewitched ; and
that you may not move from the magic
circle woven by Hecate till the sun sinks
low in yonder heavens !”

“Oh, indeed!” replied Eustace indiffer-
ently. “All right.”
40 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Gladys was a good deal disappointed. She
truly desired to annoy Eustace, and to worry
him into a squabble which might excuse a
little real tyranny. Indeed, she spent several
minutes in tantalizing descriptions of the cap-
ital fun the girls intended to enjoy within
the Witches’ Lair, while a circle of bewitched
boys kept unwilling watch and ward.

“You are our victims,” explained Gladys
with great unction. ‘We have lured you to
our den in order to torment you properly.
You are valiant Knights laid under a cruel
spell.”

‘And suppose we choose to break the spell
and escape ?” suggested Eustace.

“You can’t,” returned Gladys triumphantly.
“This is a Girl Day, and we've a right to
arrange our own game. You are on honour
not to spoil it.”

“Very well,” said Eustace, after a moment’s
silence. “If I’m bewitched, I suppose I am.”

“Good-bye, Sir Knight,” said Gladys,
“Bread and water shall be served to you by
my goblins at noonday and at even.”

“Good-bye, Hecate,” responded Eustace ;
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 41

and Gladys went dancing back through the
bracken.
Meanwhile, each of the other girls had
repaired to her own tree, and with similar
awesome ceremonies had woven spells over.
her waiting slave. The information that
during the long, beautiful summer day they
were to play the part of Victims to the
baleful influences of the girl-witches struck
despair to the souls of most of the boys.
They realized that as they had given their
promise to let the day’s diversions be accord-
ing to the fancy of the girls, they were
powerless to release themselves without a
break of faith which would certainly forfeit
all claims to the Holiday Prize. .
Aylmer heard his sentence pronounced by
the smiling lips of plump little Clarice—a
girl to whose golden locks and sleepy brown
eyes he had in vain dedicated flattering
verse. Clarice pronounced his best rhymes
to be tiresome rubbish; and heard his most
ambitious efforts with irrepressible giggles. —
“Well,” said Aylmer, recognizing immedi-
ately (as did each boy in his own case) the
ao THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

hopelessness of resistance to girl-whims, “I
don’t much mind if I do stick here. I
shall have my Lament done. by sunset; so
good-day, Madam Broomstick! A poet is
indifferent to the claims of appetite. Bread
and water will do very well.”

“Before I leave you, Sir Knight,” said
Clarice, her round cheeks dimpling with
delight, “I warn you that I have bewitched
yonder note-book and pencil, and all the
pencils and papers in your bulgy pockets.
You are to give them up to me. And if
you make a single scrap of poetry in your
head to-day, you'll break the spell and spoil
our game, and you “shan’t have our Prize
votes |”

“Oh, I say!” groaned Aylmer. And he
_ would have pleaded—but Clarice was inexor-
able; and she went off with ten pencils and
dozens of scraps of paper, leaving behind
her a wretched boy.

As for Rupert, he was first bemicned by
Berta, and then made to listen to a long
lecture on the snares of vanity.

“Throughout this livelong day, Sir Rupert,”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 43

said Berta, ‘‘you shall not once behold your
own face. You shall sit here with your back
to my tree and to that stream into which
you have been gazing. Thus will you learn
to think of something beside yourself.”

Rupert began to lament; but Berta imme-
diately pointed out the penalty of disobedience ;
and Rupert was compelled. to abandon for
. a whole day the successful knotting of his
new tie. 3

Cecily danced into the neighbourhood of
Edmund just as his hand ‘dived into his
pockets for a second supply of nuts. He
heard his doom with comparative philosophy
until his intended fare was mentioned.

“Bread and water indeed!” he cried indig-
nantly. ‘Oh, you greedy pigs of girls! All
those lovely cakes and apples and sandwiches
and tarts we boys clubbed to bring for a
feast—you aren’t going to have them and
not give us any?”

“That’s just what we are going to do,
though,” said Cecily, who was always a little
snappy because she hated being the comrade
of a boy who cared so much about eating,
44 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

«And, listen, Sir Edmund, Knight of the
Gooseberry Pie! I have bewitched every one
of your pockets. You have nuts and biscuits
in them: you always have nuts and biscuits
in them. I command you to turn every

one of your pockets out.”



She helped him to empty his pockets with speed.—/. 44.

Edmund muttered sulkily; but Cecily
reminded him quietly of the Prize votes;
and as he then set to work very slowly,
she made him stand still while she helped
him to empty his pockets with speed.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 45.

The edible contents of Edmund’s pockets
were then spread in a row on the turf. They
were :

Sixty-four nuts.

Twenty sweet biscuits.

Three cakes of toffee.

Six apples.

One sausage-roll (much squashed).

Two apple-tarts and a jam puff e frag-

ments).
“Who is oe I wonders inquired
Cecily sternly: ‘“ Look you, Sir Edmund;
half these goodies have you stolen from’ the
luncheon- PES ses as you lurked behind in-the
village.”

“T didn’t!” moaned Ba

“You did. And mind, a knight ahs tells
stories is not the one to win a Prize.”
Cecily pulled out a pencil, and wrote -on
an old .envelope a complete inventory of
the provender spread on the turf. “There!
now I know exactly what you have brought.
You shall stay here, Sir Edmund, with all
these nice things in front: of you; but you
shall not. touch. one of them. They are
bewitched, and are not for you.” :
46 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Oh, don’t leave them, then!” implored
Edmund. “Don’t make me see them if I
mayn't eat them!”

“Such is the punishment of greediness!”
laughed Cecily ; and she ran merrily away.

Guy received his sentence with an outburst
of fiery scorn. Of course, the more he raged
the more Hilda laughed, until Guy, beside
himself with passion, declared that he would
at that moment rush back to Cowslip Grange
and smash to pieces everything he could
get hold of which belonged to a girl. This
mild threat only made Hilda’s laughter ring
from end to end of the Witches’ Lair.

Olwdo vit, Guy |” she cried, “pray, pray:
do it! You will have such a splendid chance
for the Holiday Prize afterwards! What a
lovely knight you would have made, dear
Sir Guy! Oh, you will certainly get my
vote when yous) have destroyed my new
“racquet !”

Guy turned his back on Hilda and clenched
his hands. He desired, above everything in
the world, a gun exactly like the Squire’s
favourite one; and he knew that this would
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 47.

not be beyond his reach if he should win
the Prize, for Miss Elizabeth wished her
godsons to excel in manly sports. When he
turned again and met Hilda’s eyes, he forced
himself to say:

“1 beg your pardon, Hilda.”

Guy’s face was quite pale with the effort
at self-control; and Hilda was a little sorry
for her boy, although she knew that he
begged her pardon only because he greatly
longed for a real, grown-up kind of gun.
Besides, she did not really wish him to lose
all chance of the Prize.

“There!” she laughed, dancing round him,
“TI won't tease you any more—not any more
just now, Sir Guy, dear! I will leave you
to enjoy your own company; and I’m sure

that’s the worst my spells can do for you!” —

Guy managed not to make any reply to
this taunt, which had in it the sting of truth.
Guy’s restless nature caused half his troubles ;
and he soon began to wish that Hilda would

come back, even if she worried him unmerci- .

fully. It was miserable to have nobody to
storm at,

abe
48 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Bevis was still staring up at the branches
of Lynette’s fir-tree when Lynette herself
crept mysteriously out from the furze-bushes.
Bevis was so nervous that it was naturally
a great pleasure to Lynette to startle him,
and she now startled him. thoroughly. He
nearly jumped out of his shoes when she
sprang at him from behind. with a great
“ Boo!’ which was fearfully like a witch. At
least, Bevis thought so. ,

Lynette explained to her boy that he was
bewitched, and must remain where he was
throughout the long, bright day.

‘‘Well, if. I must, I must,” said Bevis,
quite as calm a§ Eustace had been. ‘ But
do you know, Lynette, I have an idea that
it would be very jolly to sit on that branch.
Would you mind giving me a hand up?
Then you could cast your spells on me after
I got there.” 3

-“] will agree to that, Sir Bevis,” said
Lynette, giggling; and the exertions of the
pair brought success to the ambition. of
Bevis. :

“Thank you, very much, Lynette,” | said
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 49

that gentleman, as he settled himself astride
the bough. “It is as jolly as possible.”

“T am glad to hear it, Sir Knight,” replied
Lynette pertly, “for there you are, and there
you will stay. You are bewitched, and



“You are bewitched !"”—/. 49.

condemned to remain on that branch until
I give you leave to jump off it.”

“JT will sit here as long as you like,”
said Bevis quickly, ‘and I will promise not
to forget that you are a Witch, and I am

D
50 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

a Victim. Then you will give me your
vote, won’t you, dear Lynette? for I want
very much a new cricket ball of real leather.”
' “We shall see,” returned Lynette as she
ran gaily off.

Winifred found Lancelot asleep; so she
tickled him with fern-leaves and pricked him
with pine-needles till he woke. He was
asleep again before she had finished her
spell; so then she made him stand up and
listen to her respectfully.

Lancelot was by far too lazy to have any
chance of the Prize (for a boy who is asleep
half his time js of no real use to wide-
awake girls), but he did not choose to think
SO.

“T am sure I don’t want to go away from
here, Witch Winifred,” he said ‘smilingly.
“There is a nice bit of shade under this
delightful tree of yours; and the gentle mur-
mur of the brook is deliciously dozy. Never —
mind bringing the bread and water—I would
much rather be left alone.”

“I daresay’ you would!” exclaimed Wini-
fred; and springing at Lancelot she shook
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 51

him angrily. Not one among the girls was
so active and eager as Winifred; and that
was why Miss Elizabeth had named Lazy
Lance to be her boy. ‘Oh, you. are no
better than a sheep! Now listen, my valiant
Sir Lancelot! I cast my spell over you, and
forbid you to shut your eyes once until you
get into bed to-night. You are to walk
round this tree fifty times every half-hour;
and I think that ought to keep you awake!”

Lancelot was speechless with horror at his
fate ; he did not even notice Winifred’s fare- i
well glance of contempt.

“Oh, yes!” grumbled Cyril, when Mildred
made him aware of the, Witches’ decree.
“Of course you have got this up just to
spite me. You need not tell me Gladys
has planned such a stupid play, for I don’t
believe you. You needn’t pretend all the
other boys are ‘bewitched’—I- know it’s -
only I, and you are playing a trick on me
just because if I don’t keep friends with
you I can’t try for the Prize.”

“Anyway, you've to stay here,” said Mil-
dred; “‘and if you choose to sulk you. can!”
52 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

- “Qh, yes! of course I’m ‘sulking,’” grunted
Cyril. “You're the nastiest girl I ever knew,
Mildred.”

“Well, only a very nasty girl would vote
for a nasty boy, 1 suppose,” retorted Mil-
dred, ‘‘so perhaps you've a chance after all,
Sir Cyril!”

“A chance! Catch anybody giving me a
chance!” said Cyril disagreeably. ‘Why,

”



you know you've made up your mind

But Mildred was not going to hear Cyril's
snarls; and she just sprang away from him
with a provoking laugh.

Maurice was already impatient when Erica,
her blue eyes gazing dreamily round her,
glided softly through the bracken about her
tree. She loved the bracken, and the gorse,
and the little stream; she knew every wild
flower and plant by name; she sang like
any bird, and could pick up even a snail
without shrinking. Her verses were far bet-
ter than Aylmer’s; and she meant, when she
grew up, to do very wonderful things.

No girl could have been less in sympathy
with downright Maurice; the bluntness , of
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 63

whose manners Miss Elizabeth would fain
have seen smoothed by contact with Erica’s
dainty ways and self-possession.

‘Good gracious!” cried Maurice, after Erica
had moved round him three times with sylph-
like steps, pronouncing his doom meanwhile
in languid tones, “what tommy-rot you girls
do choose for your precious games! Thank
the stars, it will be our turn to-morrow, and
we'll teach you to enjoy yourselves. “I shan’t
bear malice; but for pity’s sake vanish now,
Erica, while I keep civil. You might clear, ,
off as fast as you can to oblige a fellow
who is in desperate need of a new fishing-
rod. Eh? Do, there’s a good girl.”

Erica drooped her golden head, and ee)
her boy with mournful gravity.

“Listen, fair Sir Maurice,” said the blue-
eyed witch, “the time has come when I may
haply work your good. Long have I lamented
your love of slang, and rough manners, and
neglected mind. Know that I have cast my
spell on you, and you must obey. See you
yonder shining sky? Hear you: yonder purl-
ing stream? Sit you down and take in hand
54 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

this note-book and this pencil. Ere the even-
ing-bell chimes to six hours, you must have
written for me an Ode to sky and stream in
flowing verse.” ;

‘“Good eg

‘Hush thee, fair Sir Maurice, and rebel
not! The Witch’s will is law. Let the
verse be smooth, and mayhap the fishing-rod



will reward the gentle rhymer. Fare—thee
—well!” . ;

And Erica glided gently away ; but Maurice
flung himself on his face and wished he could
be Aylmer or die. Presently he rose and
took. up the«aote-book ; for life with a new
fishing-rod would be very sweet indeed. As
the morning fled, he tugged his locks, and
bound a wet handkerchief round his brows;
and still the Muse was coy. i
' Adeline was a spoilt little monkey who
loved to domineer; and that was why she
had been selected to reform Wilfred. It
would have been hard for anybody else to
find a fault in Wilfred; but Adeline could
quarrel with a cherub at shortest notice, and
2s Wilfred did not understand the art of






eethe sunshine gleam!
Lisler to the stream!

sts Le
Re 4 S
sae




Dalkey et
1 Mark how blue the sky! a

\, Twice as blue’am I
SN -\ 4 & . an

-And still the Muse was.coy.—#. 54... ~~






“we
56 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

quarrelling, he merely wondered. The whims
of Adeline and the other girls kept him in
a perpetual state of astonishment. Adeline
hoped that the news she brought her boy
might reduce him to such a state of despair
as would be highly amusing to watch; but
Wilfred’s eyes and mouth at once arranged
themselves into complete circles—a feeble
manner of expressing his overpowering amaze-
ment. His eyes were still full moons when
Adeline brought her spells to an end.

“There!” she exclaimed triumphantly, “now
you are bewitched, and I have got rid of
you for a whvle day.”

“But why,” inquired Wilfred with great
earnestness, “why do you want to get rid
of me, dear Adeline?”

“Because you are such a silly fellow,”
replied Adeline rudely. ‘What have you
been doing all this while, Sir Goose?”

“T have been gathering all these cones for
you, Adeline,” exclaimed Wilfred. ‘ See,” he
added timidly, “what a lot I have found!—
but why am I a goose?”

““Why—why—why !” mimicked Adeline.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 57

“Why, because you can do nothing of your
own accord, but must be driven.”

“JT have gathered these cones all by my-
self,” responded Wilfred, with his head cocked
meditatively to one side. ‘“ But why must I
be driven, dear Adeline?”

“ Why—why—why !” mimicked Adeline.

“Please let me bring my cones for the
fire,” pleaded Wilfred gently. “They are
such nice cones; and, you know, unless I
keep close to you I have no chance for the
Prize. And I do so very much want a,
wheel-barrow for my garden. Why don’t you
like my cones, dear Adeline?”

“ Why—why—why!” mimicked Adeline ;
and as Wilfred’s eyes grew larger and rounder
she gave him a push and ran away.

Amabel’s happy and good-natured face was
puckered and her cheeks wet with tears as
she came with halting steps to the side of
Florian. She was crying bitterly when, with-
out being able to say a word, she sat down
all a heap on the turf. It hurt her dreadfully
to be the bearer of such a cruel message to
such a boy as Florian, whom, for her part,
she never tried to reform.
58 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Florian immediately sat down also, and
began to rub his own eyes. He was so
extremely sympathetic that the sorrows of
others were always his; and his affection for
Amabel made it very. trying to his feelings
to see her misery. ;



‘*What zs the matter, Amabel?”—#. 58,

“Oh, dear!” sobbed Amabel; ‘oh, dear!”
‘What zs the matter, Amabel?” asked
Florian anxiously, “I see you have not
broken an ‘arm or a leg, or torn your frock;

v
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 59

I don’t think you can be hungry, and you
never are cross! I do hope you haven’t the
toothache ?” i

“Oh, no!” moaned Amabel, “I ‘haven't
anything. But Gladys has planned such an
unkind game, and you'll think I’m so horrid.”

“No, I shan’t,” said Florian gallantly ;
“you couldn’t be horrid if you tried, and
I’m sure you won't try.”.

“But I am to bewitch you!” groaned
Amabel; and leaning on Florian’s shoulder,
she explained to him the part the boys were _
to play in the game of ‘“ Witches.”

Florian could not help heaving one or two
sighs. He was so sociable that the prospect
of a long day’s loneliness really depressed
him; but he strove to cheer the weeping
Amabel, and encouraged her to perform her
spells according to the orders of Gladys.

“There is one thing I will not do,”
Amabel eagerly assured him; “I will not
bring you any bread and water. Dear Sir
Florian, you shall have half my dinner; and
I will see if I cannot smuggle you some
apples and a whole bottle of lemonade.” °
60 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Florian expressed his fervent gratitude.
He thought he could have managed very
well for once on the fare accorded to Victims;
but if it would really relieve Amabel’s mind
to go shares with him, why, he would see
that she had the best of everything on the
first Boy Day. So he rubbed her cheeks
with his own pocket-handkerchief and watched
her depart in smiles.

Dorothy did not attempt to conceal her
delight while she told her tidings, which
were received by Tristan with an _ ironical
bow.

“Say to Giadys,” he said mockingly, ‘that
I humbly congratulate her on her inventive
powers. I fear the planning of such a mag-
nificent game must have kept her awake
all night. We poor boys have no chance of
- rivalling you girls in making ‘Original
Designs for Spoiling Other People’s Pleasure.’
It’s your favourite occupation, isn’t it, fair
Dorothy ?” -

“Quite our favourite,” retorted Dorothy,
with beaming glance; “except that other one
of ‘Laughing at the Airs of Ridiculous
Boys.” ;
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 61

Tristan reddened angrily; for he knew
that even his comrades laughed not a little
at his fine speeches and foolish affectations.
He considered himself a very clever fellow ;
so Miss Elizabeth hoped saucy Dorothy
might tease him out of his conceit and teach
him knightly humility.

“JT am afraid,’ sneered Tristan, ‘I don’t
appreciate as I ought the wit and resource
of girls; but pray help me, Dorothy.
What is the special joy of this particular
game? Is it the happiness of hunting. all
over the place for dry sticks, or the black- ¥
ing of your faces and hands over the bonfire,
or the lugging about of the baskets and bags,
or the spreading of your cloth and laying
of your dinner? I thought such blisses as
those were reserved for us boys.”

‘They used to be,” said Dorothy, just as
disagreeably, “but we girls are wiser now,
and see that all those things are far too
good for you. While we are scampering
about, you ‘will remain here, amiable Sir
Tristan, and practise the art of standing
first on one leg and then on the other.
62 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

You have no idea how much interested you
will be! When I bring you your prison fare,
I shall find my Victim a sadder and a wiser
boy !”

Tristan tried to remember all the nasty
things he had intended to say, but they
had gone right out of his head to leave
room for his indignation that Dorothy should
in any way get the better of him. It is
no joy to a really conceited person to be
left for a whole day with no one to admire
him except himself; and Tristan was so
sure of his own cleverness that it no longer
kept him corapany.

The hours ran on merrily enough for the
girls. They played Witches with great spirit
for their special diversion; and only Amabel
missed a boy, and Amabel missed only
Florian. Even Eustace was for a while for-
gotten. The Victims were left to their fate,
until mid-day brought their meagre fare in
the hands of Gladys’s familiars.

_ Amabel carried bread in one hand and a
cup of water in the other when she visited
Florian ; but ‘her «pockets contained an excel-
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 63

lent dinner, and she had tied a bottle of
lemonade by a string to her waist. Amabel
was afraid of Gladys’s wrath, and dared not
linger: but she laid out all her good things
in front of the delighted Florian, and left
him to enjoy the reward of persistent ami-
ability.

Indeed, the sweetness of Florian’s temper
was quite unspoilable; and his face, alone,
was decked with smiling serenity when even-
ing set the boys free from their prisons,
Freedom had come to them in the form of
a message from Gladys—a message borne to
each Victim in turn by the pert and selfish
Adeline :—

“*Sir Knight, you are to make your way
to the Cave of Hecate. There will you
find the ruins of the bonfire round which
the Witches have danced, and the remnants
of the feast which the Witches have enjoyed.
These remnants are left for the Victims;
who, after they have eaten, may shoulder
the baskets and hie them home. To-morrow,
at nine of the clock, let the meeting place
be again the tennis-ground,’”
64 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Revenge!” shouted Guy at the top of
his voice, as he stretched his cramped limbs
on the downhill way to the village.

“Revenge!” repeated Edmund ferociously.
“What did that greedy Adeline do but take
away with her even the few nuts and a
biscuit or two Cecily made me turn out of
my pockets!”

“Revenge!” echoed Cyril. ‘ Mildred always
spites me; now I'll spite Mildred!”

“Revenge!” murmured Lancelot sleepily.
“Winifred never can leave a fellow in peace.
To-morrow she shall lie in a hammock all
day !” 4

“Revenge!” cried Rupert with determin-
tion. ‘ That Berta ‘is a cheeky imp!”

“Oh, humbug!” interrupted Maurice con-
temptuously. “Do you think we're going to
spoil our day waiting about while all you
fellows try to pay off your girls for their
pranks?”

“ Besides,” argued Eustace, who, as a non-
competitor for the Prize, fitly assumed an
impartial air, “revenge is twaddle—the thing
is to enjoy ourselves to-morrow our own

way.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 65

“Perhaps,” said Tristan, in his usual drawl,
“wed better be candid. How can we
revenge ourselves on girls who don’t care
twopence what we say? TZey aren’t trying
for a Prize. You can tell your precious
Winifred to get into a hammock, Lance;



“To-morrow she shall lie in a hammock all day.”—. 64.

but pray do you think she’s such a fool as_
to do it?”

“And then,” sighed Aylmer sentimentally,
“girls are cruel but charming. Clarice has

TS
66 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

bidden me not to string a rhyme till I lie
- a-bed; or, indeed, I must have flung a verse
or two after her flying feet!”

_;Maurice broke into a great laugh. “Ha!
Aylmer, did you ever dream you had a
fellow-poet? Mercy! I wish you could have
whispered one of your blessed ‘rhymes’ in
my ear this afternoon! Miss Erica must
have had fits when Adeline carried her the
effort of my Muse. This was it :—

«See the sunshine gleam !
Listen .to the stream !
Mark how blue the sky !—

* Twice as “blue” am I!’

What of that, Poet Aylmer?”

Maurice laughed long and loudly, and
Aylmer begged that a copy of the poem
might be written out for his private study.
Meanwhile Florian had wandered ahead,
making gentle plans of peace and _ friendli-
ness. Now he turned, and linking his arm
in that of Eustace, his favourite chum, he
said persuasively : eae

“See, boys! To-morrow will be our day;
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 67:

and the girls have promised to. let us choose
the game. Suppose we forget all about to-
day, and make a fresh start?”

“Oh, I daresay!” grunted the. revengeful
ones.

“We can choose something fit for boys,”
continued Florian, ‘and yet nothing which:
the girls will dislike to play at. Then-we
needn’t quarrel.”

“Cricket, I vote!” exclaimed’ Maurice
cheerily.. “I have promised not to bear Erica
malice for giving me poetry to write; and —
if she doesn’t bear me malice for doing it,
I’m willing to bowl her slow underhands!”

It was noticeable that every face among
those of the discontents had cleared at the
mention of cricket. Edmund ceased to mourn
his nuts, Lance forgot his hammock, Rupert
remembered that he could: wear a new and
resplendent blazer, Cyril determined to be
Umpire,.and decide the fates of others instead
of allowing others to wreak malice on him-
self, and Guy expended his superfluous passion
in harmless bangs of Hilda’s basket.

The voices of the boys gradually sank
63 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

J

into harmonious murmurs ere they reached
the village and pulled up for a good-night
chat. Only Eustace was silent.

. “Tt will be first-rate, old fellow, won’t it?”
laughed Florian, dragging his friend off down
a honeysuckled lane to the Colonel’s timbered
cottage. ‘The girls have had the ground to
themselves this whole season. Not a game
have they let us play!—but we'll make up
for it on Boy Days.” 3

: “We can try!” said Eustace. And he
smiled: a little doubtfully.




CHAPTER - III.

CANNOT understand,” said
Florian sadly, ‘what makes it





so dreadfully difficult to please ~
girls—I mean, our girls.”

“T can,” returned Eustace shortly, “ it is
Gladys’s fault. She wants her own way in
everything, and the others just follow her.”

“Why does Gladys want her own way?”
inquired Wilfred, who was whittling a stick
which he meant, by-and-by, to present to
Adeline. As nobody took any notice of his
question, he went on whittling, and wondeted
meanwhile whether the stick would please
Adeline better with rings of bark left on, or
with no bark at all.

“Pooh!” exclaimed Cyril, who humped
70 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE:

his shoulders so often that they threatened
to reach the level of his ears, “the girls.
treat all you fellows well enough. They

spite only me.”
There was a loud shout of dissent.

it

QR Be eS
SE AGE
RINE >

my



Into a neighbouring bramble-bed.— Z. 71. Ys

- “Yes, they do!” persisted Cyril vindic-
tively. ‘Look at Gladys! I know she has
made Mildred decide not to vote for me.
Gladys is an awful sneak—”

’ Here Eustace crossed the road in three
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 71

bounds, and Cyril spun away into a neigh-
bouring bramble-bed:

“Snarled at her himself five minutes
ago!” muttered the fallen knight, as he
picked himself up and released his person
from the revengeful briars. “But Eustace
always spites me.”

A sense of oppression and ill usage suited
itself comfortably to Cyril's humour; so that
the grudge he owed Eustace now kept him
pleasant company, and rendered it unneces-
sary for him to run after his comrades. *

He was still far behind when the boys
turned into a shrubbery path at Cowslip
Grange, and heard the distant laughter’ on
‘the tennis-ground. . ;

“The girls are very lively!” sighed
Lancelot. “I believe if we got here at
three in the morning they would be before
us!”

‘Remember that we had to wait a quarter-
of-an-hour while somebody ‘pulled you out of
bed, Lance,” said Maurice bluntly. ‘We
are late, thanks to you. . Goodness knows, .
we didn’t need to lose a minute of our
72 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

precious day. Suppose we run on,’ Guy?
We might be tossing for sides, or something
to save time.”

fe Mercy on us!” groaned Lancelot, ‘what
an awfully tiresome fellow you are, Maurice.
Why on earth do you want to run when
you can walk?”

“Stay!” interrupted Florian, who feared
another breach of the peace, “let us rather
decide, while we are together, how we shall
play.”
“We needn't trouble ourselves,” said
Tristan, ‘the girls will do all the ‘deciding ’
fOmAusie a) ,

“No, they won't!” exclaimed Guy. “This
is a Boy Day, and we have right of choice.”

“Right!” echoed Tristan jeeringly. “ We'll
see.”

“Yes, we'll see!” cried Guy, with flushing
cheeks. “Gladys kept us to our word yester-
day; we'll keep her to hers to-day.”

“There, there!” said Maurice equitably,
“we won't begin by quarrelling. If Gladys
wins the toss, she may pick her side for
aught I care. Anything for a game!” con-
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 73

tinued Maurice, flinging his arms above his
head with a fine display of muscle. ‘Oh!
anything for a good, straightlorward game
with no pretendings.”

The other boys echoed these sensible
words most eagerly. They really pined for
a piece of hearty fun, in which they might,
for once, prove themselves superior to the .
- girl-race.

The Cowslip Meadows girls would ‘have
laughed at such a sentiment. Indeed, they
were already laughing among themselves,
and it was a difficult. matter to abate their
laughter when the boys trooped on to the
tennis-ground—the smiling face of Florian,
as ambassador of peace and justice, being
well f the front.

“Make haste, boys!” cried Gladys, just
as imperiously as though she were chief-in-
command; ‘you have kept us waiting.”

“We are very sorry,” replied Florian
pleasantly, ‘‘and we. will make up for lost
time by giving you toss-up for sides.”

Some of the boys groaned; but Eustace
said “Shut up!” and looked cuore at his
girl.
74 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“As to that,” said Gladys calmly, ‘we
couldn’t think of tossing up. Since this is
a Boy Day, you had better keep together.
Oh, yes! I’ve arranged it all, Florian. We
play ‘girls versus boys,’ ae Mildred will
stand out and be umpire.”

Maurice’s cheeks extended in a broad
chuckle. “Hooray!” he shouted, ‘“ ‘girls
versus boys’—oh, certainly!”

“No broomsticks, I suppose, Gladys?”
suggested Tristan; but, of course, the girls
gave no heed to the insult.

Cyril came on the spot in time to declare
himself umpire for the boys, and to cast a
withering look at his coadjutor, who promptly
turned her back on him and began to
examine her note-book.

Then the whole company started for the
cricket-field. It was a charming meadow,
fenced about with a high hedge, at sufficient
distance from the wicket to make the runs
for a ball placed out of bounds count as
six. The pitch was a capital one; and
though the girls had been practising regularly
since May, they had done no real damage.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. We

’ Maurice’s eyes danced as they beheld the
smooth green turf, on which he had not for
long had a chance of displaying his abilities
as a batsman.

Eustace captained the boys and Gladys
the girls, The latter won the toss and sent
the boys in.

They started at half-past nine, with Eustace
and Maurice at the wickets. At half-past
ten the boys’ innings was over, and Eustace
had mournfully carried out his bat. The
girls’ bowling had been changed only once.
It was superb, and their ae struck the
poor boys dumb.

Indeed, they had nothing to say. A row
of crestfallen faces may express disaster more
eloquently than speech. The faces of Miss
Elizabeth’s godsons expressed absolute des-
pair. They were being beaten on their own
ground—literally on their own ground, for
the Squire had once on a time presented the
cricket-field to the Jdoys, though the girls
seemed to have forgotten the fact.

“This is awful!” groaned Maurice at last.
“For pity’s sake, Eustace, go on to bowl.
76 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Those twisters of yours ought to puzzle
Gladys; and I know—we know—she is their
best bat.”

Eustace smiled in a sphinx-like fashion;
but he said “All right!” and Maurice went
off to drown his disappointment in lemonade.
The other boys were already engaged in
this task, and Edmund seemed likely to
drown himself in lemonade before -he had
finished.

Florian had not forgotten to carry a
generous jugful of the home-made liquid to
his opponents, or to pay Amabel a graceful
compliment on the neat manner in which
she had caught him out. Amabel replied
just as gracefully that she sincerely regretted |
the necessity of cutting his score short at a
duck. :

The girls reclined under the beech-trees
in a picturesque group; and obeying a shake
of the head from Gladys, they one and all
declined lemonade.

“You are very obliging, Florian,” said
_ their captain civilly ; “but you are welcome
to the lemonade. My team are not hot; you
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 7

see, you boys have not given us much exer-
tion, Still, as this is a Boy Day, we are
willing to wait till all the jugs are empty.”
The girls waited. Eustace went from one
to the other of his team, begging them in
vain to moderate their affection for lemonade.

a Te

i tp he wee PY ;
nave Os
ICA eu Met ae

7 Mey Me yi

0, COM

f ftv ag

|



as AN
ne iD

yids ays

One and all declined lemonade.—#. 76.

“You will be perfect duffers in the field!”
he remonstrated, “and I am sure you need
all your wits about you if you mean to
get the girls out. Edmund, what are you
78 LHE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

sneaking behind that bush for? Ugh! you
are carrying off the biggest jug. : Put it
down, I am going to call time.”

. Gladys and Berta walked to the wickets,
and Eustace put himself on to bowl, with
Guy as his partner. It was soon seen that
Guy was no good at all; and as the girls
knocked about his best balls and smiled at
his worst, his temper rose till it mastered
him completely. He flung the ball at
Gladys, and flung himself off to cover-point.

As for Gladys, she caught and held the
ball with an ease which astonished Eustace,
who fea sprung forward to stop it before it
should do damage.

“Oh, don’t trouble!” remarked Gladys:
calmly, “it was an easy catch,” and she
handed. him the ball.

The two captains looked at one another.
Rage was in the heart of Eustace, but he
lifted his cap, and said stiffly,

- “Tam sorry my man was such a beast.
He shan't go on again.”
“Oh, don’t mention it!” said Gladys, and
her eyes danced with fun. .
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 79

Eustace retired, taking hurried counsel
with himself. Edmund,- who, once on a time,
had been a reliable left-hand :bowler, was at
present completely overcome with lemonade.
Bevis and Wilfred were too small to have
much strength of wrist, and nothing was
expected of them except round-eyed watch-
fulness for a chance catch. Florian was too
amiable to plan seriously the destruction of
an enemy; and he was, besides, a useful
wicket-keeper. Lancelot detested the exer-



tion required of a good bowler.. Aylmer

“You have not much choice, fair Sir
Eustace!” Gladys had crept close to her.
boy, and her voice sounded mockingly in
his ear.

“No, I haven't,” replied Eustace shortly.

“Take my advice. Put on Rupert. -He
taught Berta to bat, and he knows her
ways.” Gladys turned with a queer little
nod.

Eustace hated to take the counsel of
Gladys, but he knew it was good. Yes,
Rupert had taught Berta—as he himself had
taught Gladys, when she was a much smaller
so THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

and much nicer girl. Nicer? Well, of |
course, she must have been nicer then, when
she exacted no more fatiguing service than
a. ride pick-a-back.

Rupert came cheerily from long-field-off.
He meant to make mincemeat of his former
pupil.

But Berta made mincemeat of his balls,
and at length fell a victim to Florian’s refined
wicket-keeping. Her bails flew, and she
smilingly walked off the pitch amid profuse
compliments from her destroyer. Rupert,
thus baulked of his vengeance, was no good,
and fumed himself back to long-field-off.

Dorothy took Berta’s place, and Eustace,
profiting by Gladys’s hint, put on Tristan.
Alas! as in the case of” Rupert, the bowler’s.
very eagerness brought him to ‘confusion.
Dorothy’s roguish glance roused Tristan to
impotent anger.

The runs mounted, and the byes helped
them. In the first over, Dorothy sent
Tristan’s best ball clean out of bounds, and
shouted “Six for me!” in a triumphant and
exasperating manner. ‘

\
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. £81

“The petticoats have it!” sneered Tristan.
“Upon my word, Eustace, we had. better,
borrow our sisters’ pinafores.”

“You had better borrow your sisters’



ag

= FOR,

Dorothy was bending easily over her bat.—#. 81.

brains!” retorted Dorothy, “only I’m afraid

your heads mightn’t find room for them!”

At this Tristan flushed scarlet, and looked

ready to repeat Guy’s feat; but Dorothy

was bending easily over her bat, and he
F
82 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

was forced to make another try for her
wicket, |

The girls had begun to rate their oppo-
nents very low indeed ; and presently Dorothy
played a ball right into the chubby hands
of Bevis, who for several seconds stood
gazing at the ball as though he couldn't
believe in his own luck.

The departure of Dorothy somewhat
restored Tristan’s nerve, and he succeeded
in getting rid of Erica and Clarice before
the umpires called time, and the rival teams
adjotitned for dinner..

Edmund began earnestly to endeavour to
persuade the other boys that the moment
for revenge had now arrived. Let them
remember yesterday’s dry bread and water!

“What nonsense!” roared Maurice, who
was incapable of meanness, ‘these baskets
are crammed with goodies, and the girls
brought their share. Here, Edmund, you
idiot! help the kids with the cloth, for we
can’t trust you with the tuck.”

Edmund moved off sulkily, for he had
longed to carry a plateful of crusts to Cecily,
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 83

and invite her to spread them in a row
before her and allow him to take their
inventory.

The boys were very busy. As a rule, the
girls had taken the lead at picnics; but now,
no girl came forward with a word of advice
or command. It seemed as though they
really acknowledged the obligations and re-
strictions of a Boy Day, and were waiting
politely, beneath - the far-off beech-trees, till
summoned to the feast. The spirits of the
poor knights rose. Though beaten on the
field, there was still the Holiday Prize to
be won; and with the girls in this courteous
and unassuming mood, many votes might be
secured by assiduous attention to that appe-
tite for dainties which is known to distinguish
girls, At all events, they could ‘not fail to
appreciate the superior generosity which was
about to bid them share freely with their
victims of the day before.

The cloth was spread and neatly covered.
with provender; and by the place of each
girl. Aylmer laid a different wild. flower.
Florian sped away with his message of good-
will,
84 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

It was quite a trot ‘to the ‘beeches:
Beneath the trees there was a. mossy bank,
and along this bank, in a row, sat Gladys
and her companions. When Florian came
close he nearly gasped. Spread on the
knees of every girl was a clean white
pocket-handkerchief, on the handkerchief a
sheet of white paper, and in the middle of
the paper a tidy pile of nicely-cut sand-
wiches. The girls were eating these sand-
wiches with evident contentment, and they
were drinking milk which had been brought
to thém by a farm-lad, just disappearing
over a distant stile.

“Oh, Gladys!” exclaimed Florian, when
he had recovered himself, “have you really
begun your dinner? We boys have spread
the cloth on the turf under the oaks, and
we have unpacked the baskets and put every-
thing ready. We have pigeon-pie for you,
and tongue, and sausages, and ginger-wine,
and all sorts of goodies. We hope you will
all come.” : ’

“Dear Florian,” said Erica, languidly,
“you boys think of nothing. but eating.”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 85

“Pray let Edmund have my share!” said
Cecily.

“Tell Lancelot I will spare him thé
trouble of waiting on me,” said dank-eyed
Winifred.

“Cyril shall not say any oitl has stolen
his dinner for spite,” laughed Mildred.

“JT won't give Guy the opportunity of
throwing jam tarts at me,” added Hilda. ~

Florian looked at the contemptuous girls
one by one, and at last fixed his appealing
eyes on Gladys.

- “Do come!” he begged eagerly.

“Thank you very much, Florian,” replied
the girls’ captain serenely; ‘but we much
prefer to stay where we are. As it is a Boy
Day, we brought our share of goodies for
your dinner; you cannot say that we have
not treated you fairly. But when my team
play cricket, they do not eat pies and cakes.
We are willing to. leave them to you boys.,
Pray tell Eustace that he will find a whole
cream-cheese in. my basket. I believe he
adores cream-cheese.”

' “Gladys!” said Florian, reproachfully, ‘you,
86 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

know that Eustace is not a fellow for grub.
He has put the cheese, which looks delicious,
_ in front of -your plate.”

“T am sorry I have forgotten his taste,”
said Gladys, mockingly.

“Come, Gladys!” coaxed Florian, “I am
sure you don’t want to spoil our Boy Day!”

“Spoil your day!” repeated Gladys mis-
chievously ; “why, have we not shown our
kindness by keeping away? On a Girl Day,
is it not our first thought to get rid of.
you?”

“T suppose it is,” owned Florian dolefully ;
and followed by the pitying eyes of Amabel,
and the laughter of all the other girls, he
moved slowly away.

- The boys heard Florian’s news in crest-
fallen silence. They were cheated out of
their intended magnanimity, and they were
piqued by the airs of superior self-restraint
assumed by their rivals. In their hearts
they feared the consequences of a too liberal
dinner; but sheer resentment impelled them
to recklessness. Eustace satisfied nature, and
then looked gloomily on while his team
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 87

ate their own dinner and that of the girls
also.

The result was painful by-and-by. Stumps
were to be drawn at five o'clock; and at a
quarter-past four, when the last of the girls’
wickets fell (Gladys carrying out her bat),
the boys positively lacked thirty runs to
avoid a single-innings defeat. It now became
the sole hope of Eustace to avert this humil-
iation. He sent in Maurice and Guy, his |
two best bats, and implored them to play
with steadiness and discretion. In vain.
Guy lost his head and his wickets at Hilda’s
first attack, and Maurice, appalled. by the
disaster, went out l.b.w in the next over.

Then the boys began to go down like
ninepins; and the score was only six when,
at a quarter to five, poor Eustace sent him-
self in, with Wilfred at the opposite end.
Wilfred was a noted blocker, who, so long
as the other fellow could get the runs, might
be counted on to prolong an innings by
masterly inactivity. Indeed, his stronghold
was threatened harmlessly while Eustace suc-
ceeded in snatching three bounders off the
83° LEE VEL OE DANG Se RFE.

pick of the girls’ bowling. The score stood
at twenty-four, and stumps would be drawn,
in five» minutes. Off flew Wilfred’s _ bails,
and the girls raised a shout of triumph.

' Bevis was last man in. Fortunately, his
stolidity was unaffected by the importance
of his present position, and he nodded
cheerily at the pale and anxious face of his
captain. Amabel, with tears of sympathy
in her eyes, resumed her attack on Eustace’s
wicket. But she was ‘too sensitive to the
troubles of others to desire the enemy’s
absolute | breakdown; and Eustace ran a
couple ‘off her next attempt. In the two
following minutes two singles fell to Eustace’s
daring bat. .The score at twenty-eight—two
runs wanted and two minutes in which to
make them. Eustace felt his heart beat high
and there was a hush over the entire field.

- At this moment Gladys stepped forward,
and took the ball from the hand of Amabel,
who fell back to: slip. Mes
' Eustace saw the eyes of his rival gleam
with mischievous glee. She had permitted
him to approach so nearly the success of his
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE: 89

modest aim only in the hope of making
his disappointment the more crushing and
complete. Eustace compressed his lips and
caught his bat with a grip of steel. Oh, to
win one sixer from the utmost skill of
haughty Gladys !



The victorious ball was in the hands of the wicket-keeper.—J. go

The captain of the girls made no unfair
dallying. The instant that Eustace stood’
prepared, the ball sped swift and sure,
Straight as an arrow, and reaching its goal
90 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

_ with an utterly disconcerting break. Eustace
raised his arm for a swipe. Alack! his
middle wicket had leapt from the soil, and
the victorious ball was in the hands of the
wicket-keeper.

The defeated captain seemed for a second
petrified. Then his heart beat with chivalrous
admiration of his pupil’s fine performance.

“Bravo, Gladys!” he shouted, his cap
waved high. ‘Bravo! Bravo! That was
a magnificent ball!”

The girls had cried “Time! Time!” and
crowded round their leader. From their
midst Gladys looked round at Eustace, and
called back to him, with flashing eyes,

“Bravo yourself, Eustace! You taught
me that break!”

The two captains exchanged glances of
generous recognition. Then Eustace waved
his cap again, and as the boys drew quickly
round, he cried,

“Now then, fellows! Hurrah for the
queen of the cricket-field!”

He led off three hearty cheers, and amid
a pleasant hubbub of congratulations and
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. OI

consolations, the boys and girls laid aside
differences and helped each other gather
together the playing-gear. And so the first
Boy Day reached a peaceful end, and the
rivals trooped homeward side by side.




CHARTERS Ve

HE ignominious failure of their



earliest attempt at the manage-



ment of their own affairs made
the boys not unwilling to greet
the seeond Girl Day with something like
toleration.. They could not well be made
more miserable than they had yesterday made
themselves by the choice of a game in which
their former pre-eminence had given place to
the triumphant superiority of the girls. Even
Maurice felt that it might be well to let
twenty-four hours elapse before they again
tempted Fate.

They had been bidden to hold themselves
in readiness at the usual time and place;
and as Maurice had agreed to rise half-an-
hour earlier in order to pull Lancelot out of
THE. HOLIDAY PRIZE. 93

bed’ and superintend his toilet, they were on
the spot at the appointed moment.

The boys noticed at once that the pleasant
camaraderie, which, the evening before, .had
distinguished their victorious opponents, was
no longer in existence. The girls, following
the example of their leader, had resumed
the various airs and graces which the boys
found so objectionable. Gladys appeared
even more haughty than her wont, as she
beckoned imperiously to the unwilling
Eustace; and each of the remaining girls,
with the exception of Amabel, greeted her
particular boy in precisely the fashion best
adapted to drive him to despair.

Clarice summoned the poetical, Aylmer
from the contemplation of a superb rose-tree,
and ordered him to repeat on the instant,
without a single mistake, the. well-known

lyric—

“‘ Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree-top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock.” —

Clarice did this because she knew that the
sound of the false rhymes, “top” and ‘rock,’
94. THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

would cause to Aylmer’s fastidious ear an
anguish corresponding exactly to that of the
severest toothache; while the utter foolish-
ness of suspending a cradle from a tree-top:
would come home to his exalted understand-
ing as a sort of torture.

Berta brought Rupert to her side on
purpose to bestow on his new necktie a
vicious tug, which destroyed immediately and
for ever its first unblemished beauty, and
made the knot he had achieved with so
much labour a regretful memory of the past.

Cecity showed Edmund a large box of
chocolate-creams, and’ remarked that it con-
tained exactly enough to go round the girls
six times,-and leave one for every boy ee
himself. 4

Hilda. observed to Guy that she was
delighted to find that he had risen in such
an excellent temper, because if he had hap-
pened, as usual, to get out of bed on the
wrong side, she should have been compelled
to send him home again to try what he
could do with the other. It is exasperating
to-hear a girl fling at you such a taunt as
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 95

this, merely because you are biting your
lips as an aid towards holding your tongue.

While these and similar encounters were
taking place, Gladys lifted up her voice: to
proclaim the day’s programme:



TO is
i) y i i
a MUTT | F HR i
Pa

Cecily showed ‘Edmund a large box of caocolate creams.—4, 94.



“Listen, boys!” she commanded. “We
have chosen for our second day one of our
Nicest girl games; and as we threw our-
Selves most heartily ‘into your chosen play
yesterday, we expect you to do the same
96 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

with ours to-day. We are going to be
Sisters of Mercy.”

The boys stifled an apprehensive groan.

“Hitherto,” continued Gladys _ smilingly,
“you have zo¢ thrown yourselves into this
game as we could have wished; and we
fear that you have therefore failed to
thoroughly enjoy it. You have merely car-
ried our baskets, and dawdled outside the
cottage doors. To-day, things will be differ-
ent. In order that you may see how
delightful this play really is, we mean you
to be’ Sisters of Mercy along with us; in
fact, we are going to let you take quite the
chief part in the game. And to help you
throw yourselves into it, we intend you to
be properly dressed. Each of us girls has
brought a waterproof cape, a hood, and a
large white pocket- -handkerchief. When you
have’ put ‘on the capes, you will kneel in
front of , us, and we will, ourselves arrange
the hoods on your heads with the handker-
chiefs tied neatly below your chins.”

The boys dared not resist. Only Guy,
whose hands shook with passion, tore half
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 97

the buttons off Hilda’s cape before he was
fairly enveloped in it. Eustace wore an air
of proud indifference as easily as he wore
Gladys’s cape; Maurice gave to his shoulders
a mighty shrug, which burst half Erica's
seams ; and the sneer on Tristan’s face when
he knelt before his girl made Dorothy assure
him that his personal beauty was dazzling to
her eyes. |

“Now,” proclaimed Gladys, as the unlucky
boys rose and straightened their encumbered
limbs, “you are on no account to forget, for
a single moment, that you are Sisters of
Mercy.” ie,

“Dear Amabel,” murmured Florian coax-
ingly, “you always are so good-natured.
Will it not content you if I am a Brother
of Mercy? I am sure I shall be only too
delighted to be as brotherly as you please ;
but, you see, I never have been a sister,
and I am afraid I do not quite understand—
ahem Be to pretend—ahem !—that I ae
_petticoats.” —~

oe

“Never mind, dear Florian,” returned

Amabel,-sweetly ; “you need not be so par-
G
98 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

ticular’ about—details. And you may hold
-up .the skirts of my waterproof, if you
.choose—I won't tell. I trust I have not
tied that handkerchief too tightly?”

‘“Not in the least,” replied Florian gal-
lantly. “It is true that I am not accustomed
.to.a large bow just under my chin; and I
may feel, for the moment, a trifle peculiar;
but it is nothing to worry about. Shall we
-go on?”

“Just a moment, Florian,” said Amabel
-anxiously. ‘I want to give you a_ hint.
De.try, dear Florian, to look a little more
unhappy! I am so afraid that Gladys, if
she glances round and sees your sieles will
make you carry a pail.”

“Good gracious!” exclaimed Florian,
startled out of his serenity, “do Sisters of
Mercy carry pails?”

“Hush!” implored Amabel. ‘Gladys is
explaining.”

During the next two minutes Florian had
no difficulty in looking at least unhappy
‘enough to pass muster. At the bidding of
_ Gladys, the row of maidens, before whom
SSS aS

SSS SSS SSS





—p. 98.

to look a little more unhappy !”.

dear Florian,

"Do try,
100 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

the boys had been kneeling, drew to one
side, disclosing a pile of miscellaneous articles.
There were pails and scrubbing-brushes and
brooms ; baskets and bags and bundles.

“These,” called Gladys, in a clear, pitiless
voice, “are the burdens you. are about to
bear. You will see they are things very
useful to Sisters of Mercy.”

“Hanged if I see any such thing!”
groaned Maurice.

“They will help you to throw yourselves
thoroughly into the game,” continued Gladys.

“*Tf we don’t first throw ourselves into
the village pond,” remarked Tristan gloomily.

“Well, you would be quite at home in the
pond,” said Dorothy; ‘there are so many
geese in it to keep you company.”

“Make haste, boys,” commanded Gladys.
“We are ready to start. The day will not
be any too long for this delightful game.
Girls, each of you may now hand to your
own boy his appointed burden. This pail
and scrubbing-brush, Eustace, are for you.”

~ Eustace stepped forward and picked up
the two hated articles, without’ giving Gladys
LHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. {oI

the satisfaction even. of a frown. He was

keenly aware of his ridiculous appearance, .

and he told himself fiercely that only Gladys
could have found pleasure in thus mortifying
him. But his determination to share equally
with his friends the miseries of a week's
compact with girls made him able to offer
Gladys the only resistance she was likely to
recognize—a demeanour of the most com-
plete scorn and indifference.

The other boys condemned to carry pails.

and brushes were Maurice, Lancelot, Rupert,
and Guy. Maurice received his with roars
of laughter, and persisted in carrying the
pail helmet-wise over his hood until Erica
threatened to report him to Gladys.

Lancelot and Rupert grumbled loudly—
Lance because he hated to carry anything,
and Rupert because his vanity had brought
before him a terrible picture of himself in
his present garb. Guy rather welcomed his
burden than otherwise. He suspected that
he would not long be near Hilda without
wanting to bang something ; and if he banged
his pail, he should neither hurt anybody nor
risk his chance for the Prize.

‘
ioe THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“You are to carry this basket, Edmund,”
said Cecily; ‘it contains chicken and jelly,
which I have begged from our cook.”

“Then I hope you mean to go shares for’
once,” replied Edmund, making a desperate’
attempt to be chummy. ‘I’ve a big packet
of- sandwiches in’ my right-hand trousers-
pocket, and some ‘Turkish Delight’ in my
left, and’ a few more things here and there.
If you. choose to play fair, Cecily, we two:
can easily slip behind the others and have a
jolly tuck somewhere.”
* “Thank you. ‘Slipping behind’ and hid-:
ing isn’t exactly my idea of playing fair.
Allow me to examine your pockets, Edmund.:
Sisters of Mercy are not permitted to keep’
anything for themselves, and your dainties
will be the very things for poor little lame
Peter. I shall have the greatest pleasure,
Edmund, in taking you to visit Peter.”

“ While Cecily made a relentless search
among Edmund's pockets, Cyril was at war
with Mildred close at hand.

* “This is the longest and the thickest and
the heaviest and the beastliest of all the
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 103

{»

waterproofs!” spluttered’ Cyril. “I know
you have picked it out for me, Mildred, Hee
for spite!”

“You are quite right, my sweet Cyril,”
replied Mildred calmly. ‘As. you always
grumble, I thought it best that you: really
should have something to grumble at. So
I borrowed that waterproof from my aunt’s
maid, Eliza Huggins, on purpose for you.
Wasn’t it thoughtful of me?”

Wilfred had not yet ceased to gaze open-
mouthed at his attire, so at last Adeline flew—
at him, shook him, and. thrust a basket into
his hand.

“But why are we to wear waterproofs,:
dear Adeline?” inquired Wilfred gently.
“TI do not think it is going to rain; besides,
I see that you haven’t any umbrella. Why
have you no umbrella since I° must wear a
waterproof, dear Adeline?”

““Why—why—why!” mimicked Adeline.
“It is a riddle, Master Silly, for you to
guess!”

“But why must I guess riddles in the
holidays?” asked Wilfred anxiously. ‘You
know I never caz guess riddles!”
104 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

- “Then you may as well give up the
Prize,” said Adeline. ‘I love riddles; so if
you want my vote, you must find out, before
you reach the village, why you are wearing
a waterproof. You are suve to find out
when you get there!” ;

“Then why mayn’t I wait till we get
there, dear Adeline?” asked Wilfred tremu-
lously.-

“Why — why —why!” mocked Adeline.

Then Wilfred began to cudgel his brains in
timorous silence; for never in his life had
he .guessed a riddle, and yet he did very
much want a new wheel-barrow for. his gar-
den.
_ Such pleasantries as these kept the girls
very happily employed while they conducted
the unwilling “Sisters of Mercy” along the
nearest path to the village.

“This is a capital slope for a _ run,”,
observed Winifred eagerly, as the party
reached the brow of a little hill. ‘Catch
up your skirts, Lancelot, and you and I will
race to the bottom.”

“What!” exclaimed Lancelot, aghast ;
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. TO5

“run a race—in this heat—with these togs _
on—and carrying a pail weighing somewhere
about a ton! You're joking, Winifred!”
'“Tndeed I’m not!” retorted Winifred
_ sharply. ‘“There’s nothing I love better
than a race, and a brisk run will do you
all the good in the world. Now then! One
—two—three—we re off!”

Winifred indeed was off—swift as an arrow
from the bew. Lancelot lumbered _ lazily
behind until the derisive taunts of the re-
maining couples spurred him to activity.—
But it was too late for the race to be a
real one. Winifred won easily and turned
in impatient triumph to see Lance squat
exhausted by the roadside. The girls loudly
applauded Winnie’s success.

“Not so bad for a girl, eh, Tristran?”

said saucy Dorothy. ‘Shall we take our
turn? How much start would you like,
pray?”

“If the race is to the bottom of the hill,
ll start there, please.”

“Pooh! You're not half a boy.”

“By your ladyship’s orders, I believe I’m
106 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

-a Sister of Mercy. Ill put: on my pluck:
when I put off my petticoat. They don’t go
together.”

In contrast to the sneering of Tristan was
the soft beguiling of Florian, who, as was



Winifred won easily.—4. 105.

his wont, spent his time in peaceful con-
verse.

“T hope you do not find that broom too
heavy?” inquired Amabel. “I begged
Gladys that you might be one of the boys
chosen to carry a broom!”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 107

“Tt was most obliging of you, Amabel,”
Florian courteously assured her. He had.
just been regretting faintly that he was~- not’
a basket-bearer, since it may be admitted’
that a’ basket slung over the arm is less
conspicuous than a broom: balanced across’
the shoulder.

“You see,” continued Amabel quickly,

“Gladys insisted that all the baskets should’
be large ones to hold a great many goodies ;
but she left the brooms to our own ‘choice.
That is a hearth-broom’ you’ are carrying. ~
I borrowed it from our schoolroom.”
Tt is an extremely nice. broom,” said
Florian earnestly. “It is very small and:
quite light, dear Amabel. I should enjoy
sweeping your schoolroom hearth with it. But
as I may not do that just now, will you tell
me whose hearth I am to have the pleasure
of sweeping at your command?”

Amabel shook her head.

“JT must not tell just yet,” she said sadly.
“JT am afraid you will not exactly enjoy
yourself, dear Florian; but I am going to
do the best I can for you.”
108 FHE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

- “T am quite sure of that,” returned Florian
gracefully, and he and Amabel swung easily
along, hand in hand, allowing the more rest-
less and quarrelsome spirits to pass ahead.

_ Guy was still biting his lips as an aid to
holding his tongue. He ‘hoped by this
means to avoid giving offence to Hilda; but
that unreasonable maiden teased him so
unmercifully about his persistent silence, that
his resolution at last broke down. He flung |
his pail over the hedge and his scrubbing-
brush after it, and turned on Hilda with
rasb., defiance.

Hilda merely ordered him to climb the.
gate close at hand and bring back the pail
and the brush. Guy’s stormy refusal pro-
duced nothing but laughter and a reminder
of the deeply-desired gun. Even then Guy
might have continued rebellious but for his
intense longing to escape, if it were only
for five minutes, from Hilua’s company.

Guy learned a moment later what it is
to climb a gate while wearing petticoats.
The experience did not improve his condi-
tion of mind; nor did the discovery that his
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 109

pail and brush were deeply embedded in a
wide stretch of stinging-nettles console him.
Hilda, who had climbed the gate also,
merely that she might watch his search, no
sooner perceived the nettles than she broke
into a fit of mirth which threatened hysterics.



Iie trampled savagely ainong the nettles.—, 109.

Guy would have ground his teeth had he
known how, but he had not yet mastered this
accomplishment, so he trampled savagely
among the nettles—which stung his bare
IIo THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

hands and _ his .stockinged legs savagely. in
return—and once more grasped his baggage.

The nettles_and Hilda’s unfeeling laughter
loosened Guy’s tongue to ill purpose. The
greater the pain he endured, the more out-
rageous became his temper. Hilda lured
him gaily into one outburst after another,
until, just as they reached the village, she
stopped to ask, in a perfectly quiet and civil
manner, whether he did not think he had
now better beg her pardon ?

Guy hung his head in a fierce struggle
against surrender; but he knew he had no
choice. He muttered the required apology
in stifled tones, and then closed his lips with
a determination against which Hilda’s most
refined tormenting availed nothing. |

As the entire party were now on-the out-
skirts of the village, Gladys called a halt.

“We are at present on our way to the
almshouses,” she announced. “In order to
reach them we shall go through the village.
7 believe, boys, you have not before played
Sisters of Mercy in the dress you are now
wearing, so I have no doubt the village boys
‘THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. II

and girls will very much enjoy looking -at
you. We do not wish them to lose that
pleasure ; so if you will form in line, three
abreast, you may walk on by yourselves and
-we will follow.”

Tristan and Rupert wondered for long
afterward how they survived that morning's
‘humiliation. Without the support of Gladys
and her troop (for the presence of girls may
be supposed to account for and excuse any
amount of eccentricity), Eustace and his. fol-
lowers. were compelled to face the ribald_
insults of every urchin and minx the village
of Cowslip Meadows could produce. Amid
the jeers of boys and girls, under a. heavy
fire of fruit-peel and pebbles, Miss Eliza-
‘beth Montague’s persecuted godsons kept on
their luckless way. At length the ordeal
-was over; the village lay behind, and a few
.stern words from the maidens stepping
-daintily in the rear sent the presumptuous
.lads and lassies about their, business.

The boys had gained the free, refreshing
‘liberty of the .Common, arid, . almost over-
.come. by what they had gone through, were
112 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

fain to fling themselves down and rest. But
they were ordered immediately to press on.

“In the game of Sisters of Mercy,” said
Gladys, “no one who plays fairly may think
of himself. This renders it most appro-
priate to chivalrous knights. Forward to
the almshouses!”

They had not much further to go. The
‘row of tiny cottages, each with its pretty -
garden, stood very near the edge of the
Common. These almshouses had been built
by the Squire Montague of two hundred
years earlier; and having been always kept
in good repair by the owners of Cowslip
Grange, grew only more charming as_ the
third century of their existence wore on.

There were exactly twelve almshouses;
and it had happened that, many months ago,
Gladys had proposed that she and her
chosen girl-comrades should each select one
of the cottages as an object of special care
and interest. The plan had been accepted,
and the merry maids had forthwith set to
work to pet and befriend the inmates of their
favourite dwellings. -There were six aged
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 113

men, and six old women, into whose -harm-
less, uneventful lives the girls contrived to
carry many simple pleasures and indulgences.
The only real cross in the lot of the old

'. folks was the obligation laid on them by the

conditions under which they had received
their homes, to keep the Montague Alms-
houses in a state of spotlessness within.
Each cottage contained three small rooms,
and each room must be cleaned twice a
week, Now, Wednesdays and Saturdays
were consecrated to the kitchens.

On this particular Wednesday it had
pleased Gladys and her friends to lighten
the labours of the old men and women at
the expense of the boys. The morning’s
game of Sisters of Mercy was to consist
of a thorough cleansing of the almshouse
kitchens. Each girl conducted a boy to the
threshold of her particular cottage, and there
pointed out the task before him. He was
to use his own broom, brush or pail so far
as possible, supplementing it by the avail-
able property of the almshouses.

It was a sultry June day; and the old
H
uid THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

men and women were exceedingly’ glad to
turh out into their shady gardens and leave
their. kitchens clear for the operations of the
young ladies and gentlemen. The garb of the
latter they regarded with a cool and imper-
sonal curiosity; but their years of acute
speculation were over, and they asked no
- questions.

«Inthe almshouse kitchens the boys and
girls played Sisters of Mercy throughout
the.long. summer morning. The girls’ share
was confined strictly to the issuing of orders
from various points of vantage—the dresser,
the. window-seat, or a snug arm-chair—
whence they insisted on strenuous exertions
from all. their fellow-players.

The grates were the worst task. Not a
boy of the tribe knew how to clean a grate ;
but the girls had made special inquiries of
their mothers’ kitchenmaids, and now con-
sidered themselves in a position to instruct
any Sisters of Mercy. A large amount
of blacklead was expended that morning in
every almshouse kitchen save one.

“Do not worry about the grate,” whispered
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 11s

Amabel, when: Florian gazed blankly in the
direction of thé fireplace; “I gave a village
girl sixpence to come here quite early in the

morning to clean it, See how nice and
bright it is,”





Ile embraced her as fondly as his cape and hood would allow him.—#. 115.

“Tt is not half so nice and bright as you
are!” declared Florian; and running over to
Amabel, he embraced her as fondly as his
cape and hood would allow him. ‘“I was
just wondering whether I should have to go
116 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

up the chimney or not! You are the most
thoughtful girl I ever knew!”

Amabel’s eyes, which had been moist
with pity for Florian’s exertions, now became
- full of smiles, and this contented and friendly
pair set to work cheerfully and merrily.
Florian scrubbed and swept, Amabel dusted
and polished. No other of the almshouse ,
kitchens was so creditable a sight as theirs.

At one o'clock Adeline went from cottage ’
to cottage, ringing as she ran a silvery bell.
It was a summons to dinner on the Common.

Edmund had faintly hoped that the baskets
he had helped to carry would produce a
sumptuous meal; but he was disappointed.

« «Sisters of Mercy,’” remarked Gladys
severely, in answer to his grumblings, “do
not indulge themselves so greedily. They
eat the simplest food and give all their
dainties to those who need them. Here
are plenty of sandwiches and jam-tarts. By-
and-by, Edmund, you shall have the pleasure
of seeing the jellies and cakes distributed.”

“A jolly poor sort of pleasure, too,” mut-
tered Edmund; but Eustace angrily ordered
him to shut up.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 117

“Don’t be such a precious pig!” whispered
the leader of the boys. ‘I suppose what's
good enough for girls is good enough for
us.” |

“For my part,” cried Maurice, with a
mighty laugh, “I don’t care what the tuck
is, if there’s a reasonable amount of it; and
I see Gladys isn’t going to let us starve.”

In truth, a generous pile of sandwiches
had been served out to each Sister of
Mercy, and all the players except Edmund
were entirely satisfied. The jam tarts
were excellent, and not a girl had forgotten
to give her boy his favourite jam. This
, evidence of good feeling did much towards
reconciling Miss Montague’s godsons_ with
their present lot.

After the peaceful meal beneath the birch-
trees, Gladys announced a half-hour of rest,
and the tired boys stretched themselves at
length among the heather, while the girls
played tig round their recumbent forms. It
was an interval of truce, to which succeeded
a return to the disagreeable duties of Sisters
of Mercy,
118 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

a Boyles ed the clear voice ai Gladys,
while her eyes darted from one waterproofed
figure to another, “our game will now begin
again. This morning we played in com-
pany at the almshouses; this afternoon we
play in couples according to our fancy.
Each of you will go with his own girl, and
do the work she finds for him. This even-
ing, at five o'clock, we will all meet by the
village green for our homeward march.”

_ At this announcement the spirits of the
boys fell’ dreadfully. Hitherto they had
beeri cheered by the knowledge of the
others’ near neighbourhood, and by the hope
that, if any one girl should prove heartlessly
tyrannical, some appeal might be made to
the majority. But without the protection of
popular feeling in favour of an approach
to justice, every boy felt it impossible to
imagine what might be his coming trials.

_ Florian, alone, turned to his girl-companion
a smiling face.

“Lead on, Amabel!” he cried gaily,
“Tl follow you to Land’s End or | Timbuc-
too!”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 119

‘© Don’t be afraid, Florian,” returned Ama-~
bel, with a reassuring nod. “Dear old
Mrs. Betsy, at Clove Cottage, is always as
neat as a new pin. We shall have only to
carry her a nice plum-cake, and listen to
her stories. The stories are rather dull; but
she has three kittens, and we can play with
them.”

Once more, Florian assured Amabel that
she was the dearest girl in the world.

Gladys lingered among the heather till all
the other couples had departed, and Eustace
stood silent behind her. At length she
shook back her dark locks, and said, with-
out turning,

“Take off your cape and hood, Bierce!
You may roll them up and put them in this
basket. We are going to the home of Pru-
dence Rowley, and I should not like you to
frighten the baby.”

Eustace knew nothing of Prudence Rowley,
and he was seized with a terrible suspicion
that Gladys intended to complete his humilia-—
tion by compelling him to play a Sister of
Mercy nursemaid. . But he had.,determined
120 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

to say or do nothing which should give his
girl any excuse for abusing him; so he
devoted himself to, a struggle with the but-
tons, and strings of his disguise. It was so
great a relief to get rid of it, that even the
baby lost its horrors while he flung out his
arms, threw back his head, and stood erect
and free. His handsome face and graceful
Carriage seemed to point him out the come-
liest and likeliest of all the youthful knights.
Indeed, Eustace’s person, manner, and speech
were to Miss Elizabeth a continual delight ;
but*his proud reserve and disinclination for
unmurmuring obedience fell far short of her
ideal of chivalrous humility.

Eustace now followed Gladys for a little
distance across the Common to a spot where
someone had thrown together a rough stone
shanty. So shaky and dilapidated did the tiny
dwelling appear, that it was difficult to believe
it. could shelter human beings; yet it
had appeared a haven of refuge to the sickly
and exhausted tramp who, a few days
earlier, had stumbled thankfully within its
erumbling walls. And there Gladys, playing
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 12t

hide-and-seek with her companions, had found
Prudence Rowley and her baby-brother—
homeless, friendless, and starving.

The shanty contained a single room; and
in one of its corners, on some _ blankets



4.9 Zreypng KE ee

Eustace stepped quietly in her wake.—#. 121.

spread over straw, lay the motionless form
of Prudence. A box near at hand held
more straw, more blankets, and a baby.
Gladys entered without announcement, and
Eustace stepped quietly in her wake, He
122 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

saw his girl lean over Prudence; he
heard a few words pass between them.

‘“You are better, Prudence, aren’t you?
That's right! I’ve some splendid news. I
told the Squire about you; and next week.
you are to go to him; and he will give you
work, and a nice cottage to live in, and baby
will grow strong and well. Now won't you
try to sit up and see what I’ve brought?
There’s jelly, and beef-tea, and milk for baby
—oh, yes! and a boy to clean your room
nicely, because I know it worries you to. see
it dirty.—Eustace, you had better set to
work.”

The long morning’s labour at the alms-
houses had really wearied Eustace; his limbs
were stiff with unaccustomed toil. Yet he
that afternoon played the game of Sisters of
Mercy in serious and willing earnest. For
the woman who now raised herself, with
Gladys’s help, to a sitting posture, had a
refined and delicate face, appealing blue eyes,
and thin trembling fingers, which shamed
his strong brown hands. Here was some-
one for whom it could be no humiliation to
work, ey
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 123

In the pauses :of his duty Eustace ‘noticed
that Gladys no longer contented herself with
looking on and issuing orders. She hardly.
glanced at her playfellow. Eyes and hands
were occupied in tending Prudence, in pre-
paring food over the fire Eustace had kindled,
in gently washing the sick woman’s face and
hands, in smoothing coverlet and_ blankets.
Then Gladys took from her basket a pretty
jacket of pink -flannel and a tiny nightgown
of blue. ‘A faint flush of pleasure tinged
Prudence’s cheek when she found herself
decked in the pink, and her thanks and bless-
ings came to the ears of Eustace, as he
scrubbed diligently in a distant corner.

“Now,” said Gladys, “‘now you are com-
fortable, Prudence. Drink your beef-tea in
peace, and I'll take care of baby.”

Baby seemed well pleased to go to en
towards whom his hands had been outstretched
with ‘many a crow of welcome. In her lap
he laughed and kicked delightedly, while she

washed him carefully, combed .and_ brushed»

his golden curls, and dressed him .in. his gar;
ment of blue. Then he was carried over
124 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

and exhibited to Prudence; and again the
thanks and blessings travelled to the distant
corner.
Eustace wiped his forehead and stretched
his aching arms, but with no desire to escape,
The hours wore on. Prudence slipped back
on her pillow; and as Gladys read to her in a
low voice, she dropped into slumber. In
Gladys’s lap baby chuckled and crowed him-
self to sleep. Eustace moved about with as
little noise as possible, until the last chair
was in its place, the kettle singing on the
hob,,.and a bundle of hastily-gathered flowers
set in a big jar on the spotless table.
_ Eustace looked round with a sigh of satis-
faction. His duty was accomplished, and
Gladys seemed all unaware. Her arms were
clasped about baby, and her eyes rested
dreamily on the floor. Eustace stepped softly
to the little cupboard in which he had seen
her place sundry packets taken from her
basket. There he found tea and sugar—cups
and saucers too. At home he often made
tea for his father and himself, and his skill
was not to be despised.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 125

Gladys roused herself with a small start
when her boy’s hand touched her arm.
“J have made some tea, Gladys; and,
see, I have finished my work. If you will
let me hold baby I will try not to hurt him,
and you can take your cup.”
' Gladys looked up with a soft light in her

eyes.
“Thank you, Eustace,” she said quite
civilly. “I didn't know: you could make

tea. But there is no other chair for you to
sit on, and you cannot hold baby while you
stand.” OR

“JT will sit on the table,” replied Eustace,
wondering why Gladys seemed, on a sudden,
so nice a girl, ‘And I will be careful not
to let baby drop. I have put one lump of
sugar in your tea, Gladys. I believe you
like only one.”

The leader of the girls and the leader of
the boys were once again in harmony.
Eustace forgot his objection to be a Sister
of Mercy nursemaid, and held the baby quite
patiently in his aching arms. He felt it a
compliment to his tea-making that Gladys
#26 j|§ HE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

‘lingered- so: long over her cup.--*There
appeared to be something soothing about the ©
baby. : ~ i

“J daresay we shall quarrel like fits to-
morrow,” he reflected, ‘‘so we may as well
make the most of our truce.”

Gladys seemed to be of the same opinion.
She washed her cup and put it away, left
the tea-pot with ‘the remains of - Eustace’s
tea on the one chair by Prudence’s. bed,
‘and taking baby: from-his bearer, laid him
comfortably in his box. Then she beckoned
to*Eustace, and, leaving their humble friends
‘asleep, the two Sisters of Mercy stole quietly
out of the cottage. All the while Gladys
said no disagreeable word.

“This,” she remarked, as. they trod briskly
across the heather, “is quite one of my
favourite games. How do you find it. now,
‘Sir Eustace?” she added, with a glance of
mischief. eis

“Oh, I agree with what you said this
morning,” returned Eustace, imperturbably ;
“it’s a capital game when one throws one- -
self into it, At all events,” he went on, his




The two Sisters of Mercy stole quietly out of the cottage.—, 126,
128 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

dark eyes glowing, “I'll be your playfellow
at this sort of thing when you'll have me,
Gladys. JI can do the rough part, you know,
and save your highness’s dainty fingers.” .

“T have no objection to taking you with
me sometimes,” said Gladys, graciously ;
“and now I should like a big bunch of that
fine bracken. You may gather it for me
while I hold the basket.”

A curious sight was seen that evening,
as the clock struck five. From this point —
and that, a couple came straying to the
villfge green of Cowslip Meadows. And
every girl and boy walked in peace and
friendliness. It was even noticeable that
the boys regarded the girls with an approach
to chivalrous admiration and devotion such
as Miss Elizabeth’s most eloquent harangues
had never called forth.

On the green, Gladys drew her followers
about her; and one and all waved to their
late playfellows a graceful farewell.

“To-morrow,” called out the queen of the
girls, “we shall be ready to greet a Boy Day.
We hope you will plan something delightful.”
LHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 129

~The boys took off their caps in a profound
salute, as ‘the maidens tripped away.

“Those girls seem always to get the
better of us,” quoth Maurice, with a puzzled
sigh. “Never mind! I flatter myself I've
used my arms and legs to some purpose
this blessed afternoon. Erica is particular
to a speck of dust;. but-I think I’ve. taught
her pet cottager how to scrub ;—not to men-
tion that hoary-old chap at the almshouses!”

“Berta has wheedled me out of my new
tie!” said Rupert, complacently. ‘‘ She took
off her ribbons to deck out some poor old
soul’s bed-curtains—and, well, a. fellow can’t
let. himself. be outdone. The old woman
has a beloved grandson. He'll be a swell
in church on Sunday. Promised to look
him up a jacket. I warrant you, our girls
know their way about.”

“Cecily’s lame Peter isn’t half a bad kid,”
muttered Edmund, in the indulgent ear of
Florian. “I'd got to cart him out on my
back this afternoon; and, my! you ought to ©
have seen him roll about Daisy Meadow!
Can’t walk a yard, poor chap. Hanged if

I
{36 -THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

he didn’t take. a fancy. to\ your humble’ ser-
vant, and want him to-‘call again!’ Perhaps
I may. It’s a bit of a lark to see a skinny
kid like that pick one’s pocket for lollipops,
I'll have to keep an extra supply for Cecily’s
cherub.”

‘““T’ve been a son of Adam this afternoon,”
laughed Lancelot. ‘I’ve dug over an entire
garden from end to end, and hoed miles of
vegetables! You see,” added Lazy Lance
shame-facedly, as the other boys turned ‘to
him in amazement, ‘Winifred grabbed at the
weeds like fury, and I had to back her
up somehow. She was civil the whole after-
noon, so I fancy I’ve distinguished myself.”




CHAPTER V.

|H1, it is to be a picnic!”
“Yes,” replied Florian eagerly,



‘‘a picnic to the Fairy Glen.
We boys have heard you girls
say that you would enjoy a picnic to the
Fairy Glen. And what pleases you, pleases
us.”

“T am very glad to hear it,” said Gladys,
quite soberly, though her cheeks dimpled.
“But it is a pity you did not send round
a messenger, Florian. Then we would have
taken care to bring our own dinner; for the
Fairy Glen is a long way from home.”

“We could not think of letting you bring
anything,” said Florian, with the utmost cour-
tesy. “This is a Boy Day; and the picnic
is our own affair. We boys are the hosts:
132 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

you are the guests. Our baskets are filled
with all the things you most fancy. And
we have borrowed the Squire's pony-cart to
carry the smaller girls—and the bigger ones
when they are tired.”

“We are not in the least likely to be
tired,” said Gladys ;-“ but, of course, we are
_very much obliged to you.”

The party sét- out in excellent spirits, and
with many happy anticipations on the part of
the boys. They could ‘not. help being of
‘opinion that they were behaving particularly
‘well. They were ‘making not the least attempt
‘to retaliate on the girls for yesterday's humi-
liations: on the contrary they had agreed
unanimously to follow .the ‘amiable counsels
.of Florian, and once more let bygones be
-bygones.

But in preparing nears for the girls, the
boys had not felt it necessary to be wholly
forgetful of themselves. Each had some pet
“hobby. or favourite sport with which he. ex-
-pected to employ himself, while the girls—
after the manner of girls—gathered.. flowers,
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 133

and uprooted ferns, and arranged themselves
here and there in picturesque: groups very
refreshing to the eye, and occasionally encour-
aged their boy-comrades to renewed prowess
or industry.



The girls’ hats blew off.—g, 134.

The general feeling among the picnic-
makers appeared to be one of the greatest
good-humour and enjoyment. The pony-cart
stuck, in the mud; and amid ‘ shouts /of
laughter the boys rescued the pony and
- 434 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

extricated the cart. The girls’ hats blew off,
and the boys raced after them. Lancelot
never once expressed a. wish to sit down.
Edmund contented himself with looking at
the outside of the dinner-baskets. Cyril
walked by Mildred without grumbling that
her pace was too fast or too slow, or that
his straw hat gave less shade than that of
any other boy. In a word, Miss Montague’s
godsons were on their very best behaviour.
Noon was on the pleasure-seekers by the
time they reached the Fairy Glen; and the
suggestion of Edmund that dinner should at
once be spread was voted good. The long
walk had sharpened appetite ; and by getting
the morning meal over early, a lengthy after-
noon might be secured for sundry diversions.
The boys found comfortable seats for the
girls; and busied themselves in their hospi-
table preparations. The meal was ready: the
guests were served. Every girl seemed well
satisfied to be waited on by her. willing
host. :
When all the diners had finished, there

~
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 135

followed a few minutes of cheerful talk, while
the boys cleared away.

_ “Do not pack the plates and dishes in the
baskets, Florian,” counselled Gladys. ‘They
can very well travel in the cart. We shall
want the baskets for our flowers and ferns.”

“Of course you will,” assented Florian
readily. ‘And we have brought trowels for
you to dig your roots up with. We will lend
you our pockét-knives besides; and I have
‘no doubt most of us have some string.”

“You are good indeed, Florian,” replied
Gladys, her cheeks again -dimpling in -con-
trast to her grave demeanour. ‘But each
of us girls has a pocket-knife of her own;
and as you boys will dig up our roots, you
may as vel keep the trowels in your own
possession.”

A thrill of fear went tEroueh che fer of
the boys. They stared in consternation at
the leader of the girls. Even Florian’s
voice shook a little, as he remarked hastily, .

“T am sure, Gladys, we boys would
willingly dig any number of fern-roots for.
136 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

you on one of your own days. .But you
see this is a Boy Day, and everyone of
us has something very particular to do this
afternoon.”

And there arose a chorus of explanations
from the trembling boys. Their very souls
loathed the idea of an entire afternoon
passed in fern-hunting and flower-picking.

“Confound it all!” shouted Guy from the
shadow of a rock, “do you mean to say I
am not to use my gun?”

“J have borrowed my brother’s fishing-rod
on purpose to have a go at the trout,”
groaned Maurice.

“T intended to study rock-formation higher
up ‘the Glen,” said Rupert. “My geological
collection_is the best in all Cowslip Meadows.”

A babel of voices arose from agonized
collectors of every imaginable spoil of nature.
Even Wilfred wished to know why he might
not use his butterfly-net; and round-faced
Bevis desired to add to his store of beetles. . -
_ Eustace alone stood silent, his arms folded,
his eyes fixed gloomily on Gladys, whom once
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 137

more he saw in her true’ colours as a tyrant’
of tyrants,

“Really, boys!” exclaimed the leader of
the girls, with an air of the utmost surprise,
“you are too odd. Do you mean to pretend _
you have forgotten the reason why we girls
wished to picnic at the Glen? Was it not
because the Glen is famous for its ferns, and
we desire those ferns for our gardens?”

“Well!” said Guy. sulkily, “the ferns are
here, and you girls are here to dig them.
Why on earth can’t you do it?”

“Because,” returned Gladys, rising, and
looking round on the. disgusted boys with
perfect dignity, “because you are the hosts
and we are the guests. At least, so Florian
was good enough to tell us. And guests
are not usually left to look ‘after themselves
while the hosts follow their own devices!”

Now did Florian in vain repent his rash
amiability; for the eyes of his comrades were ¢
turned on him in fury and despair. What .
had he not: promised in their name? Their
ears tingled to remember the sweetness of
£38. THE HOLIDAY PRIZE: .

his tones; ‘and ‘their hearts swelled in recall-
ing those ominous dimples about the mouth
of Gladys. : She had seen “in a moment: the
opportunity for the boys’ discomfiture. She
had plotted how to use it in -a fashion
which should render resistance vain. To.a
would-be knight, a broken vow was an im-
possibility.

Guy flung his gun at the bottom of the
cart;° and plunged his hand among the
trowels with such violence that he dug Hilda’s
ferns, later on, with bruised and bleeding
fingers. ._ Every boy renounced’ at: once his
hopes and his hobby.: Wilfred laid his net
aside, and followed Adeline, while the tears
ran down his cheeks. : They ran still. faster
when~ Adeline scolded him; for he was torn
between his- desire of butterflies and of..a
new wheelbarrow for his garden.
. The boys -toiled the whole afternoon at
the bidding of the girls. They climbed
weary ascents after: uninteresting blooms;
they grubbed up roots; they carried loads
of ferns to the cart; but they did not


They carried loads of ferns.—#, 138,
140 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

‘recover their tempers. The only reward they
received, at the close of their labours, was.
a severe public reprimand from Gladys for
their utter ignorance of the duties of hosts.

“We girls came here,” she declared con-
temptuously, “because you invited us—because
we expected to be properly entertained as
welcome guests. You have deceived us most
shamefully. We have merely asked of you
the service due to guests, and you have been
so intensely disagreeable that we are ashamed
to think you are our boys. Well, we have
had quite enough of you for to-day. You
invited us to tea as well as to dinner; but
we prefer to go home at once. Pray do
not trouble to bring with you the flowers
and ferns you have gathered for us with so
much pains: we should not care to see
them in our gardens. You can throw them
away. And now we will leave you to your
sulks.”

The girls formed in line, and passed before
‘the boys in a splendid sweep of indignation.
Their flowing.locks and glowing sashes spread
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 141

behind them as they swung in scornful silence
out of sight.

+ Heavy-hearted, the toe ee the oS
kets of their despised contents, and piled
them into the cart. They had no spirit left
with which to enjoy. their tea; and without
a dissentient voice, even from Edmund, they
determined to start immediately in the rear
of their late guests. If some of them in-
dulged in a faint hope of overtaking and
making peace with. the girls, they were
disappointed. When the candidates for Miss
Elizabeth’s Holiday Prize reached the road,
they saw no trace of the indignant voters
on whom their fate depended.

“‘T may as-well cut the whole thing, for
all the chance J have of that gun,” lamented
Guy. “Did you hear Hilda’s: snarl as she
passed me ?”
“Did you see Der sore * inguited
‘Tristan.

The unhappy break ‘between sariothed = and
maidens which had brought the second: Boy
142 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

Day to so disastrous a conclusion cast its
shadow over the third Girl Day likewise.
The fact that they were bidden to pass a
whole morning and afternoon in the tennis-
courts might have cleared away all troubles,
had it not been that the boys were under
no delusion as to the results.of the games
to either side. Each court rejoiced in the
presence of two triumphant maidens, whose
opponents had barely pluck enough to make
a fight for it. With every successive con-
quest the airs of the girls appeared to the
boys more unbearable—to ten of the boys,
at all events. In vain Florian’s persuasive
whispers in the ear of his partner; in vain
Eustace’s threat to thrash his for unsports-
manlike loafing. The majority of Miss
Montague’s godsons considered themselves
helpless and hopeless. |

“To-morrow, thank goodness!” sighed
Lancelot, “will be the last day of our
compact.”

“ And to-morrow,” growled Guy, “we'll
take good care that those girls do mot get
the better of us,”
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, 143

“We'll have none of Florian’s palaver!”
roared Maurice. “If Eustace won't tackle
Miss Gladys, Z will. To-morrow will be the
last Boy Day, and we won't fag for a soul!”

As Eustace positively declined to “tackle
Gladys,” Maurice fulfilled his determination,
His method was full of characteristic blunt-
ness, such as might have caused Eustace to
wince and Florian to weep. Early in the
morning of the third Boy Day, Wilfred and
Bevis coursed like hares about the neigh-
bourhood, bearing to each girl a missive
penned by Maurice. . The third Boy Day
was to be devoted to the sport of angling,
The ‘scene was to be the rapidly flowing
mountain stream which raced through the
Squire’s lands. The girls were bidden to
the spot in compliance with Miss Elizabeth’s
conditions ; but they must not suppose they
were to play the part of guests. They
‘could bring their share of dinner or not—_
as they liked: but in other matters it must
be understood that boys and girls would
meet on perfectly equal terms,’ |
144 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

To make assurance sure, Maurice kept a
copy of his manifesto, and. read it aloud
before the entire party, when they had com-
pleted their numbers in readiness for the
start.

«Equal terms, mind!” repeated Maurice,
with a laugh, which made the delicate Erica
shiver. “No hosts and guests or any of
that bosh.” be

“Certainly not,” observed Gladys calmly.
“*‘We quite understand.” She shot a swift
glance at Eustace, whose scarlet cheeks were
bent over the arrangement of his tackle.
“Come on then, girls; a day by the river
will be delightful.”

- Maurice, feeling that he had deserved the
thanks of his fellows, and that a happy day
certainly lay before them, now turned good-
humouredly to Erica, and offered. to carry
her lunch-basket.

“On .no account, Maurice,” replied the
blue-eyed maiden, drawing daintily backward ;
‘since. we are on equal terms, I prefer to
bear.mine_ own burden.”.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 145

The same*resolve was announced by all
the maidens, who, drawing together, seemed
chiefly anxious to. keep as much of the road
as possible between themselves and Miss’
Elizabeth’s knights, They wound their arms
about one another, and, gaily swinging their
baskets, stepped onward in rhythmic accord
with the lightsome melody their voices sent
sweetly on the breeze.

Unreasonably enough, the. boys. were in-
clined to resent this unsociable conduct on-
the part of the girls; and because they could
no longer squabble with Gladys and her
followers, they began to squabble among
themselves. Eustace and Florian drew apart,
and marched arm-in-arm to the time of the
damsels’ lilting; but their calmness of mind
was seriously disturbed by the continual
wrangles in their rear. As was to be expected,
each boy desired to secure for himself the
most favourable spot by the riverside whence
to cast his line; and Maurice’s recommenda- S
tion that they should “fight for it” was
received with so much. approval that the

K
146 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. .

leader of the boys, on lookifg back, was
disgusted to see half-a-dozen of his tribe
sprawling in the dust, while Maurice and
Guy struggled in a contest which was rapidly
becoming grim earnest.

Hitherto, the choice of spots for angling
had led to no ill-feeling. The girls had
reduced the question to its simplest form
by merely claiming the likeliest places as
theirs by right. It had not occurred to the
boys to dispute the position; and, con-
sequently, it -had remained to them only
to be content with moderate sport, of which
there was always an abundance.

“ Hold off, there!” shouted Eustace, angrily ;
“‘Maurice, you great lumbering ass, stand
out of the way !—Now, Guy, you young fool!
shut up!” Eustace exerted his ‘strength,
flung the combatants apart, and glanced
apprehensively at the bevy of girls whose
voices had been silenced by the disturbance.
. “Just as I expected,” he muttered bitterly
to Florian ; ‘those girls are in fits of laughter,
- They are crowing over us, of course! For
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 147

goodness’ sake, fellows, ‘don’t make such
idiots of yourselves !”

Eustace succeeded in quenching the present
tumult, but he found himself powerless to
secure lasting peace and order. On arriving
at the riverside, the boys broke into a fresh
disturbance; and at length their leader was
glad to purchase quiet by casting lots for the
fishing-ground to be reserved for each of his
comrades. The stupid quarrel had destroyed
his own zest, and he cheerfully kept for him-
self the least desirable post.

No sooner did the girls reach the river
than they found abundant amusement for
themselves. They played games in the
woods ; and played them with an energy and
spirit which made their joyous mirth resound
through the summer air. The demon of dis-
content began to work the ruin of the anglers’
sport. They contrasted the pleasure they had
chosen for their day with the active exercise
in which’ the girls were indulging; and all .
their satisfaction vanished. ;

“The girls always get the best of hae said

Cyril to nee nearest neighbour.
‘148 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“©They will have twice the appetite for
dinner that we shall,” replied Edmund.

“It's a beastly nuisance having girls about
at all,” continued Cyril, with renewed ill-
temper. ‘If we didn’t hear their noise, we



They played games in the woods.—#. 147.

shouldn’t know they were enjoying them-
selves, They always manage to enjoy
themselves. more than we do. I believe it’s
just to spite us,”
DE EO DANA ERA ZA L4Q

A little higher up the stream, Rupert:
stood signalling to Lancelot. Lance had.
expended considerable time in constructing
for himself a cosy nook among the hollows:
of the bank. His rod he had stuck into the
ground beside him; and he was not in the
least concerned because his fly rested in a
branch of the tree under which he had
disposed himself. He wished merely to keep:
up appearances sufficiently to hinder the other
boys from teasing him.

Lance now rose. unwillingly, and moved a.
few yards nearer Rupert. This he theuse
less exertion than. shouting,

“Come here, there’s a good fellow,” said.
Rupert, “TI have just made such a splendid,
cast. If you like to watch me, I will let you.
see how it was done.”

“Thank you,” interrupted Lancelot, turning
his back, “I haven’t the least wish to see.
You'll oblige me by not disturbing me again
you conceited prig!”

“Conceited prig, indeed!” screamed’ Rupert.
after him; “as if any of you other. fellows.
Â¥50 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

wouldn’t give your ears to have made such’
a cast as that! . . . Ugh, he’s gone—
selfish beast! It’s horribly slow work here.
I wonder if I couldn't get Berta to come and
see what I can do?”

But Berta, who, seated on the top of a five-
barred gate, was waiting her: summons to
seek the hiding girls, laughed at the notion
of watching her boy’s skill with the rod.

‘*Not a bit of it, my gentle Rupert,” she
said mockingly; “we are playing hide-and-
seek, and it’s splendid fun. Go back to the
river and admire yourself!”

Rupert went slowly away. There was, of
course, a certain amount of satisfaction in
admiring himself; but it was satisfaction of a -
kind which palled terribly.

Florian’s luck had been true to him, and
he had the best pool in the river all to
himself. Here he angled quite successfully’
yntil his affectionate disposition made him
long for the congenial’ society of gentle.
Amabel.' And presently she came softly to ~
his side.» ny
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. IS.

‘Dear Florian,” she whispered, ‘‘do let me
see how many fish you have caught. We
are playing such a delightful game—but I
could not Relp slipping away to pay you
_ little visit.”

“You are the very kindest. of girls,” said
Florian fervently. “I am so very tired of -
staying here alone; and I was just longing
to see you. Look! I have caught six fine
trout, and they are all for you!”

_*You are the dearest boy!” exclaimed
Amabel. ‘I love fried trout.”

Pray stay with me awhile!” begged’
Florian. “I will give you my rod, and you:
shall catch no end of specklers.”

' “But will not that be dull for you?”
asked Amabel, politely.

“On the contrary, it will be. delicious,”
said Florian. ‘I would far rather watch you
fishing than fish myself.”

“Then we will take turns,” replied. Anaaien
while she blushed with pleasure at the chival-
rous self-denial of her boy. And the friendly’
couple wandered backward and forward. at the.
182 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

brink of the pool, and caught many fish, and
enjoyed themselves mightily till the dinner-
hour arrived. -

The boys would not for worlds have owned
with how much willingness they left solitude
for the company of the girls. They were now
ready to fag. a little, if need be; but they
found Gladys prepared to abide by Maurice’s
arrangement. As they were not guests, but
present on equal terms with the boys, the
girls took a. full share in laying the cloth,
unpacking the baskets, and spreading out
the dinner. They declined to be waited on,
and served one another; and they were
quite oppressively polite. This state of things
brought less bliss to the boys than they had
expected; for they were continually spring-
ing up to render accustomed services, and
continually being snubbed, in the most cour-
teous tones, for their officiousness. They
now began to scowl at Maurice as yesterday
they had scowled at Florian. The former
well-meaning knight. writhed under the scowls;
and the instant that dinner had been cleared
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 153

away, he made an attempt to restore his
popularity.

“Well, Gladys,” he began, in the most
conciliatory manner, ‘“‘we boys intend to
give up fishing for to-day, and spend the



Unpacking the baskets,—4. 152.

afternoon in games. I am fairly aching for
a run. What do you say to a good game
of smugglers, to start with?”

“Oh, you would enjoy it immensely!”
returned Gladys, in her frankest voice.
° 154 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“If there is any game you girls would
prefer you have only to say so,” .continued
Maurice handsomely. ‘Though we are ‘on
equal terms to-day, of course we give you
first choice.”

“Oh, we have already chosen our amuse-
ment for the afternoon,” said Gladys, quietly ;
“and we shall not interfere with you at all.
We are going to borrow the rods you have:
laid down and wage war on the trout.”

“Why—Gladys!” cried Maurice, aghast at
this cool proposal. ‘ You—you would not
enjoy yourself in the least. - Girls—ahem !—
girls are no good at angling.”

“No?” said Gladys smilingly; ‘well, we
will not ask you to watch us disgrace our-
selves. But we have very often angled in
the river, and we have sometimes caught a
fish. We are very easily contented.”

Tristan, who had with difficulty restrained
himself, now broke into a derisive snarl.
Maurice, glad of a vent for his wrath,
boxed Tristan’s ears sharply. Tristan sprang
to avenge the insult ; and half-a-dozen boys
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE, .___ 188.

joined him in his onslaught. In a moment _
the air rang with furious cries, above which

Eustace’s. voice could scarcely be heard.

Florian ran hither and thither, but was him-

self mixed up with the squabblers.

“Read the Riot Act, good Sir Eustace!”

murmured Gladys in her boy’s ear. Eustace
coloured crimson. He felt bitterly the degra-
dation of captaining so poor a crew.-
- Amid the shouts and hustlings and hootings
which now occupied the. entire attention of_
the boys, the action of the girls went unper-
ceived by all save Eustace and Florian.
These two knights saw every maiden possess
herself of a fishing-rod, and dance blithely
off to follow the Gentle Craft at a conve-
nient distance from the contending forces.




CEUNE AE Ra Wale

HE girls, with their customary good
' sense, wasted no time in squab-
bling for the best pools. They



had long ago decided that, when

they angled, the most likely spots should be
given to the youngest and least experienced
fishers ; while those who were older, stronger,
and better equipped for the facing of difficul-
ties, should fish the most troublesome waters.
To little Lynette, therefore, fell Florian’s
vacated place; and as Bevis’s rod, which she
now held, was the simplest arrangement of
stick and twine, there seemed every reason:
why she should claim all possible encour-
‘agement in the way of a promising point
of vantage. But, indeed, Lynette was not
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 187

‘very eager to catch anything except tadpoles,
‘These. she longed to secure, and to confine
in her handkerchief. She knew that if she
could, later on, drop a couple of tadpoles
down the back of Bevis, she would try his



Sones 2 % 7 “set Ss if =F : l
= e ONS a RMS ARIS

Little Lynette.—s. 156,

Merves to an extent which would cause her
the most enchanting diversion.

Adeline, again, gave the trout no trouble
whatever. She wished to tell Wilfred, by-
and-by, that she did net like his rod. He
158 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

would be sure to inquire immediately why
she did not like it; and she knew she
would have no difficulty in uttering a reply
sufficiently disagreeable and tantalising to
bring tears to the eyes of sensitive Wilfred.

In contrast to the unkind plots of these
two teasing girls was the conversation just
then going on much higher up the river.

The elder boys had fought and quarrelled
until they were sick of themselves and of
each other. They had then patched up a
peace which sent them wandering forth in
couples—since there was not a single game
which all would agree to play.

The chubby cheeks of Bevis and Wilfred
were sadly streaky; for among the bigger
knights, into whose battle the smaller had ©
been dragged, they had received a good.
many bumps and bruises. In order to nurse
these successfully, and to mingle their woes,
they had strayed up the river to Long-
meadow Farm. There they sat them down
and wailed awhile; and after that they felt
happier, and not disinclined for recreation.

aoe
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 189

“TI wish Lynette would come and_ play
with us,” sighed Bevis. “I am sure I
should not mind if she did make me jump
a littl—I am so tired of doing nothing.”

“T wonder why Adeline will not let me
stay with her?” speculated Wilfred, staring
into the eddies below till he turned giddy.
“If I do not keep close to Adeline, I
never shall get the wheelbarrow for my
garden.” j

“There are some very pretty flowers on
the opposite bank,” said Bevis thoughtfully.
‘Perhaps, if we could gather those flowers
and carry them to Lynette and Adeline,
they would be pleased with us, Lynette is .
very fond of flowers.” :

“And so is Adeline!” exclaimed Wilfred.
“Oh, if only we could get those nice ones
over there! But there is no boat, and no
bridge nearer than Cowslip Watermill—and
‘that is far down the river. We _ should
have to pass a// the girls to reach it.” -

The souls of the little knights quaked at
the very idea,
160 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“J wish we had learned to swim last
summer, when the girls did!” lamented Bevis.
“Tt really was Eustace’s fault that we did
not. He said it would be so stupid to
‘copy Gladys: and it was Gladys’s idea that
‘made the girls club to get somebody to
teach them.”

“Gladys always thinks of things,” said
Wilfred, nodding.

“But Gladys was nice about that thing,”
continued Bevis, quickly. ‘She proposed to
Eustace that the boys should learn as well
as the girls.”

“Ves,” assented Wilfred. ‘But Eustace

only huffed, and so Gladys shut up.” .
. . There was a moment’s silence; and
then Wilfred suddenly sprang to his feet,
and clapped his hands. “Oh, Bevis! I have
a first-rate plan. The Longmeadow Farm
boys have made a splendid raft, and they
keep it fastened to two stumps on the river
bank in the very next field to this. If we
were to unfasten that raft, we could push
it over to the other side, and gather the
flowers we want for Adeline and Lynette.”
‘THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 161

Bevis thought. the cleverness of this plan
absolutely surprising. The sole difficulty was,
that neither he nor Wilfred was :an adept
at the art of propelling rafts. Still, they
agreed without hesitation to trust to luck—
which was likely to prove at least as safe
a conductor as their own skill.

Fortune smiled on these enterprising
knights. The raft was unmoored without
‘difficulty, the poles wherewith the Long-
meadow boys guided it were lying on its
surface, and as the river at this point was-
smooth and shallow, the exercise of a little
‘strength sent the vessel across in no time.
Flowers enough to satisfy any number of
exacting maidens were tossed on to the
roughly-nailed planks; and the voyagers set
out on their return journey. Then began
the temptation to linger. Why should they
not sail away down stream, far enough to
catch the attention and excite the envy of

the older boys now lounging about the

‘banks ?
To this object they forthwith devoted
zs
162 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

themselves; and for a short distance their
progress was slow and sure. Then the river
began to flow more darkly, more deeply,
more swiftly; and they narrowly escaped
being drawn into a treacherous current.

Still the raft drifted on; and the voyagers,
finding exertion unnecessary, ceased to use
their poles except as staffs to lean on.
Surrounded by their flowers, ferns, and
‘grasses, and with their faces aglow, they
presented a picture which would have rejoiced
the sentimental soul of Miss Elizabeth
Montague.

Presently they came within hail of their
comrades, who were cooling their anger on
the bank; and the elder boys, rushing with
one accord to the brink, begged to be taken
on board. Good-nature decreed that Bevis
and Wilfred should not keep to themselves
the delights of travel; and catching hold of
their poles, they contrived to gain the shore.
In a twinkling, the raft was covered with
boys—so closely covered, in fact, that there
was no longer room for the enormous bunches
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 163

of wild flowers gathered by the first pair of
sailors; and, without heeding the piteous
entreaties of Bevis, or the tears of Wilfred,
‘Maurice pitched overboard the whole of
the floral cargo. Even then, the crowding



They presented a picture.—Z. 162.

together of Miss Elizabeth’s godsons was
eminently dangerous to their friendship; and
bickerings arose before the overladen craft
had made a score of yards.:

.
164 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

In the fore part of the raft, Eustace and
Florian crouched side by side. Eustace
gazed moodily on the water: and even
Florian’s melancholy had a tinge of discon-
tent. Fear of Gladys’s scornful tongue had
hindered him from venturing to follow
Amabel; and Eustace, his chosen friend and
playfellow, had maintained during most of the
afternoon the silence of bitterness.
- So this is the last of our Boy Days!”
said Eustace presently; ‘‘and jolly glad I am
too. On Monday, Florian, I shall start on
my own hook. I can’t stand this bosh any
longer. I’m not trying for the Prize; so I
shall just turn over a new leaf and enjoy
myself. The rest of you can dawdle after

”



the girls, if you choose. J don’t mean

“Hallo!” exclaimed Florian suddenly, with
a smile of joyful recognition, “there is Amabel,
on the bank!” Ke ae

“And there is Gladys,” murmured Eustace,
his brow wrinkling. But in a moment he was
on his feet, alert and eager. He perceived
that Gladys was engaged in an _ exciting
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 165

struggle with a fine trout which had _ bolted
down stream with her bait. She was manag:
ing her rod with an easy skill pleasant to
look upon; and Eustace, again acknowledging
in her the apt pupil of former oe felt a
teacher’s pride in her success.

‘** Good—capital—oh, first-rate!” he chuckled
softly. The fish lay at Gladys’s feet. Amabel,
full of unselfish sympathy with her. .friend’s
good fortune, had dexterously wielded the
landing net. The two boys looked at the
fishers and then at each other.

“Our girls,” whispered Florian with con-
viction, ‘“‘are Queens among girls!”

Eustace nodded. He was about to go
further, and speak the praise of Gladys’s skill
which was in his heart, when the outbreak
of a tumult behind him called for attention,

Maurice and Rupert had seized the poles
from the hands of Edmund and Tristan, who,
jealous of interference, were doing their best
to recover them. As the four bigger boys
plunged about, the smaller sprang to and
fro, in evident danger of pitching overboard.
166 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

" Eustace’s angry remonstrances were useless.
Maurice and Edmund tugged at one pole,
Rupert and Tristan tugged at the other.
There was no rudder ; and the raft, left with-
out guidance, gradually swerved towards the
current, which caught it, and bore it rapidly
along. The swift motion was exhilarating ;
and the sensation of change diverted the
thoughts of the combatants from the poles,
which they dropped with one accord, in
order to press to the front.

“Why,” said Lancelot languidly, “this sort.
of thing is scrumptious. No fag—no worry;

one could drift on for ever. Bevis, I'll give
you sixpence if you'll lie down full length and
let me put my head on you.”

“J will!” said Wilfred, readily. “JI can buy
Adeline sweeties with the sixpence, and
perhaps she will give me her vote. My
beautiful nosegays are all gone; and I do
so very much want a wheelbarrow for my
garden.”

“You shut up,” said Lance decidedly.
“Catch anybody napping with a scraggy
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 167

youth like you for a pillow. Bevis is as
plump as a prize goose.”

Just then, a murmur of consternation arose
at the front of the raft; and at the same
moment a cry came from the shore.

“Eustace! Eustace! Look out for the
tree-trunk !”

The boys had already seen their danger,
for they had just turned a sudden bend.
Right before them, in the midst of the
current which held in its grip the captain-
less craft, a noble forest pine drifted slowly —
on. Struck by the summer lightning of a
week earlier, it had fallen into the smooth,
calm waters of the upper part of the river,
and had overcome each obstacle to its
downward course. Its great weight had
sunk its bulk till its exposed surface was
almost level with the stream, and had made
its motion slow and stately and resistless.
The light raft, with its quaking crew, now
leapt towards the trunk, contact with which
would mean its destruction.

“The poles!” shouted Eustace, his courage
168. THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

rising to the emergency. ‘Maurice! where
are the poles?”

“Overboard,” answered the aie knight,
in a terrified howl. “We d—dropped them!”

“Fools!” Eustace burst out indignantly.
“Then we can do nothing to save ourselves.
Here! Let’s pitch the little ones out on
that rock as we pass it. There’s room for
two.”

Florian immediately stepped forward and
caught up Wilfred. Eustace laid firm and
friendly hands on Bevis. The other boys
stood - silently in their places; Though
trembling with fear, Miss Elizabeth’s god-
sons were incapable of imperilling the little
ones’ chances by a senseless attempt to
secure a foothold on the rock. - ce

Alas! Eustace’s wise design was frustrated
by fate, which ordained that the raft should
swerve away from the desired haven. Then
the cry went up,

“Who can swim?”

The question was put by all; ond: none
answered. Eustace, remembering his foolish
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 169

jealousy of Gladys’s enterprise in starting:
a swimming club, now began to wonder if
the loss of a dozen lives was to be the
punishment of his refusal to join in the
girls’ pastime. . Meanwhile; the shouts .of
Gladys and Amabel came eerily from the
more distant bank; and, on the nearer side;
there rose straight and black from the water
the gloomy cliffs under which the current
rushed at its strongest and swiftest.

The boys turned their white faces towards _
the home shore. The girls had gathered,
coming at full speed from their posts, on a
little peninsula opposite the point which
would shortly be gained by the fioating
pine. Here they moved actively about,
pulling off shoes and hats and even frocks.

«Stand together, boys!” came Eustace’s
voice, clear and calm; and the doomed
knights formed a phalanx in face of their
distant ‘friends.

« Stand together, girls!” came Gladys’s
voice, bright and fearless; and the maidens
stepped into line, while their practised eyes
170 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

met and gauged the certainty of danger and
the chance of success. .
‘“Now!” breathed Eustace, with a last grip
of Florian’s hand; and the raft struck the
trunk and shivered to pieces.



Pulling off shoes and hats.—#. 169.

“Now!” shouted Gladys, with a forward
spring; and every girl leapt, and, smiting
the water in triumph, struck out boldly
towards the struggling crew of the fated
raft—each making for the place where her
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 171

own boy floated or whence he had dis-
appeared. The river was not wide. Before
it was too late, the rescuers were on the
spot. Each—save one—gripped her boy by
hair, or collar, or arm; each cried out words
of good cheer; each turned about, and, with
the ease of conscious skill, towed her burden
to safety and the shore.

Gladys, alone, remained to grope miserably
among the splintered timbers of the raft.
Where was Eustace?—The flower of Miss _
Montague’s knighthood was nowhere to be
seen. . uci
Drawn under the floating trunk by the
powerful current, Eustace had come again
to the surface many yards further down the
stream; and the force of the rapidly-flowing
waters now bore him on. By throwing an
arm over the upper and slenderer portion
of the pine tree, Gladys raised herself high
enough to command a view of the river,
and to discern in the distance Eustace’s
white face and dark curls above the surface
of the current which buoyed them up.
172 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE:

_ With renewed vigour, Gladys withdrew.
her arm, dived under the trunk, and started
in pursuit of her playfellow. It was a race
for life: Far ahead of Eustace, but right
in his course; the sluice of Cowslip Water-
mill diverted some of the river-waters, its
opening guarded by an iron grating sunk .
a couple of feet below the surface. Now,
_ it had happened once that a villager, bath-
ing against custom on the side where flowed
the titeacherous current, had been sucked
under the grating, and caught in the merciless
clutch of the revolving wheel.

‘Eustace remembered this; and sorely was
his knightly courage tested. Of himself he
could not think too much; for life lay before
him a thing as yet too dim and unreal to
have the value which comes of years and
knowledge: but for the father whose. pride
and joy he was, Eustace now yearned with
the pitiful love and faith of unspoiled child-
hood. . Gladys, too, remembered; and she
breasted the water with strong, swift strokes,
and prayed to Our Father in Heaven that.
she might be in time.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 173

A few moments. later,’ Eustace, with a
sick dread at his heart, felt his feet strike
the grating; while the irresistible suction
began to draw him under. One agonized
glance at the great wheel looming in front
of him, and Eustace closed his eyes. .







But already a firm hand grasped his collar.—. 173.

But already a firm hand grasped his collar.
Gladys had outstripped the current; and
now, swinging round the stone dyke which
confined the sluice, she used her slender
174 | THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

body as a lever to work the rescue of
Eustace. Floating at full length close to the
dyke, she tugged with all her might; and
slowly, inch by inch, redeemed her boy from
the jaws of the fatal sluice. It was well
done: would that Miss Elizabeth had been
there to see!

Once more in the free current, Gladys
and Eustace drifted easily on; until a pro-
jecting bank offered an opportunity of which
the gallant swimmer might avail herself.
She ‘put forth her strength, won a way
out of the current, and clutched at some
overhanging bushes. Eustace adroitly imita-
ted her; and the pair hauled themselves
safely to the land. And there awhile they
lay, too exhausted for speech.

“T hate a fuss,” said Gladys, later. ‘You
must promise, Eustace, that you won’t telli;
—and make all the other boys promise.”

The pair were on their way back to the
fishing-ground. They had crossed the river
by the bridge below Cowslip Watermill; and
were now straying slowly up the bank.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 178

“ Tell—whom ?” asked Eustace.

“Why—anybody!” exclaimed Gladys, her
cheeks flushing. “We can all go home
quietly, and hold our tongues. I fate a fuss!
—Promise, Eustace!”

“T can’t promise for always,” replied
Eustace, whose downbent eyes and lagging
steps seemed to betoken serious thoughts.
“Tl promise for just now: and I'll make
the other fellows keep things dark. I say!
‘I wonder whether any of them came to
grief, after all? I saw Lynette pounce on
Bevis: but she’s such a slim little monkey,
and Bevis is as plump as anything.”

“Tet’s hurry,” said Gladys; though she
spoke without anxiety. Lynette was an
expert swimmer.

A few more minutes brought the boy and
girl to the edge of the meadow opposite
which the raft had foundered. Here they
saw a strange sight.

Ten of Miss Elizabeth’s sides lay or
sat or reclined upon the grass in various
‘attitudes of differing degrees of exhaustion ;
176 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

and about each fallen knight stooped or
moved a ministering maiden, attending solici-
tously to his wants. The graceful Erica
supported the groaning Maurice; the pert
Lynette patted and petted wide-eyed, round-
mouthed Bevis; Rupert allowed Berta’ to
arrange his clinging curls; - Hilda's once-
teasing tongue murmured soothingly in Guy’s
abashed ear. Clarice was promising Aylmer
to copy in her best roundhand the almost
obliterated verses in his soaked note-book;
Cecily was coaxing Edmund to try to swallow
a sweet biscuit.

In a word, every girl was appearing in
a new and entrancing light. Every boy
was vowing in his heart eternal service to
his gentle minister.

Amabel and Florian, sitting hand-in-hand
alone by the river-bank, were weeping
quietly the while they conversed in broken
murmurs.

“T am afraid,” mourned Amabel, “that
something has happened to darling Gladys!”

“JT am certain,’ wailed Florian, ‘that
Eustace has been drowned! It is useless
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 177

to run for help; for there is no house nearer
than Longmeadow Farm. What caz we do?”

“You needn’t do anything, goose!” cried
the unexpected voice of Gladys.

In an instant the weeping pair, with
ecstatic shouts of joy, had scrambled to their
feet, and flung themselves on Gladys and
Eustace, whose sudden appearance worked
marvels elsewhere. _

The ten other recumbent knights, assisted
by the ten ministering maidens, stumbled up _
with an irresistible impulse. The couples
seized each other’s hands and ran tumul-
tuously forward, joining, as they went, in
Florian’s and Amabel’s loud cries of enthu-
siastic welcome. Gladys and Eustace were
pushed to a central position; and round and
round them, dancing and singing, circled their
delighted companions.

“Fellows!” exclaimed Eustace, when ‘he
could get a hearing, ‘‘this afternoon, the girls
have saved all our lives by their pluck and
cleverness | ”— - =

“ Hear, hear!” responded the boys, soberly.
_— And so I vote that after this all the

M
178 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

days are Girl Days, to the end of the holi-
days, and for ever after.”

“Hear, hear!” agreed the boys, stifling
agonizing fears.

At this moment, Gladys, giving Eustace
a derisive little push, quenched his eloquence
with the single word—

“ Rubbish !”

The boys unanimously turned her eyes
on their chief tyrant.

“There will be no Girl Days, and no
Boy Days either,” said Gladys calmly ; ‘and
there will be no Knights and Maidens; and
no more nonsense. at all. Listen, boys!
Miss Elizabeth offered you a Holiday Prize;
and just to try to get it, you wanted to
be extra polite all of a sudden! Now, did
you think we girls were going to put up
with that?”

The boys hung their heads in shame.

“No!” said Gladys firmly, “that sort of
niceness isn’t worth anything, and you may
keep it to yourselves. But if you choose
to leave off bothering about the Prize, and
be. your real selves—why, we can all play
‘THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 179

together comfortably as ordinary boys and
girls ; who sometimes quarrel, and sometimes
don’t, but always know how to give a
take |”

The boys raised a storm of approving
shouts. A load fell from their hearts,

They saw themselves again rendering to
the girls reasonable service, merely for the .
sake of beifig courteous and therefore manly,
They saw themselves equal sharers in tennis:
lawn and cricket-field, and measuring prowess
with their former pupils. They saw themselves
aiding the girls in their deeds of gentleness
and pity’ to the poor and suffering, ‘and
claiming the right to emulate their generous
self-denial. They perceived dimly a possible
linking of true boyhood with true knight-
hood; and a possible reward such as the
most bountiful of .godmothers never could
bestow.

“Are you agreed?” asked Gladys,

The boys clamoured assent, .

“Then,” said Gladys, “we will wait till
the end of the holidays before we say another
word about the Holiday Prize.”
180 ‘THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

‘We won't even ¢hink about it,” muttered
the boys, with sighs of the profoundest relief.

“And now,” finished Gladys, well satisfied,
“we all will go home, and dry our clothes,
and hold ‘our tongues about the wetting
we've had. It won't signify; and we can
run a jolly race all the way back to the
Village, to keep ourselves warm!”
_ The girls hunted up their forsaken rods:
the boys dashed off for the baskets.

The week’s experiment had been voted
a dead failure; but the twelve couples, as
they raced homeward, laid a hundred delight-
ful plans for the remaining holidays.




CHAP EH Ray Ville

T was a beautiful summer afternoon,
On the wide-spreading lawn in



front of Cowslip Grange was.
ranged. a wide semi-circle of
chairs, and before the two middle chairs a
low table was placed. Miss Montague and
the Squire sat behind the table, on which
lay a square box with a hole in the lid, a
pencil, and some slips of paper. The remain-
ing seats were occupied by a gaily-dressed
éompany—the relatives and friends of Miss
Elizabeth’s godsons.

For some moments the usual quiet of the
spot had been broken by the busy talk and
laughter of the ladies and gentlemen assembled
at Miss Montague’s invitation to witness the
182 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

presentation of the Holiday Prize. They
all were aware under what conditions it had
been offered, that it was to be bestowed in
accordance with the majority-vote of the
girls, and that it was to bring to the fortu-
nate competitor the right to demand the
thing he most wished for. Naturally, every
visitor was full of interest; naturally, every
father and mother hoped that their own
special boy might have been judged to
approach most nearly Miss Montague’s ideal
of perfect knighthood. What were the
chances of their son, not a single couple had
any ‘means of guessing; for, whereas, at the
opening of the holidays, each boy had been
willing to confide his woes and grievances
to his parents, the subject of the Prize had
during the later weeks been avoided per-
sistently by the young competitors.

At length a hurrying and scurrying of
many feet was heard in: the avenue, and a
very Babel of voices put adult chatter to
rout. The visitors composed themselves to
watch and listen, Miss Elizabeth smiled and
plumed in pleasant anticipation, the Squire
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 183

rose solemnly to his feet and put on his
eyeglasses.

Hand-in-hand, singing and dancing as

they came, twenty-four bright-eyed girls and
boys darted out of the shadows of the
avenue and tripped across the lawn. Bend-
ing heads and doffing caps, they halted before
the table, and ranged themselves in double
line—the girls in front.
. The Squire made a little speech, in which
he tried, as well as his native simplicity and
bluntness would let him, to express thé
exalted sentiments and romantic aspirations
of his sister; and finally called on the row of
demure damsels to come forward, one by.
one, that each might write on a slip of
paper the name of the boy for whom her
vote was to be given.

The girls went in turn to the table, wrote
as they pleased, and themselves dropped
their papers into the box. During this
proceeding. the faces of the boys. expressed
the anxiety they could not help feeling when
they remembered what was at stake. Next
the. Squire gave the box a little shake, raised
the lid, and drew out a slip.
184 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“Wilfred— one ‘vote!” he announced
loudly ; and Miss Montague, smiling at the
eager and rosy face of gentle. Wilfred, put
en a piece of paper a. mark to his credit.

fs Lancelot—one ;: ; Edmund—one; Maurice
~one!” . :

The marks went down. Lancelot, Edmund,
and Maurice appeared unfeignedly astonished.

“‘Eustace—one ; Bevis—one; Guy—one!”

And the Squire read. out, in puzzled tones,
a single vote to every boy.

The guests whispered together ; Miss Eliza-
beth seemed. painfully crestfallen ; the Squire,
muttering ‘“ Hum!—rather awkward, my
dear!”
Not a boy was now in doubt as to his

turned to his sister for instructions.

position ; and, reaching forth a hand to touch

the girl in front of him, each. muttered fer-

‘vently—
lasay, ls Vou a7e a) brick |))”

The. girls looked smiling and fay ortanle
Miss Elizabeth, on the contrary, met the
concentrated gaze of their twelve pairs of
eyes with manifest agitation.

“Maidens!” she exclaimed, reprovingly,
i
}

ai q a:
a |

ml
MT



“Only one girl would admit it !"-—g. 186.
186 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“you are surely playing! Some one, out
of all my godsons, must certainly have dis-
tinguished himself among you for the qualities
most admirable in a true knight. He must
have shown loyalty, generosity, courage:
the virtues of a Bayard, without fear and
without reproach, Come forward, Gladys,
and speak for yourself and your comrades.
Is there not, among my godsons, one pre-
eminent for chivalrous attributes?”

“Tf there were,” returned Gladys, throw-
ing back her long curls with a gesture of
scorn, “only one girl would admit it!”
“What mean you?” asked Miss Elizabeth
amazedly.

Gladys spoke back without hesitation or
wavering.

“Did not you yourself give to each of us
girls her own boy? He may be the worst
of the boys, or he may be the best, or he
may be just middling ; of course his own girl
will stick to him.”

“Of course?” repeated Miss Elizabeth,
faintly.

“ Of course?” affirmed a dozén girls, in a
determined chorus.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 187

The Squire put back his glasses, and, with
a little shrug of the shoulders, sat down:
He had caught a tremulous murmur from
Miss Elizabeth— pene

“Loyalty !—Loyalty in girls? Is it pos-
sible?” And she fairly frowned at the féar-
less front of the presumptuous damsels.

‘What, then,” she began afresh, “are the
whispers I sometimes have heard? Come
forth, Clarice! Now, tell me true. Does
not Aylmer, with his persistent rhyming and-
reciting, bore you almost to death?”

“Indeed, Miss Elizabeth,” spoke plump
little Clarice, perkily, “I am very sure
Aylmer’s verses are as nice as Longfellow’s!
It was only yesterday that we crowned him
Poet Laureate of Cowslip Meadows! If it
will please you, I will now recite his new
ballad, Zhe Lay of Goldilocked Clarice. ’Tis
very pretty, and you will see at once ao
well he deserves the Prize.”

Miss Elizabeth waved her hand tragically,
and Clarice fell back to the side of Aylmer,
whose face was glowing with delighted
blushes.
188 IHE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

“T will hear you, Berta! Have I: not
understood that the conceited airs of my
godson Rupert have moved you to laughter
and contempt? Is he not known to be the
vainest boy in Cowslip Meadows?” :

“Tl punch anybody who says so!”
answered Berta, briefly ; and cocking her chin,
she dropped back to the side of her em-
barrassed boy.

“Cecily!” called Miss Montague, severely,
“on what ground do you consider Edmund
a knightly gentleman? Is not his greediness
a proverb among you?”

“He always keeps sweets in his pocket
-for lame Peter,” said Cecily, stoutly, “and it
is the nature of a boy to love goodies.”

Miss Elizabeth grew pale.

“ Hilda! Hilda!” she exclaimed. ‘Was it
not Guy who, in a fit of passion, tore your
new story-book to shreds?”

“7 never sneaked on Guy!” returned
Hilda, hotly, “and I don't believe any girl
did!” (Miss Elizabeth coloured, for the news
had indeed been brought by a boy.) ‘As
for me, I wouldn't give a fig for a tame,
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 189

stupid prig who didn’t have an idea of his
own.” Witenes
“ Humph!” ejaculated the Squire.

‘“Go. back, Hilda,” said Miss Elizabeth,
‘‘we will listen to a more maidenly maiden.
Erica, I gave you for your knight my god-
son Maurice, .whose rough manners and
‘ uncouth speech have been ever a grief to
me. Say, have your own grace and gentle-.
ness won him from his headlong ways?”

“In truth,” said Erica, lifting her fairy
head daintily, “I desire not much change in
my true knight. Methinks his awkwardness.
masks an honest nature, and his strength is
always at the service of the weak and
oppressed.”

Miss Elizabeth sighed as she glanced at
Maurice’s open’ face and _ well-knit : figure.
Then she summoned Lynette.

- “What of Bevis, Lynette?” inquired the
‘boys’ anguished godmother.

“JT can always make him jump .when_ I
want to,” answered’ Lynette, mischievously. —
“You have no idea how jolly it is to spring
out on him from behind a.tree! Any-girl
190 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE,

would. love a boy who was such aoe fun
as Bevis is!”

Bevis never before had heard his virtues
extolled, and he welcomed Lynette’s return
with a grateful hug.

“Winifred!” broke out poor Miss Mon-
tague, ‘I suppose you do not deny that you
have voted for your own boy?”

“Of course I have,” replied the maiden,
calmly, her dark witch-eyes flashing.

“But your boy is known among you ‘all
as Lazy Lancelot. He is, of all my god-
sons, the most inactive and self-indulgent,
He spends half his days in slumber!”

Winnie laughed merrily.

“If you want a boy to do anything,” she
chuckled, “it is easy to wake him up. And
if you do not want him to do anything,
why not let him sleep?”

Miss Elizabeth shook her forefinger angrily
at the retreating Winifred, and beckoned to
Mildred.

“I have noticed,” said the boys’: godmother,
gravely, “that Cyril’s discontented and peevish
speeches have continually spoiled your play.
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 191

Have you not: found it trying, Mildred, to
be the partner of a self-centred grumbler?”

“Sometimes,” returned Mildred, promptly.
“But you always have told us, Miss Eliza-
‘beth, that life, without its trials, would be
useless to us, and that we ought to be thank-
ful for them. If I ought to be thankful for
Cyril, I could not do less than give him my
vote—now, could I?”

Mildred’s eyes danced as she obeyed Miss
Montague’s repelling motion,

“ Adeline!”

The pert little damsel ran blithely forward.

“You, of all the girls,” said Miss Eliza- —
beth, adopting a highly repressive manner,
“are the most: impertinent, the most selfish,
and the most spoilt. You cannot possibly
. sympathize in the least with the extreme
meekness and gentleness of Wilfred, though
I hoped you might rouse in him a fitting
self-respect.”

“Wilfred may be rather slow and dull,
perhaps,” said Adeline, saucily ; “but Z shan’t
let. anybody else laugh at him. He’s my
own boy; and I mean to keep him. I dhe
192 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

him “‘meek’—so' there; now!” And nodding
her head defiantly, Adeline ran away.

Miss Montague almost shook.

“Dorothy!” she cried, “come here and



ane cei » JT mean to keep him.”—4. 191.
(> i

proclaim your ‘real opinion of Tristan. Is
not his tongue steeped in gall? Has he not
a sneer ready for every occasion?” © - 7
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 193

“He has a very pretty wit,” replied
Dorothy with evident satisfaction, “and I like
well to cross swords with a foeman worthy
of my steel.—[I believe,” she murmured
audibly, “I have read that sentence some-
where. Can it be in Froissart ? ]”

“Go back, you little minx!” exclaimed
Miss Elizabeth, ‘‘and let us hear Amabel.”

In a moment Amabel had darted forward.

“Oh, Miss Elizabeth!” she cried, without
waiting for question, “my Florian is the_
dearest boy in all:the world! Pray let him
have the Prize, dear Miss Elizabeth!”

“If you are so anxious for him to have
it,” said Miss Elizabeth, “how is it that you
have not endeavoured to secure for him the
votes of your friends?”

Amabel hung her head sadly.

“IT could not do that—even for Florian,”
she replied in a thoughtful voice. “No girl
would give her vote to anyone else’s boy.”

“Not one?” asked Miss Elizabeth, bend-
ing anxiously forward. “Think! A single
vote, besides your own, would have won for
Florian the Holiday Prize. Could you not,

N
194 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

by any exertion, have gained for your boy
that one good word?”

“J would not have tried,’ said Amabel,
simply. She lifted her head, and, though
her. face was pale, and her eyes were full
of tears, the most amiable of the girls stood
her ground boldly.

“Well,” said Miss Elizabeth, in tones of
despair, “this is very strange! You may
retire, Amabel, and let Gladys again stand
out.”.

As the leader. of the girls obeyed, the god-
mother. of the boys allowed her eyes to

sweep their ranks. At length her glance
lighted and lingered affectionately on Eustace.

“Gladys,” said Miss Elizabeth in a soft
voice, “the speech and bearing of my god-
son Eustace always have been pleasing to
me, save for the lack in them of that humility
which ought to distinguish the ideal knight.
Do you not regret this fault in him?”

“T don’t think,” said Gladys, ‘that I should
enjoy cricket or tennis with an ideal knight.
I'd rather have a real boy. Eustace suits
me very well, thank you.”
LIE HOLIDAY PRIZE. ‘195

“Then,” said Miss Elizabeth, . hopelessly,
“each of you girls, in spite of argument,
intends to give her vote to her own boy?”

‘“Of course,” replied Gladys. .

“Of course!” repeated the girls in chorus.

The Squire whispered in his sister’s ear.
“Generosity!” murmured Miss Elizabeth.
“Generosity in girls? Incredible!” Then
she continuéd aloud: “In what way, then,
can I decide this matter ? Surely it is not
a small boon to be allowed to choose the
thing one most desires!”

At this perplexing moment, Eustace left
the ranks of the boys and stood near Gladys.
Again Miss Montague’s eyes rested approv-
ingly on the handsome face and_ graceful
figure of her favourite godson.

“Tf you please, godmother,” said the
young knight earnestly, “there ,is something
I do very much want to tell you!”

“Say on, Eustace!” said Miss Montague,
in the most gracious manner.

Then Eustace, speaking rapidly and clearly,
began to tell the story of the holidays.
How the boys, greatly desiring .the Prize,
‘196 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

had fagged for the girls and given way to
them in everything, until, despairing of suc-
‘cess, they had appealed to the justice of
their tyrants, and had made with them a
compact for a week of fair dealing.

“But,” said Eustace, with profound con-
viction, “girls are far cleverer than boys.



Her favourite godson.—f. 195.

And he assured Miss Montague that on
every single day the girls had somehow got.
the better of them. :
“T could very well believe it,” murmured
the Squire, looking, with twinkling eyes, at
his favourite, Gladys.
“But on our last Boy Day,” said Eustace,
LHE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 197

‘““we all went to the river; and while the
girls were fishing, we boys went out on a
raft. The raft drifted along, and we lost
the poles, and the fellows quarrelled and
fought, so that no one noticed where we
were going. Suddenly we saw, right in front
of us, a great fir trunk, and then we heard
the girls shouting to.us to take care. But
we could not save ourselves in any way.
The raft struck on the trunk, and broke to
pieces.”

All the fathers and mothers of the boys,
and Miss Montague herself, uttered exclama-
tions of surprise and horror. ©

“Last year,” continued Eustace, ‘when
Gladys started a swimming club, I would
not let the fellows join. As the raft broke
up, we all were thrown into the water,. and
not. one of us could swim.” ;

Half the guests now sprang to their feet.
It was the mother-half. Then, seeing their
sons safe and sound in front of them, they
permitted the father-half to pull them softly
down again. pone

“ But,” went on Eustace, his cheeks glow-
198 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

ing and’his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm,
“what do you think the girls did? Why!.
in a moment they were off with their hats.
and: shoes; and into the water they jumped,
and across the river they swam to save us
boys. Even the very smallest girls could
swim like fish; and every girl caught a good
grip of her own chum, and tugged him to.
the - shore.”

The visitors broke into a chorus of admi-
ration, amid which the blushing girls stood
silent.

“Courage !—courage among girls! Can it
be?” whispered Miss Elizabeth.

And: next, Eustace, dropping his head a
little, and speaking low but clearly, told the
story of his own rescue, describing graphi-
cally,, and not without a pardonable . tremble
of voice and limb, the horror of his sensa-
tions when he found himself borne away by
the’ current, when he saw the great mill-
wheel loom before him.

“I thought there wasn’t anyone to’ help
me,” said Eustace, ‘‘but there was Gladys.
Gladys had raced the current and caught me
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 199

up; and just as my feet struck the grating
and I thought everything was over, Gladys
seized hold of me and tried to drag me
back. The water nearly sucked us both
under; but Gladys wouldn’t let: go. Some
how she swung herself round the stone dyke,
and then she tugged and tugged till she got
me round too. After that, we had only to
float down stream till we reached a place
where we could get ashore.”

Eustace had turned. towards his father, on.
whose face his eyes were bent with thought:
ful tenderness. He was not ashamed—since
he was at heart a true knight—to give to
the Colonel a filial love and reverence.

. The Colonel. rose.

“God bless our Gladys!” he said, and
his voice. quivered very slightly.

The Squire rose.

“And God bless all our girls!” he amended ;
for a boy of his own was smiling at him
from the ranks of Miss Elizabeth’s godsons,
and but for the daring of little Lynette,
Cowslip Grange must now have lacked its
heir.
200 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

_ Miss Montague leaned forward, clasping
her delicate hands.

“Oh!” she exclaimed fervently, “is it in
girls alone that I am to find those most
chivalrous attributes — loyalty, generosity,
courage? Alas! why am I not godmother
to all the girls ?”

‘““Anyway, a girl ought to have the Holiday

Prize,” said Eustace stoutly, ‘and that girl
is Gladys.”
“Yes, yes!” cried the other girls loudly.
“Gladys! Gladys! Gladys saved Eustace
from the dreadful wheel! All of our boys
will give their votes to Gladys!”

“Of course,” said the gentle Floridn, “ we
boys will vote as our girls wish. Naturally,
each of us thinks his own girl——”

“Florian!” interrupted Amabel reproach-
fully, “I’m sure you don't!”

Florian bowed low.

“We think just what you please,” he
finished, courteously. “And we will give
any number of cheers for Gladys, who saved
Eustace from the wheel!”

Gladys, greatly inconvenienced by her
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 201

burhing cheeks, now sought to retire from
her prominent position; but in a twinkling
Eustace had caught her by the hand, and
was looking boldly to his godmother for her
decision.

- “Tndeed,” said Miss Elizabeth, ‘my .own
opinion coincides completely with that of
my godsons and the maidens they have the
happiness to serve. The Holiday Prize shall
be bestowed on Gladys. Speak, then, my
_ dear:and gallant child, and let me know what
is the thing you most desire to possess?” ie

Gladys looked up quickly, and replied with-
out an instant’s hesitation :

“The pony!—the coal-black pony for
Eustace! That pony he has wanted for
ever and ever so long!”

For a moment Miss Elizabeth stood dumb
—heedless of the boys’ and girls’ approving
’ cheers; of Eustace’s shy remonstrances. and
Gladys’s imperious silencing of them, of the
visitors’ smiling comments.

“Now, this is very strange!” said Miss
Elizabeth, a pink colour tinging her dainty
cheeks. “I will confess that I came hither
202 THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

this afternoon convinced that the. votes- of
_all the girls would be given to my godson
Eustace, and suspecting that his choice for
the Holiday Prize would fall upon that
coal-black pony for which he has long pined.
And, knowing the impatience of’ ‘childhood,
and being -myself very ready .to, humour
these boys and girls, I made arrangements
for gratifying Eustace without delay. So
that if my ‘nephew and godson Bevis will
but run to yonder corner and. qpeC down. the

”



pathway, he will see

Bevis was already off. like an arrow.

There was a pause, amid which rose and
fell the. murmur of conversation; while |
Eustace’s heart beat strongly, and Gladys’s
eyes flashed joy and triumph. .

Round the corner came Bevis; and in
his wake a groom, leading the coal-black
pony. —

_ Miss Elizabeth stepped forward, and taking
the bridle of the beautiful little steed, led
him up to Gladys.

““My dearest child,” she said, impressively,
“the Holiday Prize is indeed yours. Teo

ft
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 203

Eustace comes the pleasure of receiving; to
you the far higher pleasure of giving.”

““Thank you very much, dear Miss Eliza-.
beth,” replied Gladys, sedately; and taking



4 The coal-black pony.—f. 202.

the bridle offered to her, she placed it in
Eustace’s hand. i .
“And I wish to say,” continued Miss
Elizabeth, “that the loyalty, the generosity,
and the courage of all the girls have very

-
204; THE HOLIDAY PRIZE.

much affected me. I wish it to be under-
stood that, for the future, all the girls may
consider themselves my godchildren by adop-
tion. I shall make-a point of inquiring the
dates of all their birthdays.”

Again the boys and girls cheered loudly.

“ Furthermore,” went on Miss Elizabeth,
“to mark my satisfaction with this delightful
afternoon, I intend to exercise my god-
motherly prerogative, and procure for all
my godsons and goddaughters an extra month
of holidays.”

The cheers of the ecstatic boys and girls
rang wildly out, and echoed from the walls
of Cowslip Grange, and across its lawns and
down its shady alleys.

“And now,” exclaimed Miss Elizabeth,
“to the saddle, Eustace! Let us see how
well you will ride the Holiday Prize.”

But Eustace, lifting his cap gaily to his
godmother, held his hand for Gladys to
mount; and the little maid, hearing his eager
invitation, leapt lightly on the pony’s back.
And away down the avenue she trotted,
caring nothing that she sat on a boy's saddle,
THE HOLIDAY PRIZE. 205

for indeed she would ride her own pony
barebacked at the stiffest fence about Cow-
slip Meadows.

Down the avenue by Gladys’s side ran
Eustace ; and after the pair ran, hand-in-hand,
the remaining couples of Miss Elizabeth’s
godchildren.

Miss Elizabeth turned to the Squire and
smiled. It” pleased her well that Eustace
had given to Gladys the first ride on the
“Holiday Prize.”


JARROLD AND SONS, -
PRINTERS,
NORWICH, YARMOUTH, AND LONDON.
Selections from arrolds’ Mew Books,

BLACK BEAUTY...

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A HORSE. .

120 Entirely New Illustrations. .4to, Cloth Elegant,
é 5/- (Postage 44d.)



“Had the Society
for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals
published this, we
should say it had
published its best
work,”—Review.

"It would be diffi-
sult to conceive one
more admirably suit-
ed to its pu:pose,”— =
Nonconformist.





‘The story 1s sim-
ply told and cleverly
put together, and
while it may be read

‘with pleasure and
Frofit by educated
people, it is an excel-
lent buok to put into
the hands of stable-
boys, or any who
have to do with
horses.”

Essex Standard.

“As a book for
oung people it will
é popular for its

Picturesque illustra-
tions of all possible
aspects of a horses
Career.”

Ipswich Journal

Of this book 180,000 nave been printed in this country alone. It has also
been very extensively reproduced in the United States, and Editions have been
published in France and Italy.

The present 4to Edition has been produced at great expense. It contains
120 Illustrations by that eminent Artist, JOHN BEER, EsqQ., facsimiled by
the half-tone process, with beautiful results. It is artistically bound, and
will no doubt be highly appreciated as a suitable gift book by many of
the thousands who have been delighted with it in its cheaper form ; for-as the
Editor of Zhe Animal World says, ‘‘ The more often we have turned over the
leaves of ‘Black Beauty,’ the greater has been our delight.”

The Popular Editions at 2/- and 1/- are still on Sale.



London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Selections from Jarrolds’ Mew Books.



BEAUTIFUL JOE.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A DOG.

BY MARSHALL SAUNDERS.
Tlustrated, 8/- (Post 44d.) Gilt Edges, 3/6.



The Countess of Aberdeen writes of the Canadian Edition of ‘‘ Beautiful Joe” :—"I am
sure that all lovers of animals will welcome this book with eagerness as being eminently
calculated to spread that knowledge and thought for dumb beasts which will lead to
their humane treatment.”

‘The narrative is admirably conveyed and interesting from every point of view. If we
ped oun wish and our way, the’ book should be in every school and in every house.”—TZhe
orld,

“The book is charmingly got up, and would make an excellent school-prizé.’—Bvitish
Weekly.

“Tt is a capital story, and is certain to be popular among all lovers of animals,"—Shefield
Daly Telegraph.

‘For Sunday-school libraries and for reading alike in families, it is a most appropriate
volume, sure to draw out the sympathies of young readers to their four-footed companio!
and to teach them valuable lessons as to the right and kind treatment of dumb creatures.’
—The Freeman.



London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Selections from Jarvolds’ Mew Books.

7



BOOKS OF ADVENTURE FOR BOYS,

Crown 8vo0., [llustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth, Olivine Edges.
Price.3s. 6a. (Postage 44d.)

After School. By Rosert Overton. With 24 Illus-
trations by REINHOLD THIELE. 2nd Edition. 3s. 6d.

“Twenty-four complete short stories of

school-life, home-life, and later-life, deal-
ing largely with the experiences and
adventures of the two boys Higgins and
their companions, the scrapes they got
into, and how they got out of them.
With twenty-four full-page. illustrations.

‘*Schoolboys never tire of reading stories in
which their fellows play the chief parts, and they
will find a delightful collection of fresh tales in
‘After School,’ by Mr. Robert Overton, who
knows the English public schoolboy so well
that it is at times difficult to believe that he is
not one himself at the present moment. There
are 24 stories, chiefly the work of Higgins sen.
and Higgins jun., and they are all so full .of
merriment, and are all such perfect pictures of
school life that it is difficult to determine which
is the best amongst them. Birchingham Hall,
the school these two delightful boys turn topsy-
turvy, will remain a pleasant recollection long
after the stories in which they relate their many
deeds and misdeeds have been read and laid
aside.’ —The Star.



“The funniest, most entertaining, and most wholesome collection of stories ever written.”
—Christian Age.

“It contains a number of short stories, describing incidents of school-life, and purporting
2. be the work of the boys themselves, Some of them are highly laughable."—Morning
ost,

“Tt is ‘clever, and the tales amusing and serious by turns. Indeed the stories are very
suitable for boys.”—Bel/ast Evening Telegraph.

‘The incidents are told with considerable cleverness, and there is a freshness about
the whole story that every reader will appreciate."—Christian World,

?
-_'*No ‘boy’ is too old to enjoy stories as fresh and refreshing as these.”"—Leytonstone
Express.
‘' A book to delight all schoolboys. It is full of merriment, and of mischief, and of rattle
and go.”—Glasgow Herald,



‘London: Jarrold and Sons, to and II, Warwick Lane, E.C. -
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls,
Selections from Jarrolds’ Mew Books.

BOOKS OF ADVENTURE FOR BOYS.

Crown 8vo, Illustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth, Olivine Edges,
Price 3s. 6d. (Postage 43d.)





Lights Out. By Roserr
OveRTON. With twenty-six full-
page Illustrations by REINHOLD
THIELE. 2nd Edition. 3s. 6d.

Twenty-six complete short stories,
**Told in the dark by the Boys of the
Big Dormitory—Tales of the Playground
and the Camp, of ‘the Battle ‘and the
Breeze,’ of young boys and old boys,
from grave to gay, from lively to severe.”

‘* Will be read with pleasure by boys.”—Dazly
News. !

‘A good boy’s book or a good book for boys.”
—Morning,



‘**Lights Out,’ by Robert Overton, is breezy, lively, and exciting. They are stories of
incidents by land and sea, supposed to be told of evenings in a boys’ dormitory after the lights
were extinguished and before silence was enjoined. Mr. Overton sometimes drops into verse,
and the verses are very good, especially a fiery ballad of the American Civil War.”—Zhe

imes.

‘* The stories are sure to be enjoyed by the youth of all ages, and the book will be a popular
gift."—Guardian, i

‘The tales are supposed to be told to one another by boys at school after the lights are out.
They are numerous, brief, and adventurous, dealing wit! running away from school, with
burglars, with the battle, and the breeze. They make a capital boy’s book.” —Scotsman.

‘‘A string of stories of adventure of all sorts in all. places, ashore and. afloat, told in the
dormitory of Dr. Adlem’s College. Every story is interesting." —Pa/Z Mall Gazette.

‘" Deserves a place among the most attractive gift books of the year.”—Schoolmaster,

‘*Mr. Robert Overton sets his boys to weave romances for their own edification o’ nights in
the big dormitory during the hour which precedes ‘lights out.’ A charming book this, and
sure of a warm welcome.’—T77uth. _

‘In the last year or two no writer for the younger. members of the community has sprung
into greater prominence than Mr. Overton. His success has been the reward of merit. He
possesses what we cannot characterise otherwise than as a genius for story writing for boys.
He combines a delightful sense of humour witha dramatic power of the very highest order,
and his style is easy and graceful.”"—Home News.

‘Humour, pathos, and adventure are admirably blended in a manner which does the author
credit. His stories deserve to become popular.”—Birmingham Daily Gazette. 4

ue Lights Out!’ by Robert Overton, is the title of a collection of racy stories, full of adven-
ture and fun, and yet inspired by a sound and healthy moral tone.” —Bvad/ord Observer.



London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.G
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls.
Selections from Jatrolds’ Wew Books.

BOOKS OF ADVENTURE FOR BOYS.

Crown 8vo, Illustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth Olivine Edges.
Price 3s. 6a. (Postage 44d.)







The King’s Pardon; or,
THE Boy wHO SAVED His FATHER.
A Story of Land and Sea. By
ROBERT OVERTON. With twelve
Illustrations by W. H. Marcgtson,
2nd Edition. 3s. 6d.

Being the recital of the perils and
escapes of Bart Arber in finding and
saving his convict-father, assisted by his
faithful chum, Bob Simmons, A.B. Stir-
ring adventures afloat and ashore, in war
and peace, at home, in the West Indies,
and the far Australian Bush.

‘Mr. Overton has certainly the knack of writ-
ing stories that are particularly taking for boys,
to say nothing of their elders."—Saturday Re-
view.

‘A deeply interesting story. The interest of
the tale grows greater from first to last, and the
course of the plot is full of surprises.” —Scotsman.

‘A tale of school, home, and sea life, of constant sensation and breathless interest—alto-
gether a rousing book.”—Glasgow Herald.

"A breezy well-told story of land and sea."—The Sun.

"A capital book for lads."—Sheffield Telegraph.

"A delightful and exciting story."—Aberdeen Free Press. .
© All boys, and many who are not boys, will read it with pleasure. '—Wewcastle Leader.

‘A book full of adventures, really a book for boys, to show them how to be brave and how
to endure,"—Westminster Budget. %



‘It is a narrative of considerable power, based on a miscarriage of justice—the transporta-
tion of an innocent father, and the brilliant adventures of his son on land and sea during the
boy’s unswerving resolve to set his father’s character right in the eyes ofthe world. The hero
of the story is a type of manliness and of British pluck, who by the sheer force of his courage
overcomes more than ordinary difficulties and heartrending disappointments, and in the long
run vindicates his father’s character and restores'him to the home on the Gorleston cliffs.”—
Peterborough Advertiser.

‘Mr. Overton's new boys’ story is laid in that exciting period at the beginning of the present
century when ‘ Boney’ was the bogey of Europe, when the English navy was at its best, when
men were transported to the.convict stations of Australia. It is indeed, in ‘the good old
times’ that we follow the fortunes of Bart Arber. Mr. Overton is winning a prominent place
in the affections of boy readers."—Pxdlishers' Circular.

London?” Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
’ Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls.
Selections from Jatrolds’ Mew Books.



NEW BOOK OF ADVENTURE FOR _BOYS.

‘Crown 8vo, Illustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth, Olivine Edges
_ Price 3s. 6d. (Postage 44d.)



‘Afloat in a Gipsy Van.
By E. ‘R. SuFFLinc, Author of
‘*Jethou; or, Crusoe Life in the
Channel Islands,” &c. With beau-
tiful Illustrations by PauL Harpy. .
3s. 6d.

Being the wanderings and adventures
of three lads under the care of one,
‘Uncle Rue.” It shows how a Gipsy
Van is made to float safely down the
“East Coast and across the North Sea to

‘Holland, and recounts the ‘experience of
_the quartette both on sea and land.

“**A capital book for boys." —Daily Chronicle.
Tt is ingenious, bright, and well-written, and
‘will tend to develop the resourcefulness of the
‘boys who read it.”"—/ndependent.

‘* About the most novel and ingenious book for boys we have seen tor some tume,"—Aber
deen Free Press.



- Cannot fail to prove exceptionally interesting.” —Christian World,

**Will prove of absorbing interest to those lads who delight in tales of perseverance and
pics and all that can be accomplished by these qualities. The volume is cleverly illustrated
y Paul Hardy.”—Bel/ast News Letter.

It is a lively and well-written story."—Brad/ford Observer.

‘* Every boy’s eye will brighten on seeing ‘Afloat ina Gipsy Van.’ The story is strongly
original in conception, and is treated with a vigour becoming astirring recital of adventure."—
Dundee Advertiser. 1

‘Tt has a lively plot, which is always on the move, and adventures enough to fill forth a
dozen books, while the interest is always bright and changing.” —Scotsman.

“Mr. Suffling’s yarn, which inculcates the need of courage, perseverance, and obedience for
the attainment of a desired end, will certainly delight and interest a very large audience.”—
Christian Age.

‘““ We are delighted with the whole narrative, and predict for-it a great success as a prize
book.”"—Teachers' Aid,
‘Tt is very well put together and written.”"—Literary World.

‘It is a stirring narrative throughout, and youthful readers will find in its pages as much of
danger, strange adventures, and singular situations as the most exacting of them can demand.
And with all this, the limits of the possible and probable are not exceeded."—Leeds Mercury.



London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all Booksellers and.at the Buokstalls.
Selections from Jarrolds’ Mew Books.

NEW BOOK OF ADVENTURE. FOR BOYS.

Crown 8vo, Illustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth, Olivine Edges,
Price 35. 6d. ( Haskise 44a,)



Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the Emperor of Germany
_ have: graciously. accepted copies of this book, of which they have expressed
Se appreciation to the Author.

Rex ; oR; WINNING THE VIC-
TORIA. Cross. By L. THOMPSON,
Illustrated . by): W. B.. WOLLEN,.
RI.

An intricate plot, full of adventures by
sea and land. Thrilling account of the
rescue of. the captive heroine—a unique
and unprecedented wedding—the young
couple taken prisoners—court-martial of
the young ‘‘ General.” Though the hero,
through a mistake,‘ runs away, he takes
with him the tender home-training which,
in its unconscious power over others con-
stitutes the deep under-current of pathos.
through the story, showing how there are
more ways than one of panne the Vic-
toria Cross:

‘‘A splendid story, which no boy can read
without becoming enthusiastic over its startling
and extraordinary incidents.—Bivmingham Ga-
cette.



Every jboy will want to read it, and we can promise him a real treat in the realms ot
edventure.”—Belfast News Letter.

‘Few better books have been published this year than Louisa Thompson's ‘Rex! or,
Winning. the:Victoria Cross.’ It is a rattling story.”—The Star.

‘‘A spifited story, with sufficient adventure and interest to satisfy the most exacting young
reader. The'style is bright and effective."—Guardian.

MA stirring , story. of, heroism and moral courage, told with bright sympathy, and a. lively.
tmagination.”—Bradford Observer.

: “One ofthe very best. books ‘that it has been our privilege to:look through this'season:"—
Teachers Aid.

‘Youthful readers will rerelit in the many adventures by land and sea: which befall» Rex."—
Cublishers' Circular.

‘This is a good, wholesome book for boys, fall of incident, without a dull’ line from: begin:
aing to endi”—Worth' Wilts Guardian,



London’: Jarrold and Sons, 1o-and 11, Warwick Lane, B.C.
Of all Booksellers: and at the Bookstalls,
Selections from Jartolds’ New Books.
‘BOOKS OF ADVENTURE FOR BOYS,

Crown 8v0, Illustrated, Handsomely Bound, Cloth, Olivine Edges,
Price 3s. 6d. (Postage 43d.)





Adventures in Texas. By Grace STEBBING, IIlus-
trated by PauL Harpy. 3rd Edition. 3s. 6d.

. §* Adventures in Texas,” being a graphic description of the experiences of a
boy colonist on’ the’ shores of ‘the Mexican Gulf, with some account of his
friends and enemies. The:book is especially designed for readers from twelve
to eighteen ‘years, but many older folks may find interest in its numerous
incidents.’

i. “A very pretty gift book, which any boy will read with pleasure.” —British Weekly.

. “A most interesting story. It is written in a charming style, and is pervaded by such °
healthy, helpful: principles; that. all youne people should be the better for readingit. The
adventures, which are of a stirring and thrilling character, follow each other in rapid succes-
sion, so that the reader's attention: is completely engrossed. Any boy would rejoice to add
this volume, with its bright attractive cover and coloured edges, to the treasures already upon
his bookshelf. One of the cheapest and best books of the season.” —Schoolmaster.

.. "Miss Stebbing ‘is ‘rapidly rising into popularity as a story-teller, and this exciting tale
fhoroughly deserves the favour it has met with.” —Bookseller.

* The work has proved an exceptionally popular one for boys, the story being of absorbing
interest, while the moral tone is healthy and good. Being well illustrated, strikingly bound,
and having quaint olivine edges, the book will be found very suitable for presentation. The
success it has already gained speaks strongly for the enjoyment it affords to boys.”—The
Genilewoman.

; ‘* A well-told story of incident and romantic enterprise, and it will be read with interest
and enjoyment.”—Wewcastle Daily Leader.

1A capital book for boys which we are glad to commend to our young readers."—Jokn Bull.

. This is a capital book for boys. The incidents of the story are deeply interesting, and the
lessons inculcated are such as we should like all ‘our boys’ to learn. The illustrations are
really good.”—Christian Age. : we

‘*We know of no better gift book at this season than this graphic tale of adventure.”—
Admiralty and Horse Guards’ Gazette.

"It is a most delightful story of adventure, treachery, and triumphant goodness, and in
every way merits the success it would appear to have met with.”—Sfectator.

* Abounding with exciting and interesting incident, and told in realistic fashion, the story
forms a capital addition to the series of Boys’ Books of Adventures which Messrs. Jarrold are
issuing in such a pact form. It is well illustrated, and will be found suitable for presenta-
tion.” —Eastern Daily Press.

It.has a rattling plot of intrigue, adventure, and peril, and will, no doubt, be more liked

ever in the pretty illustrated form in which it is now published.” —T’e Scotsman.

- “No element is mantis in this new candidate for public favour to make it a favourite with
both boys and girls. Well got up and beautifully illustrated, it is one of the best books of the
season.’—Teachers’ Aid. :

The young fellow’s experiences make capital reading.” —Western Morning News.



London; Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls.
Selections from Jarrolds’ Mew Books.



ATTRACTIVE BOQKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
Handsomely Bound, Cloth Boards, Illustrated, 3s. 6d. each,



The Maid of London
Bridge. 2nd Edition. 3/6.

This is an historical romance dealing
mainly with ‘‘Old London Bridge,” and
events that happened on and near it,
and also with Norwich and the neigh-
bourhood during Kett’s rebellion. The
story being full of adventures will prove
acceptable to young readers, while adults
will find in it accurate pictures of the
manners, customs, modes of life, and
incidents of the period treated.

“This story is full of life and movement, and
deals with those stormy scenes of rebellion and
unrest which were enacted about the middle of
the sixteenth century. Full of exciting incident
and historical detail, and brightened by the
glamour of the inevitable ‘affair of the heart
as the title sufficiently indicates, the story can-
not but prove attractive, and even instructive
to the general reader.”—Eastern Daily Press.

%
"It is just such a story as Harrison Ainsworth
might have written.” —7he Scotsman,





The Wild Ruthvens. By

Curtis Yorks. Author of ‘* Dud:
ley,” “Once,” “* Hush,” “A Ro-
mance of Modern London,” &c.
Illustrated by PAUL HARDY. 3s. 6d.

A story illustrating the mistakes, failures
and successes of a family of unruly but
warm-hearted boys and girls. They are
ultimately softened and civilized by the
influence of an invalid cousin, Dick
Trevanion, who comes to live with them.
He recovers, and, years later, marries

the most rebellious and unruly (formerly) of all the family, Nancie Ruthven.

‘An enchanting work. The story runs on with happy blithesome tread to the end,

which

Is reached all too soon."—S?. Stephen's Review.
‘The book is most amusing2’—Manchester Guardian,





London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.G
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls«
Selections: from Jarrolds’ Mew. Books.





ATTRACTIVE. BOOKS .FOR BOYS: AND GIRLS.
Handsomely Bound, Cloth Boards,. Illustrated, 3/6:each...

Old Caleb’s Will... By Miss E. Armsrronc: With.

Twelve Beautiful Illustrations:by G. DEMAINE HAMMOND. 3s. 6d. _

The hero, Robert: Cardew, meets with
a friend in need, and long years-after is
able in return to hold out the hand of
friendship to the: prodigal son: of his
benefactor. He and his sister Janet for-
get themselves in their brave effort: to save
their young brother and sisters. from the
consequences. of their father’s: self-indul-
gence.

**Miss- Armstrong’s latest: work: is,.in short,
of:such excellent quality, that it must:be read
with pleasure, and can scarcely be laid down
without regret.’—Daily. Telegraph.

“Old Caleb's Will’ is full of interesting situa-
tions and. incidents from beginning to end; and
there is an ease about the style which: is very
refreshing.'"—Cornish Post.



A Charge to Keep. sy
P. A. BrytH, Author of “Paul
Porter and His Brothers,” &c. Tluse
trated by PauL Harpy. 3s. 6d.

“This is a powerful, earnest: piece of fiction,.,
of strong and sustained interest, aboundi.g in
lessons to be laid to heart.” —Christian Age.

‘"A Charge to Keep” is a book with
a high ideal. It is based upon the maxim.
that it. is love that saves. The reader’s
attention is kept unflagging from the first
page to the last. The book contains
some clever sketches of character, the
religious tone is healthy and cannot fail
to do good, especially. to-young people: »







London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11,. Warwick. Lane, E.c...
Of all Booksellers and-at the Bookstalls, _-
Selections. fron Jarrolds’ Mew Books.





POPULAR. BOOKS FOR. BOYS: AND -GIRLS.
Uniformly-Bound;. Small 4to, Cloth Elegant, Price 3/6.



Sable and White. The Autobiography of: a Show
Dog. By Dr. Gorpon-STaBves, C.M., R.N. Author of ° rzends
in Fur,? “ The Cruise of the ‘ Snowbird,” ** Our Friend the Dog,” &c.
Beautifully:illustrated by HARRISON WRIR: 2nd Edition.

The: Author: has: for, his object the amelioration of the condition of the
“** Companion: andi the Friend of Man,” performing. for the Dog the same
kindly; office-as in:““BLack BrauTy” has been performed for.the Horse..

“This is a.very. pleasing story by Dr. Stables,
who knows so well how to secure the interest of all

oung readers. It is altogether a splendid gift-
Boake "—Glasgow Herald. :

“To all boys ‘and’ girls who cannot reproach
themselves with having been unkind to their dumb
friends, the book will be both enjoyable aud profit-
able."—Dundee Advertiser.

‘©©Sable and White’ purports to be the: auto-
biography of a show dog, and it is enough: to.
say. that the text is by Dr. Gordon-Stables, and
the. illustrations by Mr. Harrison Weir, to indi-
cate that both alike are rich in graphic power and
in fidelity to nature.”’—Leeds Mercury.

‘Mr. Harrison Weir's illustrations: add to the
charm of the book, which: will delight every boy
who _ loves dogs—that is to say, every well-
regulated boy.’’—Scottish Leader.

i“ The book is a very good one for boys: and
girls, and there are points in it which even adults
could profit by."—Bed/ast Evening Telegraph.





‘All lovers of animals will revel-in it’"—Mewsagente-. ©... Beets
‘As a writer for boys Dr. Stables has justly. won high tame, and he is, as:his readers know,
a. great lover of animals, Both these characteristics: find. full: play, in, this his. latest- work,.:
which will charm the boys while winning theirsympathy.for.the beautiful collie whose.adven-~
tures it narrates.’"—The Christian. ;
The work cannot fail to please young readers for whom it’is' designed: It. has: an ‘
exceptional charm in the sketches of dogs with which Mr. Harrison Weir has illustratedâ„¢
it;and which add.much-to its value." The Scotsman... : ... 1s 4 i :

." This beautifully printed book is. just the thing; for.a present .for:a. boy of ten.or there-
abouts."—Vature Notes. Beat

London:. Jarrold and. Sons,, 10, and. 11, Warwick. Lane, E.C. .
fail Booksellerssane, al: the-Havkstallss




Selections from Jarrolss’ Tew Books.



~A POPULAR BOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS,
Small ato, Cloth Elegant, Price 3s. 6d.





Shireen and Her Friends.
Pages from the Life of a Persian Cat. By
.GORDON STABLES,.M.D.,C.M., R.N. Illus-
trated by Harrison WEIR. Uniform with
“* Sable and White.” 3s. 6d.

‘* Sable and: White” and. “ Shireen ” are two’ ot
the author’s own -favourite books, and written in
his best vein of pathos and humour. This form of
autobiography is eminently readable and devoured
by children. ‘The author’s well-known love for
the lower animals is well-shown throughout.



‘* What ‘Sable and White” was designed to bring about in the interest of the dog, this not
less delightful volume is intended to Bchisve for the cat. There ought to be no doubt of the
result, for a more charming book about animals Dr. Stables himself has not written.”—The
Saturday Review. ;

‘* Will doubtless meet with a hearty welcome from both the young folks and also their elders.
Itis a most charming book of animal life, adorned with the illustrations from the pen of the
veteran artist, Mr. Harrison Weir.”—The Gentlewoman.

*This is a pleasant tale lightly told. Shireen’s experiences are sufficiently adventurous,
irivolving as they do perils by sea and land, and children certainly will not fail to appreciate
them to the full."—7he Queen. :

“All young people will take delight in Dr. Gordon-Stables’ new book, ‘Shireen and Her
Friends,” in which a Persian cat relates her many marvellous adventures on sea and on shore,
at home and abroad. The narrative is racy and humorous, and contrives to convey not a few
precepts on kindness and consideration for dumb animals. Shireen certainly is not dumb;
she has plenty to say for herself, and tells a wonderfully vivid story, interspersed with home

incident and comment on her past history."—-The Literary World.

“In ‘Shireen and Her Friends,’ Dr. Gordon-Stables describes the life ofa favourite cat
just as in ‘Sable and White’ he gave us the autobiography of a dog. No one who knows
anything of this entertaining writer’s works will regairs to be told that he has an almost un-
rivalled knowledge of the manners and habits of domesticated animals of all kinds. His
descriptions of cat-life display all his remarkable gifts of observation in this direction."—The
Daily News.

**A cat has nine’lives, everybody says so. And Shireen is no oddity to this rule. She went

through as big a round of adventures as Robinson Crusoe. Every little girl and boy will take
an interest in her history.”—Westminster Budget.

‘‘ Written with the same adventurous movement, the same healthy interest, the same know-
ledge of and affection for animals, as have made his former books a favourite with so many
children.” —Scotsman.

“Mr. Harrison Weir has illustrated: the book with some capitally-drawn pictures.”—
Christian Age.

§ Besides pains interesting as a story, this book is very much ofan appeal for kindness to
animals. It is illustrated by Harrison Weir, and with two such animal lovers as author and
artist, the combined result is particularly happy.” —G/asgow Herald.



London s Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstatlss
ity

Selections from Jarrolds’ Mew Books.



POPULAR .BOOKS. FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
Uniformly Bound, Small ato, Cloth Elegant, Price 3s. 6d.

Wooing of Osyth. A

‘Story. of the Eastern Counties in
Saxon Times. By KaTeE T. SIZER,
Author. of ‘* Avice Tennant’s Pi!
grimage,” ‘* Dicken o Greenwood,”
&c; 48 Illustrations by M. M.
BLAKE. 38. 6d.
, The heroine is St. Osyth, of the famous
sriory in Essex. Betrothed to King
ighere, on the wedding day she refuses
to marry him. He endows her with the
convent. where afterwards she is martyred
by the Danes. Sighere marries Osyth’s
cousin and fights under King Alfred. The
scenes are laid at Ely, Bures, in Suffolk,
St. Osyth, Wantage, Athelney.

“The story is extremely well told, lights and
shades are pleasantly mingled; and the contrast
Between the fierce heathen Dane with the brave, cr eo
but forgiving, Saxon, is effective. The attempt, too, to give life-like pictures of old times is
successful. There are pleasing illustrations by M. M. Blake."—The Academy.

‘A most attractive story of Saxon times. The legendary history of St. Osyth and St.
Edmund (supposed to be her brother), is interwoven with fiction so as to produce a very read
able tale. The book cannot fail to be popular as a present to girls."—The Record, ~

‘This is a'very prettily written and fascinating story- by Kate Thompson Sizer. It is a
‘Story of the Eastern Counties in Saxon times,’ and as su has a peculiar interest for people
living in East Anglia."—Hertfordshive Mercury. :

“Asa presentation volume for boys and girls it deserves and will doubtless attain wide
popularity." —K entish Observer.

“This yery readable book. should become a favourite. Tt is illustrated very fully by
M. M. Blake, whose work is uniformly excellent."—WVorthern Whig.

“Readers who like to feel as’ if they were sympathising nobly with beauty in distress
will read the book with enjoyment.”—The Scotsman. ;

‘Boys and girls will enjoy. the book, and be the better for reading w."—Methodist
Recorder. : ;

6¢ An excellent book for girls."—Glasgow Herald. ne

‘This romantic and pretty story of Saxon times will add to the author's reputation, The
three strong elements of love, war, and religion are effectively brought to bear on the principal
characters in the book, and the tragic fate of Osyth is very powerfully and dramatically told.
This story of endurance and heroism may be placed without fear in the hands of the ‘young
person.’"—Lady's Pictorial,





London: -Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 31, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all-Booksellers and at-the Bookstalls.
Selections “from Jarfolds’ Mew Books:



POPULAR BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

tes

Uniformly Bound, Small gto, Cloth Elegant, Price 3/6.



Sayings and Doings in Fairyland; or, ox
FRIENDS wiTH New Faces. By D. S. Srincuarr.~ Author of

‘© Sugar Plums for Children,” “The Fairy Prince and the Goblin,” &c.
Upwards of 40 Illustrations by PauL Ilarpy. 2nd Edition. 3s. 6d.

In this: little volume the personages of
our old nursery: rhymes are. made to go
through many. and varied adventures. such
as children .love:to read’ of witchcraft. and
fairy power, evil spells and counter charms,
assist in developing the: histories of our
old friends ‘King Cole,” ‘*The Black
Sheep,” ‘The Mouse that ran up the
clock,” &c., &c. Vice conquered, virtue
triumphant, are the leading notes in. the
quaint medley.

“In this delightful volume we have ten old
friends with new faces, and very charming faces
they are too. Miss Sinclair, who. has already
proved herself an adept in fairy lore, here adopts
the’ plan! of taking for: her text such familiar
nursery rhymes as ‘Hush a-bye Baby,’ ‘Baa,
Baa, Black Sheep” ‘Old King Cole,’ &c., and
weaving out of them very pretty and interesting little stories, Fairy. stories every. one’ of
them, and all the better for the moral that runs through them; that: love: and kindness
and courtesy and truth-telling are the best things in this world, and that the. dwellers
in fairy-world only help those who help others, and drive away fear’ and wickedness and
eochantment with only the everyday weapons, of courage’ and goodness and’ unselfish:
ness! Clever illustrations by Paul Hardy. greatly-add to the charm of the book, which
should be very heartily welcomed."—Glasgow Herald,



‘*Miss Sinclair has given us ten good fairy stories of the old-fashioned sort, and Mr.
Hardy. has. illustrated: them’ charmingly, ~ ‘Old friends with new faces’ are happily,
interspersed with new faces destined to become old friends ; it is impossible to make a selec-
tion where all is good, so we will say with the Irishman, ‘They're each as, good.as: the
other; only more so.’"— Literary World.

‘May. be introduced ‘with-excellent results into any nursery. The old favourites are here
dressed up in a very charming way.”— Yorkshire Post.

* All who delight in wicked enchanters, ogres with bad tempers, dwarfs, fairy princesses,
fairy godmothers, and all the other good things that are to be found in fairy-land—and what
child does not—will rejoice in the book, and older people can enjoy the luxury—becoming so
rare—of possessing a book in which the. stories all end pleasantly, and the heroes and.
heroines settle down and ‘live happy ever afterwards.’"— Market Harborough Advertiser.

a
London:, Jarrold. and Sons, 10. and 11, Warwick Lane}; E:C...
Of all Booksellers.and.at.the Buokstalls,
Selections from Jartolos’ New Books.

---POPULAR: BOOKS FOR BOYS AND _ GIRLS...
Uniformly Bound, Small 4to, Cloth Elegant. 3s. 6d.'



Lord Lynton’s Ward. By Hetena Brooxs. - Author
of ‘‘Jack’s Watchword,” “In the Shadow of the World,” ““Besste's
Mission,” ‘* The Victory Won,” &c. With 36 illustratisns by Pauw
Harpy. 2nd Edition. Small 4to. Cloth Elegant. 3s. 6d.

‘*Lord ‘Lynton’s Ward” is the story of a little boy who, at an. early
age, was left to the guardianship of a cold stern man, whom, though al!
respected, none could love. Norman Rosslyn’s sole aim was to do right, ‘and
how he did this, even under circumstances where many an older boy would
Have failed, the reader will find out if he peruses the story.

‘© We have no hesitation in placing this charming
book in the hands of the children, and we cordially
recommend it as'a most:suitable gift-book.”

Schoolmaster.

‘Just ‘the'thing to place in the hands of. young
people."— The Wewsagent.

“The young folk who do not grieve, but rather
are glad, when in a‘ story there is a parallel to
some other story they have enjoyed, will say that
this is one-of the right sort, as their interest is
maintained from the beginning to the end."

Norwich Mercury,

‘Since Mrs. Hodgson Burnett wrote ‘ Little
Lord Fauntleroy’ few more pleasing children's
books have seen the light than ‘Lord Lynton's
Ward,’ a story by Helena Brooks, just issued by
Messrs. Jarrold & Sons.”

“The illustrations are plentiful and well-
‘designed."—The Sun.

“Miss Brooks’ charming picture of juvenile pre-
. cocity in the person of Lord Lynton's wee: ward, a
‘little fellow of some eight years, the soul of honour
and truth, is intensely pathetic, and powerfully
stimulates the better part of one’s nature. Our
young friends will, we feel sure, find the story
urresistibly attractive, and take keen delight in
Waal Hardy’s beautiful illustrations.’—Christian
Age.

‘Among the many valuable books for young people, this {sone of the best. Its admirable
story is told in graceful style, and the t: pe of boyhood exhibited in it is altogether attractive
and noble—the very pattern indeed, which a father would wish to commend to his sons.”—
Aberdeen Daily Free Press.

‘*A good healthy tone runs through the story.”—Glasgow Herald,



“Itisan attractively written story for boys and girls."—Scottish Leader.

‘London: Jarrold and Sons, 10, and 11, Warwick ‘Lane, E.C,
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls.


- Selections from Jarrolds’ Wew Books



ATTRACTIVE BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS,
Handsomely Bound, Cloth Boards, Illustrated, 3/6 Each,

Clear as the Noon

Day. By ETHEL PENROSE.
Author of ‘* Zhe Fairy Cobbler’s
Gold,” &c. 36 Illustrations by Edith
CE. SOMERVILLE. 3s. ‘6d.

A description of child-life in Ireland,
and giving an account of the adventures
of Paul de Céreuville on his first visit
to that island. Paul passes through many
trials caused by unjust suspicion and the
jealousy of his cousin Bruce ; but finally,
after stirring adventures, his innocence
is proved, and his character completely.
cleared.

‘‘An interesting and brightly-written’ story
of Irish life, with attractions for all who are
desirous of better knowledge of our Irish neigh.
bours.”—Glasgow Herald, ‘



That Bother of a Boy.

By Grace STEBBING. Author of

= “Wild Kathleen,” &c. 35 Illus-
trations by PAuL Harpy. 2nd
Edition. 3s. 6d.

**That Bother of a Boy” will remind
some small urchins of the various bits
of mischief they have perpetrated, or
would love to perform. If, however,
they are also'as good-hearted and honest
as this especial little bother, most folks
will readily forgive them their scrapes.

The story is'admirably told ; it moves to laugh-
ter in almost every page, and to ‘lumps in the
throat’ not seldom. It is also cleverly and ade-
quately illnstrated by Paul Hardy; and will be
a favourite, not only of this season, but of many
a season to follow.”"—Leeds Mercury.







London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.G
‘Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls,
Selections from Jarvolds’ Mew Books.



THE “SNUG CORNER” SERIES,
Crown 8v0, Art Linen, 3/6 each.

A series of bright, imaginative stories, artistically bound and profusely )
. +) illustrated, intended for the young—of al/ ages.

The Holiday Prize 2 A MoperN Farry TALE. By ELLINOR
Davenport ApDams, Author of ‘* Comrades True,” “Colonel Russell's
Raby,” “* Rohin’s Ride;? &c. Tllustrated by K. M. SKEAPING,

























The prize, concern-
ing which Miss Daven-.
port Adams writes, is
to be given, at the end
of the summer holidays,
t} to the boy who, among
his girl playfellows
proves himself ‘*‘a veray
parfit gentil knight.”
A pleasant vein of hum-
our runs through the
story, but neither this,
nor the interest of the
simple plot, is allowed
to obscure the lesson
ot chivalrous unselfish-
ness so clearly and con-
vincingly taught.









Men in

Scartet, r.

and other [7 Re 7///
CON

Fairy Fi on ry



Tales. By
FRANCES H.
Low, Author of
‘Queen Victoria's
Dolls,” &c.
Illustrated by
J. J. Gururig,



London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and I, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalis.
Selections. from -Jarrolds’ Sew Books.

THE “SNUG CORNER” SERIES.
-% ‘Crown 8v0, Art Linen, 3/6 each.
A series of bright, imaginative stories, .artistically bound and profusely
- >. , ; dllustrated, intended for. the young—of al/ ages. , Re
Our Little Sunbeams: Srorirs ror THE LittT1#
- Onus. -By.ALicE F, Jackson, Author of ‘Hairy Tales and True,
“« The Doll's Dressmaker,” &c. Illustrated by K. M. SKEAPING._ ss



A book of pleasant and
well-written stories for young
children. The stories—or
sketches, as they may be
called, such as ‘‘On the
Sands,” &c.—are all of a
nice‘tone, and contain un-
obtrusively an unmistakable
lesson. The appropriate
iHustrations by 22.’Mz Skeap-
ing add to the attractiveness
of this book for the little
ones. . ‘



‘Some Morals and Emotions of a Doll.

By this amusing story of puppet=land, Mrs. S. B. Martin has made a new
departure in juvenile literature. .To an imaginative child the joys and
sorrows of ‘Angelina de Sambo ”.and her.doll companions will seem very
real, while “all ‘children, imaginative-or otherwise, will fall in love with
“Vera,” the little girl heroine, and envy her the possession of so

accomplished a doll-friend. [/# preparation.]



Seat ts Naa ey a i es eee
London: Jarrold and Sons, 10 and 11, Warwick Lane, E.C.
Of all Booksellers and at the Bookstalls.


Hato )
5