Girls of the True Blue

GIRLS OF THE TRUE BLUE BY L. T. MEADE Author of “Miss Nonentity� “The Odds and the Evens� “Light o’ the Morning� “The Girls of St. Wode’s� etc. WITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY PERCY TARRANT W. & R. CHAMBERS LimitedCONTENTS.I. “I PROMISE� II. “I WON’T EVER GO TO YOU.� III. THE FROCK WITH CRAPE IV. THE BEST GIRL V. THE MYSTERY-GIRL VI. THE BULL-PUP VII. THE FALL VIII. PIP IX. UNDER HER THUMB X. A MYSTERY XI. THE MIDDLE WAY XII. “I SHALL STAY FOR A YEAR� XIII. UNCLE PETER XIV. “IT WAS NOT WORTH WHILE� XV. SOLDIERS OF THE TRUE BLUE XVI. TIGHTENING HER CHAIN XVII. AUGUSTA’S RESOLVE XVIII. AUGUSTA’S SIGNATURE XIX. THE ASPRAYS XX. THE ORDERLY-BOOK XXI. THE PICNIC XXII. THE BROKEN LOCK XXIII. “PRIZE-DAY COMES IN A MONTH� XXIV. THE GIPSY TEA XXV. THE PACKET OF LETTERS XXVI. SUNBEAM XXVII. “WAS THAT THE REASON?� XXVIII. “IS WRONG RIGHT?� XXIX. DOWN BY THE WISTARIA XXX. AUGUSTA IS FRIGHTENED XXXI. UNCLE PETER’S CONSIDERING CAP XXXII. THE BEGINNING OF THE SHADOW XXXIII. THE CROSS XXXIV. THE LETTER XXXV. THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.“He is not horrid at all� said Nan very cross. Nan was perfectly satisfied to sit near the fire holding the kittens. “Cross!� he said to himself; “why it is one of the dearest little faces in the world.� “Here is some paper� said Nancy “and here is a pencil. Write the words down Augusta and let me keep the paper.� Augusta nearly fell back as she read the words. “What are you doing by that drawer Gussie!� “I have brought a bird for her—my own bird. May I go in and see her at once?� said Nancy. Augusta in terror was hiding behind a bush of laurustinus. “As to your shilling miss you can keep it for I don’t want none of it.� “Let me fasten it round your neck Nan then I shall feel better.�GIRLS OF THE TRUE BLUE. CHAPTER I.—“I PROMISE.�“And how is she to-day Nan?� said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.The time was early spring. The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large smooth face was all beams and smiles. A dark little girl with thin cheeks about eleven years of age clasping a battered doll in her arms looked full up at her.“She is no better� said Nan; “and I think perhaps it would be a good plan for you to go.�“What a little monkey you are!� said Mrs. Richmond. “But I do not mind you my dear Anna; I have known you too long. Come here dear and let me look at you.�Nan laid her doll on the table and approached slowly. Her dress was untidy her hair unkempt. There were traces of tears round her eyes but none showed at that moment; the sad eyes looked bold and full and defiant into the kindly face of the lady.“You are not too tidy my dear little girl; that pinafore would be the better for the wash-tub. And must you play with that horrid old doll?�