A Modern Tomboy | Page 4

father
really the great Professor Ralph Merriman?"
"Yes," said Lucy, coloring and smiling, for it was delightful to her to
hear the appreciative tone in Phyllis's voice.
"I thought so, but I was not quite sure. Agnes Sparkes and I were
arguing about it. Agnes said it couldn't be, but I said it was. I am very
glad. I hope we shall see him sometimes."
"He is not well," said Lucy. "He can't be disturbed."
"We would none of us dream of disturbing him; but we would love to
look at him sometimes, and perhaps sometimes to hear him speak."
"I dare say you will see him. When he is well enough he will dine with
us," said Lucy. "But you must not expect"----
"Oh, we expect nothing--nothing certainly from you," said Phyllis
Flower, flushing angrily, for there was a tone in Lucy's voice which she
could scarcely stand. Then she, continued, "Why are you determined
not to be nice to us, Miss Merriman?"
"You had better call me Lucy," said the girl after a pause. "We are all
girls together. You are at school and I am at school."
"How old are you, Lucy?"
"I am fifteen."
"And I am thirteen and a half. How old do you think I look?"
"Oh, any age. You are so thin."
"And wizened," laughed Phyllis. "Well, never mind. I dare say I shall
grow tall enough by-and-by. Now, my dear," she continued after a
pause, "you have nothing whatever to be jealous of in me. I am not
clever, I am not good-looking; in short, I am nothing at all, just the

most ordinary person. But I can tell you something about the characters
of your other school-fellows if you like. Would you care? There is
plenty of time. Shall we walk up and down for a little?"
Lucy could not resist the temptation. Phyllis, who was quite as frank
and free as Mrs. Merriman herself, laid her hand on Lucy's arm. Lucy
shuddered, but submitted.
"The person who has got the greatest character among us is Rosamund
Cunliffe. She will rule us all."
"She won't rule me," interrupted Lucy angrily.
"You can't help it, my dear. She has always ruled every one with whom
she comes in contact; and she does it quite nicely, too, for she isn't
unamiable. She simply has a strong character."
"I hardly know what she is like," said Lucy.
"Oh, you must have observed her--that tall, dark, pretty-looking girl,
with rosy cheeks and a pretty mouth."
"Yes, I think I know whom you mean."
"And she is clever, too. But I don't think it is her beauty or her talent
that makes her curious charm. It is something beyond all this. I never
saw her do a really unamiable thing, and yet I think she must love
power very much. You will soon find out for yourself what she is like.
As for Janey Denton, she is just a good sort, something like me. And
Laura Everett is very proud of her family, and she is clever. And Annie
Millar is Laura's shadow, and does nothing whatever except what Laura
wishes. Then there is Agnes Sparkes. She is supposed to be my friend,
and she is very pretty, fair, and lively and clever. But of all the girls
who have come here to-day the two who will make their mark in the
world are beyond doubt Rosamund Cunliffe and Laura Everett. Now, I
think I will let you find out the rest for yourself."
CHAPTER II.

ROSAMUND TAKES THE LEAD.
Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true
were Phyllis Flower's words. For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making
herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing,
yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy
herself found that she could not help following in her train.
For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and
perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what
to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was
Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that
they should have a dance.
Lucy opened her eyes. Nobody before had ever dared to make such a
suggestion in the house of Sunnyside. Lucy, it is true, had dancing
lessons from a master who came once a week to instruct her and other
girls in the winter season, and she had occasionally gone to a children's
party. But beyond that she had never danced, looking forward to it,
however, as a possible recreation by-and-by.
Rosamund's clear voice was now heard.
"Let us push back the sofas. This is a splendid room. We can roll up the
rugs in a twinkling. Where is Mrs. Merriman?