A Modern Tomboy | Page 8

been a bit myself since they came."
"A little bit jealous, perhaps," said Aunt Susan, giving a quick glance at
Lucy's pouting face, then turning away with a sigh.

"You will be surprised, Lucy," she continued after a pause, "when I tell
you that I used to be fearfully jealous when I was young. It was my
besetting sin."
"Oh, Aunt Susy, I simply don't believe it!"
"You don't? Then I will show you some day, when you and I are having
a snug evening at the old Rectory at Dartford, a letter I once received
from my dear father. He took great pains to point out to me my special
fault, as he called it; and his words had a wonderful effect, and I went
straight to the only source of deliverance, and by slow degrees I lost
that terrible feeling which took all the sunshine out of my life."
"Tell me more, please, Aunt Susan," said Lucy.
"Well, you see, dear, I was not like yourself an only child. I was one of
several, and I was quite the plain one of the family. I am very plain now,
as you perceive; but I had two beautiful little sisters. They were
younger than I, and Florence had quite a beautiful little face, and so had
Janet. Wherever they went they were admired and talked about, and I
was thought nothing of. Then I had three brothers, and they were
good-looking, too, and strong, and had excellent abilities, and people
thought a great deal about them; but no one thought anything about me.
I was the eldest, but I was never counted one way or the other as of the
slightest consequence. My people were quite rich, and Florence and
Janet were beautifully dressed, and taken down to the drawing-room to
see visitors; but I was never noticed at all. I could go if I liked, but it
did not gratify anybody, so by degrees I stayed away. You do not know
what bitter feelings I had in my heart, for they really were undeniably
some of the most attractive children you could possibly find; and
Florence was so witty, and Janet so delicate and refined and sweet in all
her ways! I could not be angry with them, but I did think it fearfully
unfair that so many blessings should be poured on their heads and so
few given to me, for I was not even specially clever.
"Then I thought I would make a friend of my brother Roger. He was a
very fine fellow, and for a time I did get into his confidence, and I was
fairly happy. But he went to Rugby, and at Christmas he brought some

of his school-fellows back with him, and they paid the most absurd
attentions to Florence and Janet, and they snubbed me; and I suppose
Roger, poor dear! was weak enough to be influenced by them, for he
took no notice of me either, so you can just imagine what a bad time I
had.
"Well, my dear, one day there came a letter from an old cousin asking
either of the two girls, Florence or Janet, or myself, to go to stay with
her in the country. She had a very nice house, and a pony and trap, and
she could take us about and give us a good time. My mother was
exceedingly anxious that the twins--I forgot to tell you that they were
twins--should go, and she said so to me. She said they wanted change
of air, as they were looking quite cooped up in our poky town. But I
said, 'I am the eldest, and I don't see why I shouldn't have the pleasure
of going, as I also have been invited. I mean it is only fair to give me
the first chance.'
"Then she said, 'I think that is quite fair, and you shall have the first
chance, Susan;' and so I went.
"Florence and Janet were not a bit angry, poor dears! They kissed me
and helped me to pack my things, and Florence offered me one of her
prettiest necklaces, and Janet some wonderful embroidered gloves
which had been given to her by Roger at Christmas. But I was too
jealous to accept any of their trinkets, and I went away with a sore
feeling in my heart. Ah, Lucy! that was a long time ago."
Aunt Susan paused. A spasm of pain crossed her face. After a time she
said slowly, "I enjoyed myself for a week or two. Then came news
from home. The fever which had been lurking in the town for some
time reached our house, and the two beautiful little twins were smitten
with it. And before I could hear again they were both dead.