Aunt Judith | Page 8

be silent with regard to my various perfections and
imperfections; but if you wait patiently you will find out that Winnifred
Blake is a most eccentric character, and says and does what no other
person would say or do."
Nellie Latimer's astonishment increased as she gazed on this (to her)
new specimen of humanity. What a dainty, fairy-like creature she
seemed, and what a mischievous gleam was lurking in the depths of
those great, shining eyes! Nellie felt quite awkward and commonplace
in her presence; however, she managed to say shyly, "I am afraid it is I
who have been rude staring at you so; but I did not mean any harm,
only you are so different from the other girls."
Winnie gave her an admonishing touch.
"Hush!" she whispered, "the raven is watching us. I mean Miss Smith,"
as Nellie looked bewildered. "We call her that because she is
everlastingly croaking;" and here Winnie, leaning back on her seat,
assumed an expression of childlike innocence and solemnity, and
appeared to be thoroughly interested in the teacher's explanations.
The lesson proceeded; slowly but surely the hands of the clock moved
steadily forward, and at last pointed to the hour, on which Miss Smith,
rising, closed her book and dismissed the class with evident feelings of
relief.
"Ten minutes' respite, then heigh-ho for a long spell of grammar, etc.,"
cried Winnie, addressing Nellie as they passed into the hall. "You don't
know your lessons to-day of course, and I am so well up in mine that I
shall not be able to answer a single word; so come away with me to this
quiet nook at the end of the passage and let us enjoy a cosy talk."
The "quiet nook" referred to was a recess at the hall window,
partitioned off by a drapery of tapestried curtains. It was a favourite
resort of Winnie's, and here the wonderful thoughts, the outbursts of
passion, the mischievous plots and schemes, all found free course, and
many a childish secret could those heavy folds of curtain have told had

they been gifted with tongues wherewith to speak.
Dismissing the other school-fellows who were gathering round, and
shooting a triumphant glance at Ada Irvine's haughty face, she half
dragged her amused but by no means unwilling companion to the
sacred spot; and when both were comfortably perched on the window
niche, she began eagerly, "Won't you tell me your name and where you
live? I am called Winnifred Mary Blake. I have three big brothers, and
a little one; two sisters older than myself; a cross papa and proud
step-mamma. We live about a mile from here--No. 3 Victoria
Square--and I go home to dinner every day during recess." Having
delivered this wonderful announcement in one breath, Winnie paused
and waited for her companion to speak.
Nellie smiled as she replied,--
"My name is Helen Latimer, and my home is far away in a country
village. I am staying, however, in town with my aunts at present, they
live in a small cottage in Broomhill Road."
"Broomhill Road!" echoed Winnie doubtfully; "that is not west, I
fancy."
"Oh no, east; I have to take the 'bus, as it is too great a distance to walk
daily."
"Not an aristocratic locality," Winnie decided mentally, "and Ada
Irvine getting hold of that little fact would use it as a means of exquisite
torture to this new girl's sensitive heart. Poor thing! she looks so happy
and blithe too." Thinking such thoughts, the mischievous child turned
to her companion with a soft, pitying light in her eyes, and holding out
a small flake of a hand, said gently,--
"We have not much time at our disposal just now, and I cannot say all I
would wish; but you won't find it all plain sailing at school, Nellie, and
you will be none the worse of having some one to stand by you, so will
you have me for a friend?"

[Illustration: "Will you have me for a friend?"]
The quaint gipsy face with its framework of wavy hair; the bright,
sunny countenance and laughing lips; above all, the soft, childish voice,
charmed simple-hearted Nellie, who willingly grasped the hand
extended, with these words, "I shall be only too pleased indeed." So the
compact was sealed--a compact which remained unbroken through the
long months and years that followed. Time and adversity only served to
strengthen the bond, and the gray twilight of life found the friends of
childhood's days friends still.
"Hark to the bell! are you ready?" asked Winnie, stretching her lazy
little form and rising reluctantly from the cosy corner; "now for a long,
long lecture on subject and predicate, ugh! How I do hate lessons, to be
sure;" and Miss Blake, parting the tapestried curtains, stepped along