Betty Trevor | Page 7

admiration than is
vouchsafed to many people whose features might have been turned out
of a classic mould. Betty used to ponder wistfully over the secret of
Jill's charm, and think it hard lines that it had not been given to herself,
who would have cared for it so much more. Jill didn't care a pin how
she looked. She wanted to "have fun," to invite Nora Bruce to tea as
often as possible, to buy a constant supply of a special sort of almond
toffee which was offered for sale at a shop which she passed on the

way to school, to be a first-form girl and have one of the new desks,
and, incidentally, to pass the Cambridge examination if it could be
done without too much "fag." She put on her clothes any way, did her
hair in the twinkling of an eye, and the effect was uniformly charming.
"If she's untidy, she's picturesque; if I'm untidy, I'm a fright. It's mean!"
soliloquised Betty discontentedly. Every day she lived she was the
more convinced that the world was topsy-turvy, and that she herself
was the only person who was competent to set it to rights.
Pam was just Pam; like herself, and no one else in the world. A dear
little, wide-eyed, pointed-chinned kitten, everybody's tease, and pet,
and conscience all in one, for those clear child eyes seemed to see
through all pretences, and what she thought she put into words without
a shadow of fear or hesitation.
It was a very plain, almost a frugal, repast, but the table looked cheerful
and pretty with the pink-shaded lamp in the centre, surrounded by the
four little bowls of flowers which it was one of Betty's duties to keep
fresh, and there was no lack of lively conversation.
Mrs Trevor had had a trying day, and several of her worries must of
necessity be discussed with her husband later on, but she would allow
no hint of them to escape until he had been fed and rested, and in the
same manner all the children searched their memories for the
pleasantest event which they had experienced to retail for his benefit.
"I was top to-day, father," Jack announced proudly; "answered every
single question in Latin, and read off my translation like a book. If I
liked to stew, I believe I could lick Johnston all the time. He was pretty
sick at having to go down; looked as glum as an old owl for the rest of
the morning."
"He takes his work more seriously than you do, my boy. You say you
could be top if you liked: I am glad to hear it; but why don't you like?
You can't surely prefer a lower place?"
"Oh, well, there's reason in all things!" returned Jack, with a vagueness

which his brothers and sisters had apparently little difficulty in
understanding, for they laughed, and sniggered meaningly to each
other.
"Such a waste of time, when there is football to be played!"
"A full back has to keep his energy for his work, and not fritter it away
over stupid books. That's about it, isn't it, Jack?" they teased, while Dr
Trevor said between a sigh and a smile--
"Ah, well, my boy, you are old enough to judge for yourself how your
time should be spent! If you win a scholarship, I'll manage to help you
through a 'Varsity course, but I can't afford to keep you there unassisted.
Remember it is your whole career which is at stake."
"All right, father, I will work," said Jack easily.
He was an affectionate boy, who disliked disappointing his parents, but
unfortunately he disliked work even more. He was rather sorry now
that he had mentioned his easy victory over the redoubtable Johnston.
The pater would expect him to be top every day, whereas he had only
just put on a spurt to show what he could do if he chose. Suppose he
did lose the scholarship, it wouldn't be so bad after all, he could still
play footer on Saturday afternoons!
The doctor's glance had wandered, as if for consolation, to his elder
son--Miles the strenuous, the indefatigable, who had a passion for work
for work's sake. He was going through the practical stage of an
engineer's training, and left the house at six o'clock each morning, to
return in the afternoon clad in workman's clothes, incredibly greasy and
dirty. Betty suffered agonies in case "they"--that wonderful impersonal
"they" who overclouded her life--should think he was really and truly
an ordinary workman! On one occasion Miles had joined her on the
doorstep as she was returning from an afternoon walk, and she had
distinctly seen the curtains of the Pampered Pet's drawing-room move,
as if someone were peeping out from