Sparrows | Page 9

frocks, each of which
was decorated with a white cameo brooch; both walked with the same
propitiatory shuffle. They were like a couple of elderly, moulting,
decorous hens who, in spite of their physical disabilities, had something
of a presence. This was obtained from the authority they had wielded
over the many pupils who had passed through their hands.
Nearer inspection showed that Miss Annie Mee was a trifle stouter than
her sister, if this be not too robust a word to apply to such a wisp of a
woman; that her eyes were kinder and less watery than Helen's; also,
that her face was less insistently marked with lines of care.
The Miss Mees' dispositions were much more dissimilar than their
appearance. Miss Helen, the elder, loved her home and, in her heart of
hearts, preferred the kitchen to any other part of the house. It was she
who attended to the ordering of the few wants of the humble household;
she arranged the meals, paid the bills, and generally looked after the
domestic economy of the college; she took much pride in the
orderliness of her housekeeper's cupboard, into which Amelia never
dared to pry. In the schoolroom, she received the parents, arranged the
fees and extras, and inflicted the trifling punishment she awarded to
delinquents, which latter, it must be admitted, gave her a faint pleasure.
Annie Mee, her sister, had a natural inclination for the flesh-pots of life.
She liked to lie abed on Sunday and holiday mornings; she spread more
butter on her breakfast toast than Helen thought justified by the
slenderness of their resources; she was indulgent to the pupils, and
seized any opportunity that offered of going out for the evening. She
frequented (and had been known to enjoy) entertainments given in
schoolrooms for church purposes she welcomed the theatre or concert
tickets which were sometimes sent her by the father of one of the pupils
(who was behind with his account), when, however paltry the promised
fare, she would be waiting at the door, clad in her faded garments, a full
hour before the public were admitted, in order not to miss any of the
fun. Mavis usually accompanied her on these excursions; although she
was soon bored by the tenth-rate singers and the poor plays she heard

and saw, she was compensated by witnessing the pleasure Miss Annie
Mee got from these sorry dissipations.
The two sisters' dispositions were alike in one thing: the good works
they unostentatiously performed. The sacrifices entailed by these had
much contributed to their declining fortunes. This unity of purpose did
not stay them from occasionally exchanging embittered remarks when
heated by difference of opinion.
When they sat down to breakfast, Helen poured out the coffee.
"What day does the West London Observer come out?" asked Annie,
presently, of Mavis.
"Friday, I believe."
"There should be some account of yesterday's proceedings," said Miss
Helen. "The very proper references which Mr Smiley made to our
acquaintance with the late Mr Ruskin are worthy of comment."
"I have never known the applause to be so hearty as it was yesterday,"
remarked Annie, after she had eaten her first piece of toast.
"What is the matter, Mavis?" asked Miss Helen.
"A crumb stuck in my throat," replied Mavis, saying what was untrue,
as she bent over her plate. This action was necessary to hide the smile
that rose to her lips and eyes at the recollection of yesterday's applause,
to which Miss Annie had referred. It had amused Mavis to notice the
isolated clapping which followed the execution of an item, in the
programme by a solitary performer; this came from her friends in the
room. The conclusion of a duet would be greeted by two patches of
appreciation; whilst a pianoforte concerto, which engaged sixteen
hands, merged the eight oases of applause into a roar of approval.
"How do you get to Paddington, Mavis?" asked Miss Helen, after she
had finished her meagre breakfast.

"From Addison Road," replied Mavis, who was still eating.
"Wouldn't Shepherd's Bush be better?" asked Annie, who was
wondering if she could find accommodation for a further piece of toast.
"I always recommend parents to send their daughters from Paddington
via Addison Road," remarked Helen severely.
"There are more trains from Shepherd's Bush," persisted Annie.
"Maybe, dear Annie" (when relations between the sisters were strained,
they made use of endearing terms), "but more genteel people live on
the Addison Road connection."
"But, Helen dear, the class of residence existing upon a line of railway
does not enable a traveller to reach his or her destination the quicker."
"I was not aware, dear Annie, that I ever advanced such a proposition."
"Then there is no reason, dearest Helen, why Mavis shouldn't reach
Paddington by going to Shepherd's