in drawing and artistic needlework. The Beauty had proved to be nowhere in the competition. Meg had taken no prize, but she had been enc

nic that she usually organized for her pupils, in the Surrey woods, watered by a

ns for the holidays. Meg sat apart. In the midst of the surrounding gayety the loneliness of her heart d

ere were vivid descriptions going on all around her of the charms of holidays. Oh, the delights of not hearing the school-bell of a morning-of awaking at the appointed hour, and being able to turn round cosily for another sleep! All were going home; even the teachers looked forward to meeti

k. She presently found herself by the river's bank; and there, moored among the reeds, was the lo

to the child enough to lie among the ferns, inhaling the delicate, pungent perfumes, feeling the brea

water softly rocked the craft. No one was near. Presently she perceived that the boat was sli

he girls had plucked on their travels. Meg sat upright like a startled rabbit, wondering when the boat would stop. She wished that it would never stop-that it would carry her away, away, sh

ere was not another boat within sight. Without oars, without sails, without guidance, the little craft was making its way, k

blin fleet; past sunny, silent stretches of woodland and meadows where cows grazed and looked at her with horny heads sharply outlined against the light;

ndly presence playing at "hide-and-seek" with her. A kingfisher, with a breast like a jewel fashioned in the sky, skimmed past her where the solitude was shadiest. From the forked branches of a willow a water hen, sitting on its nest

ifted along a bank where children were playing. They left their games to watch her. They pointed at her, and Meg lifted herself up t

the water filled her ears till it became a boom. She sat up straight and rigid, and as she flashed past she saw with dreadful clearness the word "Danger" written up in great letters on a post by the riverside. For the first time Meg's heart began to beat. She heard shouts; she turned her head, and again she saw with terrible distin

ruggling like a living creat

at slowly turned round; a head showed above the water; a muscular arm, bare to th

young men, clad, like her rescuer, in white flannels and loose, bright-colored jackets. One of these got into the water, and catching the pr

aped drowning you have!" said he

oung men looked at her with kind, smiling glances-she was surrounded with laughing eyes and gleaming teeth. They p

drifted away. No, she had not been frightened-only whe

oted that she

consultation; one, who had an eyeglass stuck i

l row you back. You will point out the

pay her attention. One put a cushion at her back, another a plan

mock or tease her; they did not say a word of what some of the girls called chaff. She watched with amazement all their pipes going puff, puff, puff. She liked them because they did not talk much. They reminded her

st magnificent member of this gallant crew. He had laughing, twinkling eyes, thick, short, curly hair, silky mustache no bigger than an eyebrow. It occurred to her that she had not thanked him for saving her life. She turned over in her mi

and-and-I am very m

he laughter was so jovial and good-natured that Meg felt at her eas

n: "Was she afraid of meeting her sc

plead for her. They would extract a promise from the schoolmistress not to punish

the river. She enjoyed the amazement of the spectators as from the bank they watched her triumpha

, at this young lady's disappearance,

be helped out like a

We were startled when we discovered that the boat was gone

rly carried her down the weir," said t

leaded for, and li

r life?" said

urn the boat's head," replied the young ma

I shall acquaint her guar

"Only," he added with a merry twinkle, "do not let Miss Meg be scolded! She is

hen she said smiling: "S

oung men shook hands with Meg, and lifting their whit

ugh the trees; and when they vanished she