The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
Bunny's Sister.


Ellis minor was reclining beside his friend
Urquhart better known 10 fame as Bun
ny. There are unwritten laws nj every
public school and at Marlborough no self
respecting fellow can watch 4 school
cricket match without n rug. q cushion
OF. in school language. a "keish. and one
or more bags cf fruit. 1t was at a period
of the afternoon when the school was
gcrged and content. and was peacefully
watching the Eleven piling up runs, that
Ellis minor made a discovery. At such
moments the intellect Of the school was
at its highest. and wags had been known
to devise jokes that lasted for terms.
Il say. Bunny Ellis minor remarked
suddenly, i believe Old Jimmy's mashed
on your sister,
IF you don't want to be kicked. young
Ellis" his companion replied, you'd bet
ter leave my sister alone"
''Beastly sorry. old chap" Ellis minor
said. but thought you'd like to know"
Rot" Bunny said shortly. 1t isn't
bit funny
Well. just look at them Ellis minor
answered. sinking into a recumbent po-
sition and searching in the bottom OF the
cherry bag.
After several minutes Bunny raised him
self torpidly and contemplated his sister.
MaUde was. Bunny always thought, rather
a responsibility. She occupied the posi-
tion of goyerness 10 the head master 5
children and. to do justice to Marlborough.
that fact in itself was no disgrace. Being
pretty girl, she even did Bunny credit in
some ways, and at least one member of the
Eleven was in love with her. but her pres
ence about the place was dtsconcerting. 1t
led to frequent invitations TO the head
masters and embarrassing Acquaintance
ships with other masters wives. His
friends sometimes avoided Bunny because
his companionship dragged them into fe-
male society. OF course Bunny did his best
TO check the nuisance. That afternoon for
instance. he had merely nodded TO her, aud
given her to understand that she must
keep at proper distance.
She was at the moment when Bunny
sighted her conversing with the individ-
ual alluded to by Ellis minor as old
Jimmy" As 4 matter of fact his age was
about thirty and his name was Arthur
Baker He enjoyed the doubtful privilege
of teaching the Upper Fourth, in which
form both Bunny and Ellis minor had been
located for the last year. Three terms in
The same form are not calculated to in
crease the mutual affection Of masters and
boys.
ed. The colloquy certainly appeared in
teresting and Old Jimmy was apparently
making himself both agreeable and anus
ing.
What an ass he's making OF himself
Bunny remarked in disgust.
He always does Ellis minor agreed.
= told her what a beast he was Bunny
continued.
she doesn't seem to think so, the other
observed.
i don't suppose a girl could really fall
i'll love with Jimmy Bunny said.
Il don't know his companion replied
Ineditatiyely. You see. girls are such
awful fools about men. They never really
know what they're like. One OF my sis
ters married an utter bowler last hoi-
days
But Jimmy's such cad" Bunny OBJ
jected, land after the way he's treated
NE. ] DO think she might be rude to him.
OF course" he went on, after a pause,
Il know she was bound 10 marry one of
the masters. Old Beetles governesses al
ways do but do draw the line at Jimmy.
/ hoped she'd marry Turner"
Now Turner though double b'ue, was
a shy and unfiedged young man, and APP
pealed more TO the schoolbOy than the fe-
male heart. Ellis minor thought her
scarcely good enough for him, but tact
fully refrained from saying so.
Are you going to stop it, he inquired.
"If it's necessary. shall have shot
Bunny said loftily.
i should hurry up If ! were YOU Ellis
minor suggested. when they begin to
look like that there's generally something
Oh"
She does look a bit rummy." Bunny
admitted, as his sister turned smiling
glance at Old Jimmy.
If she was my sister Ellis minor
continued. I'd manage TO make it Jolly
hot for him. You can make it rather
nasty for chap when he's in love with
your sister. You ought to be abe to get
your promo this term if you run the thing
properly"
Get my promo?" inquired the less as
tute Bunny.
Yes, his friend replied. Every time
he makes cad of himself to you, you just
20 and ruX her up about IL. She won't
mind badgering him bit; if she's like
my sisters she'll enjoy it. / only wish Old
Jimmy was mashed on my sister. You
might tell her what a beast he is 10 me
too
I've a jolly good mind TO try" Bunny
said MS not half q bad idea. Let's go
and have an ice"
They strolled 10 the town together. while
Ellis minor. with a wisdom beyond his
years. and gathered from many sisters
explained the modus operandi TO the still
doubtful Bunny.
Unconscious OF their doom. the victims
on the cricket ground chatted on and if
Bunny could have heard their conversation
he might have been reused 10 even deeper
Indignation. As a matter of fact, his sis
ter had been engaged to Old Jimmy foT
upward of . week, and was at that moment
discussing their future projects without a
thought Of Bunny or his ili-usage. Posi-
bly,, if she had been aware Of his proposed
interference, she also might have been
somewhat apprehensiye. For the prescn;
the engagement Wis necessarily 4 secret
Most OF the Wellborough masters migrate
in the fullness of time TO become head
masters of smaller schools, and at that
same moment Mr.. Baker was busy stalk
ing the trustees OF a grammar school with
some success. If the engagement were an
nounced before his election, he would be
confronted with unpleasant parental ques-
lions as to ways and means, and TO prophe-
sy his election was scarcely diplomatic
Miss UrquhaTt was quite content with the
arrangement Every girl knows that an
engagement is all the pleasantcr before its
announcement.
For a day or two Ellis minors idea
Slumbered. He mooted II at intervals
but Bunny denominatei it too much
sweat and had scfuples as 10 whether if
was not rather bad form" At the end
OF the week, however his anger was rous-
I'd TO boiling point and his scruples scat
Tered to the winds. Old Jimmy put him Oh
satisfecit.
Now. being prt on satisfecit is a dis
jurbing process. Al Marlborough no :orm-
master can cane boy, but must deliver
The victim over TO the house master fOI
execution as disinterested person Some
times. in cases of idlencss, he is given one