Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-21
LITERARY.
BUNNY'S SISTER.
A TALE OF SCHOOLBOY
DIPLOMACY.

1t was blazing summer afternoon,
and Ellis minor was reclining beside
his friend Urquhart. better known to
fame as Bunny. There are unwritten
laws at every public school, and 1t
Marlborough no self-respecting Eel
low can watch school cricket match
without rug, cushion, or, in schooi
language, "keish," and one or more
bags of fruit. 1t was at period or the
afternoon when the school was gergeo
and content, and was peacefully
watching the eleven piling up runs,
that Ellis minor made Il 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. IL believe Old Jimmy s
mashed on Your sister"
IF you don't want to be kicked,
young Ellis" his companion REPLIED
you'd better leave my sister alone
..Iseastly sorry. old chap" Ellis minor
said, but 1 thought you'd like TO
know"
Rot" Bunny said shortly. 1T isn't
bit funny"
Well, just look mt them" Ellis minor
answered, sinking into Il recumbcnt
position and searching in the bottom o:
the cherry bag.
After several minutes Bunny raised
himself torpidly and contemplated his
sister Maude was, Bunny always
thought, rather a responsibility. She
occupied the position of governess to
the head-master's children, and, to do
justice to Marlborough. that fact in it
self was no disgrace. Being a 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
presence about the place was discon-
!, certing. 1t led to frequent invitations
to the hcad-master's and embarrassing
acquaintanceships with other masters
wives. His friends sometimes avoided
Bunny because his companionship
dragged them into female society. OF
course Bunny did his best to check the
nuisance. That afternoon, for in
stance, ne had merely nodded to her.
and given her to understand that she
must keep at IL proper distance.
She was. AT the moment when Bunny
sighted her. conversinG with the in
dividual alluded to by Ellis minor as
age was about 80, and his name was
Arthur Baker. He enjoyed the doubt
full 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 increase the
mutual affection of masters and boys.
AS Bunny watched them his brow
al narto in1xy
peared interesting, and Old Jimmy was
apparently making himself both agree
able and amusing.
What an ass he's making of him.
self" Bunny remarked in disgust.
He always does,' Ellis minor
agreed.
II told her what a beast he was"
Bunny continued.
She doesn't seem to think So" the
other observed.
Il don't suppose a girl could really
fall in love with jimmy" Bunny said.
Il don't know his companion re-
piled meditatively. You see. girls are
such awful fools about men. They
never really know what they're like
One of my sisters married an utter
bowler last holidays"
But Jimmy's such cad" Bunny
objected, land after the way he's
treated me, l do think she might be
rude to him.
of course" he went on, after 4
pause. Il know she was bound 20
marry one of the masters. Old Beetles
governesses always do. but do draw
the line at Jimmy. / hoped she'd
marry Turner"
Now Turner. though double blue.
was shy and unfledged young man.
ana appealed more to the schooiboy
than the female heart. Ellis minor
tnought her scarcely good enough for
nim' nut tactfully refrained from saw
ing so.