The Irish standard., 1915-03-27


roguish look Of triumph in her eyes.
Down the front If her charming new
dress We're the marks Of Michael's
muddy paws. Peg was also breathing
quickly and evidently more than lit
tie excited.
"Take that animal out Of the room!"
cried Mrs. Chichester Indignantly the
moment Peg appeared.
Peg turned and walked straight out
into the garden and began playing with
Michael on the grass.
Mrs. Chichester waited for few
moments, then called out to her. "Mar-
garrett" then more sharply: Margaret,
come here! Do you hear me?'
Peg went on playing with Michael
and just answered, II hear ye"
"Come here at once!'
"Can Michael come in, too?" came
from the garden.
"You come in and leave that brute
outsider
IF Michael can't come in 1 don't
want to-" obstinately insisted Peg.
"Do as l tell you. Come here!" COM
manded her aunt.
Peg tied Michael to one of the French
windows and then went slowly into
the room and stood facing her aunt.
"Look at your dress!" suddenly cried
Mrs. Chichester rs she caught sight Of
the marks of Michael's playfulncss.
"Michacl did that. Sure they'll come
off,"
Mrs. Chichester looked at the flushed
face Of the young girl, ut the mass Of
curly hair that had been carefully
dressed by Bennett for dinner and was
now lowering around her eyes untidily.
The old lady Strengthened it.
"Can you not keep your hair out Of
your eyes? What do you think will
become of your
II hope to go to heaven, like all good
people," said Peg.
Mrs. Chichester turned away with n
gesture of despair.
"What is itT' continued the old lady.
II say what is it?'
"What is what?" asked Peg.
"Is it that you don't wish to improve?
Is it that?'
"Tll tell you what think it is" be-
gan Peg hclpfully, as If anxious to
reach some satisfactory explanation.
II think there's little divil in me ~
in there, an every now an again he
jumps out"
"a devil?" cried Mrs. Chichester, hor.
rified.
| UVoo 0,,rk nth Dor rJovn,,ro1,1
How dare you use such a word to
meY"
II didn't. I used it about meself. I
don't know whether you have divil
in We or not. think I have"
Mrs. Chichester silenced her with a
gesture:
Tomorrow am to give Mr.. Hawkes.
my first report on you"
Peg laughed suddenly and then check
ed herself quickly.
"And why did you do that?" asked
her aunt severely.
II had a picture of what ye're goin'
to tell him."
"Why do you constantly disobey me r.
pursued the old lady.
II suppose It is the original sin In
me-" replied Peg thoughtfully.
"What?" cried MIS-. Chichester, again
taken completely aback.
"Oh, say, you know! That's good!
Haw And Alaric laughed heartily. Peg
Joined In and laughed heartily with
him. Alaric Immediately stopped.
Ethel took absolutely no notice Of
any one.
Peg sat down beside her aunt and ex-
planned to her: whenever I did any
thing willfui or d!sturbin' as q child
me father always said it was the orig
inal sim In me an that wasn't to be
punished for 1t because couldn't help
t.
"Then he used to punish himself for
my fault An when l saw it hurt him
I usen't to do it again-for awhile at
least. l think that was a grand way
to bring up daughter. I've been won
derin' since I've been here IL an aunt
could bring a niece up the same way"
And she looked quizzically at Mrs.
Chichester.
Jarvis came in with 4 letter on
salver.
"WelIT asked the old lady.
"Vor Miss Chichester madam" And