195

XIX. A POTATO WALK 208

XX. PATRIOTIC GARDENING 222

XXI. THE ROLL OF HONOUR 231

XXII. THE MAGIC LANTERN 244

XXIII. ON LEAVE 255

XXIV. THE ROYAL GEORGE 264

XXV. CHARADES 276

Illustrations

Facing
Page

"IF YOU WANT THE EUSTON EXPRESS, YOU'LL HAVE
TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT" _Frontispiece_

THEY WERE HUDDLED TOGETHER, WATCHING HER WITH
AWESTRUCK FACES 96

THEN SOMEHOW MARJORIE FOUND HERSELF BLURTING
OUT THE ENTIRE STORY 168

SHE STARED AT IT IN CONSTERNATION 280

A Patriotic Schoolgirl

CHAPTER I

Off to Boarding-school

"Dona, are you awake? Donakins! I say, old sport, do stir yourself and
blink an eye! What a dormouse you are! D'you want shaking? Rouse up, you
old bluebottle, can't you?"

"I've been awake since five o'clock, and it's no use thumping me in the
back," grunted an injured voice from the next bed. "It's too early yet
to get up, and I wish you'd leave me alone."

The huskiness and general chokiness of the tone were unmistakable.
Marjorie leaned over and took a keen survey of that portion of her
sister's face which was not buried in the pillow.

"Oh! the atmosphere's damp, is it?" she remarked. "Dona, you're
ostriching! For goodness' sake brace up, child, and turn off the
water-works! I thought you'd more pluck. If you're going to arrive at
Brackenfield with a red nose and your eyes all bunged up, I'll disown
you, or lose you on the way. Crystal clear, I will! I'll not let you
start in a new school nicknamed 'Niobe', so there! Have a caramel?"

Dona sat up in bed, and arrested her tears sufficiently to accept the
creature comfort offered her. As its consistency was decidedly of a
stick-jaw nature, the mingled sucking and sobbing which followed
produced a queer combination.

"You sound like a seal at the Zoo," Marjorie assured her airily. "Cheer
oh! I call it a stunt to be going to Brackenfield. I mean to have a
top-hole time there, and no mistake!"

"It's all very well for yo