ease,
And variable as the shade
By the light thingummy aspen made.
When pain and anguish wring the brow,
She nothing does, but makes a row."

The mutilated lines were the contributions of the two schoolboys, while
Rowena looked down her nose once more, and dismissed the subject in a
few scathing remarks.

"You might realise by this time that Dreda's sentiments have not the
smallest influence on her actions! The Spider was evidently suffering
from a spasm of repentance. Quite time, too! She has made herself most
objectionable the last few days, sighing and groaning about the house,
and looking as if her heart were broken. If _we_ can stand breaking our
engagements and giving up all the fun of the holidays, I don't see why
she need grumble. But she is always like that--unsympathetic and
absorbed in herself. It's a mystery to me, for what has she got to be
absorbed in? To be old, and ugly, and poor, and to have no home or any
people that count--there can't possibly be any personal interest in
life! Her only hope would be to live for others, and of that, poor
dear, she is incapable!"

Rowena folded her hands on her lap, turned her well-cut profile to the
window, and sighed in an elderly, forbearing fashion, at which the two
boys grinned broadly, while impetuous Dreda burst once more into speech.

"Rowena, I _hate_ you when you talk like that! Don't be so self-
righteous and horrid! It's not for you to criticise other people. The
Spider is not a patch on you for selfishness, and if she has a poor time
of it, that's all the more reason why you should be charitable, and try
to cheer her up. You'll be old yourself some day, and ugly too! Fair
people always fade soonest. I read that in the toilette column of a
magazine, so it's true, and I shouldn't wonder if you grew nut-crackery,
too. Your nose is rather beaky even now. You needn't be so proud!"

Rowena turned her head to look round the carriage with a gently tolerant
smile.

"Our dear Dreda teaches us a lesson in charity, does she not?" she
demanded blandly. That was all the response she deigned to make, but it
was enough to reduce her sister to a crimson confusion, and to rouse
Gurth to impatient anger.

"Oh, leave off nagging, you two!" he cried loudly. "If you don't drop
it, I'll be off into a smoker at the first stop. Fight it out to-night
when you are alone, if you can't agree; but let us off when we are caged
up in the same pen. Her