A Patriotic Schoolgirl   By: Angela Brazil (1868-1947)

BLACKIE & SON LIMITED 50 Old Bailey, LONDON 17 Stanhope Street, GLASGOW

BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED Warwick House, Fort Street, BOMBAY

BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED 1118 Bay Street, TORONTO

A Patriotic Schoolgirl

BY

ANGELA BRAZIL

Author of "Schoolgirl Kitty" "The Luckiest Girl in the School" "Monitress Merle" &c. &c.

Illustrated by Balliol Salmon

BLACKIE & SON LIMITED LONDON AND GLASGOW

Contents

CHAP. Page

I. OFF TO BOARDING SCHOOL 9

II. BRACKENFIELD COLLEGE 23

III. THE TALENTS TOURNAMENT 32

IV. EXEATS 45

V. AUTOGRAPHS 58

VI. TROUBLE 67

VII. DORMITORY NO. 9 79

VIII. A SENSATION 91

IX. ST. ETHELBERTA'S 98

X. THE RED CROSS HOSPITAL 106

XI. A STOLEN MEETING 119

XII. THE SCHOOL UNION 129

XIII. THE SPRING TERM 140

XIV. THE SECRET SOCIETY OF PATRIOTS 151

XV. THE EMPRESS 163

XVI. THE OBSERVATORY WINDOW 175

XVII. THE DANCE OF THE NATIONS 183

XVIII. ENCHANTED GROUND 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.