Brearley School - Brearley Book Yearbook (New York, NY)

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sensations, all slipping away from her. Then pictures began to form. The first to come was their old house, building itself out of the far corners of her mind, with its brown walls and corners and the dirty-white pillars of the porch. There was the bumpy gray sidewalk and the big linden tree and the grass, scrubby in places where they had skipped rope, and there was-she could have jumped for joy to see it-yes, there was Henny's bicycle left lying on the front lawn with its wheel in the air and the handlebars stuck savagely into the turf. Christina Merton, then, was not really a pretty child, as Mother had said. It was something else. She was tall with shiny, straight, black-brown hair and red cheeks. Her nose curved in a way that was all its own and she talked in a way that jane loved to hear. Her voice was different,-clear, smooth and quick at the same time. She was ahead of jane at school and was leader in almost every thing she did. jane's mother knew Mrs. Merton, and Jane went to Christina's house and Christina to jane's. Wlien they were alone, they played dolls and ghosts and dressed up and had wonderful times. But when one of Christina's friends was there, it would all be different. Jane couldn't tell why. Mary Crawly was the worst. She used to tease jane and then Christina would, too. That was the worst of all. Christina was never on her side when Mary was around. They would stand together and giggle and have secrets, and when jane screamed at them, they only laughed. Now the picture of the house came back. This time there were some chil- dren over by the privet hedge. They were tearing and peeling long supple strips of it to play circus with. There were herself and Henny and the Cartwright children. Now a group of three little girls, three older little girls, came walking along the grey sidewalk under the trees. Their feet clattered on the pavement and their voices on the air. There were Christina and Mary Crawly and Viccy Hewett. Mary's arm was around Christina's neck and their laughter seemed to prick and jab with pointed tongues at the small girl by the privet hedge. She stared at them but Christina did not even say hello. Then jane found herself looking at the world through a fierce cloud of hate for Mary Crawly. Little waves of hate broke over her and left her gasping. She took a long, writhing privet shoot in her hand, and, followed by the Cartwright children, marched to the attack. The enemy saw the coming danger but did not condescend to realize it. They walked with deliberate slowness, their arms about each other's necks. Every now and then they looked back over their shoulders and sent out whoops of laughter at the sight of jane, pudgy, red-faced, her eyes glazed with hate. They should have seen the privet-whip concealed carelessly l49Il

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SOME ONE OLDER Yes, said Cousin Alice. We all miss you so much since you moved into the city. Did you know, Maria, the McGills have let Lena go, after all these years? It seems that she just couldn't remember her place, and then she was so old and getting very disagreeable. Of course it was a shame but- Mother! jane almost pounced into the room, not even noticing Cousin Alice. Mother, Winnie telephoned. She wants me to come uptown for lunch. Some of the other girls are going to be there, and I want to go. But, Mother, Eileen said that she was coming over this afternoon, so will you just tell her I had to go. Nicely, you know. I don't think she'll mind too much. Mother was quite equal to the situation. Sit down a minute, jane, she said very calmly. Heres cousin Alice. You haven't seen her for a very long time. Oh, how are you, Cousin Alice? Mother, you will tell Eileen nicely, won't you ? That's little Eileen Owen, explained mother to Cousin Alice. She's so fond of jane. Of course jane is older, but-well, the child doesn't have many pleasures and jane is .vo sympathetic. just now when she's studying hard for college, though, it's quite a drag on her time. Yes, of course, murmured Cousin Alice, but, speaking of colleges, Christina Merton is doin ver well at Smith. She's a 'unior now and 'ust as Y J popular as she can be! On all sorts of committees and things. Wl1y, isn't that nice! Mother sounded really glad. I did like Mr. and Mrs. Merton. They were very English, but so nice. I'll never forget how Mrs. Merton did all her own work in that big house with those two children. And jane was so found of Christina. Of course, Christina was older but-well, Jane was always so advanced for her age. Christina was a very pretty child, too. Do you remember her, jane ? Yes, said jane, and turned away. At the mention of Christina Merton something deep inside her cried out and eager memories came crowding on top of one another until her mind was nothing but a whirling mass of shapes and H81

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against her left leg. At that laughter, the wave of hate in her reared itself to a tremendous height, towering above all else in her mind. Quickly she raised the whip and cut with all her force across Mary Crawly's neck and something in her laughed and shrieked to see the red weal leap into place. Grim and exult- ing, she waited for them to turn and destroy her, but to her surprise and almost disappointment they did nothing of the sort. Mary gave a little squeal and clapped her hands to her neck. Christina and Viccy put their arms around her. Poor Mary, it'll be all right in a minute -- It must hurt terribly, such a mean thing to do! Is it better now ? Oh, such a big red mark! How horrid to hit somebody from behind! jane stood and watched and the wave retreated 'leaving the shores bare and desolate. Never in her life had she felt so miserable but she must do some- thing to justify herself. Now maybe you won't tease me at Christina's, she muttered. Christina turned her head and looked, and Jane's flesh crawled. No, indeed, she won't! Christina cried. And do you know why? Wlmy, because you aren't ever coming to my house any more, jane Curtis, never again! You're a mean nasty girl. Mary never did anything to you! I'm sorry I ever met you! Poor Mary! Is it better now? Come on to my house and mother'll put some medicine on it. jane watched them go. It was all wrong, horribly wrong. She wanted to cry out in desperation, Christina, Christina, wait and let me tell you about it! She did do things to me, she did, she did, much worse than hitting. Oh, wait, Christina, you don't understand! Jane walked back to the hedge. No use playing now. No, I don't want to, she told the eldest Cartwright boy. He looked at her admiringly. Gee, you certainly slashed her one, hc said. That ought to show her! Yes, she answered, but underneath surged a cold Hood of black misery, a leaden feeling of doubt. Yes, said Cousin Alice's voice, It's terrible the things that happen nowadays. Right in one's own town. Did you heat about the King's furnace man? E501