A TERRIBLE TOMBOY
STORIES FOR GIRLS
_Illustrated in Colour._
THE STORY-BOOK GIRLS. By CHRISTINA G. WHYTE. 6/- and 3/6.
NINA'S CAREER. By CHRISTINA G. WHYTE. 6/-.
BRIDGET OF ALL WORK. By WINIFRED M. LETTS. 5/-.
MISTRESS NANCIEBEL. By ELSIE J. OXENHAM. 5/-.
A GIRL OF THE NORTHLAND. By BESSIE MARCHANT. 5/-.
THE GIRL CRUSOES. By MRS. HERBERT STRANG. 3/6 and 2/6.
THE GIRL SCOUT. By BRENDA GIRVIN. 3/6.
DAUNTLESS PATTY. By E. L. HAVERFIELD. 3/6 and 2/6.
THE CONQUEST OF CLAUDIA. By E. L. HAVERFIELD. 3/6.
HENRY FROWDE and HODDER & STOUGHTON
[Illustration: "SEE, I'LL PUT IT JUST ON THE TOP IN FRONT." [See page 44.]
A TERRIBLE TOMBOY
BY ANGELA BRAZIL
AUTHOR OF "FAIRY PLAYS FOR CHILDREN"
NEW EDITION
_ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY N. TENISON_
LONDON HENRY FROWDE HODDER AND STOUGHTON 1915
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. PEGGY AT HOME 1
II. BIRDS'-NESTING 12
III. THE BLACK PUPPY 25
IV. A STORMY DAY 35
V. CONCERNING LILIAN 51
VI. SUNDAY 62
VII. MAUD MIDDLETON'S PARTY 72
VIII. THE HOLIDAYS 85
IX. A MOUNTAIN WALK 97
X. ON THE MOORS 109
XI. A NEW FRIEND 121
XII. IN THE RECTORY GARDEN 132
XIII. THE SMUGGLERS' CAVE 140
XIV. LILIAN'S HOUSEKEEPING 157
XV. THE BEGINNING OF A SHADOW 170
XVI. ARCHIE 180
XVII. DAME ELEANOR'S GHOST 193
XVIII. PLAY-ACTING 207
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Terrible Tomboy by Angela Brazil
- 2: Chuckling laugh attracted her to the barn
- 3: 'and I haven't forgotten about the pinafore
- 4: In the ivy the jackdaws were always busy
- 5: Full faced Jacobean worthies in curled wigs
- 6: Vaughans who had joined the Young Pretender's force
- 7: Peggy and Bobby were out the whole day long
- 8: He popped out with Miss Tomboy at once
- 9: Though not so high as the Welsh mountains
- 10: For bottle tits were rare in that neighbourhood
- 11: Peggy flushed all over with excitement
- 12: Out rushed Betsy from the cottage
- 13: But Peggy was utterly fearless
- 14: 'it do be a present for Miss Peggy
- 15: Which Peggy unwillingly relinquished
- 16: He tore Bobby's cricket ball to pieces
- 17: After that there was no more rest for Peggy or Lilian
- 18: So please to remember you are Vaughans
- 19: That Pixie had a sense of her responsibilities
- 20: 'Miss Crossland looked annoyed
- 21: ' said the calm voice of Miss Crossland
- 22: For Lilian was so splendid at arithmetic
- 23: And Miss Crossland came in a moment afterwards
- 24: Emily Thompson had risen in her place
- 25: So their little classroom was empty
- 26: ' said Lilian between her kisses
- 27: Zey have no more musique in zem zan an old hurdy gurdy
- 28: But for once Peggy turned tell tale
- 29: Piccaninnies mustn't come near
- 30: The fourth paper was described 'Herr Fruehl
- 31: And if I discover the authorship
- 32: Old Ephraim was a quaint and original character
- 33: ' observed the righteous Peggy
- 34: Beating with an iron spoon upon an old tin kettle
- 35: 'And Peggy seized the stolid infant by his disengaged hand
- 36: My granny sits in the parlour on Sunday afternoons
- 37: ' added Lilian with a wistful sigh
- 38: And turned Pixie smartly into the hedge
- 39: Noticing at last that Peggy stood unfriended and alone
- 40: Marjorie gave Peggy a limp hand
- 41: In the shape of a beautiful white Persian kitten
- 42: She managed to seize puss by the scruff of her neck
- 43: 'I'll go and help Lilian unharness Pixie
- 44: From the Rose Parlour came the strains of the piano
- 45: And Bobby armed with the kettle
- 46: And to judge from the smears of paint upon her pinafore
- 47: ' she announced at length to Lilian
- 48: There was a small general shop in Pengarth
- 49: 'But Lilian popped down on the grass
- 50: Vaughan owned some land high up on the mountains
- 51: But Peggy and Bobby were at the very high tide of happiness
- 52: The boundless delight of those rolling miles of heather
- 53: With the help of the dry heather
- 54: Heather makes one of the most delicious beds in the world
- 55: Which he had put to keep warm among the peats
- 56: The heather catching fire at once
- 57: You want Miss Wilkins here to teach you manners
- 58: While she sat dabbling her feet in a waterfall
- 59: The sandals were anything but comfortable
- 60: ' she lamented to Lilian afterwards
- 61: Peggy 'lay low and said nuffin'
- 62: When she heard a cheery whistle
- 63: Peggy gave a gasp of astonishment and delight
- 64: But Miss Forster herself thought otherwise
- 65: 'Would not a good sitting hen be really better
- 66: Howell sometimes quite to herself
- 67: Which Lilian had pointed out on Sunday
- 68: Come and look at my carnations
- 69: Aunt Helen and I quarrelled once
- 70: And Lilian must be my little housekeeper
- 71: Peggy and Bobby loathed the little Davenports
- 72: And you know he said Lilian was to do the housekeeping
- 73: Peggy held up the lantern over her head
- 74: Peal after peal of thunder rent the air
- 75: And chilly from the damp moisture that oozed down the walls
- 76: Many thoughts came to Peggy that night
- 77: 'It felt a very insecure bridge to poor Peggy
- 78: And Lilian and Peggy for bridesmaids
- 79: It seemed strange to start off every morning without Lilian
- 80: Lilian really did mean to look after that meat
- 81: 'After this Lilian determined to provide more generously
- 82: What a mercy you did not put them into the pasty
- 83: She would go round with Nancy and a candle
- 84: Much society often means much rivalry and heartburning
- 85: I wonder what they have in that caldron
- 86: With the old crone following persistently in their wake
- 87: Peggy felt half inclined to refuse
- 88: The thin un in front be Mester Reade
- 89: The Abbey should go instead of it
- 90: And Lilian voted for garlanding them with wild flowers
- 91: With Lilian to steady it behind
- 92: He disclosed to view a plump yellow dormouse
- 93: But Lilian had kept her surprise in the background
- 94: Davenport in her most majestic voice
- 95: So drawing on her gloves she routed her groom
- 96: The party consisted solely of themselves and Archie
- 97: Rambling divergences from the point
- 98: And his head took by they Yorkists
- 99: Or any evil hangin' over the Vaughans
- 100: They left Dame Eleanor in her corner
- 101: Lilian was playing snatches of her favourite Chopin
- 102: Lilian transformed the pulpit into a perfect bower
- 103: And drag Lilian round the pasture
- 104: And Peggy and Bobby could be the Montagues and Capulets
- 105: But this Peggy would not allow
- 106: So the proceedings began with a waltz by Lilian
- 107: Peggy and Bobby as 'the children
- 108: Pretty Lilian should be so entirely overlooked
- 109: For that had been a sore wrench to poor Lilian
- 110: So Peggy waited at first for Bobby to tell her
- 111: While with the other he amused himself by tweaking his ears
- 112: ' faltered the snivelling Jones
- 113: And that you wuld think her a bigger tomboy than ever
- 114: Peggy hastened to answer in the affirmative
- 115: Found a temporary refuge in the churchyard
- 116: Plunging herd which surged up the street
- 117: 'and have some cakes and ginger pop
- 118: Archie peeped into the cinematograph
- 119: The Japanese acrobats climbed ropes
- 120: Peggy liked to see Rollo working with the sheep
- 121: Peggy put her hand under her dress
- 122: Peggy followed as chief mourner
- 123: 'Perhaps the smugglers left it behind
- 124: 'You won't forget about the tombstone
- 125: I can't bear to have the Romney picture go
- 126: Norton nobody could find a good word
- 127: Let Mester Vaughan go up to Lunnon
- 128: And farming would be a lot jollier than school
- 129: And the other folks under the tombstones
- 130: Whit Monday was a holiday at school
- 131: The visitors were conducted by Nancy to the side gate
- 132: Two antiquarians had remained behind
- 133: 'Is this nectar which you are offering us
- 134: ' cried the enthusiastic antiquarian
- 135: Just see this illuminated border
- 136: Vaughan at once out of his difficulties
- 137: Life was always so well worth living to Peggy
- 138: Peggy will keep that most priceless of possessions