A Patriotic Schoolgirl

"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'tyou?""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 wishyou'd leave me alone."The huskiness and general chokiness of the tone were unmistakable. Marjorieleaned over and took a keen survey of that portion of her sister's face which wasnot buried in the pillow."Oh! the atmosphere's damp, is it?" she remarked. "Dona, you're ostriching! Forgoodness' sake brace up, child, and turn off the water-works! I thought you'd morepluck. If you're going to arrive at Brackenfield with a red nose and your eyes allbunged up, I'll disown you, or lose you on the way. Crystal clear, I will! I'll not letyou 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 creaturecomfort offered her. As its consistency was decidedly of a stick-jaw nature, themingled sucking and sobbing which followed produced a queer combination.