Holidays at Roselands: Complete

It was quite late when the young party returned, and the next day all were dull, and more than onepeevish and fretful; so that Elsie, on whom fell, almost entirely, the burden of entertaining them, had quite a trying time.She noticed at breakfast that Arthur seemed in an uncommonly bad humor, preserving a sullen anddogged silence, excepting once when a sly whisper from Harry Carrington drew from him anexclamation of fierce anger that almost frightened the children, but only made Harry laugh.Presently after, as they were about dispersing, Arthur came to her side and whispered that he hadsomething to say to her in private.Elsie started and looked extremely annoyed, but said at once that he might come to her room, andthat there they could be quite alone, as mammy would be down-stairs getting her breakfast.She led the way and Arthur followed. He glanced hastily around on entering and then locked thedoor and stood with his back against it.Elsie became very pale."You needn't be afraid" he said, sneeringly, "I'm not going to hurt you ""What do you want, Arthur? tell me quickly, please, because I must soon go to papa, and I have alesson to look over first," she said, mildly."I want you to lend me some money," he replied, speaking in a rapid and determined manner; "Iknow you've got some, for I saw your purse the other day, and it hadn't less than five dollars in it, I'm sure, and that's just the sum I want