Page 80 - An Australian Lassie

up at the side. She was at the head of thirty fashionable "young ladies," and a fashionable young governess
was close by. She wore her best shoes (the ones with the toe-caps of Russian leather) and her best dress (white
with the gold silk sash given by Alma Montague).

And there was Betty--dreadful scapegrace Betty, barefooted, dirty faced, bare-headed (her bonnet was of
course under her arm), singing songs for coppers!

Dot coughed, went white, choked, and walked on. She simply had not the courage to step out from that line of
fashionable demoiselles and claim her little sister.

But Alma Montague, who carried her purse for the purchase of chocolate nougats should a favourable
opportunity occur, had her tender little heart touched by Betty's face and song.

"Each victory will help you Some other to win."

spoke directly to her, and her longing for chocolate nougats. She only had a shilling in her purse, wonderful to
relate, and she and her conscience had a sharp short battle. Chocolate nougats or--pitiful hunger! Her face
flushed as conscience won the battle.

The next second she had slipped out of line and run across to Betty.

"Here; little girl!" she said, and thrust a shilling into Betty's hand.

The little singer looked up, shy and startled, and her song died on her lips while her eyes plainly rejoiced over
the shilling.

Then the English governess awoke from a happy day-dream and sharply ordered Alma back to her place.

"You should have asked permission," she said stiffly. "T cannot have such disorders. T will punish you when
we return to school!"

Just as if the lost chocolates were not punishment enough.

The deed and the reprimand travelled along the line, whispered from mouth to mouth, till it came to Dot.

"That silly Alma Montague," the whisper ran, "has just broken line to give her money to that little beggar girl.
She gave a shilling. She was going to buy chocolate nougats. Miss Arnott's going to punish her."

Dot's sensitive soul shuddered over the terrible Betty. Tf she had been looking up instead of down! Tf she had
rushed forward and claimed her before the eyes of the wondering school! Tf Miss Arnott had known! Tf Alma
Montague had known! Tf any one of all those thirty girls had even guessed!

The very possibility was so dreadful that Dot found herself unable to discuss fashion for all the rest of that
constitutional.

But later on in the day, in the evening, when the lamps were alight, she had crept away by herself to wonder
where madcap Betty was. She felt quite sure she would go home again quite safely, she was always doing
terrible things without any harm coming to her.

The tears that fell from Dot's eyes were not for Betty, but altogether for herself. She had disowned, by not
owning, her sister! She had been afraid to step forward before those thirty pairs of eyes and say, "This is my
sister!" And she felt as one guilty of a mean and dishonourable deed.