Marion Berkley: A Story for Girls

PHILADELPHIA HENRY T. COATES & CO
Copyright, 1870, by A. K. Loring.
TO MY TWIN SISTERS This Book IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED .
Come on, Mab! the carriage is round; only fifteen minutes to get to the depot.
Yes, I am coming. O mamma! do fasten this carpet-bag for me. Dear me! there goes the button off my gloves. Was there ever any one in such a flutter?
Never mind, dear; it is too late to sew it on now. Here is your bag; come, we must not stop another moment; there is Fred calling again.
I say, Mab, shouted the first speaker from the bottom of the stairs, if you're coming, why don't you come? I shan't leave until you bid me good-by, and I know I shall lose the ball-match. You do keep a fellow waiting so eternally long!
His sister was downstairs, and had her arms around his neck before he had finished speaking, and said to him, in a tone of mock gravity, Now, Frederic, don't get excited; always follow my good example, and keep cool. There now! she exclaimed, as she gave him a hearty kiss; be off. I forgot all about your ball-match, and all the amends I can make is to hope the Isthmians will beat the Olympics all to pieces.
Come, come, called Mrs. Berkley from the inside of the carriage, we have not a moment to lose.
Good-by, Hannah. One more kiss for Mab, Charlie. Good-by, all; then to the coachman, as she whisked into the carriage, Drive on, John, just as fast as you can.
The carriage-door was shut with a snap; off went the horses, and Mrs. Berkley and her daughter were soon at the Western depot, where the latter was to take the cars for B——, a little New England town, where she attended boarding-school. They were very late at the depot, and Mrs. Berkley had only time for a fond kiss and a Write often, darling, when the bell rung, and she was forced to leave the car, feeling a little uneasy that her daughter was obliged to take her journey alone. Just as the cars were starting, Marion put her head out of a window, and called to her mother, O mamma! Flo is here; isn't that jolly? No fear now of— The last part of the sentence was unintelligible, and all Mrs. Berkley got was a bright smile, and a wave of the hand, as the train moved out of the depot.