World of Girls: The Story of a School — Chapters 19-21

CHAPTER XIX. CUP AND BALL.

Just toward the end of the Easter holidays, Hester Thornton was thrown into a great tumult of excitement, of wonder, of half regret and half joy, by a letter which she received from her father.

In this letter he informed her that he had made up his mind to break up his establishment for several years, to go abroad, and to leave Hester altogether under Mrs. Willis' care.

When Hester had read so far, she flung her letter on the table, put her head into her hands, and burst into tears.

"Oh, how cruel of father!"

she exclaimed; "how am I to live without ever going home--how am I to endure life without seeing my little Nan?"

Hester cried bitterly; the strongest love of her nature was now given to this pretty and sweet little sister, and dismal pictures rose rapidly before her of Nan growing up without in the least remembering her--perhaps, still worse, of Nan being unkindly treated and neglected by strangers.

After a long pause, she raised her head, wiped her eyes, and resumed her letter.

Now, indeed, she started with astonishment, and gave an exclamation of delight--Sir John Thornton had arranged that Mrs. Willis was also to receive little Nan, although she was younger than any other child present in the school.

Hester scarcely waited to finish her letter.

She crammed it into her pocket, rushed up to Susan Drummond, and astonished that placid young lady by suddenly kissing her.

"Nan is coming, Susy!"

she exclaimed; "dear, darling, lovely little Nan is coming--oh, I am so happy!"

She was far too impatient to explain matters to stolid Susan, and danced down stairs, her eyes sparkling and smiles on her lips.

It was nothing to her now how long she stayed at school--her heart's treasure would be with her there, and she could not but feel happy.

After breakfast Mrs. Willis sent for her, and told her what arrangements were being made; she said that she was going to remove Susan Drummond out of Hester's bedroom, in order that Hester might enjoy her little sister's company at night.

She spoke very gently, and entered with full sympathy into the girl's delight over the little motherless sister, and Hester felt more drawn to her governess than she had ever been.

Nan was to arrive at Lavender House on the following evening, and for the first week her nurse was to remain with her until she got accustomed to her new life.

The morning of the day of Nan's arrival was also the last of the Easter holidays, and Hester, awakening earlier than her wont, lay in bed, and planned what she would do to welcome the little one.

The idea of having Nan with her continually had softened Hester.

She was not unhappy in her school-life--indeed, there was much in its monotonous, busy, and healthy occupation to stimulate and rouse the good in her.

Her intellect was being vigorously exercised, and, by contact with her schoolfellows, her character was being molded; but the perfect harmony and brightness of the school had been much interrupted since Hester's arrival; her dislike to Annie Forest had been unfortunate in more ways than one, and that dislike, which was increasing each day, was hardening Hester's heart.

But it was not hard this morning--all that was sweetest, and softest, and best in her had come to the surface--the little sister, whom her mother had left in her charge, was now to be her daily and hourly companion.

For Nan's sake, then, she must be very good; her deeds must be gentle and kind, and her thoughts charitable.

Hester had an instinctive feeling that baby eyes saw deep below the surface; Hester felt if Nan were to lose even a shadow of her faith in her she could almost die of shame.

Hester had been very proud of Dora Russell's friendship.

Never before had it been known in the school that a first-class girl took a third into such close companionship, and Hester's little head had been slightly turned by the fact.

Her better judgment and her better nature had been rather blinded by the fascinations of this tall, graceful, satirical Dora.

She had been weak enough to agree with Dora with her lips when in her heart of hearts she knew she was all wrong.

By nature Hester was an honorable girl, with many fine traits in her character--by nature Dora was small and mean and poor of soul.

This morning Hester ran up to her favorite.

"Little Nan is coming to-night," she said.

Dora was talking at the moment to Miss Maitland, another first-class girl, and the two stared rather superciliously at Hester, and, after a pause, Dora said in her finest drawl: "Who _is_ little Nan?"

It was Hester's turn to stare, for she had often spoken of Nan to this beloved friend, who had listened to her narrative and had appeared to sympathize.

"My little sister, of course," she exclaimed.

"I have often talked to you about her, Dora.

Are you not glad she is coming?"

"No, my dear child, I can't say that I am.

If you wish to retain my friendship, Hester, you must be careful to keep the little mite away from me; I can't bear small children."

Hester walked away with her heart swelling, and she fancied she heard the two elder girls laughing as she left the play-room.

Many other girls, however, in the school thoroughly sympathized with Hester, and among them no one was more delighted than Susan Drummond.

"I am awfully good-natured not to be as cross as two sticks, Hetty," she exclaimed, "for I am being turned out of my comfortable room; and whose room do you suppose I am now to share?

why, that little imp Annie Forest's." But Hester felt charitable, even toward Annie, on this happy day.

In the evening little Nan arrived.

She was a very pretty, dimpled, brown-eyed creature, of just three years of age.

She had all the imperious ways of a spoilt baby, and, evidently, fear was a word not to be found in her vocabulary.

She clung to Hester, but smiled and nodded to the other girls, who made advances to her, and petted her, and thought her a very charming baby.

Beside Nan, all the other little girls in the school looked old.

She was quite two years the youngest, and it was soon very evident that she would establish that most imperious of all reigns--a baby reign--in the school.

Hester fondled her and talked to her, and the little thing sat on her knee and stroked her face.

"Me like 'oo, Hetty," she said several times, and she added many other endearing and pretty words which caused Hester's heart to swell with delight.

In the midst of their happy little talk together Annie Forest, in her usual careless fashion, entered the play-room.

She alone, of all the girls, had taken no notice of the new plaything.

She walked to her usual corner, sat down on the floor, and began to play cup and ball for the benefit of two or three of the smallest children.

Hester did not regard her in the least; she sat with Nan on her knee, stroking back her sunny curls, and remarking on her various charms to several of the girls who sat round her.

"See, how pretty that dimple in her chin is," she said, "and oh, my pet, your eyes look wiser, and bigger, and saucier than ever.

Look at me, Nan;

look at your own Hetty."

Nan's attention, however, was diverted by the gaily-painted cup and ball which Annie was using with her wonted dexterity.

"Dat a pitty toy," she said, giving one quick and rather solemn glance at her sister, and again fixing her admiring gaze on the cup and ball.

Annie Forest had heard the words, and she darted a sudden, laughing look at the little one.

Annie's power over children was well known.

Nan began to wriggle on Hester's knee.

"Dat a pitty lady," she said again, "and that a pitty, tibby [little] toy; Nan go see."

In an instant, before Hester could prevent her, she had trotted across the room, and was kneeling with the other children and shouting with delight over Annie's play.

"She'll get her, you'll see, Hester," said one of the girls maliciously;

"she'll soon be much fonder of Annie Forest than of you.

Annie wins the heart of every little child in the school."

"She won't win my Nan's from me," said Hester in a confident tone; but in spite of her words a great pang of jealousy had gone through her.

She rose to her seat and followed her little sister.

"Nan, you are sleepy, you must go to bed."

"No, no, Hetty; me not s'eepy, me kite awake; go 'way, Hetty, Nan want to see the pitty tibby toy."

Annie raised her eyes to Hester's. She did not really want to be unkind, and at that moment it had certainty never entered into her head to steal Hester's treasure from her, but she could not help a look of suppressed delight and triumph filling her eyes.

Hester could scarcely bear the look; she stooped down, and taking one of Nan's little dimpled hands tried to drag her away.

Instantly Annie threw the cup and ball on the floor.

"The play is all over to-night, little darling," she said; "give Annie Forest one kiss, and run to bed with sister Hester."

Nan, who had been puckering up her face to cry, smiled instantly; then she scrambled to her feet, and flung her little fat arms round Annie's neck.

"Dat a vedy pitty p'ay," she said in a patronizing tone, "and me like 'oo, me do."

Then she gave her hand willingly to Hester, and trotted out of the play-room by her side.

CHAPTER XX. IN THE SOUTH PARLOR.

Immediately after Easter the real excitement of the school-year began.

All the girls who had ambition, who had industry, and who had a desire to please distant fathers, mothers, or guardians, worked hard for that great day at midsummer when Mrs. Willis distributed her valuable prizes.

From the moment of Hester's entrance into the school she had heard this day spoken of.

It was, without doubt, the greatest day of the year at Lavender House.

Smaller prizes were given at Christmas, but the great honors were always reserved for this long sunshiny June day, when Mrs. Willis herself presented her marks of approbation to her successful pupils.

The girls who had lived in the school for two or three years gave Hester vivid descriptions of the excitements, the pleasures, the delights of this day of days.

In the first place it was the first of the holidays, in the second it was spent almost from morning to night in the open air--for a great tent was erected on the lawn; and visitors thronged to Lavender House, and fathers and mothers, and aunts and uncles, arrived from a distance to witness the triumphs of the favored children who had won the prizes.

The giving away of the prizes was, of course, _the_ event of the day; but there were many other minor joys.

Always in the evenings there was some special entertainment.

These entertainments differed from year to year, Mrs. Willis allowing the girls to choose them for themselves, and only making one proviso, that they must take all the trouble, and all the pains--in short, that they themselves must be the entertainers.

One year they had tableaux vivants; another a fancy ball, every pretty dress of which had been designed by themselves, and many even made by their own industrious little fingers.

Mrs. Willis delighted in the interest and occupation that this yearly entertainment gave to her pupils, and she not only encouraged them in their efforts to produce something very unique and charming, but took care that they should have sufficient time to work up their ideas properly.

Always after Easter she gave the girls of the three first classes two evenings absolutely to themselves; and these they spent in a pretty room called the south parlor, which belonged to Mrs. Willis' part of the house, and was rarely used, except for these great preparations.

Hester, therefore, after Easter found her days very full indeed.

Every spare moment she devoted to little Nan, but she was quite determined to win a substantial prize, and she was also deeply interested in various schemes proposed in the south parlor.

With regard to prizes, Mrs. Willis also went on a plan of her own.

Each girl was expected to come up to a certain standard of excellence in all her studies, and if she fell very much below this standard she was not allowed to try for any prize; if she came up to it, she could select one subject, but only one, for competition.

On the Monday after the Easter holidays the special subjects for the midsummer prizes were given out, and the girls were expected to send in their answers as to the special prize they meant to compete for by the following Friday.

When this day arrived Hester Thornton and Dora Russell both discovered that they had made the same choice--they were going to try for the English composition prize.

This subject always obtained one of the most costly prizes, and several of the girls shook their heads over Hester's choice.

"You are very silly to try for that, Hetty," they exclaimed, "for Mrs. Willis has such queer ideas with regard to English composition.

Of course, we go in for it in a general way, and learn the rules of grammar and punctuation, and so forth, but Mrs. Willis says that schoolgirls' themes are so bad and affected, as a rule, and she says she does not think any one will go in for her pet prize who has not natural ability.

In consequence, she gives only one prize for composition between the three first classes.

You had better change your mind, Hetty, before it is too late, for much older girls will compete with you, and there are several who are going to try."

Hester, however, only smiled, and assured her eager friend that she would stick to her pet subject, and try to do the best she could.

On the morning when the girls signified their choice of subject, Mrs. Willis came into the school-room and made one of her little yearly speeches with regard to the right spirit in which her girls should try for these honors.

The few and well-chosen words of the head mistress generally roused those girls who loved her best to a fever of enthusiasm, and even Hester, who was comparatively a newcomer, felt a great wish, as she listened to that clear and vibrating voice and watched the many expressions which passed over the noble face, that she might find something beyond the mere earthly honor and glory of success in this coming trial.

Having finished her little speech, Mrs. Willis made several remarks with regard to the choice of subjects.

She spoke of the English composition prize last, and here she heightened the interest and excitement which always hung around this special prize.

Contrary to her usual rule, she would this year give no subject for an English theme.

Each girl might choose what pleased her best.

On hearing these words Annie Forest, who had been sitting by her desk looking rather dull and dejected, suddenly sprang to her feet, her face aglow, her eyes sparkling, and began whispering vigorously to Miss Good.

Miss Good nodded, and, going up to Mrs. Willis, said aloud that Annie had changed her mind, and that from not wishing to try for any of the prizes, she now intended to compete for the English composition.

Mrs. Willis looked a little surprised, but without any comment she immediately entered Annie's name in the list of competitors, and Annie sat down again, not even glancing at her astonished schoolfellows, who could not conceal their amazement, for she had never hitherto shown the slightest desire to excel in this department.

On the evening of this Friday the girls of the three first classes assembled for the first time in the south parlor.

Hitherto these meetings had been carried on in a systematic and business-like fashion.

It was impossible for all the girls who belonged to these three large classes to assemble on each occasion.

Careful selections, therefore, were, as a rule, made from their numbers.

These girls formed a committee to superintend and carry on the real preparations for the coming treat, and the others only met when specially summoned by the committee to appear.

As usual now the three classes found themselves in the south parlor--as usual they chattered volubly, and started schemes, to reject them again with peals of laughter.

Many ideas were put forward, to be cast aside as utterly worthless.

No one seemed to have any very brilliant thought, and as the first step on these occasions was to select what the entertainment should be, proceedings seemed to come to a standstill.

The fact was the most daring originator, the one whose ideas were always flavored with a spice of novelty, was absolutely silent.

Cecil Temple, who had taken a seat near Annie, suddenly bent forward and spoke to her aloud.

"We have all said what we would like, and we none of us appear to have thought of anything at all worth having," she said; "but you have not spoken at all, Annie.

Give us an idea, dear--you know you originated the fancy ball last year."

Thus publicly appealed to, Annie raised her full brown eyes, glanced at her companions, not one of whom, with the exception of Cecil, returned her gaze fully; then, rising to her feet, she spoke in a slightly contemptuous tone.

"These preparations seem to me to be much ado about nothing; they take up a lot of our time, and the results aren't worth the trouble--I have nothing particular to say.

Oh, well, yes, if you like--let's have blind man's buff and a magic lantern;" and then, dropping a mock curtsey to her companions, she dropped out of the south parlor.

"Insufferable girl!"

said Dora Russell; "I wonder you try to draw her out, Cecil.

You know perfectly that we none of us care to have anything to do with her."

"I know perfectly that you are all doing your best to make her life miserable," said Cecil, suddenly and boldly.

"No one in this school has obeyed Mrs. Willis' command to treat Annie as innocent--you are practically sending her to Coventry, and I think it is unjust and unfair.

You don't know, girls, that you are ruining poor Annie's happiness."

"Oh, dear!

she doesn't seem at all dull," said Miss West, a second-class girl.

"I do think she's a hardened little wretch."

"Little you know about her," said Cecil, the color fading out of her pale face.

Then after a pause, she added; "The injustice of the whole thing is that in this treatment of Annie you break the spirit of Mrs. Willis' command--you, none of you, certainly tell her that she is guilty, but you treat her as such."

Here Hester Thornton said a daring thing.

"I don't believe Mrs. Willis in her heart of hearts considers Annie guiltless."

These words of Hester's were laughed at by most of the girls, but Dora Russell gave her an approving nod, and Cecil, looking paler than ever, dropped suddenly into her seat, and no longer tried to defend her absent friend.

"At any rate," said Miss Conway, who as the head girl of the whole school was always listened to with great respect, "it is unfortunate for the success of our entertainment that there should be all this discussion and bad feeling with regard to Miss Forest.

For my own part, I cannot make out why the poor little creature should be hunted down, or what affair it is of ours whether she is innocent or not.

If Mr. Everard and Mrs. Willis say she is innocent, is not that enough?

The fact of her guilt or innocence can't hurt us one way or another.

It is a great pity, however, for our own sakes, that we should be out with her now, for, whatever her faults, she is the only one of us who is ever gifted with an original thought.

But, as we can't have her, let us set to work without her--we really can't waste the whole evening over this sort of talk."

Discussions as to the coming pleasure were now again resumed with vigor, and after a great deal of animated arguing it was resolved that two short plays should be acted; that a committee should be immediately formed, who should select the plays, and apportion their various parts to the different actors.

The committee selected included Miss Russell, Miss Conway, Hester Thornton, Cecil Temple, and two other girls of the second class.

The conference then broke up, but there was a certain sense of flatness over everything, and Cecil was not the only girl who sighed for the merry meetings of last year--when Annie had been the life and soul of all the proceedings, and when one brilliant idea after another with regard to the costumes for the fancy ball had dropped from her merry tongue.

CHAPTER XXI. STEALING HEARTS.

When Annie ran out of the south parlor she found herself suddenly face to face with Mrs. Willis.

"Well, my dear child," said the head mistress in her kindest voice, "where are you running to?

But I suppose I must not ask; you are, of course, one of the busy and secret conclave in the south parlor?"

"No. I have left them," said Annie, bending her head, and after her usual habit when agitated, shaking her hair about her face.

"Left them?"

repeated Mrs. Willis, "you mean, dear, that they have sent you for some message."

"No. I am not one of them.

May I go into the garden, Mrs. Willis?"

"Certainly, my dear."

Annie did not even glance at her governess.

She pushed aside the baize door, and found herself in the great stone hall which led to the play-room and school-room.

Her garden hat hung on a peg in the hall, and she tossed it off its place, and holding it in her hand ran toward the side door which opened directly into the garden.

She had a wild wish to get to the shelter of the forsaken hammock and there cry out her whole heart.

The moment she got into the open air, however, she was met by a whole troop of the little children, who were coming in after their usual short exercise before going to bed.

Miss Danesbury was with them, and when Annie ran out by the open door, she entered holding two little ones by the hands.

Last in this group toddled Hester's little sister Nan.

The moment she saw Annie, her little face broke into smiles, she held out two hands eagerly, and fled to the young girl's side.

"Where dat pitty toy?"

she said, raising her round face to Annie's; "some one did buy dat toy, and it's vedy pitty, and me wants it--where's dat toy?"

Annie stooped down, and spoke suddenly and impulsively to the little child.

"You shall have the toy for your very own, Nan if you will do something for me?"

Nan's baby eyes looked straight into Annie's. "Me will," she said emphatically; "me want dat toy."

"Put your arms, round me, little darling, and give me a great tight hug."

This request was great fun to Nan, who squeezed her little arms round Annie's neck, and pressed her dimpled cheek to her lips.

"Dere," she said triumphantly, "will dat do?"

"Yes, you little treasure, and you'll try to love me, won't you?"

"Me do," said Nan, in a solemn voice; but then Miss Danesbury called her, and she ran into the house.

As Nan trotted into the house she put up her dimpled hand to wipe something from her round cheek--it was a tear which Annie Forest had left there.

Annie herself, when all the little ones had disappeared, walked slowly and sadly down toward the shady walk.

The sun had just set, and though it was now nearly May, and the evenings long, the wind was sufficiently cold to cause Annie to shiver in her thin house frock.

At all times utterly fearless with regard to her health, she gave it no thought now, but entering the walk where she knew she should not be disturbed, she looked up at the hammock, and wondered whether she should climb into it.

She decided, however, not to do so--the great and terrible weight of tears which had pressed close to her heart were relieved by Nan's embrace; she no longer cared to cry until she could cry no longer--the worst of her pain had been soothed by the sweet baby graciousness of the little one.

Then there darted into poor Annie's sore heart and perplexed brain that dangerous thought and temptation which was to work so much future pain and trouble.

She already loved little Nan, and Nan, as most children did, had taken a fancy to her.

Annie stood still, and clasped her hands as the dark idea came to her to steal the heart of little Nan from Hester, and so revenge herself on her.

By doing this she would touch Hester in her most vulnerable point--she would take from her what she valued most.

The temptation came swiftly, and Annie listened to it, and thought how easy it would be to carry it into effect.

She knew well that no little child could resist her when she chose to exercise her charms--it would be easy, easy work to make that part of Nan which was most precious all her own.

Annie became fascinated by the idea; how completely then she would have revenged all her wrongs on Hester!

Some day Hester would bitterly repent of her unjust prejudice toward her; some day Hester would come to her, and beg of her in agony to give her back her darling's love; ah!

when that day came it would be her turn to triumph.

She felt more than satisfied as the temptation grew upon her; she shut out persistently from her view all the other side of the picture; she would not let herself think that the work she was about to undertake was cruel and mean.

Hester had been more than unjust, and she was going to punish her.

Annie paced faster and faster up and down the shady walk, and whenever her resolution wavered, the memory of Hester's face as she had seen it the same night in the south parlor came visibly back and strengthened it.

Yes, her turn had come at last Hester had contrived since her entrance into the school to make Annie's life thoroughly miserable.

Well, never mind, it was Annie's turn now to make her wretched.