CHAPTER XI
Venus in the Snow
There was generally sound sense in Mabel's arguments, though Aldred'simpatience wanted at once to achieve great things. Skating, likeeverything else, has no royal road, and neither of the girls advancedmuch beyond the point of going alone. Aldred, rather to her chagrin,found she certainly could not compete with Ursula, and an aspiring dreamof seeing herself queen of the rink vanished away. She was never withoutresources, however and as she was determined always to keep to the fore,she hit upon another means of making herself prominent. She rememberedhearing that in Brussels, when snow falls, the most eminent sculptors ofthe city go to the Park and model snow statues, which are carefullyguarded afterwards by the park keepers, and shown to the streams ofvisitors who flock to look at them. This was an idea worthy of beingcopied, and one of which she was sure nobody else would be likely tothink. Abandoning her skates, therefore, one afternoon, she retired tothe now deserted lawn, and set to work. The snow was not such an easymedium as clay, but it was in prime condition for her purpose, beingsoft enough to model, yet stiff enough to hold together. Aldred's schemewas decidedly ambitious, for she had decided to make a representation insnow of the Venus of Milo. She had chosen that for her subject becauseof its lack of arms and its flowing draperies, as she knew it would bequite impossible to reproduce a Flying Mercury or the Dying Gladiator.She had really a strong talent for sculpture, and contrived, with theaid of a framework of broomsticks, to give her statue a wonderfully goodpose. She had brought out a photograph of the original, which sheconstantly consulted; and she worked away with great enjoyment, shapingthe snow with deft hands, and using some flat pieces of wood and apalette knife from the studio as her modelling tools. She felt it wasalmost one of the most exciting things she had ever done in her life.The keen joy of creation, that true heritage of all who possess artisticability thrilled her fingers, as she put dainty touches here and there,and watched the resemblance to the Venus evolve itself by slow degreesfrom her great mass of snow. She thought of Michelangelo, who saw theangel in a rough block of marble, only waiting to be released by hischisel, and felt as if she, too, were trying to free the goddess, andgive her human form. For the time all thought of what the girls wouldsay was forgotten, and she worked for the love of art alone, sighingwith satisfaction as she successfully put in a delicate fold of dress,or a ripple of classic hair.
It was finished at last, even to the pedestal, and Aldred stepped backand looked at it with mixed feelings. She had done her very best; shedared not add another impress, from fear of spoiling it, yet she knewhow far it fell short of her ideal.
"I wonder if Phidias used to be contented with what he'd done?" shethought. "I suppose he was the greatest sculptor that ever lived. Iremember reading that Millais once went to an exhibition of his ownpictures, and came away very dejected. Shall I ask them all to come andsee it now? I want so much to show it, but somehow I hardly dare. Ialmost think I'll leave it for somebody to find out, and just go back tothe rink and say nothing."
She had not counted, however, on Mabel, who, missing her friend for anunusual length of time, took off her skates and went to hunt for her,tracking her in the end by her footsteps in the snow. Mabel's amazementwhen she reached the lawn was only equalled by her admiration. Sherushed off instantly to fetch all the girls to look, even venturing toknock at the study door and report her news at head-quarters.
Aldred's snow statue made quite a sensation at the Grange. Miss Drummondthought so highly of it that she had it photographed, and invited manyof her friends from Chetbourne to come and see it. It was such a daringand original project for a girl of only fifteen to have carried outentirely alone that she felt it reflected credit on the school topossess so clever a pupil. Aldred was praised to her heart's content,and received so much attention from teachers and visitors that she couldcertainly consider herself, for the time being, the most importantperson at Birkwood. She was petted by the prefects, invited to skate bymembers of the Sixth Form who had ignored her existence before, andasked so often for her autograph that she grew almost tired of signingher name.
"There's to be a picture of your statue in the School Magazine," saidMabel rapturously. "That's a tremendous compliment, because MissDrummond generally says it's too expensive to have illustrations. I'mgoing to ask her to have your photograph put in as well--just a tinyhead, from that splendid snapshot which Dora took when you came lastSeptember. It would fit into a corner of the same page, and show the'portrait of the artist'. I'll make up the extra money myself, if itwill cost more to print. I shall bespeak six copies: I want to send oneto Cousin Marion--she's gone to live in Germany for a year; she'll be sointerested, because, you know, it was she who was staying at Seaforthlast year, and who first told me anything about you."
Aldred's face fell. In a moment all the zest seemed to have faded out ofher pleasure. This was indeed a grave danger. "Cousin Marion" had seenher namesake at Seaforth, and would probably recognize that the twofaces were not the same; even a badly printed portrait might not concealthe lack of likeness. Would Mabel ever forget that wretched episode? Whymust it always be raked up in this tiresome way? Whenever she thought itwas safely consigned to oblivion, it appeared to rise again like aghost, and threaten the destruction of her position. True, she had donemuch since she came to Birkwood to strengthen her hold on Mabel'saffection, but she knew that her one deed of supposed heroism was thebasis of their friendship, and the groundwork of her general popularity;and she trembled to think what the effect might be if this foundationstone were removed.
"I don't want my photograph blazoned abroad," she said, almost crying."I'd rather Miss Drummond didn't put either me or the statue in theMagazine. Promise me, Mabel, that you won't send a copy to anybody, ifshe does."
"But why shouldn't I?" said Mabel, much surprised.
"Because I don't wish it. The statue was a stupid thing, after all; fartoo much fuss has been made of it. I'm sorry I didn't knock it down assoon as it was finished!"
"Aldred! how can you say so?"
"Well, I'm tired of hearing about it, anyway," returned Aldred, "and Ihope you won't mention it to your cousin; it makes me feel silly to havesuch a tremendous 'cock-a-doodling' over all my stupid littleperformances, which really aren't worth it."
"Well, I won't, if you so particularly ask me not to," said Mabel, in adisappointed voice. "But you can't always hide everything; it's not fairto the world if all the brave and clever things that are done must besuppressed--they're such a help and encouragement to other people. I,for instance, am ever so much better for having known you; you've beenquite an inspiration in my life. My mother had a friend like that (itwas Lady Betty Blakeney, who is now so famous) who had a tremendousinfluence over her, and first made her want to help poor people, andtake up the work she does now; and she always hoped I should meetsomebody who would be as much to me as her friend was to her. But Inever did until you came to Birkwood."
It seemed useless to protest; the more Aldred tried to shuffle out ofher role of heroine the more Mabel admired her modesty and her otherimagined excellencies. Mabel was a girl who loved to idolizecelebrities; it was partly a necessity of her nature, and partly a habitthat had been cultivated at home by her mother, who had a kindredweakness. Before the two girls knew each other, Mabel had been obligedto confine her worship to book favourites; then, having met, as shethought, the realization of her ideal, she could not resist thetemptation to endow her with the combined virtues of Portia, Rebecca,Ellen Douglas, Grace Darling, Flora Macdonald, and the "Nut-brown Maid",without stopping to put the various qualities to the test, and make surethat they actually existed. It is always better to err on the rightside, and think too highly than too ill of people, but Mabel's mistakewas to take Aldred so utterly on trust, and to blind herself wilfully tothe many small indications of character that might easily have shown herthat her idol was very far from perfection.
Aldred could not feel easy until she had made sure that the snapshotportrait was no
t to be included in the next number of the Magazine. Shewas afraid Mabel might break her promise, and send a copysurreptitiously to her cousin, and then the mischief would be done. Shedid not dare to mention the matter at head-quarters; it would appearconceited on her part to suggest that the idea had been broached, andshe would feel very humiliated if Miss Drummond were to say: "Oh, no, mydear! I never dreamt of putting it in!"
A plan occurred to her, however, by which she could defeat her friend'stoo enthusiastic project. She borrowed the negative from Dora on thepretence of wanting to look at it, and in handing it back managed todrop it and step on it, breaking it beyond all chance of repair. Sheapologized profusely for the accident.
"It was most clumsy of me!" she declared. "Could we possibly patch it upagain, do you think?"
"No, we couldn't!" said the aggrieved Dora. "It would show a mark rightacross the face, however carefully we joined it. I've tried piecingnegatives together before, and they're not worth the trouble ofprinting."
"Well, it was only a picture of me, not the lovely one you took of MissDrummond and Mademoiselle."
"No; I'm glad it was not that. But I promised this to Mabel; she askedme last night if I could find it, and I've had such a hunt through allmy negatives! She'll be quite cross that it's broken."
"You must put the blame on me, then, for it was my fault."
Secretly Aldred was exultant.
"I know Dora only took one print from it," she said to herself, "andthat was spoilt in the fixing bath. It's impossible to take snapshots inmidwinter, so I believe I'm safe for the present. I shall discourageMabel strongly from buying a camera. I hope she won't get one given toher on her birthday! I'm glad her Cousin Marion has gone to Germany, sothat she won't meet Mabel for a year, at any rate. So far as I can tell,she is the only person who has seen that Lawrence girl and knows whatshe is like."
The ice lasted for a whole fortnight, a totally unprecedented record inthe annals of Birkwood, which, on account of its position near the sea,did not often come in for so severe an experience of frost. The rinkproved the greatest success; the ice was apt to get cut up and rough bythe afternoon, but when everyone had left, the gardener would turn thehose over it, so that by next morning there was once more a splendid,smooth surface.
January 29th happened to be Miss Drummond's birthday. The girls wereaccustomed to prepare some little surprise for her on such occasions,and generally acted a play in honour of the event; and the evening wasalways considered a holiday. This time, however, Miss Drummond announcedthat, instead of being entertained by her pupils, she wished to providea treat for the whole school.
"It is full moon," she said, "and we shall have a carnival on the ice.The rink will be illuminated, and I expect we shall all find it quite anovel experience to skate by torchlight. Mind you don't catch coldsbeforehand! Anyone who is heard sneezing will have to stay indoors."
"It is a lovely idea!" said Phoebe, as the Fourth Form discussed theproject afterwards. "We shall have the most glorious fun! I'll ask MissDrummond if we may hang up the Chinese lanterns round the rink; it wouldbe quite safe to light them out-of-doors, and they'd look so nice!"
"I hope I shan't have toothache again," said Dora. "Do you think MissDrummond would let me go out if I muffled my head in a big shawl?"
"No, I'm sure she won't, nor Lorna either, if she persists in that noisycoughing. If you can't smother it, Lorna, you and Dora will have to keepeach other company in the classroom, and miss all the fun."
"Oh, that would be too bad! I'll manage somehow to get well enough, if Iswallow every nostrum under the sun. Will you lend me your carbolicsmoke ball? and I'll try it to-night."
In spite of many remedies suggested by sympathetic friends, Lorna was,however, obliged to forego the festivities. Miss Drummond was inexorablewhere health was concerned, and would not allow colds to be trifledwith.
"Perhaps if I'd tried all the different recipes I might have cured it,"said Lorna dolefully. "I've been recommended hot buttermilk and treacle,and honey with lemon, and black-currant tea, and elder syrup, andspirits of nitre, and ammoniated quinine, and to tie a wet handkerchiefand a stocking round my throat, and sit with my feet in mustard andwater!"
"I think the cures sound worse than the cold," said Dora, who wasnursing a swollen face. "I've resigned myself to staying indoors. Weshan't be the only ones, for there are at least eight others on the sicklist. I don't much care; I'd rather sit near the fire and keep warm thanskate with a raging toothache. No, I'm afraid I can't eat anychocolates, though it's kind of Miss Drummond to have sent us a boxfull."
"If you look out at the landing window, you can just catch a peep ofwhat is going on," said Mabel. "We'll tell you all about it afterwards.And if you're wise you'll let Miss Bardsley take you to the dentistto-morrow, and have that tooth out."
At half-past seven those members of the school who could show a cleanbill of health wrapped themselves up warmly, and sallied forth to thecarnival. The garden was really a beautiful sight. The full moon shonedown upon the snow, glinting on the frosty branches of the trees, andshowing cold and pale in contrast to the line of flaming torches thatencircled the rink. All Phoebe's Chinese lanterns had been put up, anda number of others, which belonged to the Fifth and Sixth Forms; so thatthe scene resembled Aladdin's palace, with its rows of red, blue,yellow, and green lamps. It seemed very romantic to skate amid suchsurroundings, and the girls felt as if they were stepping into a pictureor a scene from a play, as they took their first strokes, over the ice.Two friends of Miss Drummond had brought a mandoline and a guitar, andplayed lively selections, sometimes giving a song with a chorus, inwhich all could join, when the whole school swung round to the tune of"Oh! dem golden slippers" or "The old folks at home". The oil stove fromthe cottage had been requisitioned, and stood in a snug corner, keepingwarm a large can of beef-tea, from which steaming cupfuls could beladled from time to time by anyone who wanted refreshment; and a trayfull of hot turnovers, which one of the maids carried from the house,was highly appreciated.
As a wind-up to the festivities, everyone made an attempt to dance SirRoger de Coverley--a very funny proceeding indeed on the ice, wherestrokes had to be substituted for _chasses_, and the ranks were apt tobe abruptly broken by someone sitting down suddenly, with moreswiftness than grace. Miss Reade and Miss Bardsley were heading theline, and passing under the upraised hands of Maude Farnham and RoseTurner, two of the prefects, when unluckily Rose tipped a little too farforward and lost her balance. Down she came with a crash, and in herfall she clutched wildly at Miss Bardsley, and not only brought both theteachers to their knees, but upset six couples who were following closebehind and could not stop. There was quite a tangle of prostrate figuresupon the ice, and much laughter as the girls picked themselves up, andtried to re-form the lines. Amidst the general scramble, nobody noticedfor a moment that Miss Bardsley was really hurt; when she attempted torise, however, her foot was so painful that she sank back with a groan.
"I'm afraid I must have sprained my ankle!" she exclaimed.
It was a case for "first aid", and the members of the ambulance classhad very soon shown the advantage of their training by taking off theteacher's skates and boots, improvising a stretcher, and carrying herinto the house, where Miss Drummond set to work at once with hotfomentations and bandages. Unfortunately, the mischief was greater thananyone supposed, for when the doctor from Chetbourne arrived nextmorning he declared that a bone was broken, and that the ankle must beput into splints.
Naturally, this was a very awkward occurrence just at the beginning ofthe term. Miss Bardsley would be disabled for some weeks, and in themeantime, who would take her Form? For a few days one of the prefectsdid duty, while Miss Drummond wrote post-haste to a scholastic agency,to secure a teacher as locum tenens.
It was difficult to find anyone who was disengaged and could come at soshort a notice, and Miss Webb, the mistress who finally arrived, washardly to the taste of the Fourth Form. She had been a private governessin a fami
ly, and was not accustomed to class teaching; and the girlsdiscovered in the first half-hour that she had not the slightest notionof how to enforce discipline.
"She told me to stop talking, and when I didn't, she simply took nonotice!" chuckled Dora Maxwell.
"And she said: 'Ursula, dear, please do not fidget with your pencil,' insuch a mild, apologetic little voice!" laughed Ursula. "Miss Bardsleywould have glared, and said: 'Ursula, take a forfeit!'"
"She doesn't know anything, really, about the lessons," said Aldredscornfully. "She kept looking at the book all the time, to follow whatwe were saying."
"And you remember that sum that came out so funnily? I'm sure the answerwas wrong in the book, and I wanted her to work it on the blackboard,but she wouldn't," put in Dora.
"Because she couldn't!" sneered Aldred. "She's evidently no good atarithmetic. We know more ourselves than she does!"
"And when we were having physical geography, and I asked her why themoon really had phases, she said it depended on the tide!"
"Well, she had got rather flustered, and put it the wrong way,"interposed Mabel. "Of course, she meant that the tide depended on themoon."
"Then why didn't she say so?"
"You muddle her by asking so many questions."
"Miss Bardsley never gets muddled; she always explains things so thatone can understand exactly. As for Miss Webb, at the end of her physicalgeography, I feel as if I weren't sure whether the sun goes round theearth, or the earth round the sun."
"Well, it must be difficult for her, poor thing! to come here at a fewhours' notice and have to take up another mistress's work," said Mabel."I expect she's taught from quite different books, and doesn't know howfar we are on in anything."
"It's not exactly that," said Phoebe. "I'm sure Miss Bardsley couldset to work on someone else's Form, and manage their lessons in fiveminutes. The real trouble is that Miss Webb hasn't been used to teach inthe way we learn things at Birkwood. She's old-fashioned, and expectsyou just to repeat what's in the book, and never minds whether youreally understand it or not."
"That's fearfully out-of-date!" said Ursula. "She must have beeneducated a very long time ago. I wonder how old she is?"
"Quite fifty, I should think. Her hair is very grey," said Aldred."She's older than Miss Drummond, I'm certain, and oh! what a vastdifference there is between them! Miss Drummond is the cleverest personI know, and Miss Webb is a perfect noodle!"
"I don't see what's the use of troubling to learn her stupid lessons;they can't do us any good."
"Well, we must be able to reel off something, or she'd give us badmarks, and Miss Drummond would scold."
"Yes, that's the worst of it."
"Freda Martin made a far better teacher; I wish she could have gone ontaking us!"
"So do I; but, you see, she has her own work. She is going in for theMatric. next summer."
"Well, I vote we give ourselves an easy time with Miss Webb. We'll learnjust enough to satisfy her and no more; and if we feel inclined to talkin school we'll talk!"