CHAPTER XVI
An Opportunity
Mabel and Aldred returned to Birkwood on terms of even closer intimacythan before. There is always a difference between a companion who isonly an acquaintance at school and one who shares the many little homeassociations and interests that make a bond of union apart from theother girls, and give innumerable subjects for those confidential talkswhich are the chief joy of friendship. The bedroom that had once seemedentirely Mabel's was now taken up with joint possessions. Aldred hadhelped to buy the new gipsy table that stood in the window, and hadembroidered half of the table-cloth that covered it. The cushion for thewicker chair was a present from Lady Muriel to both the girls; and theknick-knacks that they had brought back with them were so entirely mixedthat it was difficult to tell which belonged to either. "All things incommon" was Mabel's motto, and Aldred, who certainly got the better ofthe bargain, was only too ready to agree.
It was high summer now at the Grange--glorious, golden days, when thesea breeze, or the wind from the downs, tempered the warm sunshine, andestablished Birkwood's reputation for a bracing climate. As many lessonsas possible were held in the garden. Each form had its own specialopen-air classroom, and the girls easily accommodated themselves toworking out-of-doors.
"When you're accustomed to it, it's no harder than working in thehouse," said Ursula. "Of course, just the first day we can't helpstaring about a little, to look at birds and things, but we soon getover that. We're none of us babies, to need four walls round us to keepour attention, and it is so very much nicer."
The Fourth Form "room" was at the corner of the big lawn, under theshade of a large oak, almost exactly in the place where Aldred had madeher statue of Venus in the snow. How different the garden looked now inits summer dress! It was difficult to believe that the asphalt court hadever been frozen and turned into a skating rink.
"I shall never forget our ice carnival," said Miss Bardsley. "My ankleis hardly strong yet, and I'm afraid it will always be thicker than theother."
"You had a long holiday, though," urged Phoebe: "six whole weeks!"
"An enforced holiday is no pleasure; I would far rather have been at mywork. I don't feel that you've made up yet for all you lost while I wasabsent."
"Is that why we have a double allowance of Roman history now?" queriedUrsula.
"Certainly it is. You must finish the book this term, if we have to takeextra lessons on it. You naughty girls, don't pull such faces! You oughtto be interested in the Emperors."
"Father says some day he'll take me to Rome, and I shall see all theirmarble statues," observed Mabel.
"Lucky girl!" said Miss Bardsley. "I was fortunate enough to spend oneEaster holiday in Rome, and saw the busts of the Emperors at theCapitoline Museum. They're the most beautiful likenesses in the world.You'll appreciate Roman history when you've been to the Forum, and theColosseum, and all the other famous places."
"Why can't we study history that way?" suggested Ursula. "Suppose youwere to take us all to Rome for a month, and we learnt about Romulus andRemus when we were sitting on the Capitoline Hill, and about Trajan inTrajan's Forum, and Diocletian in Diocletian's Bath, and Nero at theColosseum: it would be so interesting, and we should really rememberit!"
"No doubt that is the ideal method; but think of the expense! I amafraid most parents would grumble at the school bills, if teachinghistory involved a visit to the scene of each occurrence. No! You'resupposed to study all this beforehand, and then, when you have a clearidea of ancient and mediaeval times, you can go abroad with anunderstanding of what you'll see."
"But why shouldn't there be a mutual exchange of schools?" continuedUrsula, who liked to discuss questions with Miss Bardsley. "Suppose aclass from an Italian school were to come to the Grange for a month, andwe were to go and take their place: they'd learn English games, and weshould see the old temples and amphitheatres, so we should each havesomething we couldn't get in our own country."
"It would certainly be a splendid means of learning languages,especially if such an exchange could be effected with a French or aGerman school. But I fear we are not ripe for that yet; there are toomany difficulties in the way of such international visiting. In yearsto come perhaps the State will organize it, and we shall see littlebands of children starting with their teachers to study foreign life andget rid of insular prejudices. It would have to be a special departmentof the Board of Education."
"If Father gets into Parliament again I'll ask him to bring in a Billfor it," said Mabel. "He's very keen on Secondary Education."
There was so much to be done at Birkwood during the summer term that thedays did not seem nearly long enough, though the school rose half anhour earlier than in winter. The girls played cricket as well as tennis,worked in their gardens, and were taken for walks on the downs or on theshore. These expeditions generally had a scientific object in view, wildflowers being brought home to be pressed and added to the schoolcollection, or the pools left by the tide investigated for specimens toenlarge the already flourishing aquarium. There is an old saying: "Ifyou are good, you are happy"; but Miss Drummond believed in thereversing of that moral process, on the theory that "if you are happy,you are good", considering that young girls, at any rate, would be morelikely to grow up with nice minds and true instincts if all theirenvironment was beautiful, and their days were filled with pleasurescalculated to elevate and refine. There were few of her pupils on whomher system had not the desired effect, and the one or two failures hadbeen gently eliminated, so as not to contaminate the rest.
With Aldred especially Miss Drummond's method had worked well. She wasvery different from the ill-disciplined girl who had arrived at theGrange last September. The pleasant but carefully ordered regime seemedquite to have counteracted her aunt's injudicious management, and shewould have been utterly ashamed now of behaviour in which a year ago shehad gloried. This improvement was largely due to Mabel's influence. Thelatter's implicit faith in her began to rouse a desire to becomeactually what her friend believed her to be. She conquered many littleweaknesses, lest Mabel should notice them. She had soon found that across word or an unkind speech, the evasion of a rule, or the shirkingof some small duty, would bring a look of puzzled surprise to thelatter's face; and rather than that Mabel should be disappointed in her,she kept a tight hand on herself, and would repress anything of whichher friend did not approve. It was not the loftiest of motives, but itwas the first time in her life that Aldred had ever really tried to jointhe ranks of those who are striving upwards, and even a faint-heartedeffort is better than none at all.
There are occasionally people in this world who seem to have the facultyof drawing the very best out of those with whom they come in contact.They create their own atmosphere, and by the strength of their winningpersonalities rouse all the sleeping good in others. Such a friend wasMabel, and Aldred, despite her false position, could not fail to beinfluenced by daily living with a character so much sweeter and moreself-controlled than her own. Though she was still content to takecredit that was not her due, she was gradually altering her standard,and beginning slowly but surely to realize that life consists of farmore than the gratification of the moment, and that righteousness is ahigher goal than pleasure.
One morning, when the girls were sitting chatting round the sundial ateleven o'clock recreation, they noticed the telegraph boy fromChetbourne ride up on his bicycle and deliver a message at the door.
"No alarm for any of us, I hope!" said Phoebe. "It's rather silly, butI always feel a little scared when I see one of those yellow envelopes,and wonder if anything has happened at home."
"And yet people send telegrams about everything," said Myfanwy."Probably this is only to offer Miss Drummond seats at a concert, or totell her somebody's coming to visit the school."
"Oh, I dare say! But I get nervous, all the same; telegrams so oftenmean bad news."
Phoebe's apprehensions were justified in this case, though not on herown account. When morning school was over,
the prefects reported thatMiss Drummond had been suddenly called away.
"She has a mother living somewhere in the North, who is most seriouslyill, and is scarcely expected to recover," explained Freda Martin. "Shesent for a carriage at once, and started off to catch the 1.13 train atChetbourne. I hope she'll arrive in time. She was most fearfully upsetand distressed, and couldn't make any arrangements; she only said MissForster was to take her classes, and she would come back as soon as shecould."
This unexpected event naturally caused great commotion at the Grange.Miss Drummond had never before been absent during term time, and, thoughthe other mistresses did their best in the circumstances, all seemedrather helpless without her. The principal taught the Sixth Formherself, and also took science classes throughout the school, so it wasdifficult to arrange to supply her place, it being impossible to engageanother teacher, as had been done during Miss Bardsley's absence. Bycombining some of the classes, and omitting the science, Miss Forstermanaged to arrange fairly well; but as she had not been definitelyplaced in command over the entire establishment, she did not like tousurp too much authority on her own account. No one, therefore, seemedactually at the head of affairs, or really responsible; and there was ageneral feeling of disorganization and slackness.
"It's horrid without Miss Drummond!" said Mabel. "Nobody seems to knowanything, or to be able to do anything while she's away. Even themedicine cupboard is locked up."
"That's no loss, I'm sure!" returned Aldred.
"Well, as it happens, it is. I've such a splitting headache, I was goingto beg for sal volatile."
"Perhaps Miss Forster may have some."
"I asked her, but she hadn't; and then Mademoiselle came fussing along,wanting to know what was the matter. When I told her I had a headache,she declared it might be the beginning of something infectious, and saidthat I must sleep in the hospital to-night, and she would examine meto-morrow morning, to see whether a rash had come out. 'Ve cannot be toocareful vile Mees Drummond is avay!' she said."
"But you're not really going?"
"I shall have to. I'd have asked Miss Forster to interfere, but she'dhurried away by that time. I've come to collect my night things now."
"What a ridiculous swindle! Can't I go too?"
"No; remember, it's a case of isolation!" said Mabel, smiling.
"But you'll be afraid to sleep there all alone."
"Oh, no, I shan't! Mademoiselle offered to send Hunter--she's generallytold off for hospital duty--but I said I'd rather not have her. I'm nota scrap ill; it's only my head."
"And Mademoiselle's idiotic nonsense! I never heard of such a sillynotion as to pack you off there! She's absolutely mad!"
"Well, it can't be helped. There's no one to appeal to. Mademoiselle isas much in authority, I suppose, as Miss Forster, or Miss Bardsley, oranybody else."
"The school seems lost without Miss Drummond."
Feeling decidedly a martyr, Mabel, taking the various possessions sheneeded for the night, marched upstairs to the hospital.
"If it's anything catchable I'll catch it too!" Aldred called after her."You're not to be ill up there without me! You may choose measles, orscarlatina, or anything you like; I'm quite agreeable, so long as I canhave a share in it!"
"It's for Mademoiselle to decide the complaint to-morrow!" laughedMabel, already half-way down the passage. "I don't mind what it is, solong as she doesn't declare it's suppressed smallpox, and have mere-vaccinated as a precaution. Good night!"
Aldred felt injured and aggrieved at her room-mate's banishment. It wasreally very tiresome and unnecessary of Mademoiselle to have insistedupon it.
"She's a Jack-in-office!" thought Aldred. "If she were head of theschool, I should ask to be taken away. How particularly slow and stupidit is without Mabel! She's forgotten her bedroom slippers, by the by. Iwonder if I dare take them up to her? On the whole, I think I'd betternot; I suppose she'll manage without them."
It was a warm evening, and light until very late. Aldred undressedleisurely, and took a last delicious sniff at the roses that framed herwindow before she jumped into bed. She was tired, and dropped asleepalmost immediately, falling into a confused dream, in which Mabel andMademoiselle and measles were hopelessly mixed. The doctor had come tosee Mabel, and had prescribed a huge bottle of nasty medicine, labelled"Two quarts to be taken every two hours". He was coming again, and wasring-ring-ringing at the front-door bell. Why did not one of theservants go to the door? And why was Mademoiselle sounding the gong? Itwas not dinner-time yet. Would nobody stop her? It would make Mabel'sheadache worse. In her dream, Aldred rushed downstairs, and tried tohold Mademoiselle's arm; but the clanging grew louder and louder, andwith a start she awoke and sat up in her bed, half-awake.
The noise was actual fact. Somebody downstairs was hammering the gong,with frantic, jarring strokes; while the big bell that rang for classeswas clanging lustily. There was a curious smell in the air, verydifferent from the scent of the roses outside; and there was also aruddy light, surely neither that of the moon nor of the rising sun.Before Aldred had time to do more than rub her eyes, hurried footstepsresounded along the passage, her door was flung open, and a voice cried:"Fire! Come at once!"
The girls at Birkwood had been trained in fire drill, and Aldred knewimmediately what she must do. Her heart was beating quickly, and herhands were trembling, but she flung on her dressing-gown, slipped herfeet into her slippers, seized a pocket-handkerchief and dipped it inthe bedroom jug (all the work of three seconds), and dashed withoutfurther delay down the stairs.
The landing and hall were filled with dense clouds of choking smoke. Toget to the front door was like passing through the mouth of a cannon,and Aldred felt almost suffocated before she reached the fresh air. Inthe garden several agitated teachers were trying to review an even morepanic-stricken crowd of girls and servants. Mademoiselle was sobbinghysterically, and though all the teachers were striving each to numberher own flock, they kept getting in one another's way, and missing countand having to begin again. Nobody seemed responsible, or in command. Thegardener rushed about distractedly with buckets of water, assuringeveryone that he had sent for the fire brigade from Chetbourne. Theservants shrieked and wailed, and neighbours who came running fromvarious farms and cottages on the downs only added to the general noiseand confusion.
From one of the windows of the upper story flames were bursting,throwing a red glare over the garden. By this livid light Aldred pushedher way among the excited, jostling girls, scanning each face, andasking one constantly reiterated question: "Where's Mabel?"
Nobody knew. Nobody seemed to have noticed, in the general confusion,that she was not with them.
"Where's Mabel?" Aldred's voice was frantic with alarm.
"Isn't she with you?" asked Miss Bardsley wildly. "I opened your doorand called you both. Oh, girls, if you would only keep together, I couldtell if you were all here!"
"She was sleeping in the hospital!" cried Aldred, disregarding theteacher's request, and tearing away to interrogate Mademoiselle--a vainerrand, for the unfortunate French governess had fallen in a dead faintupon the grass.
Aldred grasped the fact only too speedily that there was but oneterrible answer to her question. _Mabel was in the burning house, fornobody had gone to warn her!_ Without a moment's hesitation, she rushedback to the front door. There was no alternative; the emergency wasall-compelling. Mabel was in imminent and pressing danger; no onerealized it, or had even missed her, and there was no time to appeal toMiss Forster or Miss Bardsley. She, Aldred, alone and on her ownresponsibility, must save her friend. There was not a second to be lost;already it might be too late, for the blaze was fast making headway.From the open door clouds of smoke belched forth as if from a furnace,and Aldred was driven back with blinded eyes choking and gasping forbreath. It was her own fault. How stupid she was to forget, in herexcitement, what she had learnt at the fire-drill practice! Her drippingpocket-handkerchief was still clasped, almost unconsciously, in herhand; she t
ied it rapidly over her nose and mouth, then, dropping on toher hands and knees, she began to crawl along the hall in the directionof the staircase. The difference was marvellous. Down on the ground theair was comparatively fresh and clear--she could see the bottom of theumbrella stand and a pair of Miss Drummond's goloshes quite plainly;while only a foot higher the atmosphere was dense and impenetrable. Thewet handkerchief also made breathing easier, and though her eyes weresmarting and the heat was very great, she found it quite possible to getalong. With half-closed eyelids, and her mouth well to the floor, shecrept up the stairs; each one seemed a victory gained, and a step nearerto the accomplishment of her purpose. Oh, how many there were, and howinterminable was the passage at the top! The heat grew more intense, anda roaring, crackling sound warned her that she was reaching the westwing, where the flames were raging worst and had burst through thewindows.
The hospital was on the top story, so there was another staircase to bemounted. Dared she do it? Every fresh step cut off her retreat, and putanother bar between herself and safety. Yet Mabel was there, solitary,unaided, in the midst of awful peril. No, she could not abandon her,come what might! She would face death with her friend, rather than leaveher to perish alone.
She never remembered quite how she dragged herself along; her nerveswere strung to the highest pitch, her brain felt bursting. The room shewas in search of was over the kitchen, where the fire had originallybroken out. Fortunately, it was a little clearer there, and Aldred wasable to stand up; and by groping her way along the walls, she found thehandle and flung open the door of the hospital.
"Mabel! Mabel!" she cried vehemently.
There was no reply. The room was filled with smoke, but the glareoutside made just enough light to distinguish objects.
"Mabel! Are you there? Mabel!"
Aldred was in an agony of apprehension. There were several beds in thehospital, and she ran from one to the other, feeling in them with eagerhands. They were empty. Had she, after all, come on a vain quest? Mabelmust have heard the alarm bell, and have escaped and joined the othersin the garden! Aldred's heart almost stopped beating, as for a momentthe horror of the situation overcame her. Her search was quixotic,fruitless--she had risked her life for nothing! She moved instinctivelyto clutch a bedpost to steady herself, and as she did so her foottouched something soft. With a cry she dropped upon her knees. Mabel waslying on the floor just by the bedside, where she must have fallen,overpowered by the smoke, in an effort to make her way to the door.
With frantic hands Aldred dragged her friend across the room, and bysheer effort of will hoisted her up, so that her head might reach theopen window. It was a task far beyond her ordinary powers, but in suchmoments a strength not our own is often given to us. The fresh air soonrestored consciousness, and Mabel, to Aldred's intense relief, openedher eyes.
"What is it? Where am I?" she asked confusedly.
"The house is on fire, dear, and I don't know how we are to saveourselves. Stay where you are, and go on getting the air; I'm going tosee if we can manage to get back down the passage."
Directly Aldred opened the door she realized that escape in that quarterwas impossible. A roaring sound and a glare at the end of the landingtold her only too plainly that the staircase had broken into flames.She shut the door again hurriedly, and, returning to the window, shoutedwith all her might. Would anybody hear, and if so, could they help? TheFire Brigade had not yet arrived from Chetbourne, and it was unlikelythat there would be any ladder about the place long enough to reach tothe top story of the house.
"Help! Help! Hallo!" Her voice sounded so thin and weak, compared withthe crackling of the flames, she feared it would not carry far enough.Mabel, still in a half-dazed state, clung to her wildly, trembling andshivering with terror.
Would no one ever come? They were all watching the front of the house,and had completely forgotten the back.
At last! There was a shout from below, and a sudden rushing and noise,as the ever-increasing crowd poured round the corner.
"Fetch a ladder!"
"It's too short!"
"Tie two together!"
"There aren't two!"
"Tell them to jump!"
"No! No! They'd break their necks!"
"Someone go in and fetch 'em!"
"Impossible! The stairs are ablaze!"
"Does anyone hear the engine coming?"
"Not a sign of it yet."
"Then God help them, for we can't!"
The room was getting hotter and hotter. Aldred could hear the roar ofthe flames in the passage now. How long would the door keep them out? Itwas plain that, unless both girls were to perish, something must bedone, and that instantly. Disengaging Mabel's clinging arms, Aldredpropped her against the window-sill, then groped her way through thedense smoke across the room. The six beds in the hospital were alwayskept made up, perfectly ready for use. Aldred pulled off the twelvesheets one after the other, and carried them in a bundle back to thewindow, where, with trembling hands, she knotted them firmly together,just as Miss Drummond had shown in the fire-drill practice. She draggedforward the nearest bedstead till its foot almost touched the sill, and,fastening her improvised rope round a post, pulled it hard, to make surethat the knot was safe.
"Mabel," she said loudly, "we must try the sheet dodge. I'm going tolower you down. Let me tie this end round your waist, quick!"
"No! No!" cried Mabel, who had somewhat recovered her scattered senses."I'll lower you! I'm the bigger, and stronger than you. Here, give methe end!"
"I shan't. You must go! Mabel, I insist! This is no time for arguing. Mymind's made up, and I shall make you!"
Aldred was fastening the knot as she spoke, with quick fingers. Shewould take no denial. Had she not come to rescue her friend, and was sheto be so easily gainsaid?
"But, Aldred! Aldred! If I go first, who will lower you afterwards?"
"I'll slip down somehow."
"You know you can't! It's saving me at your own cost!"
The heat was terrific, and the roar on the landing had increasedsevenfold. With a crash the door fell in, and a sheet of flame burstlike a furious living thing into the room.
Aldred turned almost fiercely upon Mabel.
"For your father's and mother's sake! Think of them!"
Her nature was the stronger and the more masterful of the two. She hadalways been the dominating influence, and now, in this great and awfulcrisis, her will prevailed. Without further ado she pushed Mabel overthe window-sill, and, clinging with all her might to the sheet rope, lether down as carefully and gently as she could. It was a great effort toregulate the descent of such a heavy dangling weight, but she feared tolet her burden go with a run, lest Mabel's head should be dashed againstthe wall of the house. Oh, what a fearful, dizzy depth it seemed fromthe upper story to the ground! The crowd below stood stock-still,pressing tightly together shoulder to shoulder, and gazing upward,voiceless and almost breathless with suspense. Would Aldred's frailstrength accomplish the task? The fire within had gained a grip of theroom, and shone behind her head like a halo. Still she did not flinch orfalter; she kept her nerve, and paid out her rope piece by piece,manoeuvring the knots over the window-sill, and remembering everynecessary precaution.
The flames rolled nearer. Strangely enough, now that death was almost atarm's length, she felt perfectly cool and collected, and far calmer thanshe had done when first she had entered the room. Every thought andeffort of her being was concentrated on Mabel's escape; after that, shecared nothing. Only a few yards now! She set her teeth, and hung ongrimly. She was nearly spent, but she just managed to control the lastquick rush as the rope's burden fell at length into the dozen eagerhands upraised to help. The crowd had waited in silence, but now a roarrose up from below of deafening cheers and loud shouts of encouragement.
"Come down yourself!"
"Try hand over hand down the sheets!"
"Don't waste a minute!"
"Pluck will win yet!"
"We're
all waiting to catch you, if you fall!"
But Aldred, standing exhausted and panting by the window, had nostrength left for further effort. The heat of the flames and the smokewere overpowering. She had kept up by sheer effort of will until herfriend was in safety; now the world seemed suddenly to be turning roundher. There was a rushing in her ears, and her eyes grew dim. Through athick haze she saw the crowd beckoning to her, and one man, more daringthan the rest, begin to scale the rope, in the hope of rescuing her. Hecould never reach her in time, she thought vaguely; and she was toofaint and giddy to let herself down hand over hand, as they were callingto her to do. She almost wished they would leave her alone; her work wasdone, Mabel was safe, and that was all she cared.
Why was the crowd suddenly turning round and hurrahing? The people werebreaking up in wild confusion, and parting so as to leave a wide path intheir midst. There were sounds of galloping horses and grinding wheels.What did it all mean? Aldred's fading senses just grasped a vision ofmen in bright helmets, of a great ladder that seemed to advance fasterthan the wind, and of a tongue of flame that shot out from the roombehind and enveloped her, and the fact that a strong arm at the sameinstant clutched her and snatched her away; then she wentdown--down--down, and everything sank into blank nothingness.
But the crowd below cried: "Thank God! The Fire Brigade came in the nickof time!"
CHAPTER XVII
Loss and Gain
Owing to the strenuous efforts of the Brigade, the fire at the Grangewas at last got under control; and though the main staircase was gone,and the west wing a wreck, all the eastern portion of the building wassaved.
The new day showed a scene of great desolation--blackened walls, andstaring, empty windows; garden and lawn trodden into a waste bytrampling feet, and littered with broken glass, pieces of timber, andthe remains of charred furniture; the greenhouse smashed to atoms; thesundial knocked over; and both pergola and rosery in ruins. Thelecture-hall, one classroom, and the bedrooms that lay over them wereuntouched--a most fortunate circumstance, as they provided a shelter forthe girls, who were all clad in dressing-gowns and bedroom slippers. Assoon as they were assured of the safety of that part of the house, theteachers marshalled the school there, access being easily gained througha French window. This wing, a later addition to the Grange, possessed aseparate staircase, and had only communicated with the main building bymeans of a long passage and a door. At present, therefore, it proved ageneral asylum of refuge. The firemen collected and carried round anyarticles they could find which would be of use, and, since both larderand pantry had escaped, provisions, cups and saucers, and kettles soonmade their appearance.
The classroom was turned into a temporary kitchen, and the servants,with the aid of the gardener, set to work to prepare breakfast. Thegirls who occupied the bedrooms over the lecture-hall lent variousgarments to the rest, so that by eight o'clock everybody was at leastclothed and fed, though very much upset and agitated by the terribleoccurrence.
A telegram was dispatched at the earliest opportunity to Miss Drummond,but it would not be possible for her to arrive until the evening. In themeantime, what was to become of her pupils? They could manage for theday, but it would be impossible to put the whole thirty-nine into threebedrooms. The Rector of the parish came to the rescue by at onceassuming the direction of affairs, and making arrangements to send allhome by the morning trains, himself advancing the money for theirrailway tickets. Most of the girls were travelling as far as London,where Miss Forster and the prefects undertook to see each safely startedfor her destination. In the circumstances, it seemed much the wisestthing to be done; the girls could not recommence lessons that term, andthe sooner they were out of the way the better.
And where was Aldred? Speeding by express like the others, to tell herastonishing tale at home? No: in the midst of all the general excitementand confusion, she lay utterly unconscious of her surroundings. She hadbeen carried into the bedroom over the classroom, and the Rector hadsent for the nearest medical man, and for a nurse from the infirmary atChetbourne.
"Can we save her, Doctor?" asked Miss Bardsley, who had applied firstaid, and done everything in her power, considering the limited means ather command.
"She is badly scorched, and is suffering from a severe shock to thesystem," replied the doctor gravely. "Still, with careful nursing Ithink we may pull her through. You have telegraphed for her people? Thatis well. Absolute quiet is essential. I am thankful the other girls areleaving this morning."
"It is a blessing her good looks are spared," said the nurse, bendingdown to admire the pretty, pale face, mercifully unscathed by the fire."I have not needed even to cut her beautiful hair."
"By some strange chance, or rather Providence, the tongue of flame thatshot out so suddenly only caught her below the waist," explained MissBardsley. "The fireman had just seized her in his arms, and her head wasthrown forward over his shoulder. One second later, she might have beenburnt to death."
"How did the fire originate?" asked the doctor.
"Through carelessness in the kitchen, I am afraid; but it is difficultto tell until we can make proper enquiries. We are leaving everythingfor Miss Drummond to investigate herself."
"And this child? How was it she was left in the burning house?"
"She went to warn Mabel Farrington, a companion, who, without myknowledge, had been sleeping in the hospital, a room on the top story.In the darkness and confusion it was almost impossible to count all thegirls. I had not specially missed Mabel. I had already been to herbedroom to rouse her with the others, and had not realized that she wasnot there. The teacher who had ordered her removal to the hospitalfainted when the fire broke out, so of course could offer noinformation. Only Aldred knew of Mabel's whereabouts, and she, withoutconsulting anybody, must have made her way up the tottering staircase tosave her friend. The first knowledge I had of the matter was when Iheard the crowd shout, and saw the two girls screaming at the window. Wewere frantic, but powerless to help. There was no long ladder on thepremises, and all we could do was to wait for the arrival of theBrigade. Aldred made a rope of sheets and let Mabel down in safety; butthe flames had taken such a hold of the room that there was no time forher to follow."
"Then she has saved a life!" said the doctor. "She'll be a littleheroine among you, when she gets well."
"Ah, yes--when she gets well!" replied Miss Bardsley anxiously.
Poor Miss Drummond, called from her mother's sick-room, arrived thatevening to find the Grange half-wrecked. Fortunately, she was wellinsured, and would suffer no pecuniary loss, but apart from that it wasquite a sufficient catastrophe. Her school could not reassemble untilthe house was repaired and redecorated; and many treasures had beendestroyed which it would be impossible to replace.
"You must try to look on the bright side of things," said the Rector,who was present to receive her. "The damage might have been much worse.Mr. Southey, your architect, came this morning to make an inspection,and told me he would be able to have all in order for you to re-open inSeptember. And the garden will soon recover itself; you will beastonished how quickly everything will grow up again. As for the littlepatient, she is much better this evening, and the nurse considers herout of serious danger. When we think of the tragedy that might haveoccurred, we must feel only too grateful that all your flock escapedwith their lives."
"It is indeed a cause for thankfulness," said Miss Drummond. "I cannottell you what anxiety I have suffered during to-day's journey. Thetelegram only gave the briefest message, and did not assure me ofeveryone's safety. I was left to imagine the worst, and the long hoursin the train were agony. Fortunately, I left my mother on the high roadto recovery, so that is another subject for gratitude. I shall be ableto remain here now without feeling that my presence is absolutelynecessary in the North. How very good it was of you to pack off thewhole school so promptly this morning!"
"It was really an easier task than I anticipated. They all seemedaccustomed to travelling. One of the girls, ho
wever, utterly declined todepart with the others, and I was obliged to permit her to remain. Ithought you could reason with her better than I."
It was Mabel who had refused point-blank to leave the Grange, and who,now that Miss Drummond had returned, begged most earnestly not to besent away.
"Let me stay near Aldred!" she implored. "I won't be the least trouble.I'll sleep anywhere--on a sofa, or a camp bed, or anything. No, I knowI shouldn't be allowed in her room, but I should hear the doctor'sreport every morning and evening, and know how she was. And perhaps Imight be of some help. I could carry trays upstairs, and wait on thenurse. I'd do anything in the world for Aldred! I like to feel I'm inthe same house with her, and if I have to go it will simply break myheart. I'll write to Mother to-night, and if she agrees will you say'Yes'?"
Neither Lady Muriel nor Miss Drummond could resist Mabel's piteousappeal. She was always rather a privileged pupil at the Grange, so forthis once she was accorded her own way. The doctor grew accustomed tofind her wistful face waiting in the passage at the conclusion of hisvisits, and liked to see the look of relief spread over it as he gaveher a hopeful bulletin in passing. He would not consent to any visits,for he feared Mabel's presence would recall Aldred's memory of the fire,and he particularly wished to keep her from all excitement.
"Her friend is the last person whom it would be advisable to allow inthe room," he declared. "She must not even peep round the door withoutmy express permission."
It was hard for Mabel to be thus excluded, but she was sensible enoughto understand the reason for her banishment, and did not attempt totransgress the doctor's orders.
So far Aldred, though she had quite regained consciousness, had nevermade the least reference to that terrible night. She recognized thosearound her bed--Miss Drummond, Aunt Bertha, who had come overimmediately, and remained in close attendance on her; her father, whopaid flying visits to see her; the nurse, and the doctor--but she madeno enquiries for others, and did not even ask if Mabel were safe. Herburns were after all not very severe, and she seemed to be sufferingmore from general collapse. As day after day passed, and she stillcontinued in the same state, her case began to puzzle the doctor.
"She ought to be making more improvement," he said. "She is no betternow than she was a week ago. Her mental attitude does not satisfy me atall. Please watch her closely, and see if you can ascertain the reasonfor this set-back."
"I will do so," answered the nurse, who had had great experience withconvalescent patients, and knew how often an apparently trifling causecan hinder recovery.
The result of her observation she communicated to Miss Drummond.
"I am certain the poor child has something on her mind," she declared."It is this that makes her so restless and uneasy. I've several timesfound her crying, though she evidently didn't want me to notice it. Shelies awake for hours during the night, and I'm sure it is not merely thepain of her burns that troubles her. Her eyes follow you round the roomwith the most pathetic gaze. I believe she's longing to confide in you,if she could only get you to herself, and that it would be the greatestcomfort to her."
"Then I will stay alone with her this evening, when her aunt has gone tobed," replied Miss Drummond. "If it is really as you say, that will giveher the opportunity she wants."
The nurse always went on duty at nine o'clock, at which hour MissLaurence retired to her own room. Miss Drummond had so far acted as anextra assistant to both, so she was able, without making her motive tooapparent, to say that she was taking the nurse's place for the night.She did not wish to excite Aldred unnecessarily, only to afford her achance of a private talk if she wished for it. She thought there was alook of gratitude in the dark eyes at this arrangement, but she couldnot be quite sure; so, having made her patient as comfortable aspossible, she shaded the lamp, and left her to go to sleep.
For a long while Aldred lay fairly still, though by occasional restlessmovements the head mistress knew that she was wideawake. A pitifullittle sigh at last brought Miss Drummond to her side.
"Can I do anything for you, dear? Are you in pain?"
"No, thank you--it isn't that."
"Something is worrying you, all the same?"
There was no reply.
"Is it anything you would like to tell me?"
"How did you guess?"
"Never mind how I guessed. Just remember that I'm your friend, and thatI'm anxious to give you all the help I can. Don't be afraid! Let me knowthe trouble, and perhaps between us we can manage to set it straight."
Miss Drummond had the rare quality of absolute tact and sympathy. Shesaid no more, only took her pupil's hot hand, and waited patiently forher to begin.
It was a great effort for Aldred to utter her confession, but when onceshe had made a start she poured out the whole story of her false careerat school from its very commencement, keeping nothing back, andmentioning even the affairs of the Chinese lanterns, Miss Webb's chalkedchair, and the feigned illness at Grassingford.
"I couldn't bear to meet Mabel again, after what happened at the fire,and allow her to go on thinking me so much better than I am," sheconcluded. "I'd like her to know all--yes, every single horrid thingthat I've done! She can never love me the same, but I'd rather make aclean breast of it, and lose her friendship, than feel so unutterablymean. Will you tell her, please? I haven't the courage to do it myself."
"To be sorry for our faults is the first step on the right road," saidMiss Drummond. "It is a sad story, Aldred, and I don't condone anything,though it is a little comfort that you have at least done the very deedfor which you took false credit at the beginning. Whether Mabel'sfriendship will stand the test or not, I cannot say; your plain and onlycourse is to acknowledge the deception, and leave it for her to decide,and to set to work yourself to redeem the past. Now, I can allow no moretalking. Remember, I am deputy nurse, and it is my business to see thatyou shut your eyes and go to sleep."
Aldred seemed so much calmer and easier next morning that the doctor wassurprised at the change.
"If she only continues to improve at this rate, we shall soon have herwell," he reported. "Keep her as cheerful as you can, and--yes--if sheis asking so particularly for her friend, it will be advisable not tothwart her."
Aldred's one feverish anxiety was to see Mabel, though she did not knowwhether she more longed for or dreaded the visit. The nurse, to whomMiss Drummond briefly confided an outline of the circumstances, decided,though she feared the effect of so much excitement, that it was betterto get the meeting over than to allow her patient to remain in a stateof such great suspense.
"I want Mabel with me alone," said Aldred, and she pleaded so hard thateven Aunt Bertha was judicious enough to consent.
Propped up on pillows, Aldred gazed with nervous eyes as her friendentered the room. Mabel had evidently been crying bitterly, and had notentirely regained her self-control as she came and stood beside the bed.
"Miss Drummond has told you?" queried Aldred eagerly.
"Yes, she has told me everything. I can't deny that it has been a mostterrible shock. I had believed in you and trusted you so utterly. Ithought you hadn't a single fault. But oh, Aldred! Miss Drummond hasbeen talking to me; she says we were both wrong, and that I was partlyto blame for expecting too much. She told me I had set up an idol, andit was right that it should be broken down; that no human being isfaultless, and that we must look for our example to the one perfectPattern, Who can never disappoint us. Shall we start quite afresh now,with Him for our ideal, and try to help each other?"
Aldred's face was buried in the pillow; she was sobbing too much toreply.
"I haven't thanked you yet for saving me," continued Mabel. "It was abraver thing by far even than what I supposed you had done, because yourisked so much more."
"I'd have given my life for you gladly!" gulped Aldred.
"I know, and I feel almost unworthy of such love."
"Will you kiss me, to show you can forget what's past?"
Mabel bent her head. I
t was a kiss of complete reconciliation andforgiveness, and Aldred, with a glad leap of her heart, felt that thefriendship that she had striven to build upon the shifting sand of afalse reputation was founded at last upon the rock of self-sacrifice andmutual endeavour.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
_By Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow_
Transcriber's Note:
Punctuation has been standardised.
The spelling of d'oyleys, caste and wideawake, and the alternative spelling for sundial/sun-dial have been retained as they appear in the original publication.
The oe ligature in Phoebe, manoeuvring and pharmacopoeia has been replaced with oe.
Changes have been made as follows:
Page 25 forming herself on the-prim pattern _changed to_ forming herself on the prim pattern
Page 39 The newpapers wanted to print her _changed to_ The newspapers wanted to print her
Page 49 "I" appears to have been missed in the printing process so helped her, too. remember exactly has been _changed to_ helped her, too. I remember exactly
Page 132 but we musn't light them _changed to_ but we mustn't light them
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