CHAPTER XV.--SCHOOL.
The girls at Chepstow House were quite excited at the advent of Audreyand Evelyn. They were nice girls, nearly all of them; they were ladies,too, of a good class; but they had not been at Chepstow House longwithout coming under the influence of what dominated the entireplace--that big house on the hill, with its castellated roof and itstower, its moat too, and its big, big gardens, its spacious park, andall its surroundings. It was a place to talk to their friends at homeabout, and to think of and wonder over when at school. The girls atChepstow House had often looked with envy at Audrey as she rode by onher pretty Arab pony. They talked of her to each other; they criticisedher appearance; they praised her actions. She was a sort of princess tothem. Then there appeared on the scene another little princess--a strangechild, without style, without manners, without any personal attractions;and this child, it was whispered, was the real heiress. By and by prettyAudrey would cease to live at Castle Wynford, and the little girl withthe extraordinary face would be monarch of all she surveyed. The girlscommented over this story amongst each other, as girls will; and whenthe younger Miss Henderson--Miss Lucy, as they called her--told them thatAudrey Wynford and her cousin Evelyn were coming as schoolgirls toChepstow House their excitement knew no bounds.
"They are coming here," said Miss Lucy, "and I trust that all you girlswho belong to the house will treat them as they ought to be treated."
"And how is that, Miss Lucy?" said Brenda Fox, the tallest and mostimportant girl in the school.
"You must treat them as ladies, but at the same time as absolutely yourequals in every respect," said Miss Lucy. "They are coming to schoolpartly to find their level; we must be kind to them, but there is to beno difference made between them and the rest of you. Now, Brenda, gowith the other girls into the Blue Parlor and attend to your preparationfor Signor Forre."
Brenda and her companions went away, and during the rest of the day,whenever they had a spare moment, the girls talked over Audrey andEvelyn.
The next morning the cousins arrived. They came in Audrey's prettygoverness-cart, and Audrey drove the fat pony herself. A groom took itback to the Castle, with orders to come for his young ladies at six inthe evening, for Lady Frances had arranged that the girls were to haveboth early dinner and tea at school.
They both entered the house, and even Audrey just for a moment feltslightly nervous. The elder Miss Henderson took them into her privatesitting-room, asked them a few questions, and then, desiring them tofollow her, went down a long passage which led into the largeschoolroom. Here the girls, about forty in number, were all assembled.Miss Henderson introduced the new pupils with a few brief words. Shethen went up to Miss Lucy and asked her, as soon as prayers were over,to question both Audrey and Evelyn with regard to their attainments, andto put them into suitable classes.
The Misses Wynford sat side by side during prayers, and immediatelyafterwards were taken into Miss Lucy's private sitting-room. Here a veryvigorous examination ensued, with the result that Audrey was promoted totake her place with the head girls, and Evelyn was conducted to theFourth Form. Her companions received her with smiling eyes and beaminglooks. She felt rather cross, however; and was even more so when theEnglish teacher, Miss Thompson, set her some work to do. Evelyn wasextremely backward with regard to her general education. But MissSinclair had such marvelous tact, that, while she instructed the littlegirl and gave her lessons which were calculated to bring out her bestabilities, she never let her feel her real ignorance. At school,however, all this state of things was reversed. Audrey, calm anddignified, took a high position in the school; and Evelyn was simply, inher own opinion, nowhere. A sulky expression clouded her face. Shethought of Jasper's words, and determined that no one should break herspirit.
"You will read over the reign of Edward I., and I will question youabout it when morning school is over," said Miss Thompson in a pleasanttone. "After recreation I will give you your lessons to prepare forto-morrow. Now, please attend to your book. You will be able to takeyour proper place in class to-morrow."
Miss Thompson as she spoke handed a History of England to the littlegirl. The History was dry, and the reign, in Evelyn's opinion, not worthreading. She glanced at it, then turned the book, open as it was, upsidedown on her desk, rested her elbows on it, and looked calmly around her.
"Take up your book, Miss Wynford, and read it," said Miss Thompson.
Evelyn smiled quietly.
"I know all about the reign," she said. "I need not read the history anymore."
The other girls smiled. Miss Thompson thought it best to take no notice.The work of the school proceeded; and at last, when recess came, theEnglish teacher called the little girl to her.
"Now I must question you," she said. "You say you know the reign ofEdward I. Let me hear what you do know. Stand in front of me, please;put your hands behind your back. So."
"I prefer to keep my hands where they are," said Evelyn.
"Do what I say. Stand upright. Now then!"
Miss Thompson began catechizing. Evelyn's crass ignorance instantlyappeared. She knew nothing whatever of that special period of Englishhistory; indeed, at that time her knowledge of any history waspractically _nil_.
"I am sorry you told me what was not true with regard to the reign ofEdward I.," said the governess. "In this school we are very strict andparticular. I will say nothing further on the matter to-day; but youwill stay here and read over the history during recess."
"What!" cried Evelyn, her face turning white. "Am I not to have myrecreation?"
"Recess only lasts for twenty minutes; you will have to do without youramusement in the playground this morning. To-morrow I hope you will havegot through your lessons well and be privileged to enjoy your pastimewith the other pupils."
"Do you know who I am?" began Evelyn.
"Yes--perfectly. You are little Evelyn Wynford. Now be a good girl,Evelyn, and attend to your work."
Miss Thompson left the room. Evelyn found herself alone. A wild furyconsumed her. She jumped up.
"Does she think for a single moment that I am going to obey her?"thought the naughty child. "Oh, if only Jasper were here! Oh Jasper! youwere right; they are trying to break me in, but they won't succeed."
A book which the governess had laid upon a table near attracted thelittle girl's attention. It was not an ordinary lesson-book, but a verybeautiful copy of Ruskin's _Sesame and Lilies_. Evelyn took up the book,opened it, and read the following words on the title-page:
"To dear Agnes, from her affectionate brother Walter. Christmas Day,1896."
Quick as thought the angry child tore out the title-page and two orthree other pages at the beginning, scattered them into little bits, andthen, going up to the fire which burned at one end of the long room,flung the scattered fragments into the blaze. She had no sooner done sothan a curious sense of dismay stole over her. She shut up the bookhastily, and being really alarmed, began to look over her Englishhistory. Miss Thompson came back just before recess was over, picked upEvelyn's book, asked her one or two questions, and gave her an approvingnod.
"That is better," she said. "You have done as much as I could expect inthe time. Now then, come here, please. These are your English lessonsfor to-morrow."
Evelyn walked quite meekly across the room. Miss Thompson set herseveral lessons in the ordinary English subjects.
"And now," she said, "you are to go to mademoiselle. She is waiting tofind out what French you know, and to give you your lesson forto-morrow."
The rest of the school hours passed quickly. Evelyn was given what sheconsidered a disgraceful amount of work to do; but a dull fear sat ather heart, and she felt a sense of regret at having torn the pages outof the volume of Ruskin. Immediately after morning school the girls wentfor a short walk, then dinner was announced, and after dinner there wasa brief period of freedom. Evelyn, Audrey, and the rest all foundthemselves walking in the grounds. Brenda Fox immediately went up toAudrey, and introduced her to a few of the
nicest girls in the headform, and they all began to pace slowly up and down. Evelyn stood justfor an instant forlorn; then she dashed into the midst of a circle oflittle girls who were playing noisily together.
"Stop!" she said. "Look at me, all of you."
The children stopped playing, and looked in wonder at Evelyn.
"I am Evelyn Wynford. Who is going to be my friend? I shall only take upwith the one I really like. I am not afraid of any of you. I have cometo school to find out if I like it; if I don't like it I shall not stay.You had best, all of you, know what sort I am. It was very mean andhorrid to put me into the Fourth Form with a number of ignorant littlebabies; but as I am there, I suppose I shall have to stay for a week orso."
"You were put into the Fourth Form," said little Sophie Jenner,"because, I suppose, you did not know enough to be put into the FifthForm."
"You are a cheeky little thing," said Evelyn, "and I am not going totrouble myself to reply to you.--Well, now, who is going to be my friend?I can tell you all numbers of stories; I have heaps of pocket-money, andI can bring chocolate-creams and ginger-pop and all sorts of good thingsto the school."
These last remarks were decidedly calculated to ensure Evelyn'spopularity. Two or three of the girls ran up to her, and she was soonmarching up and down the playground relating some of her grievances, andinforming them, one and all, of the high position which lay before her.
"You are all very much impressed with Audrey, I can see, but she isreally nobody," cried Eve. "By and by Wynford Castle will be mine, andwon't you like to say you knew me when I am mistress of the Castle--won'tyou just! I do not at all know that I shall stay long at school, but youhad better make it pleasant for me."
Some of the girls were much impressed, and a few of them swore eternalfealty to Evelyn. One or two began to flatter her, and on the whole thelittle girl considered that she had a fairly good time during play-hour.When she got back to her work she was relieved to see that Ruskin's_Sesame and Lilies_ no longer lay in its place on the small table whereMiss Thompson had left it.
"She will not open it, perhaps, for years," thought Evelyn. "I need notworry any more about that. And if she did like the book I am glad I toreit. Horrid, horrid thing!"
Lessons went on, and by and by Audrey and Evelyn's first day at schoolcame to an end. The governess-cart came to fetch them, and they droveoff under the admiring gaze of several of their fellow-pupils.
"Well, Evelyn, and how did you like school?" said Audrey when the twowere alone together.
"You could not expect me to like it very much," replied Evelyn. "I wasput into such a horrid low class. I am angry with Miss Thompson."
"Miss Thompson! That nice, intelligent girl?"
"Not much of a girl about her!" said Evelyn. "Why, she is quite old."
"Do you think so? She struck me as young, pretty, and very nice."
"It is all very well for you, Audrey; you are so tame. I really believeyou never think a bad thought of anybody."
"I try not to, of course," replied Audrey. "Do you imagine it is a finetrait in one's character to think bad thoughts of people?"
"Mothery always said that if you did not dislike people, you were madeof cotton-wool," replied Evelyn.
"Then you really do dislike people?"
"Oh! some I dislike awfully. Now, there is one at the Castle--but there!I won't say any more about _her_; and there is one at school whom Ihate. It is that horrid Thompson woman. And she had the cheek to call meEvelyn."
"Of course she calls you Evelyn; you are her pupil."
"Well, I think it is awful cheek, all the same. I hate her, and--oh,Audrey, such fun--such fun! I have revenged myself on her; I reallyhave."
"Oh Evelyn! don't get into mischief, I beseech of you."
"I sha'n't say any more, but I do believe that I have revenged myself.Oh, such fun--such fun!"
Evelyn laughed several times during the rest of her drive home, andarrived at the Castle in high spirits. The girls were to dine with LadyFrances and the Squire that evening, as they happened to be alone; andthe Squire was quite interested in the account which Evelyn gave him ofher class.
"The only reason why I could read the dull, dull life of Edward I.," shesaid, "is because Edward is your name, Uncle Ned, and because I love youso much."
"On the whole, my dear," said the Squire later on to his wife, "theschool experiment seems to work well. Little Evelyn was in high spiritsto-night."
"You think of no one but Evelyn!" said Lady Frances. "What aboutAudrey?"
"I am not afraid about Audrey; you have trained her, and she is bynature most amiable," said the Squire.
"I am glad you paid me a compliment, my dear," answered his wife."Audrey certainly does credit to my training. But I trust Miss Hendersonwill break that naughty girl in; she certainly needs it."
The next morning the girls went back to school; and Evelyn, who hadquite forgotten what she had done to the book, and who had providedherself secretly with a great packet of delicious sweetmeats which sheintended to distribute amongst her favorites, was still in high spirits.
School began, the girls went to their different classes, Evelyn stumbledbadly through her lessons, and at last the hour of recess came. Thegirls were all preparing to leave the schoolroom when Miss Thompsonasked them to wait a moment.
"Something most painful has occurred," she said, "and I trust whichevergirl has done the mischief will at once confess it."
Evelyn's face did not change color. A curious, numb feeling got roundher heart; then an obstinate spirit took possession of her.
"Not for worlds will I tell," she thought. "Of course Miss Thompson isalluding to the book."
Yes, Miss Thompson was. She held the beautifully bound copy of Ruskin inher hand, opened it where the title-page used to be, and with tears inher eyes looked at the girls.
"Some one has torn four pages out of the beginning of this book," shesaid. "I left it here by mistake yesterday. I took it up this morning tocontinue a lecture which I was preparing for the afternoon, and foundwhat terrible mischief had been done. I trust whoever has done this willat least have the honor to confess her wrong-doing."
Silence and expressions of intense dismay were seen on all the youngfaces.
"If it were my own book I should not mind so much," said the governess;"but it happens to belong to Miss Henderson, and was given to her by herfavorite brother, who died two months afterwards. I had some difficultyin getting her to allow me to use it for this lecture. Nothing canreplace to her the loss of the inscription written in her brother's ownhand. The only possible chance for the guilty person is to tell all atonce. But, oh! who could have been so cruel?"
Still the girls were silent, although tears had risen to many of theireyes. Miss Thompson could hear the words "Oh, what a shame!" coming frommore than one pair of lips.
She waited for an instant, and then said:
"I must put a question to each and all of you. I had hoped the guiltyperson would confess; but as it is, I am obliged to ask who has donethis mischief."
She then began to question one girl after another in the class. Therewere twelve in all in this special class, and each as her turn camereplied in the negative. Certainly she had not done the mischief;certainly she had not torn the book. Evelyn's turn came last. Shereplied quietly:
"I have not done it. I have not seen the book, and I have not torn outthe inscription."
No one had any reason to doubt her words; and Miss Thompson, lookingvery sorrowful, paused for a minute and then said:
"I have asked each of you, and you have all denied it. I must nowquestion every one else in the school. When I have done all that I can Ishall have to submit the matter to Miss Henderson, but I did not want togrieve her with the news of this terrible loss until I could at leastassure her that the girl who had done the mischief had repented."
Still there was silence, and Miss Thompson left the schoolroom. Themoment she did so the buzz of eager voices began, and during the recessthat follo
wed nothing was talked of in the Fourth Form but the losswhich poor Miss Henderson had sustained.
"Poor dear!" said Sophie Jenner; "and she did love her brother so much!His name was Walter; he was very handsome. He came once to the schoolwhen first it was started. My sister Rose was here then, and she saidhow kind he was, and how he asked for a holiday for the girls; and MissHenderson and Miss Lucy were quite wrapped up in him. Oh, who could havebeen so cruel?"
"I never heard of such a fuss about a trifle before," here came fromEvelyn's lips. "Why, it is only a book when all is said and done."
"Don't you understand?" said Sophie, looking at her in someastonishment. "It is not a common book; it is one given to MissHenderson by the brother she loved. He is dead now; he can never giveher any other book. That was the very last present he ever made her."
"Have some lollipops, and try to think of cheerful things," said Evelyn;but Sophie turned almost petulantly away.
"Do you know," Sophie said to her special friend, Cherry Wynne, "I don'tthink I like Evelyn. How funnily she spoke! I wonder, Cherry, if she hadanything to do with the book?"
"Of course not," answered Cherry. "She would not have dared to uttersuch a lie. Poor Miss Henderson! How sorry I am for her!"