CHAPTER X
A LIVELY WEEK
Dorothy woke very early the next morning, and turned to look at Nancy,to find that Nancy was looking straight at her. They both laughed.
"I was wondering if you were awake," Nancy said.
"I turned to look at you, Nancy, to see if your eyes were open," Dorothysaid. "I was going to ask you if you knew that Patricia and Arabellawere spending the week at Glenmore."
"I knew it, because when I told Patricia that we were to spend the weekat Vera's home, she looked, for just a second, as if she were provokedbecause she had not been invited, too. Then she hurried to say thatshe'd rather stay at Glenmore. That Arabella was to stay, too, and thatshe thought they would have a finer time than we."
"I wonder how they amused themselves," Dorothy said. "Glenmore would beso quiet with all the girls away."
"And Miss Fenler would have all the time to watch them, with none of theother pupils to care for," responded Nancy.
"Dorothy, Nancy! Come down so I can tell you something!" called Vera.
They heard Mrs. Vane say gently:
"Don't hurry them, Vera."
They were half-way down the stairs, however, and in the lower hall theysaw Elf, already up, because she had shared Vera's room, and Vera hadawakened her.
"Rob has told me! Rob has told me!" Vera said, dancing around Dorothyand Nancy. "Bob has told me, and I couldn't wait to tell you. He's goingto take us out into the country to our summer place, and there we'll goto a little country circus! Won't that be great? He came home just intime."
"That will be great fun," said Dorothy, "and after we've seen it, we cantalk it over, all the way back."
"Let's get ready now!" cried Vera.
"Why, Vera! It is only eight o'clock, and the circus begins at two, soBob said," Elf remarked, with the thought of calming Vera, but that wasnot so easily done.
"But it's a two-hour ride out there. Come up to my room, Elf, and helpme choose a dress," Vera replied, as she caught Elf by the hand andrushed up the stairway. How they laughed.
The morning sped on wings, and lunch was served early.
Just as they were leaving the house, the postman brought a letter forDorothy that had been remailed from Glenmore, and she took it with herto read, if there was an opportunity.
The ride out from the city over fine roads, and along beautiful avenues,was delightful, and the jolly little party reached "Vane Villa," earlierthan they had thought possible.
"Dorothy is aching to read her letter," Vera said, "so sit out here andread it, Dorothy dear," she continued, "and Rob will take Elf around tosee the kennels, and I'll tag along with them, for if I stay here, I'lltalk and talk so you won't know what is in your letter after all."
It was a kind thought, and a bit of tact that careless, flighty Veraoften showed.
Dorothy opened her letter, and commenced reading. After a few lines shelooked up, her eyes shining.
"Nancy, come here, and listen to this.
"They are already on the homeward trip, and the first of May Mother andAunt Charlotte will be at the Stone House, and we are to join them aweek later. Already Mother has written to Mrs. Marvin, and we are to beexcused for the last two weeks at Glenmore, and away we'll speed towardMerrivale and home."
"Oh, I am _so_ glad!" Nancy cried as she pressed Dorothy closer.
"And that isn't all," said Dorothy, "for hear this:
"I'm sure, dear, that you and Nancy will be delighted to know that, after a short stay at the Stone House, we shall go to Foam Ridge for the summer. You are both so fond of the shore, and the salt air."
Nancy's eyes were bright, and there was a droll twinkle in them.
Drawing closer, Nancy whispered a rare bit of news.
"Do you mean that?" Dorothy asked. "Are you _sure_?"
Nancy laughed and nodded.
DRAWING CLOSER, NANCY WHISPERED A RARE BIT OFNEWS.--_Page 186._]
"Perfectly sure," she said, "for only the day before vacation Betty toldme that her mother had just written to say that for a change they wereto spend the summer at the shore, and she said: 'Isn't "Foam Ridge" apretty name.' I didn't think to tell you, because I never dreamed thatwe would be going to the same place. I knew you'd be pleased, for youlike Betty Chase as well as I do."
"Oh, I am truly glad that we shall see Betty at the shore."
"Hello!" shouted Rob. "Anybody thinking of going to the circus!"
"Yes! Yes!" they cried, and ran to join Rob and Vera and Elf.
For a small circus it proved to be quite a show. There were trained dogsthat were really clever, there were trained elephants, but best of allthere were some handsome horses, whose riders did wonderful vaulting,tumbling, and riding, springing over hurdles, and through covered hoops.
When they left the tent the girls were delighted with the show, and Robsaid it made him think of his early ambition to be a circus performer.
"Why wouldn't you like to now?" asked Vera. "If I had ever wanted to,I'd want to now. I wouldn't change my mind. Well, I don't see why youall laugh!" she cried, looking in surprise from one to the other.
It was small wonder that they laughed. Vera rarely held one opinion formore than half a day, and had been known to have a half-dozen mindsinside of an hour!
* * * * *
It was a jolly party that took the train for Glenmore on Saturdaymorning. Rob had taken them to the station, bought a a box of candy foreach, and waited until the last moment to leave the train.
"If Miss Fenler has been watching Patricia this week she has been busy,"said Elf, when they had settled themselves for the long ride.
"She could easily watch Arabella, she is so slow," Dorothy said.
It happened that Mrs. Marvin had told Miss Fenler to closely watch bothgirls who had chosen to spend the week's vacation at the school.
School without lessons would be fine, they thought.
"I think Arabella Correyville, if she were here alone, would be verylittle care, but Patricia Levine is as full of queer notions as any girlcould be, and she plans the oddest mischief, and then drags slow littleArabella into it. Patricia never tries to help her out, and sheinvariably laughs if Arabella is caught.
"Arabella is so slow that she really doesn't know that Patricia rulesher, while Patricia rules, and laughs at Arabella for obeying.
"I promise to watch them, and I am likely to be more closely employedthan during a regular school session," Miss Fenler said in reply.
The first day passed without any especial happening, but the next daythe two set out for a walk, soon after breakfast, and did not returnuntil just before six.
"You were not here at one o'clock for lunch," Miss Fenler said. "Wherewere you?"
"I lunched with a friend," said Patricia, and Arabella drawled, "So didI."
"I did not know that you had friends here in town," Miss Fenler said, insurprise. They were, of course friends, and they had lunched together.What they had said had been true, but surely not honest.
Arabella stared stupidly at Miss Fenler, and Patricia imitated herstolid friend, too. It was easier to look dull than to answer morequestions.
On the third day Mrs. Marvin was absolutely amazed to glance toward herwindow just in time to see Patricia entering the house with a cat in herarms.
Questioned as to where she obtained the cat she said that a boy gave itto her, that she didn't know his name, or where he lived.
"Where do you expect to keep it?" asked Miss Fenler, who had been sentto meet her.
"I thought I could keep her in the little shed that's next to thekitchen, and then Judy could feed her," was the answer, given asconfidently as if the whole matter were settled.
Mrs. Marvin came out into the hall in time to hear what Patricia said.
"I think we can arrange to let puss remain if she is to be under Judy'scare," she said, "for only yesterday she told me that the mice arebecoming very bold, and they are too wise to go into the traps that shesets."
A sound of falling pans, flat-irons, and other kitchen utensils madethem start. Patricia clung to the cat, although it was making desperateefforts to get away.
"Ow-oo-o! O massy sakes! Yow-hoo!" shouted Judy as she burst the dooropen, and tore out into the hall.
"Dem mices'll kill me yit, I do b'liebe!" she yelled. "De windows, an'do's is shet, an' dey's prancin' on de kitchen' flo. Oh-oo!"
"Hush, Judy, hush!" Mrs. Marvin said. "We've a cat with us, and she isjust in time."
"I sho' won't go nigh dat kitchen wid no cat, nor nuffin' else," Judysaid, her eyes rolling in terror.
"Pooh!" cried Patricia, "I'd be glad to put her out there before I getany more scratches," and going to the end of the hall, she opened thedoor, and dropped puss on the floor.
In less time than it takes to tell it the cat had caught the two tinymice, that had been far more afraid of the big colored woman, than shehad been of them, and that is saying a great deal.
Patricia was never inclined to be in any way obliging. She was one ofthose unpleasant girls who find no joy in being kind or helpful.
Whatever she did, was done wholly for her own sake, and Judy eyed herwith suspicion when she saw how promptly she took the big cat to thekitchen.
Having given the cat over to the care of Judy, Patricia raced up thestairway to her room.
Judy rolled her eyes to look after her.
"Wha' fo' she done dat?" she asked of Miss Fenler, who stood near her.
"Wha' fo'? I axes. Dat ar young miss done bring dat cat home ter hab inher room fo' a pet. How happen her to gib it up ter Judy?"
"Nonsense, Judy. She knows, as all the pupils know, that it is a fixedrule at Glenmore, that no pupil can have a pet in her room."
"All de same, Miss Patrichy _meant_ dat cat ter be up in her room, longo' dat ar _Carbale_ gal."
Judy never could get Arabella's name correctly. Sometimes it was"Carbale," then it was "_Corbille_," but never once had she managed tocall it Correyville.
"Well, the cat is in the kitchen now, and you must look out for her.Keep her in for a few days until she feels that this is home, and thenshe will stay," Miss Fenler said, and returned to her account-books.
Thursday the two girls were in their room all day, reading, anddevouring a "treat" that Patricia had smuggled in. It was much the samemenu that Patricia usually chose, without a thought as to how thedifferent things would combine.
Who but Patricia Levine would ever think of eating ice-cream, and biggreen pickles at the same time?
The reason that she would have given for eating them at the same timewould have been that she liked both.
They ate the papers of ice-cream first before it could melt, and then,each took a huge green pickle, and a favorite book, and settled down toread.
When the lunch hour arrived, Patricia felt a bit "queer," whileArabella felt decidedly "queerer."
Neither cared to eat, but they dared not stay away from the dining-room,so both went down to the table, but they made only a pretense of eating.
Early in the afternoon both felt hungry. Patricia rushed to the closet,and returned with some chocolate eclaires, and a bottle of olives.
"I'll eat an eclaire," said Arabella, "but maybe I'd better not eatolives with it."
"Well, of all things!" cried Patricia. "Let me tell you what you don'tknow. Eclaires and olives just _b'long_ together. Don't act funny,Arabella."
Arabella, always afraid of being laughed at, ate not only one eclaire,but two, and a dozen olives, as well.
During the afternoon, they ate four crullers, two pickled limes, twoham sandwiches, and a pound of fudge.
Patricia could eat anything, and any amount of food without any illeffect, but Arabella was really sick when the hour for dinner arrived.
When Mrs. Marvin questioned Patricia, she said that Arabella had aheadache, and that she had said that she was not hungry.
Mrs. Marvin sent a waitress up to their room with some toast and tea forArabella. Arabella barely tasted it, and the girl returned to reportthat Miss Arabella looked sick, and really could not eat.
The next day found her much like her usual self, and Patricia proposed awalk.
"I'll go with you in a minute," said Arabella.
"What _are_ you waiting for?" snapped Patricia. She turned, and saw thatArabella was shaking some green pills from a bottle.
"It's hard work trying to mind two people who say different things,"complained Arabella. "Aunt Matilda told me to take these green pillsevery hour, wherever I happen to be, and Mrs. Marvin says I must not becontinually taking medicine in the class-room. How can I do both?"
"Don't take it at all!" cried Patricia.
"But my health--"
"Oh, bother your health," said Patricia. "I should think you'd be sickof hearing about it."
"I am," confessed Arabella.
"Then pitch every one of those bottles out, and see what happens! Nowonder the girls here call you the 'medicine-chest.' The doses you takemake me sick just to see them."
Arabella looked sulky, and when Patricia started for a walk, Arabellarefused to go. She was usually afraid of Patricia, and did as shedirected, but when she became sulky, not even Patricia could move her,try as she might.
Arabella was standing near the window when Patricia returned, and whatshe saw was anything but pleasing.
At the end of a leash was a small, shaggy, yellow dog, of no especialbreed!
Arabella detested dogs, and was desperately afraid of them as well.
She told herself that the dog would also be in Judy's care, and waswondering how he would get on with the cat, when she heard a loudwhisper outside the door.
"Let me in, quick!" it said, and when Arabella opened the door, Patriciastumbled over the dog who had run between her feet, and the two landedon the middle of the rug in a heap.
"There! Isn't he a beauty?" Patricia asked and without waiting for ananswer continued, "A man told me he was a valuable dog that _ought_ tobring fifty dollars, but because he was going to leave town, he let mehave him, for two dollars, and threw in the leash. Wasn't that abargain?"
"What are you going to do with him?" Arabella asked. "Oh, take him away!I don't want him sniffing at me!"
Patricia made an outrageous face, and tugged at the leash.
"Keep him in this room until I go home, and then take him with me," shesaid.
"I'll not sleep in this room if that dog is kept in here!" declaredArabella.
"Where will you sleep?" Patricia asked, coolly. "They wouldn't let yousleep out in the hall, and if I put the dog out there, 'The Fender'will take him."
By extreme care, Patricia managed not to do anything that would make himbark.