CHAPTER XI
A Relapse
Towards the end of June there was a burst of very warm weather, sosultry and hot as to make games, or any form of violent exertion,almost an impossibility. Ruth Latimer fainted one day when she wasfielding, after which Miss Cavendish absolutely prohibited cricket inthe blazing sun, and set to work to devise other means of occupation.The girls themselves would have been ready enough to lounge about allthe afternoon in the grounds, chatting and doing nothing, but of thatthe head mistress did not approve; she considered it might tend toencourage habits of gossip and idling, and much preferred that everyoneshould have some definite employment. She temporarily altered the hoursof work, setting preparation from two until four, so that in theevening the school might be free to go out and enjoy the breeze thatoften rose towards sunset. In the circumstances, this really seemed abetter division of time, for during the early afternoon it was actuallycooler in the house, with sunblinds drawn to protect the windows, thanout-of-doors; and though there were many groans at having to learnlessons and write exercises immediately after dinner, on the whole thechange was regarded with favour. General public opinion would havedecided on swimming as the most suitable occupation in the state of thethermometer, but since the events related in the last chapter MissCavendish would not allow more than eight girls to go into the sea atonce.
"It is as many as Miss Young can undertake to be responsible for," shesaid. "Steamers are frequently passing between Westhaven and Dunscar,and they seem to take a course nearer the coast than formerly. The washfrom them is so exceedingly strong that it is wiser to run no risks."
Bathing, therefore, was conducted in small detachments, and thoughfresh relays went each day to the cove, it took so long to work throughthe whole school that nobody seemed to have the chance of a secondturn. Miss Cavendish, however, was never at a loss. Everyone with theslightest aptitude for drawing was provided with paper and pencil, andtaken out to sketch from nature. Those who possessed paint-boxes wereencouraged to work in colours, and the head mistress, who had herselfno little skill, gave many useful hints on the putting-in of skies andthe washing of middle distances. Janie Henderson, who was naturallyartistic, and had been accustomed to try her 'prentice hand at home,found herself at a decided advantage, and won more credit in a singleweek than she had hitherto gained in a whole year at Chessington.
"You've scored tremendously, Janie," said Honor, who revelled in herfriend's brief hour of triumph. "Vivian Holmes was most impressed byyour sketch of the cliffs. I heard her telling one of the Aldwythitesabout it. She said you were quite an artist. There, don't blush! I'mparticularly rejoiced, because Vivian is so superior, and always doeseverything so much better than everybody else, and yet her picturewasn't half as good as yours, and she knew it."
"Vivian paints rather well, though."
"Oh, yes, tolerably! But she hasn't your touch. She muddles her greens,and her trees get so treacly! She's not really clever, as you are."
Honor had not brought a paint-box to school, but Janie lent her a brushand a tube of sepia and a china palette that she had to spare, so thatshe was able to attempt studies in monochrome, if she could not trycolour.
"They're horrid daubs," she declared. "I don't pretend to have theleast atom of talent; I only drew these because Miss Cavendish said Imust. It's art under compulsion."
"Like the man who painted the pictures for some Moorish sultan," saidJanie. "I've forgotten the exact facts of the story, but I know he wastaken prisoner, and was marched with a long line of other wretchedcaptives to learn his fate. The sultan asked the first on the list:'Can you paint?' and when he answered 'No', ordered his head to bechopped off. Seven more were asked the same question, and given thesame doom. Then, when it came to an Englishman's turn, he said 'Yes',although he knew as much about drawing as the man in the moon. Thesultan spared his life, and ordered him to begin at once to decoratethe walls of the palace, so he was obliged to try. I believe thepictures are still there, and people go to look at them because they'reso extraordinary. I wish I could remember where the place is!"
"I should certainly like to see it," said Honor. "My productions wouldhave been unique. I think I should have represented battle scenes, andput smoke to hide everything, and then have said it was impressionistic!The sultan was as bad as the Queen in _Alice in Wonderland_, who cried,'Off with her head!'"
"They're absolute autocrats," said Janie. "I read a story of anotherwho had a pet donkey, and sent for a philosopher and commanded him toteach it to talk. The poor old sage expected his last hour had come,but luckily an idea occurred to him. He said he would do so, but itwould take seven years. He thought that in the meantime either thesultan might die, or the donkey might die, or he himself might die."
"And what happened?"
"Oh, I don't know! Like all good stories, it ends there."
"How disappointing! I want to hear the sequel. I suppose thephilosopher might have poisoned the donkey."
"Or, perhaps, somebody poisoned the sultan. It was an amiable littleway in those days of getting rid of an unpopular monarch. By the by, togo back to the subject of drawing, Miss Cavendish says there's to be anexhibition of all the sketches at the end of the term. They're to bepinned up round the gymnasium, and she'll ask an artist friend to comeand judge them, and mark them first, second, and third class. Perhapsshe may even set a special competition for a prize."
"You'll win, then, if she does. I'm certain Marjorie Parkes's paintingis no better, though the St. Bride's girls have been crowingtremendously over her."
"Don't pin your hopes to me! I'm a broken reed. If I want to do a thingparticularly nicely, I never can. All my most successful hits have beenmade when I wasn't trying."
"Yes, that's often the way. I always say my highest scores at cricketare really flukes. Here's Lettice coming to criticize. Don't look at mysketch, Lettice, it's abominable! You may admire Janie's as much as youlike."
"I think you've both been very quick," said Lettice. "I've only drawnin about half of mine yet. But I can generally manage to make a littlework go a long way! I came to tell you that it's time to pack up. And Ihave a piece of good news as well; it has been so much cooler to-daythat Miss Cavendish says we may be more enterprising to-morrow. I don'tknow what's arranged for the other houses, but St. Chad's is down for abotany ramble. Isn't it jolly? I shall like it much better thansketching. Miss Maitland is to take us, and we're to walk along thehills towards Latchfield. There's to be an archery tournament as well,and we may go to that instead, if we like, only we must put our namesdown to-night. The lists for both will be hung up in the hall. I knowwhich I shall choose."
"So do I," said Janie. "I've never hit the target yet, so it's not muchuse my entering against Blanche Marsden and Trissie Turner and SophyWilliams. A ramble sounds lovely. Honor, do come! I'm sure you're notkeen on bows and arrows!"
"I haven't tried, so I can't tell. A tournament doesn't seem exactlythe place, though, to make one's first wild shots, and I've no timeeven for an hour's practice. If it's to be botany versus archery, Ithink I'll put my valuable autograph on the side of science."
No one could be more capable of leading a botanical ramble than MissMaitland. She was a close student of nature, and not only loved plantsand flowers herself, but could make them interesting to other people.The beautiful collection of pressed specimens in the school museum wasmostly her work, and she was regarded as the best authority on thesubject in the College.
"I'm often so glad we're at St. Chad's," said Janie. "Miss Maitland isa thousand times nicer than any of the other house-mistresses. TheHilaryites are very proud of Miss Hulton because she writes for the_Scientific World_, the Aldwythites plume themselves on Miss Paterson'sdouble first, and the Bridites worship Miss Daubeny since she did thatsplendid climb in the Alps last summer; but Miss Maitland is so jollyall round, I like her by far the best. Of course, the School Housegirls say the very cream of Chessington is to be with Miss Cavendish,but I think a head mistress is pleasanter
at a distance, one alwaysfeels so much in awe of her."
"Yes; I'm afraid I should never feel quite at ease with MissCavendish," avowed Honor. "At St. Chad's we seem almost like a bigfamily."
The College stood in the midst of a pretty country, and there was nolack of walks in the neighbourhood. At exactly half-past four on thefollowing afternoon a party of sixteen Chaddites set off under the wingof Miss Maitland, and turned at once in the direction of the woods thatled to Latchfield, by a deliciously green and shady path. The warm sun,pouring between the thick leaves, made little radiant patches of goldenlight among the deep shadows under the trees; the whole air seemedalive with the hum of insects; and here and there rang out the sharptap of a woodpecker, or the melancholy "coo-coo-coo" of a wild pigeon.
"The birds are generally very silent in such sultry weather," said MissMaitland. "They sing at dawn and again at sunset, but you hear littleof them in the heat of the day. Those doves probably have a nest at thetop of that tall ash. I think I can see some sticks among the leaves onthat big bough."
Some pieces of honeysuckle twined round the low undergrowth of bushes,and tall foxgloves reared their purple spikes in every small, openglade. The girls gathered these as their first specimens.
"I wonder why they're called foxgloves?" said Lettice. "They've nothingto do with foxes."
"It's simply a corruption of 'good folks' gloves', meaning 'fairies'gloves'," said Miss Maitland. "People gave the plants much moreromantic names in olden days than modern scientists do. I confess Ilike 'Queen of the Meadows' better than _Spiraea Ulmaria_, and I think'poor man's weather-glass' a far better description of the scarletpimpernel than _Anagallis arvensis_. We shan't find many flowershere, among the trees; but I'm hoping we may come across some orchidswhen we get on to the moors."
They had been walking uphill all the time, and, as soon as they wereclear of the woods, found they had reached a high table-land, coveredwith pastures, through the midst of which flowed a stream, whose rushybanks were gay with purple loosestrife, Ragged Robin, and yellowspearwort. It was a famous place in which to botanize, and the girlswere allowed to disperse and hunt about for specimens, and came backevery now and then to show their finds to their teacher.
"Adeline Vaughan is the only one who knows much about the naturalorders, or the proper scientific terms," said Lettice. "It seems ratherfunny, because she's a Londoner, and doesn't belong to the country."
"Country people aren't always the best authorities on the subject,"said Miss Maitland. "I know some who go through life with deaf ears andblind eyes, and never hear or see what is all around them. The mainthing is to have enthusiasm, and then, it doesn't matter where yourhome is, you'll manage to enjoy nature, even if it is only atsecond-hand, from books."
"And there are always the holidays," said Adeline. "We went toSwitzerland last August, and I found twenty-seven different specimensjust in one walk."
"Before I came to St. Chad's," confessed Lettice, "I used to thinkdaisies were the flowers of grass, and not separate plants--I didindeed!"
"You certainly know better now," laughed Miss Maitland. "We can get somuch pleasure from things when we have learnt even a very little aboutthem. Every leaf or blade of grass becomes a marvel, if we begin toexamine its structure, and look at it through the microscope. There isnothing so wonderful as the book of nature, and it is always there,ready to entertain us when we wish to read it."
It was much cooler and breezier up on the hills, though even there theair had a sultry feeling, and a dull, heavy haze was creeping up fromthe sea.
"It looks like thunder," said Miss Maitland. "I should not be surprisedif we were to have a storm to-night. We had better turn towards homenow; but we'll go back by the cliffs above Sandihove, instead ofthrough the woods."
It was rather a difficult matter to get the girls along, so manyinteresting discoveries were made on the way--first a patch ofpink-fringed buck-bean, growing at the edge of the stream; then a clumpof butterfly orchis; and last, but not least, a quantity of thebeautiful "Grass of Parnassus", the delicate white blossoms of whichwere starring the boggy corner of a meadow. Miss Maitland was keptquite busy naming specimens, and everybody had a large bunch oftreasures to carry home. Janie Henderson and Adeline Vaughan, being thetwo chief enthusiasts of the party, walked on either side of theteacher, discussing matters botanical; and the others straggled inlittle groups behind. Honor found herself walking with Lettice Talbot,who was in a more than usually sprightly frame of mind, bantering andteasing, and turning everything into fun.
"I've learnt the names of so many new flowers," she declared, "that I'msure I shall get a bad mark for history to-morrow. My brain is small,and only capable of holding a certain amount. When fresh things are putin, out go the old ones, or else I mix them completely up. I shallprobably say that Oliver Cromwell was born at Marsh Cinquefoil, andthat Charles the First belonged to the family of Ranunculaceae. Paddy,you look rather glum! What's the matter? Don't you like botany? Or areyou longing for your native wilds in Kerry? Is that a surreptitioustear trickling down your cheek?"
"Surreptitious rubbish!" laughed Honor. "I wasn't thinking of anythingso romantic. I was looking at that little white village below us, andwondering if it can boast of possessing a shop."
"Then I can satisfy you on that point. It does--a very small shop,where they sell tea, and red herrings, and tinned provisions."
"Do they sell peppermint humbugs, or raspberry drops?"
"I dare say. I believe I remember some big bottles in the window."
"Then let us go and buy some. I haven't had any sweets since I came toSt. Chad's. I'm simply yearning for butter-scotch or chocolates!"
"Don't talk of them! So am I! There's only one slight drawback, andthat is, that we're not allowed!"
"Why not?"
"How can I say why? It's one of the rules: 'No girl to enter any shop,or make purchases, without special permission from her house-mistress'."
"Then run on and ask Miss Maitland if we may. She's in a particularlygood temper tonight, so she'll probably say 'yes'. I have some penniesin my pocket."
"All right. One can but try!" replied Lettice, and hurrying after theteacher, who was a little distance in front, she made her request.
She came back to Honor shaking her head gloomily.
"As I thought!" she announced. "Miss Maitland says 'No'. We're not topass the shop at all; we're to keep to the upper road that skirts abovethe village."
"How disgusting!" grumbled Honor. "It would only have taken a minutelonger. I'm sure there's no need to be in such a tremendous hurry.Lettice! Suppose we were to dash down this lane, we could go to thevillage and catch the others up at the crossroads. I can see the pathquite plainly from here. We couldn't possibly miss it, and we could runall the way."
"Whew! But how about breaking rules?"
"Bother rules! Miss Maitland shouldn't make so many, and then they'd bebetter kept. It is ridiculous if girls of our age mayn't walk fiveyards by themselves. We're not infants in arms!"
Lettice hesitated, glanced to see if anyone in front was looking, orwhether anybody was close behind, then yielded to the voice of thetemptress.
"It's horribly risky, but it would be a joke!" she said.
Honor was in one of her self-willed moods that evening, ready to dareor do anything. In her heart of hearts she was offended because Janieshould have walked on with Adeline and Miss Maitland, and left herbehind. She was of a jealous temperament, and had enjoyed keeping herfriend as her own private and particular property. It seemed quite anew state of affairs for Janie to be conversing in so animated a mannerwith anybody but herself, and the change was the reverse of pleasant.
"They're so interested in their talk, they've completely forgotten me!"she thought. "Very well; so much the better! They won't notice whatwe're doing. I'm not going to keep all these silly regulations. Onemight be in the nursery, to have to ask leave for such an absurd littlething as buying a pennyworth of sweets."
The two girl
s ran as fast as they could along the lane, Honor lookingreckless and rather stubborn, and Lettice decidedly guilty. It wascertainly a most deliberate act of disobedience, and one that, if theywere caught, would involve them in very disagreeable consequences. Thediscipline at Chessington was so perfect that it was seldom any pupilever dreamt of even questioning a mistress's orders; and Lettice, inher two years at St. Chad's, had never done such a naughty thingbefore. She felt almost frightened at her own daring, but very excited,and ready to follow Honor to the end of the adventure. They hurriedinto the little shop and made their purchases as quickly as possible,though the old woman who served them did not understand the meaning ofthe word "haste", and weighed out butterdrops and caramels withexasperating deliberation. The pair stood by almost dancing withimpatience, and when the packets were at last ready, snatched them upand rushed off with all speed.
"This way!" cried Honor, turning sharply to the left through an opengate. "I noticed the path particularly when we were on the hill above,and this is a short cut back to the road."
"It looks as if we were going into an orchard," objected Lettice.
"No; I'm sure I'm right. We shall get out through those apple trees atthe top of the bank."
The pathway, however, merely seemed to lead to a field, and ended at agate that was securely fastened by a piece of wire.
"I believe there's a stile across there," panted Honor, hot and out ofbreath with running. "Don't bother to undo that wire! We'll climb over.Here, take my hand!"
It was a vain hope. On closer examination the supposed stile proved tobe only part of a fence. The meadow was surrounded by a quickset hedge,so thick as to be an insuperable barrier.
"I must have taken the wrong turning, after all," said Honor blankly."What a fearful nuisance! We shall have to go back."
"It's all very well to say 'go back'!" exclaimed Lettice, turning andclutching at Honor's arm. "Look at what is in front of us!"
Honor stopped short as suddenly as her companion. Directly facing themwas a large bull: it had been feeding in the ditch when they enteredthe field, and thus they had not perceived its presence; but now it hadwalked across, and was standing exactly opposite the gate, completelycutting off their return to the footpath.
"Perhaps it mayn't be really savage," said Honor, with a slight quiverin her voice. "Shall we walk a little nearer, and see if it takes anynotice of us?"
"No! No! Don't!" implored Lettice. "I'm terrified even of cows, andthis is a monster. I'm sure it's dangerous--it has a ring in its nose!"
Honor looked round the pasture in dismay. She felt as if they werecaught in a trap. How were they to make their escape while that hugebeast stood between them and safety?
"We'd better go to the hedge again," she said. "Perhaps there may besome little hole where we can scramble through into the next field."
They beat a cautious retreat, not daring to run from fear that theymight attract the bull's attention. But the farmer had mended hisfences only too well; they did not find the smallest opening, search asthey would.
"What are we to do?" demanded Lettice distractedly. "We can't stay allnight in the field, yet if we call for help that creature will comerushing at us. Oh, Honor, look! It's seen us now!"
The bull had certainly become aware of their proximity. It was gazingat them in an uneasy fashion, sniffing the air, and pawing the groundrestlessly. It gave a roar like the growling of thunder, and began towalk slowly in their direction. With white faces, the girls backednearer the fence. Perhaps the heat, or the flies, or the unusualappearance of two strangers in its meadow irritated the animal, foragain it gave a loud, rumbling bellow, and, lowering its horns, madestraight for the intruders. Shrieking with fright, Honor and Letticeplunged into the hedge, scrambling anyhow through quickset andbrambles, scratching their hands and faces and rending their dresses inthe struggle, their one object being to escape from the horror behindthem. With torn blouses and fingers full of thorns they issued from theopposite side, and rolled down a bank before they were able to stopthemselves.
Honor sprang up promptly, and looked anxiously back. Fortunately, thebushes were far too thick and high for the bull to leap over.
"We're quite safe now!" she exclaimed, with a gasp of intense relief.
Lettice, sitting on the bank, indulged in a private little cry. She wasvery agitated and upset, and was trembling violently.
"I thought we were going to be gored to death," she quavered. "Oh! hasit gone away? It's dreadful to feel it's still so near us!"
"We'd better get on as fast as we can, and put another field between itand us," said Honor, pulling her companion to her feet. "There are somehurdles over in that corner that we can climb, and then we shall beabsolutely out of danger."
Honor's short cut proved a very long one before the two girls once morefound themselves on the high road. There was not a sign of the rest ofthe party to be seen, so they began to walk home as briskly as theirshaken nerves would allow. They had not gone far, however, before theymet Miss Maitland, who, with Janie Henderson and Maisie Talbot, hadcome back to look for them.
"You naughty girls! Where have you been?" the house-mistress exclaimed,in righteous wrath, as the dilapidated pair made a conscience-strickenapproach.
There was nothing for it but a full confession, and a very disagreeableten minutes followed for both. Miss Maitland knew how to maintaindiscipline, and would not overlook such a flagrant breach of orders.
"I had distinctly forbidden you to go," she said. "I am extremelydisappointed, for I thought I could have depended on your sense ofhonour to behave as well behind my back as if you had been walking infront. You may be most thankful to have escaped from a danger intowhich your own disobedience led you. I am sorry that our pleasantramble should have ended so unfortunately; it will be very difficultfor me to rely on either of you again."