CHAPTER ELEVEN.
TOM'S EXAMINATION.
A day in bed renewed Rhoda's energy, and she took up her work withunabated fervour. The "lists" were, perhaps, less conspicuouslydisplayed than before, but were none the less in readiness when needed,and if Miss Everett disapproved, the Latin mistress was all praise andcongratulation.
"I certainly have a gift for languages, and with lessons during theholidays I shall soon be steaming ahead," Rhoda told herself proudly."I'll ask mother to let Mr Mason coach me. He is a splendid teacher,and if I have an hour a day I shall learn a lot. Won't the girls starewhen I come back, and go soaring up the class! I shouldn't wonder if Igot a remove. It will be impossible to work up to Thomasina and herset, but at any rate I'll be past the baby stages, and not disgracemyself in the examinations."
All the world seemed bounded by examinations at present. Thomasina andthe elder girls working steadily towards the goal of the "Matric";Kathleen and her friends dreaming night and day of the "Oxford"; whilenearer at hand loomed the school examinations, which ended the term.Rhoda was in a fever of anxiety to acquit herself well in the eyes ofher companions on this occasion, and could think, speak, and dream ofnothing else. Even her joy of getting her remove from the "Bantlings"into a higher team was swallowed up in the overwhelming interest, whileDorothy was filled at once with admiration and disgust at the monotonyof her conversation.
"I don't know, and I don't care!" she replied callously, when anxiouslyconsulted about a point in mathematics. "I've come out to play, and I'mnot going to rack my brains for you or anyone else. You are getting aregular bore, Rhoda! It's like walking about with `Magnall'sQuestions.' Let's talk about frolics, or holidays, or something nice,and not worry about stupid old lessons."
Well! Rhoda told herself, it was no wonder if Dorothy _were_ medium, ifthis was the way she regarded her studies. If she took no more interestthan this in the coming contest, what could she expect from the result?She would be sorry, poor dear, when she saw her name at the bottom ofthe list! There was no help to be expected from Dorothy; but Rhodastored up a few knotty questions, and took the first opportunity ofasking Tom for a solution. She had discovered that Tom liked nothingbetter than to be consulted by the younger girls, and had a tactful wayof asking help in return, which took away the sense of obligation.
"Oh, by-the-by," she would call to Rhoda, in her elegant fashion, "youare a bit of a German sausage, aren't you? Just read over that passagefor me. I've been puzzling over it for the whole of the evening," andthen would follow some blissful moments, when Rhoda would skim lightlyover the difficulty, and feel the eyes of the girls fixed admiringlyupon her.
In the present instance a wet Saturday afternoon afforded a goodopportunity for the desired questioning. The Hurst girls did not stayindoors for an ordinary drizzle, but this was a downpour of so hopelessa character that even the most enthusiastic athletes felt that thehouse-parlour was preferable to the soaking, wind-swept grounds. Theygathered together, stoked up the fire, and prepared to spend the twohours' leisure as fancy should dictate, some girls reading, some sewing,and some making themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit,and doing nothing at all with every appearance of enjoyment.
"If we had only some chestnuts," said one of the lazy ones, "how happywe might be! I have a wild craving for chestnuts. It came over mesuddenly just now, sitting looking at that fire."
"I think," said Irene Grey solemnly, "it's very sad, but I do think aschool like this makes one horribly greedy. You get so tired of thefood, and have such a longing for something that _isn't_ wholesome. Iassure you, my dears, there have been occasions when the centre tablehas had beef, while we have had mutton, when I could have wept--simplywept! I should like to order a meal regardless of everything but what Ilike--lobster mayonnaise, and salmon, and veal cutlets, and ice pudding,and strawberries and cream, and fizzy lemonade. That would be somethinglike a dinner--better than old joints and milk puddings!"
The girls groaned in sympathy, and Rhoda took advantage of theirabsorption to cross to Tom's desk and consult her quietly on the knottypoints. The solutions were remarkably simple--when you knew them!--andTom delivered herself solemnly on the subject.
"You don't think, my dear; you don't reflect. Your brain would help youout, but you don't give it a chance. It's what I am always saying tothis room--it's not cram you need, it's intelligence! Use your reason!Cultivate your faculties! Now, then, I'll tell you what I'll do!"--sheraised her voice suddenly, and swung round in her seat. "I'll give yougirls an examination myself. You need some practice before the realbusiness begins, and it will be just the thing for this wet afternoon.Get out your books and pencils and I'll dictate the questions. It's tobe a `General Intelligence' paper, and the examiner's instructions are--use your wits! They will not be the ordinary blunt, straightforwardquestions manufactured by the masculine mind, and intended mainly forthe coarse, masculine ability, but full of depth and subtlety, so thatthey will require careful consideration. If you go scribbling down youranswers before you have read the questions, you'll be sorry, that's all;but don't say you were not warned. Now, then, are you ready? ... Wewill begin our studies to-day, young ladies, with a problem incalculation!" She deepened her voice into such an accurate imitation ofthe Arithmetical Mistress as filled her listeners with delight."Attention to the board!--If a room were 20 feet long, 13 feet broad, 11feet high, and 17 feet square, how much Liberty wall-paper 27 incheswide would be required to paper it, allowing 5 feet square for thefireplace and seven by three for the door?"
The girls wrote down the question, not, however, without some murmurs ofprotest.
"If there is one kind of sum I hate more than another, it's these horridold wall-papers!" declared Bertha Stacey. "I shall never be a paper-hanger, so I don't see why I should worry my head. I don't call _this_General Intelligence."
"I expect we shall have a taste of most subjects; but really, Tom,really now--the room could not be 17 feet square if your othermeasurements were right!" argued Irene, who knew arithmetic to be herstrong point, and was not sorry to impress the fact on her companions."You have made a mistake."
She expected the examiner to be discomfited, but Tom fixed her with aglittering eye, and demanded if perchance she had _seen_ the room inquestion, since she was so positive.
"No, of course not, but then-- You know quite well--"
"Well, I _have_, so perhaps you will allow me to know better. Go on,young ladies, and the next one who dares to raise any objections getsten bad marks to begin her list. I must have perfect submission. Fiveminutes allowed for working!"
The time proved all too short for some of the workers, for the lessexpert they were the more elaborate became their calculations, untilpage after page was filled with straggling figures. Thomasina made around of inspection, frowning over each book in turn, protesting,scolding, marking the result with a big black cross. According to herverdict everyone was wrong, although five girls had arrived at the sameresult; and Irene obstinately disputed the decision.
"I _know_ it is right! Work it for yourself, and see. It's a simpleenough sum, and any one could tell--"
"That's apparently just what they can't do! I don't deny that you maybe correct in the broad, vulgar sense, but that is not enough for me. Iexpect you to grasp the inner meaning. Now the _real_ answer to thisquestion is that there can be no answer! To a perceptive mind it wouldbe impossible to reply without further information. It entirely dependson how the paper is cut out, and the amount of waste incurred inmatching the pattern!"
The girls shrieked aloud in mingled protest and delight. It was toobad; it was ripping, it was mean; it was killing; they all spoketogether and at the pitch of their voices, and alternately abused andapplauded until they were tired. The _denouement_ had taken them bysurprise, though in truth they knew their Head too well to have takenthe examination seriously. When Tom played schoolmistress there wasbound to be a joke in ambush, and they settle
d down to question numbertwo with minds alert for a trap.
"We will now, young ladies, take an excursion into the realms ofLiterature, and test your insight into human nature. I will ask you, ifyou please, to compare the respective characters of Alfred the Great andMiss Charlotte Yonge--`Jo March' and Joseph Chamberlain--four great,and, it will be obvious to all, strongly-defined personalities. I shallbe interested to hear your distinctions!"
It appeared, however, as if there would be little to interest, for mostof the girls stared blankly into space, as if powerless to tackle such asubject. Rhoda was one of the few exceptions, and scribbled unceasinglywith a complacent sense of being on her own ground until the limit oftime was reached. Tom had evidently noticed her diligence, for shecalled out a peremptory, "Rhoda, read aloud your answer!" which wasflattering, if at the same time slightly alarming.
"Ahem--er--er--in the historical character of Alfred the Great we findcombined the characteristics of courage and simplicity. He waged a longand unequal fight, and was equally inspired by failures or success.
"In the person of Miss Charlotte Yonge we discover the same virtues, butin a softer and more feminine mould. Her heroes are for the most partrefined and cultivated young men, actuated by the highest motives--"
"Stop! Stop!" screamed Thomasina desperately. "For pity sake spare usthe rest. Such deadly propriety I never encountered! It reminds me ofthe Fairchild family at their very worst. If _that's_ the sort of thingyou are going to write, Rhoda, I pity the poor examiners. And what doyou mean by Alfred fighting? He was a most peaceful creature, so far asI have heard!"
"Thomasina! the war with the Danes--all those years! You mustremember!"
"I don't remember a thing about it. How could a man fight the Danesliving in a peaceful retreat in the Isle of Wight, as Tennyson didfor--?"
Tennyson! Tennyson! Who spoke of Tennyson? Oh! it was too bad; toomean! How on earth could anyone be expected to guess that Tom had meantTennyson, when she had expressly said Alfred the Great? Rhoda protestedloudly, and the other girls backed her up; but Tom was obdurate.
"And isn't Tennyson known as `Alfred the Great' as well as the othercrittur? It is just another example of want of intelligence! You readthe words, and never trouble about the connection. Who in their sanesenses would ask you to compare a warrior king with old Miss Yonge? Alittle reflection would have saved you from the pitfall into which youhave all fallen headlong. Five bad marks each! Now, then, for the nexttwo. What have you got to say about the two Joes?"
Very little apparently. No one had tackled the comparison in Rhoda'sgrandiose fashion, but a few pithy sentences were to be found scribbledon the sides of exercise books. "Jo March was very clever, and myfather says Mr Chamberlain is, too!" from one dutiful pupil. "Jo Marchwas a darling, and Chamberlain is not," from another of Radicalprinciples. "Both wore eye-glasses, and wrote things for magazines,"and other such exhaustive criticisms.
"You are _all_ plucked in Literature," announced Thomasina, solemnly,"and I am deeply pained by the exhibition! I will give you one morechance in Arithmetic before going on to the higher branches, because, asyou are aware, this is a most vital and important subject. Write down,please: A and B each inherited thirty thousand pounds. A invested hiscapital in gold-mine shares to bring in eighteen per cent, interest. Bput his money into the Post Office Savings Bank, and received two and ahalf per cent. State to three places in decimals the respective wealthof each at the expiration of twenty-seven years!"
"Er--with what deduction for current expenses?" queried Irene, with anair. She had been snubbed once, but was not in the least subdued."What were their current expenses?"
"There were none!"
"Thomasina, what bosh! There _must_ have been. They couldn't live onnothing."
"Well, they did, then. Since you are so particular, I may tell you thatthey were in prison! They had their wants supplied by their nativeland."
"I'm not going to do sums about convicts! My mother wouldn't like it,"said Dorothy, shutting up her book with a bang. She leaned forward, andwhispered in Rhoda's ear, "Don't bother; it's only another joke. What'sthe use of worrying for nothing?"
"It's practice," said Rhoda, and away went her pencil, scribbling,calculating, piling up row upon row of figures. To her joy the answercame out the same as Irene's, which surely must prove it right; yet, asDorothy had prophesied, Tom was once more sweeping in denunciation,"Wrong! Wrong! All wrong! The gold-mine failed, and left A a pauper,while B lived happily ever after. You are old enough to know that gold-mines that pay eighteen per cent, invariably _do_ fail and ruin theirshareholders; or if you don't, you may be thankful to me for tellingyou. I must say, young ladies, you are coming exceedingly poorlythrough my test. I cannot congratulate you on your insight. I doubtwhether it is any use examining you any further."
"Oh, yes, let us have the higher branches, Tom! Do let us have thehigher branches! Who knows? Perhaps we may distinguish ourselves atlast. Give us another chance!" pleaded the girls, mockingly; and, thuschallenged, Tom could not but consent. She tackled Zoology, and givingthe three divisions of Plantigrada, Pinnigrada, and Digitigrada, added alist of animals to be classified accordingly. When it is said that thelist included such widely diverging creatures as "A camel-leopard, aduck-billed platypus, Thomasina Bolderston, and Spring-heeled Jack," itcan be imagined with what zest the pupils began their replies.
Tom professed to be mortified beyond endurance to find her fairy treadunanimously classed under the first heading, and begged the Blues totake notice that if any girl pined to call her "splay-footed" to herface she might do so, and take the consequences! No one accepted thechallenge, however; so she proceeded to Latin, and, with much jinglingof keys, gave out a sentence for translation:--
"Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem." The girls smiled atthis, confident of their powers. The students at Hurst pridedthemselves on their Latin, and could have stood a much severer testwithout wavering. The seniors did not trouble to write their answers,but waited complacently until the time came when they should have anopportunity of airing their proficiency. It never came, however, forTom chose to disappoint expectations by reading aloud her owntranslation from her position in front of the fire.
"Memento--remember; mentem--and mind; servare--to hold up; aequam--yourmare; in rebus arduis--going up hill. That translation, young ladies,was given by an undergraduate in the University of Oxford. Heafterwards rowed stroke in the 'Varsity boat, and was the best billiardplayer of his year, so it would ill become us to dispute hisconclusions. You will observe the valuable moral lessons inculcated inthe words, and, I trust, take them to heart--`Remember and mind--'"
A laugh sounded from the direction of the door, and there stood MissEverett, looking round with mischievous eyes. Rhoda noted with reliefthat she looked brighter than for days past, as if some good news hadarrived from the home about which she was so anxious.
"This sounds improving," she cried, merrily. "Thomasina holding a Latinclass! I am glad you have found such an exemplary way of passing theafternoon. I am afraid you must stop, however, as the gong will ring infive minutes, and meantime I must break up the class. I want,"--her eyeroved enquiringly round the room--"I want Rhoda!"
"Certainly, Miss Everett. Anything to oblige you. Rhoda, my love, youhave my permission to retire," drawled Thomasina, wagging her head inlanguid assent, and Rhoda left the room in no little wonder as to thereason of the summons.
Arrived in the corridor, Miss Everett laid both hands on the girl'sshoulders, and asked a quick, laughing question:--
"What about that hamper?"
"Hamper?" echoed Rhoda. "Hamper?" Her air of bewilderment was sounaffectedly genuine that the other's expression became in turn doubtfuland uncertain.
"Yes, yes, the hamper! The hamper of good things that has just arrivedfor my brother. I thought you--"
"I know nothing about it; truly I don't! I wish I did, but--"
"But, my dear girl, it came from your home. There was a game label uponit, with your father's name in print--`From Henry Chester, Erley Chase.'There cannot be two Henry Chesters living at houses of the same name."
"Ah!" exclaimed Rhoda, and her face lit up with pleasure. "It's mother!Of course it's mother! It's just the sort of thing mother would do. Itold her that your brother had been ill, and that you were anxious abouthim, and so she set to work to see how she could help. That's just likemother, she's the kindest dear! I believe she sits down in her armchairafter breakfast every single morning, and plans out how many kind thingsshe can do during the day."
"Bless her heart!" cried Miss Everett devoutly. "Well, Rhoda, shesucceeded this time. My mother has written me all about it. It was adull, wet day, and Lionel seemed depressed, and there was nothing nicein the house, and nothing nice to be bought in the little village shops,and she was just wondering, wondering how in the world she could cheerhim, and manufacture a tempting lunch out of hopeless materials, whentap-tap-tap came the carrier's man at the door. Then in came thehamper, and Lionel insisted upon opening it himself, and was sointerested and excited! There were all sorts of good things in it--game, and grapes, and lovely, lovely hot-house flowers filling up thechinks. They were all so happy! It was such a piece of cheer arrivingin that unexpected fashion, and mother says the house is fragrant withthe scent of the flowers. Lionel arranged them himself. It kept himquite happy and occupied. How can I thank you, dear?"
"Don't thank me. It was not my doing. It's mother."
"But how did your mother know where we lived? How did she know who wewere?"
"Well!" Rhoda smiled and flushed. "Naturally I tell her the news. Isuppose I must have mentioned that your father was Vicar of Stourley. Idon't remember; but then I've so often written about you, and she wouldnaturally be glad to do anything she could, for she knows you have beenkind to me, and that I'm very--fond of you!"
Miss Everett bent down quickly, and kissed her on the cheek.
"And my people knew who Mr Chester was because I've written of you, andthey know that you have been kind to _me_, and that I'm fond of you,too. Oh Rhoda, you don't know how lonely it feels to be a teachersometimes, or how grateful we are to anyone who treats us as humanbeings, and not as machines. You don't know how you have cheered memany a time."
"But--but--I've been tiresome, and stupid, and rebellious. I've givenyou lots of trouble--"
"Perhaps, but you have been affectionate too, and seemed to like me alittle bit, in spite of my lectures; and if it had not been for yourkind words the hamper would never have come, so I insist upon thankingyou as well as your mother. Many, many thanks, dear! I shall alwaysre--" She stopped short suddenly, her attention arrested by the scrapingof chairs within the parlour, and concluded in a very different tone,"The girls are coming! For pity's sake don't let Tom find ussentimentalising here! Fly, Rhoda, fly!" and off she ran along thecorridor, flop, flop, flop, on her flat-soled shoes, as much in fear ofthe scrutiny of the head girl as the youngest Blue in the house!