CHAPTER XIII.
COVENTRY.
Early the next morning Mrs. Denvers was a good deal surprised byreceiving a letter from Miss Sherrard. It ran as follows:
"DEAR MRS. DENVERS: I have just heard an extraordinary story from MissWorrick with regard to Kitty Malone. She met Kitty with your Fred at alate hour last night just outside the 'Spotted Leopard.' She was notwearing an outdoor jacket, and had the college cap on her head. Inconsequence, she was spoken to impertinently by some men outside thepublic-house, and when Miss Worrick came up had just knocked one of themdown. Miss Worrick says, further, that Kitty showed her greatimpertinence; and, in short, that the whole affair was wrong anddisgraceful. It is my painful duty to look thoroughly into this matter,and I should be glad if you would bring Miss Malone to Middleton Schoolthis morning in order that I may do so.
"Yours very truly,
"EMMA SHERRARD."
"My dear Alice," said Mrs. Denvers, as her daughter entered the room,"what does this letter mean?"
Alice read Miss Sherrard's letter hastily.
"It is exactly as I feared, mother," she said.
"Exactly as you feared, Alice! What do you mean?"
"I always told you that Kitty would be certain to get into troublesooner or later. Well, she got into trouble last night."
"But what occurred?"
"What occurred!" said Fred, who came into the room at that moment. "Ithought you would be talking about poor Kitty. I will tell you exactlywhat did occur mother; but first I want to say something else. Kitty isjust as nice a girl as we ever had in the house. She has not a low nor asmall thought in her, but she is excitable, and she has high spirits;and yesterday evening, when I went into the drawing-room, I found herthere alone, and in no end of a fret because one of her brothers inIreland had got into trouble. He had written to her; but she would nottell me what he said. For some extraordinary reason, which none of usknow, it seems that Elma Lewis can get him out of his trouble, I cannotpretend to explain what this means; but such is the fact. Poor Kitty waswild to see Elma, and she asked me if I would walk over to her housewith her. Of course I promised to do so, for it was difficult not to begood-natured to the poor thing."
"At what hour was this, Fred?" interrupted Mrs. Denvers.
"It was rather late, I will own, mother--about half-past nine."
"Go on, my dear boy. What happened then?"
"Now it is Alice's turn to get into your black books," continued Fred,darting a malicious look at his sister. "She doesn't like Kitty, andnothing that Kitty can do or say is right in Alice's eyes."
"Fred!" interrupted Alice--"Mother, you have no right to listen to him."
"I am bound to hear both sides of this story, Alice," said Mrs. Denvers."Fred shall tell his side first. Go on, my boy."
"When I arranged to go with Kitty, she ran upstairs to the bedroom whichshe shares with Alice to get her jacket and hat; but Alice had lockedthe door, and wouldn't let her in. I heard her crying out and begging ofAlice to do so, or, at least, if she would not, to throw her hat andjacket out of the window; but no! good nature was not to be expectedfrom my amiable sister. So then Kitty ran down again, and said that asthe night was warm it really didn't matter a bit; and she asked me tolend her a cap. I took one from the peg in the hall, never seeing thatit was one of the college caps with the coat-of-arms in front, and Kittypopped it on, and off we set. We neither of us gave a thought to herdress, and we walked as fast as possible, chatting and laughing all theway. All went well till we got in front of that horrid 'SpottedLeopard,' and there were several lads round the door. I suppose Kitty'sdress attracted them as well as her pretty face, and all in a minutethey surrounded her. Such awful cheek! But do you think Kitty would putup with their impudence? I never saw a girl like her! She just aimed ablow straight at one of the fellows and knocked him over as if he were aninepin. I can tell you she had the laugh on her side; and I don'tbelieve we would have heard anything more about it if that mean,spiteful old cat, Miss Worrick, hadn't been coming round the corner. Sheran up to Kitty, and took possession of her, and marched her off home,and put her, forsooth, into Alice's custody. That's the explanation ofMiss Sherrard's letter, mother."
"Dear, dear!" said Mrs. Denvers, "it was a most imprudent thing to do.But of course, the poor child meant no harm."
"I should rather think she didn't," cried Fred. "The one you ought reallyto blame is Alice. No one would have looked at Kitty, nor thought of herone way or the other, if Alice had let her get her hat and jacket; butwhat was she to do when she was locked out of her own bedroom?"
"But she know very well that she was breaking rules," said Mrs. Denvers."None of the Middleton girls are allowed to go out so late in theevening except with a suitable escort; and she certainly ought not tohave gone in the dress you have described, my boy. It was allthoughtlessness; but she will get into sad trouble, I fear."
"Of course it was thoughtlessness," said Fred; "and the poor thing wasbothered, dreadfully bothered, about that brother in Ireland."
"I see, mother," said Alice, "that you are determined to take Kitty'spart, whatever happens. She has bewitched you, like all the rest of thehousehold."
"Whom have I bewitched now?" asked Kitty, who entered the room justthen.
"Oh, my poor, dear child," said Mrs. Denvers, "you have got into aterrible scrape. See this letter which I have just received from yourhead-mistress."
Kitty eagerly seized the letter. She was looking pale, and not like herusual self. There were heavy black lines under her eyes. The poor girlhad spent most of her night crying. The thought of Laurie was resting onher soul; she was very anxious about him, and, in consequence, verymiserable.
"I always said that I hated England," she cried, coloring as she spoke."Oh, I know, dear Mrs. Denvers, that you are a jewel; and as to Fred, heis no end of a darling; and Mr. Denvers is as nice as a man could be.But there's Alice, and she doesn't like me; and Miss Worrick can't bearme; and half the girls at school don't understand me, and, for thematter of that, I don't care for them; and I don't understand yourstiff, proper English ways. I am far and away too wild for England. InIreland we would only laugh at such a thing as happened last night. Whatdoes it matter what sort of dress I go out in and at what hour I go, ifI am doing right all the time? I wanted to do something for Laurie, formy dear, dear Laurie, who is in terrible trouble. Please, Mrs. Denvers,let me go home again. Let us both go to Miss Sherrard this morning, andtell her that it is all no use; Kitty Malone was born wild, and wild shewill remain to the end of the chapter. Let me go home; please let me gohome."
"My poor child, I must not yield to you," said Mrs. Denvers. "You havebeen sent to us to be made----"
"Oh, don't begin it," cried Kitty. "Don't begin to talk about all thethings you have got to make me, and which, to be plain, none of you willever succeed in doing, for I was not half nor a quarter as wild inIreland. I was considered in some ways the steady one of the family; buthere, why, I am provoked every minute of the day, and I--I can't standit much longer."
"Well, sit down now and eat your breakfast," said Mrs. Denvers, "for wemust soon hurry off to school. Miss Sherrard will want to see usimmediately after prayers."
Kitty seated herself, but she had little appetite for her food.
"Why don't you eat?" said Fred, who sat next to her. "Let me help you tosome of this porridge; it's jolly well done this morning, and you alwayslike it, don't you?"
"Yes, yes; but I have got a lump in my throat and I can't swallow,"answered Kitty. "Thank you all the same, Fred. There are some chocolatesin my room if you like to steal up in the middle of the day in case I amlocked up, as twenty to one I shall be for this misdemeanor. There aresome chocolates and some rock and toffee. You'll find them in myleft-hand drawer in the corner. I spent a whole sovereign on sweets, asI told you a few days ago."
"Oh, thanks. Kitty, you are a brick," whispered Fred back in return.
"You can take as many as you like, Fred, old boy, for you are a comf
ortto me. I'll tell Laurie about you when I go back to Ireland."
"Come, come, my dears, no whispering," said Mrs. Denvers. "Kitty, ifyou don't care for your breakfast, perhaps you will go up to your roomand make yourself tidy for school."
"Oh, am I not tidy now?" asked Kitty, jumping up and running to theglass in the overmantel to survey herself. "By the way, do you like myfrock? it is quite new. Don't you think this crimson cotton with thewhite sash very effective? It is cool, and yet it's gay. I belong to theTug--Oh! I must not mention that. I never did know such a place forawful secrets as England. I am drawn up every minute by remembering thatI must not mention something. But how do you like my dress, Mrs.Denvers?"
"Well, dear, I prefer quieter colors; but we will say nothing more aboutit just now. Get your hat, Kitty; put on your outdoor shoes and yourgloves, and come down immediately, for it is time for us to start."
As soon as Kitty had left the room, Alice turned to her mother.
"Are you going to encourage her in all her follies?" she asked.
"My dear Alice, I don't encourage her in her follies; but there is nouse in pulling the poor child up short every moment. She expressesherself quite correctly when she says that she is wild; she is notbroken in. But to break in Kitty Malone too thoroughly might also breakher heart, and that would never do."
"Break her heart! I don't believe she has got one," said Alice. "But,there, I can't talk any longer on the subject."
It occurred to her that if she started immediately for school she mightcall for Bessie Challoner, and tell her what had occurred. Bessie'ssympathy would be very sweet, and Alice determined to secure it ifpossible. Accordingly she left the house, and at about a quarter to ninefound herself at Bessie's house. Bessie was standing on the stepsdrawing on her gloves.
"Why, Alice, what has brought you?" she cried; "and where is Kitty?"
"Oh, don't mention Kitty, if you don't want to rile me beyondendurance," said Alice.
"I always do rile you when I mention her," answered Bessie; "but whereis she all the same?"
"With mother--she is coming to school with mother."
"With your mother--to Middleton School! What do you mean?"
"Only that mother has to bring her. She has got into no end of a row."
"Has she? Oh, I am sorry," said Bessie.
"Come out, Bessie," said Alice. "It is a little early to get to school,but we may as well walk slowly, and I will tell you all about it as wego along."
This Alice did, enlarging much upon Kitty's dress, her crimson blouse,her bare arms, the college cap on her head, and her little shoes withthe buckles and rosettes.
"She must have looked very pretty," said Bessie.
"Bessie! you really are enough to distract any one. Don't you see theimpropriety of it? Don't you see that this will get all over the place?People will say that a Middleton girl dressed so unsuitably, so loudly,that--Oh, don't you see it?"
"I don't see anything in it except a silly, foolish, girlish act,uncommonly like Kitty Malone," said Bessie. "You are determined to makemountains out of molehills, Alice."
"No, I am not," said Alice. "Anyhow," she added in a tone of triumph,"Miss Sherrard thinks it disgraceful, and so does Miss Worrick. Isuppose you will not go against the opinions of your own mistresses,will you, Bessie?"
"No, no; only I am sorry," said Bessie.
At that moment the two girls reached the school. Gwin Harley was justdriving up in her pony-chaise, and Elma, as usual, was hovering near.
"Come here, Elma," said Bessie. "We have something to tell you."
"What is it?" asked Elma eagerly.
"It is this," cried Alice. "Kitty Malone has got into the most awfulscrape. She went out last night with Fred in her red blouse--you knowthat silk blouse she is so fond of wearing?"
"I know; it is sweetly pretty," said Elma.
"Oh, there you are, praising everything she does! Well, anyhow, she woreit, and her arms were bare to the elbow, and she stuck one of thecollege caps on her head. What will Dr. Butler say? She went with Fredto see you, by the way, Elma. She seemed in an awful hurry to find you.She was in trouble about her brother, and she said you could help her."
"Oh, nonsense!" said Elma. But she had an uncomfortable feeling as thewords were said. Her thoughts naturally flew to the eight pounds whichKitty had lent her. Was it possible that Kitty wanted that lovely, thatbeautiful money back again? Elma had felt almost as if she were livingin fairyland from the time that money had been in her possession. Shewould part with it whenever the day came with extreme reluctance.
"Well," she said, "I cannot imagine what she wanted with me; but whathappened?"
"Some rough boys outside the 'Spotted Leopard' were rude to her, and sheknocked one of them down; then Miss Worrick came up and took her back toour house; and Miss Sherrard has written this morning to say that motheris to bring Kitty up to school, and that she must have the whole thingexplained. There's a nice state of things!"
At that moment the great gong was heard, and the girls were obliged totroop into the school. Prayers were conducted as usual in the greathall, and Elma, Gwin, Alice, and Bessie looked in every imaginablecorner for a sight of Kitty Malone. She was not present, however, andthey were obliged afterward to go to their class-rooms without havingcaught sight of her beaming and brilliant face.
Meanwhile Mrs. Denvers and Kitty were waiting for Miss Sherrard in thehead-mistress' private sitting-room. Kitty went to the window and lookedout.
"I like Miss Sherrard," she said, turning to Mrs. Denvers as she spoke."I am really sorry to annoy her. It is about a fortnight ago since shespoke to me in this very room; she spoke so kindly, and told me that Ihad got talents. I was astonished, for I thought she meant cleverness,and I have always been told that I am a dunce; she said that she knew Ihad good abilities, and that besides I had plenty of othertalents--nice dress, and good looks." Kitty colored and flashed ahalf-defiant, half-roguish glance at Mrs. Denvers. "She also spoke aboutmy money as a talent. Oh, dear, I felt half-conceited, half-delightedwhen I left her, and I made up my mind that I would be good; but itseems useless, more than useless. Oh, my poor money, my poor money! Ihave got none of it left now, or at least scarcely any."
"My dear child, no money!" exclaimed Mrs. Denvers. "Impossible. Whenyou spoke to me last you had about fifteen pounds. Kitty, my dear, it iswrong for you to squander money in that fashion."
"But I haven't squandered it, Mrs. Denvers, not really. I have not gotit with me, it is true; but most of it is safe, only I must not talkabout that. There's another secret for you. What an awful place Englandis! Oh, dear, dear! I am in a muddle about everything. I can't bear tostand in this room and remember Miss Sherrard's talk. Fancy her sayingthat even my dress was a talent! Now there's something in favor of mynice red cotton and my dear red silk blouse; and fancy her saying stillmore that my looks, my pretty face, was a talent! Mrs. Denvers, do youthink me pretty, very, very, very pretty?"
"No, Kitty dear, not so wonderfully pretty as that; but you have anattractive face. Miss Sherrard is quite right; beauty is a gift,although it used to be my old-fashioned idea that the less girls weretold about their looks the better."
"Oh, but that's all exploded, love," cried Kitty. "In these days girlsare told when they are pretty just as much as they are told when theyare clever. Now, I'm not clever, not a bit. I'm a dunce, an out and outdunce; but at any rate I've got a pretty face, and I promised that Iwould use my talents for--for the best--" Here she lowered her face anda thoughtful and beautiful expression came into the great big eyes. "Butit's no use," she added. "I am bothered entirely every day of my life,and I am just going from bad to worse."
"Hush, Kitty, you must not talk in that way Hark! I think I hear MissSherrard's step." As Mrs. Denvers spoke the door was slowly opened andMiss Sherrard, accompanied by Miss Worrick, came in. Miss Sherrard wasjust about to speak; but before she could utter a word Kitty rushed toher.
"I have failed, darling; I have failed entirely," s
he gasped out, "Imeant to do right, but I did wrong; I have become worse and worse,although I cannot see the wrong myself. But Miss Worrick has found itout. I want to give up the school, darling, and to go back to OldIreland. They don't think so badly of me in Old Ireland, and they'll letme dress as I like and go out when I like; and--and, I am not fit forEngland, dear. Please write to dad and tell him so--tell him I am afailure as far as England is concerned. He'll understand, dear old man.He'll be sorry, but he'll understand. Let me go home again, please, MissSherrard--let me go home!"
"No, Kitty, I shall do nothing of the kind," answered Miss Sherrard."You must not kiss me just now, my dear; no, I am not pleased at all.You did very wrong to go out as late as you did last night. You brokeone of the strictest rules of the school, and have brought discreditupon us all. Miss Worrick, will you please relate exactly whatoccurred?"
Miss Worrick now stood up and made as much as she possibly could of poorKitty's little escapade in front of the "Spotted Leopard." The story sodescribed made anything but a pleasant picture. Miss Sherrard who wastenacious with regard to the school, and most anxious that each and allof her girls should bear the highest character for quiet and orderlybehavior, was deeply annoyed.
"Kitty," she said, "I have always been strangely unwilling to punishyou. I have never ceased to remember that you have not been brought uplike most of the girls here--that you have enjoyed a freer, wilder life.On that account I have tried to be very patient with you, my dear; but Iam sorry to say that I have no alternative now. I must punish you, andseverely. For the next week you are to stay in during the morningrecess, and after school is over will remain here day by day to learndifferent tasks which will be set you. Further, my dear--and this, I amsure, will be the most severe part of your punishment--your schoolcompanions are absolutely forbidden to speak to you, and you must giveyour word of honor that you will hold no communication with any of themuntil the week has expired."
This very severe sentence made poor Kitty quite collapse. She sat downon the nearest chair and her rosy face turned pale.
"Oh, I cannot give my word of honor," she gasped. "I must speak. I mustat least speak to Elma Lewis."
"You are not to speak to any of your companions, with the exception ofAlice Denvers, in whose house you live," said Miss Sherrard. "Kitty, ifyou disobey me, I shall have to expel you, and then indeed you will bedisgraced for life. My dear you must bow to my authority--you are tospeak to no girl in the school. I trust to your honor to obey me in thisparticular. If you are expelled--and it will certainly happen if I findthat you are not keeping your word--you will be branded for life."