CHAPTER XV.
GWIN HARLEY'S SCHEME.
Elma felt nearly driven to distraction. All her future depended on thecharacter which she was able to maintain at school. She did not, and sheknew it, belong to the best class of girls who attended MiddletonSchool. Elma's father was a man of bad reputation. He had long agodisgraced his family, and had been obliged to go to Australia. Mrs.Lewis was better born than her husband; and when trouble came, a sister,who had been much shocked at her marrying Lewis, came to her aid. Shedid not do much for her; but she did something. This sister, a certainMrs. Steward, the wife of a clergyman in Buckinghamshire, promised tolook after Elma, who was the cleverest and most presentable of the twogirls. Mrs. Lewis begged that Elma should not be taken away from her;and Mrs. Steward, angry with herself for what she termed her folly, hadyet yielded to her sister's entreaties. She said she would give Elmawhat would be better than a fortune--namely, a first-class education;and if, when her education was finished, she showed intelligence, and,above all, a good, sterling, moral character, she would do what shecould to place her in life. Her present intention was, after Elma hadgone through a course of instruction at Middleton School, to send herto Girton, thus enabling her by and by to take a really good position asteacher.
All these things Elma knew well. She was an ambitious girl; sheearnestly desired to secure a good position for herself in life. Shehated her sister Carrie's ways, and detested the grumbling, weak sort ofcharacter which she could not but see that her mother possessed. All thesame, she was not really scrupulous nor high-principled; it was onlythat the little mean ways and the petty shifts which went on in thesmall house in Constantine Road sorely fretted her. Her intercourse withgirls like Gwin Harley and Bessie Challoner could not but raise herstandard. Carrie's manners and ways disgusted her more and more eachday.
Now, as she put on her hat and prepared to walk to Harley Grove, shecould not help thinking, with great bitterness, of the unlooked-forcalamity which had come upon her. She was naturally intensely selfish,and had no idea of sacrificing herself on this occasion. No matter towhat subterfuge she must be obliged to stoop, she would never, never,let any of the Middleton girls know that she had broken the rule of theschool, and borrowed money from Kitty. For a Middleton girl to borrowmoney at all was a black crime; but for any one to take advantage ofKitty's innocence, her _naivete_, her wild, daring, reckless ways wouldmake the crime all the blacker. Elma, were such a sin to be discovered,would be, if not expelled from the school, which was extremely likely,at any rate tabooed on the spot by all the nice girls who went there.Above all things, she longed for and esteemed popularity. Such a courseof treatment would be intolerable. As a matter of course, Mrs. Stewardwould be told of her niece's transaction. Mrs. Steward would say, "Likefather, like daughter." She would cease to patronize Elma. The fees forher schooling would be withdrawn, and Elma herself must sink to thelevel which Carrie had long ago reached.
"It cannot be," she thought; "whatever happens, I must keep thismiserable story from the ears of the girls and mistresses. At thepresent moment I am fairly safe. Wild and reckless as Kitty is, shewould not dare to hold intercourse with any of the Middleton girls now.Alice is the only one allowed to speak to her, and Alice she willcertainly not confide in, for she so cordially hates her. Yes, I knowperfectly well what I am going to Harley Grove for. Gwin is full ofsympathy for Kitty; so is Bessie Challoner. Romantic and silly they bothare; but Alice at least will be on my side. I will oppose the petitionwhich the Tug-of-war girls intend to send to Miss Sherrard. Kitty mustnot be set at liberty until I can return her the money. Carrie has it,beyond doubt. What she has done with it I don't know; but most likely Ishall be able to give it back to Kitty to-morrow."
Having made up her mind, Elma walked briskly forward. She would she feltcertain, be very unpopular if she opposed the vote which, unless she didsomething to prevent it, would be carried by the majority in Kitty'sfavor. She was anxious to see some of the other Tug-of-war girls. It wasall-important that a majority should be against Kitty, not for her.
When she arrived at the avenue which led to Harley Grove she met Alice,and a moment later two other girls of the names of Matilda and JessieForbes came pantingly up.
"Oh, do wait for us," they cried, seeing Elma and Alice linger for amoment at the gate.
"Alice," said Elma, "before they join us I want to speak to you. Are youfor Kitty, or against her?"
"How do you mean?" asked Alice in some wonder.
"I mean, are you going to vote that this petition should be sent to MissSherrard or are you not?"
"I am going to vote against it, of course," said Alice, with a shortlaugh.
"Well, I am on your side; I wish to say so."
"You, Elma! I thought you would never oppose Gwin Harley. You are one ofthose people who know where their bread is buttered. Why do you take mypart on this occasion?"
"Because," said Elma, flushing deeply, for, hardened little sinner asshe was, she had not perfect control over her emotions--"because I thinkKitty richly deserves what she has got. It would never do to have thissort of thing going on at the school. But look here, Alice, if thepetition is not to be sent to Miss Sherrard, we must try and have amajority on our side. Why should we not secure Matilda and JessieForbes?"
"I never thought of that," said Alice; "but really, Elma, now I come toconsider it, as far as I personally am concerned, I don't much care. Itmatters very little to me whether Kitty gets out of Coventry or not. Ishall have to speak to her however the tide turns. You do seem strangelyeager on the subject."
"When I join a certain side I don't wish it to be the losing one," saidElma, as calmly as she could. "Hullo, Matilda, how out of breath youare! You need not have run so fast; you could see that we were waitingfor you."
"Well, you see," said Jessie Forbes, who was also panting as she cameup, "we have never yet been to Harley Grove. Is it not a very grandplace, Elma? Was it not kind of Gwin to ask us, and--Oh, of course, weare full of sympathy for that poor, dear Kitty Malone."
"Why do you pity her?" asked Elma coldly.
"Because the poor darling didn't know any better. Does it not seem sillyto make such a fuss about such a trifle? I can't imagine why MissSherrard has been so very severe."
"I don't agree with you at all," said Elma. "I think Kitty richlydeserves her punishment. Of course," she added, "I don't want to bereally hard on her; but unless she is made to feel shame when she doesan _outre_ and extraordinary thing like she did last night, she will goon doing similar deeds, and get the whole school into disgrace."
"Oh dear, yes," said Jessie, "that is perfectly true, and I should notlike father to know that one of the Middleton girls had been spoken toby a rude boy in the street. I really believe he would take us both fromthe school."
"If you think so," said Elma, "you ought to oppose the petition."
"Are you going to, Elma?"
"Certainly."
"But you are a friend of hers, are you not?"
"Of course I am. I am very fond of her."
"And you oppose it for her good?"
"Undoubtedly; altogether for her good."
"And Miss Sherrard does know what is right," said Matilda, in athoughtful voice. "Miss Sherrard was never a severe teacher. We all loveher dearly."
"And she is very fond of Kitty," said Elma. "I know that for a fact."
"Yes, and so do I know it to my cost," said Alice shrugging hershoulders. She walked up the avenue as she spoke. Jessie ran after her.
"What side are you going to take Alice?" she asked.
"Miss Sherrard's," replied Alice shortly.
Meanwhile Elma had slipped her hand gently through Matilda's arm, andlooking up into the face of the taller girl, said in her mostinsinuating voice:
"I do think, painful as it is, that we ought to take Miss Sherrard'sside. Gwin is so enthusiastic, poor dear, and so is Bessie Challoner,that they are certain to be led away by their feelings. Now, MissSherrard is the most sympathetic and k
indest of head-mistresses, shewould not have given Kitty so severe a punishment without reason."
"That is true," said Matilda. "Only, of course, you see, Elma, I don'twant to go against Gwin. I am so terribly anxious to become her friend.I admire her so immensely. I don't think there's any other girl in theschool to equal her."
"I should think there isn't," said Elma with sudden warmth.
"I am sorry she has taken Kitty Malone's part--poor Kitty! We certainlyall think her charming; but if father were to hear of it!"
"You would not like him to take you from the school now," said Elma,"just when you have such a good chance of the literature scholarship?"
"I should think not; it would be a dreadful blow. But he would be--oh, Icannot tell you how shocked he would be!"
"And he would be more shocked, would he not, if he heard that you hadtaken Kitty's part, and had signed the petition against Miss Sherrard?"
"Of course, I never thought of that. I declare Elma, you are clever. Iwill mention what you say to Jessie, and tell her that she must goagainst the petition."
Elma felt that she had won her point. There would be at least four girlsagainst Gwin's motion, and probably others would follow their example.
When the girls arrived at the house, they were shown immediately intoGwin's pretty private study. Gwin was standing by the open window. Shehad a book in her hand, but was not reading it. She was lookinganxiously out. There was a perplexed expression on her fine face, andher large deep gray eyes were full of emotion.
"I am so glad you have come," she said when she saw the girls. "I hopeall the Tug-of-war girls will be present. The more I think of thisaffair the more certain I am that it will be the ruin of Kitty Malone."
Elma looked sympathizingly at her friend, Alice frowned, Matilda andJessie did not know where to look, nor what to say. If they had not metAlice and Elma they would have certainly gone heart and soul with Gwinin the matter.
"Sit down, won't you, girls?" said Gwin. "Tea will be ready in amoment--are you not thirsty?"
"Yes, it's a very hot day," said Jessie, somewhat timidly.
"And you had a long walk; but it was really kind of you to come. Wewon't do anything until some more of the Tug-of-war Society arrive. Butperhaps my letters have not reached the others."
"Oh, I know the Hodgsons are coming," said Matilda Forbes, "because Imet them."
"I am glad of that. Ah, and here is Bessie."
Bessie Challoner at this moment entered the room. She shook hands withthe Forbes girls, whom she had not met before that day, nodded to Alice,and going up to Gwin began to whisper in her ear.
Gwin looked more anxious.
"All the same I am determined to do it," she said.
"I am certain Miss Sherrard will be very angry," said Bessie. "Had youreally better, Gwin?"
"I certainly had better. I am not afraid of Miss Sherrard, nor twentyMiss Sherrards, when I think I have a righteous cause. She does not knowKitty as well as I know her. Ah, here you are," she said as, theHodgsons, two rather dowdy, but affectionate girls, came quickly intothe room.
"What's this Gwin?" cried Mary, the elder; "something wrong with thatIrish girl? What can be up?"
"I will explain everything to you after we have had tea. Ah, here itcomes!"
Gwin walked to the table, where the footman now placed tea and cakes,and began to dispense the refreshments. The girls stood round herchatting, munching cake and drinking tea. The afternoon sun poured intothe room. Outside it was cool and shady. Gwin went to the window anddrew down the green venetian blinds.
"Now, that is cooler," she said. "Have you all had enough?"
"Yes, thank you," answered one or two.
Gwin rang the bell, and the servant came to remove the tea equipage.
"And now to business," said Gwin. "What I briefly propose to do is this:Kitty Malone is in trouble. As a member of the Tug-of-war Society, therest of the society is bound to support her. I am most anxious that sheshould get all the support in our power. She is not like any of us; shehas been differently brought up. What she did last night was the resultof impetuosity and overzeal. She was troubled about her brother, and forsome extraordinary reason thought that Elma could help her. Elma, canyou throw any light on the matter?"
"None whatever," answered Elma in a stout voice.
"She went out with the college cap on and without her jacket, and forthat reason some rough, rude boys talked to her, and she knocked one ofthem down in trying to defend herself, and so got into a terriblescrape. Miss Worrick, it seems, witnessed the transaction, and she toldMiss Sherrard. Miss Sherrard was very much annoyed, and has put Kittyinto Coventry for a week. We are none of us allowed, on pain of instantdismissal, to speak to her. Now, my proposal is this; that we write alittle petition, and each of us sign it, and then that I take it to MissSherrard. I want to ask Miss Sherrard to allow the members of theTug-of-war Society to speak to Kitty. I want to ask her to allow us allto do our best during her week's punishment to show her that this wildand erratic way will not go down in England; I want her to allow us todo our utmost by kindness to overcome Kitty's wild nature. I havescarcely any doubt, girls, that Miss Sherrard will approve of ourscheme."
"Well, I for one approve of it most heartily," said Bessie Challoner. "Ibelieve severity would ruin a girl like Kitty. You cannot drive her; shemust be led."
"Thank you, Bessie. I knew you would feel with me. And now, girls, Iwill put this thing to the vote. All who are in favor of the scheme holdup their hands."
The Forbes girls looked tremblingly, with flushed cheeks and glitteringeyes, at Elma and Alice. Their hands went half up and then dropped againinto their laps. It was the fear of their father's displeasure whichprevented their going altogether with Gwin. The Hodson girls immediatelyheld up their hands; but Alice, Elma, Matilda, and Jessie plainly showedthat they did not mean to sign the petition.
"Is this possible?" said Gwin in a vexed voice. "I surely thought therewas not--Elma, you must be at the head of this. What is your reason fornot joining us?"
Alice looked as if she were about to speak; but Elma jumped at once toher feet.
"I don't join you because I do not agree with you, dear Gwin. I believeMiss Sherrard knows a great deal better than we do what is good for agirl. I am certain she will be much annoyed by our interfering; and formy part I think a week in Coventry will do Kitty Malone no harm."
"I am surprised and disappointed in you, Elma," said Gwin, "Alice, whatis your feeling?"
"Oh, I absolutely agree with Elma," said Alice. "I think it would be arare comfort to take any means to subdue and crush out of sight, evenfor one week, that most obnoxious person Kitty Malone. The unfortunatepart is that I shall have to do with her even during her week inCoventry."
"But surely," said Gwin, in some astonishment, "you two Forbes girls canhave nothing to say against Kitty. It cannot injure you in any way thatwe should plead for the mitigation of her punishment."
"Well, the fact is this," said Jessie, standing up as she spoke, andlooking very miserable. "Father is most particular; he is almost faddy,you know, Gwin--and if he ever heard that a girl from the school didexactly what Kitty did last night--I mean that she went out so lateagainst rules, and was dressed in such a queer way, and was obliged toknock down a rude boy in order to protect herself--why, I think he wouldtake us from school. Then if father also heard that we had gone againstMiss Sherrard's authority, we--Oh, I cannot say it exactly as I ought;but Gwin, I would rather not sign that paper."
"All right," answered Gwin in some vexation.
"Then my scheme falls through. Four against and four for. We have onlyone other member of the Tug-of-war except poor Kitty herself, and she, Iam afraid, cannot come, as she is ill with a bad cold. Well, I shall seeMiss Sherrard alone and must take my chance."
"Yes, if you please; that would be much the best plan," said Jessie,sinking down into her seat with a sigh of relief.
Soon afterward the little party at Gwin Harley's house
separated. Therewas a feeling of restraint over them which Gwin's guests seldomexperienced. They were not at one. It was impossible to talk any longeron the subject with which their hearts were full. Gwin was anxious toprepare the exact arguments she intended to use with Miss Sherrard. Shelooked relieved when Elma made the first move of departure. Alice jumpedup also with alacrity.
"Good-by Gwin," she said. "I think you are doing wrong to interfered inthis matter. A little punishment will do Kitty Malone no more harm thanit does any other girl. Of course it's not pleasant; punishment neveris. Good-by; take my advice and allow Kitty Malone to shift forherself."
Gwin made no reply at all to this. She gave Alice a cold nod, and thefour girls who now formed the opposition left the house.
"Good-by to all chance of my friendship with Gwin," said Jessie Forbesrather miserably as they walked up the avenue.
"Oh, never mind, Jessie, you did the right thing," said Alice. "What isthe good of toadying? I hate toadies. If you are ever to become afriend of Gwin Harley's you will see that she hates them also, although,perhaps I am wrong to say that." Here she glanced somewhat significantlyat Elma. Elma colored and turned her head aside.
When they reached the top of the avenue the girls turned each to gotheir several ways. Elma hurried home as fast as she could.
"I must get that money by hook or by crook this evening," she said toherself. "I wonder where Carrie has hidden it. Bad as she is, she wouldcertainly not steal it from me. Oh, it is safe of course, and I must getit and manage to convey it to Kitty to-night, and then as far as I amconcerned I don't care how soon the poor thing gets out of Coventry."
When Elma reached home the first person she saw was Carrie. Carrie wasstanding on the steps of the shabby little villa in Constantine Roadtalking to a fiery-haired young man.
Elma never condescended to have anything to do with Raynes. Giving him avery cold nod now, she was about to enter the house when Carrie caughther arm and stopped her.
"Why don't you speak to Sam?" she said. "Sam, this is my sister, Elma."
"How do you do?" said Elma. "I am sorry I cannot wait now; I want to seemother."
"There's no use in your going in if it's mother you want," pursuedCarrie. "She has gone out for the evening. Mrs. Duncan has asked her totea. I am glad of it. A little change will do her good."
"I won't keep you now, Car," said Raynes, turning to Carrie and givingher a somewhat clumsy nod. He looked askance at Elma, and the nextmoment had clattered down the steps, and, turning the corner, was out ofsight.
"What a creature!" said Elma. "I wonder you have anything to do withhim, Carrie. I think, even for my sake, seeing that Aunt Charlotte isdoing so much for me--"
"Now stop that," said Carrie; "I won't have a word of abuse against Sam.He suits me very well. I'm not a fine lady, and I never mean to be afine lady. I shall be very comfortable as his wife some day, and I don'twant you to abuse him. Whether you like him or not, he is going to beyour brother-in-law and--Why, Elma, how tired you look!"
"I am tired and worried, and I want to speak to you," said Elma.
"To speak to me?" answered Carrie, a little alarm coming into her voicein spite of herself. "What for? Anything special? Are you prepared tomake me a present of another dress; I could do with a white one now theweather is getting so very hot, and Sam would like me in white. Whitewith pink ribbons would be a change, or mauve--mauve ribbons look sosweetly cool with white."
"I am not going to listen to any of your nonsense," said Elma. "I wantto ask you a straight question. Where is my money?"
"Your money? What do you mean?"
"What I say. I have heard the whole story from Maggie, and I can bringher as a witness. You have put that money in hiding, and I want it atonce. There, Carrie, like a dear old soul, do own up. Let me have themoney without any more delay. Of course you have not stolen it. I knowyou have not; but you have hidden it. I wish you would give it back now.If I can't return it to its rightful owner to-night I shall get intoworse trouble. Do let me have the money back."
Carrie's face also now became pale.
"I wish I could," she said in a frightened voice. "Do you mean to saythat you really want it back?"
"Why, of course. You haven't spent it? Oh, if you have I amruined--ruined for life."
"No, I have not spent it; but the fact is I--What a little wretch thatMaggie was to tell!"
"She couldn't help herself; I made her. Now, speak out, Carrie. Oh, weneed not go indoors. Where is the money? Please, please, Carrie, let mehave it at once."
Elma's troubled face, her trembling hands, the anxiety depicted all overher nervous little figure, could not but show Carrie that there wassomething serious in the wind.
"Well," she said, "I am awfully sorry. I--I just did it in a fit ofmischief. I read that letter which Kitty Malone wrote to you, and itseemed to throw light on some of your actions which had puzzled me oflate. I went to your drawer and found the money, and thought I wouldgive it to Sam to keep for you."
"To Sam Raynes?" cried Elma, backing a few steps, her voice assuming atone of terror.
"Yes. Do be careful, Elma, or you'll fall right down into the area. Whyshouldn't I lend it to Sam Raynes?"
"Lend it?"
"Well, well, it's all the same; I asked him to keep it for me."
"I'll go to him at once and get it," said Elma, preparing to run downthe steps.
Carrie caught her by the arm.
"I'm awfully sorry," she said, "but it's no use, he--he says we cannothave it for a week, perhaps a fortnight. He is doing a little deal withit, as he expresses it. He says perhaps we'll have it back doubled."
"What can you mean, Carrie?" Elma knew nothing whatever aboutspeculation. That will-o'-the-wisp which leads so many astray had notyet entered into her life.
"You need not look so miserable. Won't you like to have it back again,not seven pounds but fourteen? and Sam says this will probably be thecase in a week or a fortnight, or at any rate in a month from now."
Elma threw up her hand in despair.
"If I have to wait a month for the money," she said, "I may as wellnever have it. Oh Carrie, what have you done? You have ruined me, ruinedme! Carrie, I cannot lead a low, common life like yours; I am not fitfor it. Oh, Aunt Charlotte will never do anything more for me afterthis. Kitty wants the money, and I cannot give it to her. Oh, Carrie, tothink that you should have ruined my life!"
Poor Elma covered her face with her trembling hands and went into thehouse. She entered the shabby little sitting-room and sank into thenearest chair. Carrie stood near her in real perplexity and agitation.
"What a pity you didn't confide in me when you brought it home," shesaid. "Of course I didn't really want to do you an ill turn, Elma; butyou were so sly and secretive, and--and I thought I would have my joke.You don't know how precious dull my life is; and when I saw that letterand felt that you were keeping a nice little hoard of money, all privateand without the knowledge of your sister, it was just too much for me,and I took it to Sam because I didn't know where to hide it safe in thishouse."
"The thing that matters," said Elma, "is the fact that I cannot get itback. But I must get it; I must see Sam Raynes at once."
"Tell me why it is so bad," said Carrie. "You must confide the wholething to me now. There's no use in keeping secrets from your sister."
Thus adjured, and because she was almost distracted, poor Elma did tell.She described as well as she could the terrible position she would be inat Middleton School if the whole of this transaction were known. Shemanaged to a certain extent to open Carrie's eyes.
"Although, I cannot see what they would be so angry about," said Carrie."You were offered the money and you accepted it. You never wanted tokeep it; you would have given it back some time; and even if you didkeep that Irish girl out of it for a month, what would it have mattered?But there--I see you are in a state, and I am sure I don't want to ruinyour life. You, with your high-faluting notions, must not have all yourambitions dashed to
the ground. We'll go together to see Sam, and try tofind out what can be done."
"Yes, let us go at once," said Elma in feverish haste. "I wanted to takethe money to Kitty to-night. At present she cannot tell on me; but she isquite certain to do so if I don't return it to her at once. Let us godown to see Sam now."
"All right," answered Carrie; "come along. I dare say we'll find him athome. I hope we shall."
Five minutes later the girls were standing outside the door of theRaynes' very humble dwelling. It was opened by Florrie Raynes herself.
"Hullo, Carrie, what do you want now?" she cried. "Oh, and _Miss_Lewis," with a mocking emphasis on the word "Miss." "To what do we owethe honor of this visit?"
"I want to see your brother," said Elma brusquely. "He has got somemoney of mine, which I must ask him to have the goodness to return atonce."
"Money?" said Florrie, opening her eyes rather wide. "Well, you can seehim for yourselves; but if it's money that is lent to Sam, I--I ratherpity the girl who wants to get it back from him again. Sam is a verywhale on money. He always swallows it wholesale."
With these anything but encouraging words, Florrie threw open the doorof the shabby little smoking-room, where Sam, with a pipe in his mouth,was lying at his ease. He started up when he saw the girls, removed hispipe, and going up to Carrie, laid his hand familiarly on her shoulder.
"Well, Car, so you could not do without me," he said with a smile.
"The fact is this," answered Elma, "my sister has told me that she gaveyou seven pounds a couple of nights ago to keep for her. That moneyhappens to have been lent to me, and I want it back immediately. I havecome for it. Will you give it to me, please?"
Sam drew in his breath preparatory to giving a long whistle.
"Highty! tighty!" he cried. "You have very grand airs, Miss Elma Lewis;but I didn't know that money was borrowed. Ho! ho! this puts a veryunpleasant complexion on things. When dear old Car brought it to me Ithought I might do what I liked with it. Did you not give me tounderstand as much Car?" Here he gave Carrie a perceptible wink. She wasvery much under his influence, and immmediately too her cue.
"Well, yes, Sam," she answered. "I did say you might speculate with itif you liked."
"Of course you did, my little girl, and I took the hint and didspeculate with it, and a pretty little deal I made. So if you havepatience, Miss Elma, you will get your money back doubled, then you willbe able to return the principal and have a nice little nest-egg of yourown. Now, what do you say to that? Aren't you awfully obliged to me?"
"I say," replied Elma, "that I want the money immediately. I cannot waituntil you have doubled it, as you call it, whatever you mean by that.Please let me have it at once, Mr. Raynes. I must have it, I----"
"I am afraid you ask for the impossible," said Sam in a careless tone."I have speculated with the money, and the returns will come in perhapsin a week, perhaps a fortnight, perhaps longer. I say again that youought to be obliged to me. It is not every fellow who would take so muchtrouble."
Poor Elma gave him a despairing glance. There was evidently nothing moreto be got out of him. She left the house without a word. Carrie followedher into the street.
"Oh Elma, don't look so miserable," said Carrie. "What is the good ofsinking into despair?"
"Don't talk to me," said Elma, pushing her sister's hand away. "You haveruined me; that is the sort of sister you are. And I would have doneanything for you, Carrie. When I rose myself and improved myself in thesocial scale, when I got my post as teacher, I would have done all in mypower to aid you and mother; but now--now we must all sink together. Oh,Carrie, to think that I should be ruined by my own sister!"