A Fourth Form Friendship: A School Story Page 15

  CHAPTER XIII

  Aldred pays a Visit

  Miss Bardsley, after nearly six weeks' absence from school, returned toher work with renewed zeal, and under her judicious rule the Fourth Formwas once more the abode of order and attention, Miss Webb's briefinterlude was soon an old story, and Aldred, except for the inwardmonitor that insisted on recalling unpleasant things, was troubled withno awkward reminiscences, or demands for an explanation which she wasnot prepared to give. The days were so full and so busy at the Grangethat the girls were generally occupied with the affairs of the moment,and they had neither time nor inclination for recollections of anepisode that had reflected so little credit upon the Form.

  The spring term was often called "Indoor Science Term", because onWednesday evenings Miss Drummond gave lectures that were intended as apreparation for the botanical and zoological rambles held during thesummer. In May, June, and July the girls would be taken to search forwild flowers upon the downs, and for marine specimens of all kinds onthe beach; and it was Miss Drummond's object to enable them tounderstand beforehand what they were likely to find. Sometimes she had amagic lantern and sometimes a microscope, and always she had somethinginteresting to tell and to show, whether it was the marvels of plantlife or the wonders of the seashore; and she could make her naturestories sound as thrilling as human ones.

  There were attendances also at concerts and University Extensionlectures at Chetbourne, to which the school went in relays; MissDrummond liked to keep her girls in touch with the outside world, anddid not wish them to remain continually shut up in the Grange, as if itwere a nunnery. At mealtimes, though she banned politics, she generallydiscussed the news of the day and any great events that were happening,so that nobody could plead ignorance of current topics. At the DebatingSociety all kinds of questions were aired and argued, the opposingpapers being entrusted to members of the Fifth and Sixth Forms, thoughthe Lower School was allowed to express its opinion. The meetings wereconducted in a strictly business-like and orderly manner worthy of acollege society, having been organized by Miss Forster and MissBardsley, who were both well versed in Girton traditions. Aldred enjoyedthem immensely, and, finding several opportunities of putting in a fewwords, did not hesitate to avail herself of her chances. She was notshy, and had perhaps inherited a propensity for discussion from herbarrister father, so she was able to do herself ample justice, and toreflect credit upon the Fourth Form.

  "You simply squashed Freda on the subject of Socialism," said Mabel,after one particularly successful little speech. "Her thesis went all topieces when you nailed her to the point, and she couldn't proveanything. I wish I had such clear brains! You see the weak spots inpeople's arguments immediately, and then you can bowl them over likeninepins."

  Mabel herself had no gift of eloquence, so she appreciated Aldred'spowers all the more, and was immensely proud of her success.

  "I can't imagine how I lived before you came to school," she sometimesremarked. "I was a wheel without an axle. Now everything I do centresround you, and the best of it is that Mother likes you too!"

  To both of the girls the great event of the term had been the nightspent by Mabel's mother at the Grange. Lady Muriel Farrington not onlyhad a warm friendship for Miss Drummond, but held both her personalityand her methods of teaching in admiration and respect, and for thisreason had entrusted her with her daughter. When up in town, shesometimes paid flying visits to Birkwood, as she knew that Miss Drummondwould allow her to do so without disturbing the general routine of theschool. She had been exceedingly anxious to come on this occasion,partly because Mabel had had influenza, and she wanted to assure herselfthat she was quite strong again; and partly because she wished to meetAldred, and ascertain what kind of girl had gained such an intense,dominating influence over her daughter. She was extremely particular asto the friendships Mabel should form, considering her choice ofcompanions one of the most important features in her upbringing; and shehad been most careful to allow no intimacy with anyone whom she had notherself seen and approved.

  Mabel's letters had been so entirely filled with accounts of Aldred, tothe exclusion of all other topics, that her mother felt it was hightime to investigate this new and absorbing interest, and either give hersanction or take some steps to put an immediate stop to it. She had cometo the Grange prepared to be very critical, and even censorious; butonce introduced to Aldred, she had immediately fallen under the spell ofher striking appearance and winning manners. No one knew better thanLady Muriel, however, that a picturesque exterior is not always an indexto the mind; so she had a long talk with Miss Drummond about Aldred'scharacter, and received such a favourable report that her fears werequite set at rest.

  "I find your friend utterly charming," she said in private to Mabel, whowas waiting in some anxiety to hear the verdict. "She is a mostfascinating girl, evidently very clever and intelligent, yet so sweet,sympathetic, and winsome. I hear good accounts of her from MissDrummond, who says she is entirely truthful, honourable, andstraightforward (that was a question I particularly asked), and that shehas a splendid reputation in the school. I am going to invite her tostay with us during the Easter holidays, and I hope very much that herfather will allow her to come."

  Mabel's rapture knew no bounds. She felt that she now had an officialseal on her friendship, and she was longing to take Aldred home withher, and show her all the places that she had so often described.

  "You'll see the house, and the park, and the lake, and our Alpinegarden, and the tanks where we grow water-lilies, and our village cluband library, and all Mother's pet schemes and hobbies," she announcedgleefully. "We'll have a perfectly delightful time! Grassingford alwayslooks particularly pretty in spring, when the trees are just coming out,and we'll get Father to take us about in the motor, so that you can seethe country. Do you ride?"

  "A little," said Aldred. Her achievements in that line were limited to adonkey at the seaside, but she was not going to confess her lack ofexperience.

  "Then we'll have some glorious scampers on Belle and Beauty. Bellereally belongs to Geoffrey--that's my stepbrother, who is married, andlives a mile away--but he lends her to me sometimes, and I am sure hewill this Easter if I ask him. I must take you to see Geoffrey andRosamond, and my wee niece Margot. She's only five months old, and Ihaven't seen her since she was in long clothes. Then there are mycousins at the Rectory; I know they'll simply fall in love with you. Oh,I'm absolutely longing to introduce you to everybody and everything!"

  Aldred's father readily gave his consent to the proposed visit, so Aprilfifteenth saw the two girls starting off together for the holidays. MissBardsley took them up to town, and placed them safely in the train atKing's Cross; and they would have no further change until they reachedHelmsworth, the junction for Grassingford.

  They were in a very exultant and hilarious frame of mind, literallybubbling over with excitement. They managed to restrain themselves whilethey were under Miss Bardsley's eye, but directly the train started, andshe had waved a final farewell from the platform, they allowed theirwild spirits to have free play, and laughed to their hearts' content,waltzed between the seats, gave three cheers for the breaking-up, andchattered like a pair of magpies. Fortunately, they had the compartmentto themselves, or they could not have indulged in such enjoyablefrivolities except at the risk of being taken for lunatics.

  "I managed to buy a box of chocolates and a bag of pears," announcedAldred, triumphantly producing a parcel. "Miss Bardsley said therewasn't time, but I got the newspaper boy to run to the refreshment roomwhile she bought our tickets."

  "She's given us about ten thousand last directions! Can you remember anyof them?" said Mabel.

  "Never a one!" laughed Aldred. "The engine was snorting so loudly, Icouldn't hear a single word."

  "And I could only catch a word here and there. I have a generalimpression that we aren't to hang out of the window, or speak tostrangers, and that we must call the guard if anyone disagreeable getsinto the carriage."

&nb
sp; "Well, we had all that before, from Miss Drummond!"

  "And not to lose our tickets!"

  "As if we should! I always keep mine in this inner pocket; it was madein my coat on purpose. I'm much more likely to lose my temper with somany instructions--we might be babies, five years old! I wonder MissBardsley did not tie a luggage label to each of us, marked, 'PerishableGoods, at Owner's Risk'!"

  "Yes, or 'Live Stock; Immediate," suggested Mabel. "Then we couldhave gone in the guard's van, and she would have been perfectly easyabout us."

  "There's only one outrageous thing that always tempts me," declaredAldred. "I do so want to pull down the cord, and stop the train!"

  "A five pounds penalty if you indulge yourself, my dear."

  "If I had five pounds I would, just for the sheer fun of it. All thepeople would rush out of the carriages, to see what was the matter. Itwould make such a sensation! By the by, how can the guard know who haspulled the cord? Suppose we simply looked innocent and astonished whenhe came to our compartment, he couldn't tell it was either of us; Idon't think he could possibly know."

  "As a rule, people only signal to stop in some great emergency, and thenthey would be anxious to call for help."

  Aldred reached up, and put her hand tentatively on the cord.

  "Shall I?"

  There was real intention both in her eyes and in her voice.

  "No, no! Aldred, stop! How can you think of doing such a dreadfulthing!"

  "I was only in fun, you dear goose!" said Aldred, with a rather forcedlaugh.

  Mabel heaved a sigh of relief.

  "Of course you were; what a silly I was to imagine you could be inearnest! You gave me quite a shock, all the same. I never saw anyonepretend so cleverly as you."

  "Suppose I had pulled it? What would you have said to the guard when hearrived?"

  "Why, naturally I should have told him at once."

  "Would you, truly? Are you sure?"

  "What else could I have done?" Mabel looked rather puzzled, anddistressed.

  "You wouldn't really--and have me fined five pounds?"

  Mabel's face suddenly cleared.

  "Oh, I understand what you mean!" she cried triumphantly. "No, Ishouldn't have the chance, because you would already have told himyourself! You naughty girl, how you love to tease me! I'm extremelystupid at seeing jokes."

  "Well, I haven't five pounds to waste, at any rate," replied Aldred,leaning back in her corner. "If I were a millionaire, I might betempted. What's the time? I feel very much inclined to investigate thatbasket of lunch."

  It was a six hours' run by express to Grassingford, and before theyarrived at Helmsworth Junction the girls grew thoroughly tired of thejourney. They made the lunch spin out as long as possible, ate pears andchocolates, looked at the illustrated papers, and varied the monotony bytaking little walks up and down the corridor.

  "I get so stiff if I sit still all the time," declared Aldred, in replyto Mabel's objection that Miss Bardsley would have preferred them toremain in their seats. "Besides, the better view is on this side of thecarriage, and we can't see it properly from our compartment."

  Mr. Farrington met them at Helmsworth Junction, where they changed fromthe express to a local train; and at Grassingford a motor was waiting totake them to the Hall.

  Aldred thought she had never seen such a beautiful house, when a turn ofthe drive gave her a first glimpse of Mabel's home. It was built of greystone, with towers and turrets, like a castle. The main entrance wasunder a carved archway that led into a courtyard, around which lay someof the principal rooms. A splendid wistaria covered one wall, and anequally fine magnolia another, while the greater part of the courtyardwas devoted to an Italian garden, gay flower-beds in quaint shapesradiating from a fountain that stood in the middle.

  Within, the house was as handsome as without. Mabel's father and motherhad travelled much in foreign countries, and had picked up manytreasures during their wanderings. There were lovely statues of Carraramarble, priceless Venetian glass, exquisite inlaid Italian cabinets, andcarved oak cupboards from Germany; Chinese ivories and Indian lacquerwork, Moorish lamps, rich Oriental draperies, Persian rugs, and Turkeycarpets--to say nothing of pictures by old masters and modern artists,and a multitude of curios--embossed daggers, antique coins, Etruscanornaments, old Nankin porcelain, Delft and Majolica, Roman vases, Greekurns, Sicilian jars and statuettes, and a medley of other articles,either ancient or modern, gathered from almost every corner of theworld.

  "It's like a museum!" said Aldred, when Mabel showed her some of themore interesting among the contents of the many cabinets.

  "Yes. Dad and Mother have a perfect mania for bringing things home fromabroad. They like to have specimens from every country they have beento, and each year the collection seems to grow bigger."

  "Have they ever taken you abroad?"

  "Not yet. Mother says I shall enjoy it so much more if I wait until Iknow enough really to appreciate it properly. I'm to go when I leaveschool, and spend a whole winter travelling in France and Italy andGreece; but Father says that before I start he will give me anexamination in the old Italian masters and in Greek architecture, and ifI don't pass he'll leave me behind."

  Mr Farrington was a connoisseur in all matters of art and archaeology; hetook keen pleasure in adding continually to his already largecollection, and considered the finding of a genuine Van Eyck in asecond-hand dealer's shop at Rheims the greatest triumph of his life.His special hobby, however, did not absorb the whole of his time. He hadrepresented his county in Parliament, and though he had lost his seat atthe last election, he found much to occupy him in local affairs. He wasa magistrate, a Poor Law Guardian, and Chairman of most of thecharitable institutions in the neighbourhood, taking an active interestin the Hospital, the Blind Asylum, and the Orphanage. In all hisphilanthropic work, Lady Muriel was his right hand. She was slightlysocialistic in her tendencies, and had preferred to marry plain Mr.Farrington, a commoner and a widower, though she could have made abrilliant match in her own circle. She was thoroughly happy, however, inthe sphere that she had chosen, and, troubling little about society,gave herself to a career of usefulness. She personally superintended theWorkhouse Orphanage, knowing every child there by name; and spent oneafternoon weekly at the Blind Asylum, reading or singing to theinmates, and inspecting their knitting and straw plaiting. She hadinstituted a library and reading-room at Grassingford village, and wascollecting funds to add a men's club and a lecture-hall; while thebuilding of a mission church in an out-of-the-way corner of the parishwas mainly owed to her energy and enterprise. A secretary was obliged todeal with her large correspondence, for she was practically interestedin the temperance cause, in Women's Guilds of Help, the Fresh Air Fund,and the Boy Scout movements, all of which involved much trouble andconsiderable business ability, if they were to be a success.

  In spite of her many duties, Lady Muriel always made time in theholidays to devote herself specially to her daughter. Mabel adored hermother, and was absolutely happy if she might accompany her on someerrand of mercy, or take part in any of her various schemes. She likedto be asked to address envelopes, to write lists of names, or to discussthe programme for a village concert or the prizes to be offered at aflower show; and was already beginning to grow quite clever atorganizing small local affairs. This Easter, Aldred was included in theconclaves, and made her first acquaintance with public and parish work.She had seen nothing of the kind at her own home, and it was arevelation to her to find how interesting it was to help other people.She and Mabel between them marked all the articles for Lady Muriel'sstall at a bazaar, and were allowed to take special charge of the sweetdepartment, selling dainty boxes of home-made bon-bons, and enjoyingthemselves immensely over it. They also arranged the sports for a partygiven to the Orphanage at the Hall, and worked very hard, distributingcups of tea and plates of cake; starting races and games of "AuntSally"; and generally amusing the children, and trying to give them ahappy time.

  "Aldred is
simply splendid at this kind of thing!" said Mabelenthusiastically to her mother. "She keeps everybody going, and seesthat all the little ones are playing too; they're so apt just to standabout and stare, you know. She thought of the loveliest games for them,and told them long fairy tales afterwards. They were absolutelydelighted."

  "I'm so glad to find she is a kindred spirit, and sympathizes with ourwork," replied Lady Muriel. "You have been most fortunate in your choiceof a friend."

  Though Aldred was thus initiated into the busy round of life atGrassingford Hall, the Farringtons did not neglect to entertain theirguest, and provided plenty of amusement for her. She was taken in themotor to see all the sights of the neighbourhood--the beautifulmediaeval castle at Bonbridge, which still possessed moat, drawbridge,and portcullis in excellent preservation; the quaint old town ofBingdale, with its encircling walls and turreted gates; the valley ofMalden, where the woods were in their spring glory, and the primroseswere an absolute dream of delight; the ruined abbey at Dinvaux, whichcould boast of early Saxon carvings; and, last but not least, the viewfrom the summit of Charlton Hill, whence five counties might be seen atonce.

  Though Mabel was Lady Muriel's only child, she had stepbrothers andstepsisters, who were married, and lived within reasonable distance.Several enjoyable visits were paid to their homes, for Mabel was veryproud indeed of her various little nephews and nieces, and anxious toshow them all to Aldred.

  "I can't expect you to admire them as I do," she declared, "but theyreally are dears! I never know which is my favourite--Vera, with thethick, yellow curls; or Betty, with her big brown eyes. Miles is thecleverest, but Barbara says such funny things, and the baby is the mostfascinating little rogue. They all came to spend Christmas Day with us,and it was so delightful!"

  The cousins from the Rectory were frequently at the Hall, and werealways ready to make up a set of tennis, or contribute to a musicalevening. There were two girls, who had turned up their hair, and threeboys, who, to Aldred's great astonishment, went to the same school asKeith, the eldest being actually in both his Form and dormitory. Aldredwas quite excited at the discovery, and only wished her brother couldhave been there, to share the pleasure in her new acquaintances.

  This holiday at Grassingford was the first visit that Aldred had paidalone, and she found it delightful to be free from Aunt Bertha'schaperonage, and a guest on her own account. It marked an epoch in herlife to be thus transplanted into somebody else's home, and to see otherpeople's ways. One thing that particularly struck her was that, in spiteof their wealth and position, the Farringtons were extremely natural andunaffected. Mabel seemed quite accustomed to wait upon herself, and veryready to perform little services for others; and the family life was sosimple, it might have served as a model for any cottage in the village.Aldred began to understand why Lady Muriel had selected Miss Drummond'sschool for Mabel, and to see in many of the arrangements at Birkwood thestrong influence emanating from Grassingford.

  She was very quick at picking up new ideas, and learnt many things atthe Hall that she had not known before, whether points of socialetiquette or fresh channels of thought.

  "We shall make you into quite an antiquarian yet," said Mr. Farrington,who enjoyed explaining his curios to an interested listener. "You'realready beginning to note the difference between Etruscan and Romanornamentation, and to recognize a Greek coin when you see it. Tell yourfather to take you abroad when Miss Drummond has finished with you. It'sthe best coping-stone to put on any girl's education, and enlarges hermind in a wonderful way. In my opinion, six months on the Continent,studying the museums and art galleries, is worth three years at college.If he hasn't time to take you himself, he'd better let you go with us,and be a companion for Mabel."

  "Oh, that would be too absolutely glorious!" exclaimed Aldred, withsparkling eyes.