The Nicest Girl in the School: A Story of School Life Read online

  CHAPTER II

  The Priory

  As this story mostly concerns Patty, I should like to describe herexactly as she looked when she made her first start into that new,strange world where everything was going to be so different from thequiet home where she had spent the thirteen years of her life. She wasnot very tall nor very short, just an ordinary, healthy, well-growngirl, with a round, rather childish face, plump rosy cheeks, a nose thathad not yet decided what shape it meant to be, a mouth that for beautymight certainly have been smaller, a frank pair of blue eyes, and hairthat had been flaxen when she was younger, but now, to her mother'sregret, was fast turning as brown as it could. No one could really callPatty pretty, but she had such a merry, pleasant, sunny, smiling lookabout her, that she always somehow made people feel like smiling too,and put them into a good temper in spite of themselves. She was neitherdull nor particularly clever, only possessed of average abilities, ableto remember lessons when she tried hard, and gifted with a certaincapacity for plodding, but not in the least brilliant over anything sheundertook. She was never likely to win fame, or set the Thames on fire,but she was one of those cosy, thoughtful, cheery, lovable home girls,who are often a great deal more pleasant to live with than some who havegreater talents; and she had a magic way of making things go smoothly inthe household, and dropping oil on all the little creaking hinges oflife, without anybody quite discovering how it was done. Patty's fatherwas a busy doctor in the small country town of Kirkstone. He was outnearly the whole day long, driving about in his high gig to visit peoplein distant farms and villages, and had very little time to give to hisown family, so they were obliged to make the most of the few delightfulhalf-hours he could manage to spare for them now and then. Patty, as hiseldest daughter, held a special place in his heart. She was alreadyquite a nice companion for him, and I think there was no greater treatfor both than on those occasions when she was able to tuck herself intothe gig by his side, ready to open gates, and hold the reins while hepaid his visits. Patty loved those long drives along the quiet roads.She did not care whether the weather were wet or fine, hot or cold. Itdid not matter in the least if it snowed or hailed, provided her fatherwas there to talk to, and they could indulge in those confidential chatsthat seemed to bring them so near together, and made her feel quite alittle woman instead of only a girl of thirteen. It was not often,however, that Patty could be absent for the many hours of a doctor'scountry round. School and lessons claimed most of her time, and even onSaturdays she was so useful at home that they found it difficult tomanage without her. Seven younger brothers and sisters all looked toPatty to settle their quarrels, hem their boat sails, dress their dolls,kiss their bumps and bruises better, sympathize with their small woesand troubles, tell them stories, invent new games, and generally takethe lead in all the important matters of the nursery. She was hermother's right hand, and from the time she was old enough to feelherself a little older than the rest, she had helped to stitch onbuttons, wash chubby faces, fasten tiny shoes, comb curly heads, keepsmall fingers out of mischief and small limbs from danger, and supportthe cause of law and order by an emphatic "don't" or "mustn't" whennecessary. Patty often congratulated herself on the fact that she hadtaught five babies to walk. She was very proud of the family, beginningwith Basil, who was only a year younger than herself, though not nearlyso capable and reliable, and ending with the fat baby who had not yetfound his feet, while in between came harum-scarum Milly, boisterousRobin and Wilfred, coaxing, bewitching little Kitty, and round-faced,stolid, three-year-old Rowland, whose name was generally corrupted toRoly-Poly, because it seemed so exactly to suit him.

  It had never occurred to Patty that life could ever be very muchdifferent from what she was accustomed to. She had seldom been away fromKirkstone, only for short visits to relations or a seaside holiday, andall her horizon was bounded by her home. She went to a day school, whereshe was one of the elder girls, and felt obliged, even in the midst ofher lessons, to keep an eye on Milly's behaviour, and to considerherself responsible for the good conduct of Robin, Wilfred, and Kitty,who were also Miss Dawson's pupils. It was quite anxious work for her toget them off in time in the mornings; to ensure that they did not leavetheir books at home, or forget their macintoshes on showery days, orlose their slates and pencils; to help to lace their boots, and put ontheir hats neatly; to make Milly and Kitty wear their gloves, andprevent Robin and Wilfred from filling their pockets with nut shells,stones, frogs, or other unsuitable articles which were apt to stray outin class and call down the vials of the mistress's wrath upon theirheads. She saw that they learnt their home lessons, did their sums,practised their due portions upon the piano: and it took up so much ofher own time, that she had to work hard to get in even the moderateamount of preparation that was deemed necessary at Miss Dawson's. It hadmeant a very great change, therefore, when her uncle had writtenoffering to send Patty to Morton Priory with her cousin Muriel. It wouldhave been quite impossible for Dr. Hirst, burdened as he was with alarge family and a not too ample income, to place any of his children atexpensive boarding schools. Basil, indeed, went by train daily toWinborough, ten miles off, where there was an excellent boys' college;but no better teaching than Miss Dawson could give seemed in store forPatty, until this sudden good fortune had been thrust upon her. Mr.Pearson, her uncle, was a wealthy man, who had only one daughter. It hadoccurred to him that it would be nice for the two girls to spend theirschooldays together, and he had generously undertaken the full chargesof his niece's education, declaring she should have exactly the sameadvantages as her cousin. He had been fond of his sister in theirchildhood, and thought how suitable it seemed for Muriel, who was threemonths younger than Patty, to have the latter for a companion during theyears he wished her to remain at The Priory.

  "Patty is such a good, conscientious child," he wrote to Mrs. Hirst, "Iknow she will look after her cousin, and stand by her in any trouble. Ican trust her to be a true and loyal friend, and it will be a comfort tome to think that Muriel has anyone so stanch and steady on whom todepend. If Patty will consider my girl her special charge while she isat The Priory, she will amply repay me for anything I may expend on herbehalf. It is a bargain to which I am sure she will agree, and which Ifeel certain she will be ready to keep."

  Such a tremendous occasion as being sent away to school naturally markedan epoch in Patty's life, though she looked upon the event with mixedfeelings. Sometimes it seemed terrible to her to have to leave her dearones at home, and she shrank from the parting with an almost morbid fearlest she should never see them all again; then a more sensible moodwould prevail, and she would be so glad to think she was going, and soexcited about it, that she could scarcely wait until the summer holidayswere over, and the autumn term should begin. The one thing whichtroubled her most was the charge which had been laid upon her to lookafter her cousin. The latter was such a totally different girl fromherself, that unfortunately she felt they had little in common; andthough she was anxious to do her utmost to prove the stanch friend inneed that her uncle required, she was sure that Muriel would greatlyresent all interference, and she did not anticipate an easy task. Shedid not like to discuss the question much with her father and mother.They seemed so pained at the thought that the two girls should notagree, and so wishful that their schooldays should bring them nearertogether, that she determined not to mention the subject again, andcould only hope that her fears might not be fulfilled. What the futureheld in store for her, and what experiences she was to encounter in hernew life at Morton Priory, it is the object of this story to relate.

  A neatly printed notice had been forwarded to Dr. Hirst, reminding himthat the autumn term reopened on September 20th, and that it wasrequested that all pupils should return on that day, arriving not laterthan five o'clock in the afternoon. Patty wondered how anybody could bein danger of forgetting such an important date, and from counting thedays had come to counting the hours and even the minutes up to thatparticular moment when she must set out on her travels. To her
greatdelight, her father and mother had decided to take a little holiday andescort her safely to school. They were anxious to see The Priory forthemselves, and to make the acquaintance of Miss Lincoln, theheadmistress, with whom they had already held some correspondence; andthey both felt they would be much better satisfied if they could picturePatty in her new surroundings, and leave her looking tolerably cheerfuland happy there. After a terrible parting from the children, Patty toreherself away at last from their hugs and kisses, and sat blinking backtears until the cab reached the station, in spite of Dr. Hirst's effortsto distract her attention. She brightened up, however, in the train. Itseemed so important to be sitting there with a new brown leather bag inthe rack over her head, and a new box in the luggage van, both markedwith her own initials, and to feel she was bound for such a particularlyinteresting destination. It was a rather tedious cross-country journey.After they had changed twice, and found themselves on the main line at abusy junction, the long corridor carriage was suddenly filled up with somany girls of various ages, that Patty began to think she must be faceto face with some of her school-fellows, who no doubt were arriving bythe same train as herself. Two mistresses, who were waiting on theplatform, marshalled the excited, chattering young people to theirplaces, and saw to the safe bestowal of their luggage--evidently nolight task, for there were many outcries after bags and parcels of wrapsand umbrellas, forgotten in the bustle of changing, and porters weresent hurrying hither and thither to recover the lost property. Everybodywas at length on board the train, including three girls who made a greatsensation at the last moment by racing down the platform to getchocolates from the automatic machine, and were nearly left behind, tothe equal indignation of the guard and the two teachers. The Hirsts'compartment was crammed as tightly as it could be: five girls managed toscrew themselves into the space of four, and one, who could find no seatat all, sat in turns on the others' knees. Two amongst them at onceattracted Patty's notice. One, a fair-haired girl of about the same ageas herself, cried persistently and unrestrainedly, burying her face inthe window curtain, and refusing all comfort, though her companionspressed chocolates, caramels, mint rock, jujubes, and walnut toffee uponher with well-meant sympathy.

  "Oh, do stop, Avis! You make the place quite damp. No one would think itwas your fourth term. I hope you've brought a macintosh pillow, ifyou're going to turn on the waterworks like this. Wipe your eyes, andhave a peppermint cream. I always take them when I feel homesick.There's nothing does one so much good."

  The speaker was a merry, bonny-looking girl of perhaps fifteen, withbright brown eyes, a clear complexion, a freckled nose, very whiteteeth, and curly brown hair tied with a red ribbon. Patty thought shemust surely have spent all her pocket money at the confectioner's beforeshe came away--such endless packets of sweets came out of the Gladstonebag which she held on her knee, and disappeared with such startlingrapidity that Dr. Hirst looked on in horror.

  "I got hold of my eldest brother," she explained to a companion. "I toldhim I shouldn't be allowed a solitary chocolate drop at The Priory, andhow I should be simply yearning even for treacle toffee. He laughed, andsaid I should have a good time before I got there, at any rate, so wewent into town, and he bought me absolutely anything I wanted. Haveanother caramel, Winnie? It's no use keeping them. Miss Rowe'llconfiscate them all if she finds them in my bag. You won't have thechance of any more sweets for thirteen weeks, remember!"

  "Not unless she can manage to get up a cough," said a girl whom theothers addressed as Ida, "and it depends whether you like Miss Lincoln'scough drops or not. I think they're hateful myself, and taste likemedicine, but Dorothy Dawson loves them. She made her throat quite soreone day last term with trying to cough all through the history class,and Miss Lincoln didn't give her any after all. She only told her to goand take a glass of water. Dolly was so disgusted! No, thanks, Enid! Ireally can't manage another. There are limits, you know, even for me."

  "But we simply must finish them up."

  "Then finish them yourself."

  "She'll be ill if she does," said the short, rosy-faced girl calledWinnie. "I don't believe you've stopped eating sweets, Enid, since yougot into the train. You'll have a horrible headache to-morrow, see ifyou don't!"

  "I'll call it homesickness if I do," laughed Enid, "and then everybodywill sympathize with me. Look here, Avis, if you insist on crying overthe window curtains you'll take the colour out of them, and the companywill bring an action for damages. They're so dusty, too. Your face isall in streaks of black. Let me rub it off for you. Winnie, lend me yourbottle of eau de Cologne, that's a dear. I have a clean handkerchiefhere. That's better. Now do cheer up, and put your hat straight; weshall be there in about five minutes."

  Patty sat surveying these new girl comrades with deep interest. Avis andEnid particularly claimed her attention. She had a kindred feeling forthe grief of the one, and the lively manner and bright chat of the otherwere attractive, while a look in the merry brown eyes, when theyhappened to glance her way, made her think their owner would be willingto make friends. There was no opportunity, however, to speak, and thetrain having reached Morton, everyone turned out in a hurry. In thebustle of collecting handbags and umbrellas and identifying her own boxfrom the huge pile of similar luggage on the platform, she lost sight ofher fellow-travellers, and only thought she noticed Enid's blue dressdisappearing inside a station omnibus, and Winnie's black hat whisk pasther in a closely packed landau.

  "Muriel was to arrive by the earlier train," said Dr. Hirst, as he putPatty's belongings into a cab. "No doubt we shall find her waiting forus at The Priory. What a number of girls! And everyone seems to havebrought a hockey stick. We shall have to ask Miss Lincoln to get one foryou, Patty. If the pretty, dark girl who was in our compartment isn'till to-morrow, I shall be much surprised. I'm sure she deserves to be.If I were her medical man, I should order her a dose of rhubarb and salvolatile. She's going to call it homesickness, the young rascal, is she?She looks as if she could be ready to play pranks. If they would consultme, I'd soon find a cure!" And the doctor chuckled with amusement at theidea.

  The Priory was about a mile away from the railway station, and it waswith a beating heart and a queer lump in her throat that Patty foundherself stepping from the cab and alighting at a great doorwayornamented with ecclesiastical carvings, and, giving a hasty glanceround a courtyard where girls of various ages seemed already to becollected, realized that she had at length reached school. In thefourteenth century Morton Priory had been a monastery of the Franciscanorder, and it now seemed a strange irony of fate that femininepetticoats should reign supreme within the very walls where the greybrothers had lived in such seclusion. The old refectory where they haddined, and the cloister where they had been wont to meditate, were nowgiven up to a lively, laughing crew of girls, whose serge skirts andwhite blouses among the quaint surroundings made a curious blending ofancient and modern. What remained of the monastic building occupied oneside of a large quadrangle, while the other three sides were taken upwith modern additions, erected, however, in such excellent taste, and soclosely in accordance with the architecture of the older portion, thatthe whole had a strictly mediaeval appearance. In the centre of thecourtyard was a pretty Italian garden, with neat box edgings, wherestood the sundial which had marked the hours for the monks who oncepaced there, and still remained an old-world protest against the bigclock in the tower over the gymnasium that set the time for the clangingschool bell. Situated in the midst of beautiful scenery, the largegrounds formed a little self-contained kingdom, shut off from the restof the world: the numerous tennis courts and the playing fields providedample space for outdoor sports; the home farm supplied milk, butter, andeggs; the kitchen garden grew the fruit and vegetables; while a smallsanatorium in a breezy corner ensured a safe retreat for anyone whohappened to be placed upon the sick list.

  Parents were received in the library by Miss Lincoln, who spoke a fewpleasant words to Dr. and Mrs. Hirst about Patty's education andattainments, and th
en, as other visitors arrived, passed them on to anunder-mistress, who took them to have tea in the drawing-room, andafterwards showed them round the school. To Patty, fresh from MissDawson's modest arrangements, it seemed indeed a new world, and shelooked with eager eyes at the classrooms with their Girton desks, theirmaps and their blackboards, the studio with its array of casts, models,and easels, the row of little practising rooms, each with piano, musicstool, and a chair for the teacher; and she gazed almost with awe at thelaboratory with its mysterious bottles and retorts, and the gymnasiumfitted with ropes, bars, and other appliances as yet unknown to her. Herbag was already placed on the chair in her neat cubicle, though her boxhad not been carried upstairs, and her mother was able to note withapproval the excellent arrangements of the bedroom, curtained off as itwas into four parts.

  "I'm sorry you will not be with your cousin," said Mrs. Hirst, "but nodoubt you'll soon get to know your room mates. I should like to seeMuriel before we go. I wonder where she is! We must be quick, as we haveonly ten minutes left before we must start again to the station."

  Miss Graveson, the mistress, volunteered to send in search of her, and agirl started on an urgent hunt through the school; but evidently it wasa difficult task, for it was only when the Hirsts' cab was at the doorthat she returned with the object of her quest.

  Muriel was a remarkably pretty girl, slight and graceful, with eyes asblue as forget-me-nots, and long, silky, golden hair; she was generallyvery artistically dressed, and always looked like a picture, a fact ofwhich she was extremely well aware. She greeted her uncle and auntwithout much enthusiasm, gave Patty her cheek to kiss, and did not seemparticularly delighted at having been called to speak to them.

  "I expected we should have seen you before, dear," said Mrs. Hirst. "Ifelt quite unhappy at the idea of leaving Patty alone, but now you arehere to show her the ways of The Priory, I'm sure she'll be all right.Muriel will be able to tell you everything, Patty, so I give you intoher hands. Now good-bye, my darling child! Don't fret, and write to usas soon as you can. We shall be looking forward to your first letter,and please let it be a cheerful one."