The Nicest Girl in the School: A Story of School Life Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  A Maiden all Forlorn

  Patty awoke next morning with a vague, drowsy, comfortable impressionthat she was in her own room at home, with Milly in the other bed, andshe was just going to turn over and fall happily asleep again, when shesuddenly remembered where she was, and felt as if her heart, instead ofbeing light and cheerful as usual, had changed into lead or somesubstance of an equally weighty description. She realized that it wasthe sound of voices that had disturbed her. Two girls in the oppositecubicles were talking together, in low tones, certainly, but loud enoughto be most distinctly audible.

  "It is a shame, Doris," said the first, "when you and I and Beatrice andMay had all put our names down for a bedroom together, and Miss Gravesonhad almost promised we should have this one! And she won't say why not,either, only that Miss Lincoln had arranged it this way."

  "It's perfectly disgusting," replied the other. "Miss Lincoln'sabsolutely mean. And Beatrice is as disappointed about it as we are.She's in No. 12, with Ada and Carrie Hardman. Think of having to shareyour room with the Hardmans! Beatrice says she doesn't intend even tospeak to them."

  "It's just as bad for us. We don't want this new girl. Why couldn't MissLincoln put her with the Hardmans, and let Beatrice come to No. 7?"

  "Oh, I don't know, except that she knew we were so anxious about it. Weshan't have any fun now. I expect she'll be dreadfully priggish andproper."

  "Have you seen her?"

  "Only for a moment. Ida Haslam pointed her out to me in the recreationroom. I thought she seemed rather prim. At any rate, she doesn't looknearly as nice as Beatrice."

  "She certainly couldn't be that."

  "I wish she hadn't come, and I vote we don't make any fuss over her."

  "I'm not going to, I assure you!"

  "Well, I shan't either. She can take care of herself, and make friendswith anybody she likes. Only it's a horrible nuisance to be obliged tohave her in our room. Look here, Ella, suppose we----"

  But here it suddenly dawned upon Patty that she was listening to whatwas not intended for her ears, so she gave such a very wide-awake coughthat the speaker stopped, and after a suppressed giggle, apparently drewaside the curtain of her cubicle, leaned out of bed, and continued herremarks in a subdued whisper. It certainly was not particularlyencouraging for Patty to find she was so unwelcome in No. 7. It seemedtoo bad that her room mates should be prejudiced against her before theyhad really made her acquaintance. It was not her fault that she had beenput in the place of the companion they preferred, and it was unfair andunkind to have a grudge against her on that account. She wondered ifJean Bannerman would be accorded as cold a reception in No. 10. Jean, atany rate, had seemed friendly, and their little walk round thequadrangle had been so far the only bright spot since her arrival. Shehad not much time, however, for further reflections; a loud bell in thepassage gave the signal for rising, and, afraid of being late, she gotup at once. Judging from the sounds in the other cubicles, Doris andElla appeared to have some difficulty in waking May, who was evidently aheavy sleeper, and all three indulged in many yawns and groans beforethey finally tore themselves out of bed, and hurried rapidly throughtheir toilets, chatting meanwhile about various affairs which werequite unintelligible to anyone who had not yet learnt to take part inthe life at The Priory.

  Patty was able to say good morning to Jean, and to sit next to her atprayers, but they were obliged to separate in the refectory, andbreakfast was as silent a meal as supper of the night before. Lessonsbegan at nine o'clock, and Patty found herself escorted by Miss Rowe toa small empty classroom, where she was to undergo an entranceexamination. All the other new girls, including Jean, had already takenthis examination at home, the papers having been sent to them by post;but owing to a mistake, this preliminary had been omitted in Patty'scase, and she must now give some proof of her attainments before shecould be placed in any form. It was an anxious morning for her. Shewrote on steadily, but it was difficult to do herself justice, as thehistory paper was on a period she had not studied specially, and thegeography also covered new ground. She was allowed an hour for each, andgave a sigh of relief when the clock at last struck eleven, and MissRowe took her to the pantry for lunch. This was a very informal affair;the girls ran in as they liked, and helped themselves to glasses of milkand slices of thick bread and butter, which were placed in readiness forthem. Patty looked eagerly among the chattering throng for any facethat she knew, but though girls were hurrying in and out the whole timeshe was there, she saw neither Jean, Avis, nor Muriel. All seemedoccupied in discussing school topics, and far too busy to notice her,and when the great bell rang, everyone fled hastily to lecture orclassroom, and left her still standing with her empty glass in her hand.She put it down leisurely, and was just wondering what to do next, whenMiss Rowe came bustling up.

  "Come along at once, Patty!" she said, in a rather peremptory tone."Didn't you hear the bell?"

  "Yes," replied Patty, wondering what she had done amiss.

  "Then why are you not back at your desk in the classroom?"

  "I didn't know----" began Patty, but Miss Rowe broke in as if she hadnot the patience to listen to explanations.

  "You will have to learn punctuality here," she said. "Any girl who islate for a class loses an order mark. Now be quick and get on with thisarithmetic paper. I can only allow you till twelve o'clock for it, andthen you must begin the grammar."

  Patty obeyed in silence, feeling much subdued. It was rather hard, shethought, that when she was still so new and strange she must be scoldedfor not keeping the rules of the school. She had not really known thatshe was expected to hasten back to her examination at the sound of thebell, and had, in fact, been waiting for Miss Rowe to come and fetchher. The latter seemed annoyed. She hurried Patty to her place, andhanded her a fresh supply of manuscript paper with very scant ceremony,then, taking up a book, appeared to be preparing some lesson. Pattyremembered how Avis had hinted that Miss Rowe was not popular, and shethought she began to understand why. In spite of the urgent necessity ofgetting on quickly with her sums, she could not help stealing occasionalglances at the mistress, whose clear-cut profile, firm mouth, calm greyeyes, and abundant braids of fair hair half attracted and half repelledher. Miss Rowe was barely out of her teens; indeed, it was only a yearsince she had left school herself to come as assistant governess at ThePriory, and she tried to make up for her lack of years by exacting theutmost in the way of discipline, and asserting her dignity upon alloccasions. Miss Lincoln, who saw that there was sometimes frictionbetween Miss Rowe and her pupils, interfered as little as she could,thinking the young teacher would soon learn by experience, and it wasbetter to leave her to fight her own battles, and hoping that time andprudence would conquer many difficulties. Patty, of course, did notknow all this, but she realized that Miss Rowe was inclined to beimpatient and dictatorial, and in consequence began to think that sheshould not like her. Morning school at The Priory was from nine tillone, and the hours from two to four were devoted to outdoor exercise.To-day, however, owing to her examination, Patty was obliged to returnafter dinner to the classroom, and she was not free until three o'clock,when she handed in her last paper, and was told by Miss Rowe that shemight go and join the other girls in the grounds. Very much relievedthat her ordeal was over at last, she put on her hat and strolled acrossthe quadrangle under an archway into the garden beyond. She felt tiredout and languid. It was a warm September day, and the unwonted exertionof answering so many questions had made her head ache. She wanderedaimlessly along the paths, pausing for a few moments at the tenniscourts, where a little crowd of spectators stood watching an excitingset, then on towards the playing fields, where more girls appeared to bepractising hockey. Everybody seemed to be friends and to be occupiedwith some game or amusement except herself, and the loneliness of herposition struck poor Patty again with full force. Muriel had entirelydeserted her, and evidently did not intend to take the slightestnotice of her. There had not yet been any opportunity
of renewing theacquaintance with either Jean Bannerman or Avis, and nobody else hadproffered even a remark.

  "EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE FRIENDS AND TO BE OCCUPIED WITHSOME GAME OR AMUSEMENT EXCEPT HERSELF"]

  "Do they always boycott new girls like this?" thought Patty. "It wasvery different at Miss Dawson's. If a fresh girl came we used to be sonice to her, and show her everything. If this is a big school, I'd muchrather have a little one. Oh! what can I say to Mother when I write? Ican't possibly pretend I'm happy, and I'm sure she'll expect me tomention Muriel. I shall just have to tell her about the exams., and whatclass I'm in--and I don't even know that myself yet. I must send aletter to-morrow, I promised they should hear by Friday; but I wish Icould have told them some better news."

  Patty's circumstances were certainly a little exceptional. Miss Lincoln,as a rule, took care that every newcomer was given in charge of someclassmate, who was instructed to show her the ways of the school, andmake her feel at home there; but knowing that Patty was Muriel's cousin,the headmistress had naturally thought it unnecessary to speciallyintroduce her, expecting she would at once find herself in the midst ofa pleasant set of companions. If she had had the slightest suspicion ofthe true state of the case, she would have been much distressed, as shetook great pains to cultivate nice feeling among her girls, andespecially to allow no one to be neglected or unkindly treated. MissRowe, the only teacher who so far had had anything to do with Patty, hadbeen too busy and occupied to notice whether she appeared to be mixingwith the rest of the school, and having dismissed her to the garden, didnot give her another thought. Several girls, so Patty learnt afterwards,watched her strolling down the paths, and had half thought of speakingto her: but thinking she was perhaps only looking for some friend, theyhad not carried out their good intentions, and for the present she wasleft alone. Tea was at four o'clock, and was followed by preparationuntil a quarter to seven.

  "Miss Lincoln has not yet been able to correct your papers, Patty," saidMiss Graveson, "so I cannot set you any definite work; but you can comewith me to the Fifth Form room, and I will find something for you todo."

  Patty followed obediently to the classroom in question. The ten girlswho occupied the desks were all strangers to her, and as strict silencewas the rule, there would certainly have been no opportunity forconversation. Everybody seemed working as hard as possible. Some satwith elbows on desks, and their fingers in their ears, evidentlycommitting rules to memory; some were biting their pens in the agoniesof composition, and others counting on their fingers as they added upsums. I think Patty will not be blamed very much if she did not paygreat attention to the passage which Miss Graveson told her to analyseand parse. She was growing so terribly homesick and dispirited, that shelonged to put her head down on the desk and indulge in a good fit ofcrying, and only her habit of self-control saved her from showing herfeelings before her companions. After supper all the members of thelower school were expected to bring their work-bags to the recreationroom, and to sit sewing while one of the mistresses read aloud. Pattyretired quietly to the sofa, and opening the piece of linen embroiderywhich she had brought with her, began to stitch in a ratherunenthusiastic manner. She felt too shy and dejected to offer anyadvances to the other girls, and nobody came and sat by her, or made anyattempt at friendship. She noticed Muriel enter, and for one secondtheir eyes met, but Muriel deliberately looked the other way, and withheightened colour crossed to the opposite side of the room, cutting herso coolly and decidedly that Patty could not possibly mistake herintention. Jean Bannerman was seated not very far off, talking to Avis,but as their backs were turned to Patty they did not see her, thoughJean looked round the room once or twice as if in quest of somebody. Ithink Patty might perhaps have summoned up sufficient courage to go andspeak to them had not Miss Rowe entered, and after an enquiry as towhether all the girls were provided with work, took the armchair whichhad been reserved for her, and commenced to read aloud. The book wasDickens's _Great Expectations_, and ever afterwards Patty associated thefirst chapters with an indescribable feeling of misery and wretchedness.Pip's distresses seemed quite in harmony with her state of mind, and shethought she would almost have preferred his adventure with the escapedconvict to her own present unhappiness. Troubles always seem at theirworst at bedtime, and the memory of home rose up so strongly, that shebegan to come to the conclusion it would be an absolute impossibilityever to like The Priory in the least. A new difficulty which Pattymastered that evening was the art of crying in bed without making theslightest sound so as to betray her grief to the occupants of the othercubicles--a hard and rather choky achievement, for tears are far morebitter when they must needs be suppressed, and the sorrow that causesthem be hidden away.

  She rose next day and went to breakfast, feeling still an alien and anoutsider. The three girls who shared her bedroom appeared determined toshow by their manner how much they resented her presence. They did noteven say good morning, though they were passing through the door atexactly the same moment as herself, and they hurried on as fast as theycould to avoid walking downstairs with her. In all the large schoolthere seemed nobody to whom she could turn for sympathy or advice. Whenthe first bell rang for lessons, she lingered in the hall wonderingwhere she was expected to go, and was much relieved after a minute ortwo to see Miss Rowe coming evidently in search of her.

  "I've been looking for you, Patty," she said. "You've been placed in theUpper Fourth Form. Come with me at once to the classroom, and I'll showyou your desk. Have you brought your pencil box? No; there isn't time togo and fetch it now; you must manage without for this morning. I canlend you this pencil, but be sure you don't forget to return it to me atone o'clock."

  The classroom proved large and airy, with four big windows, the lowersashes of which were painted white to prevent wandering eyes strayingfrom lesson books to the view outside. It was fitted with desks arrangedto face a low platform on which stood the blackboard, a chair, and alarge desk for the teacher. The walls were hung with maps and views offoreign places, and there was a cupboard in the corner, where chalk,new books, ink bottles, and stationery were kept. The vacant deskreserved for Patty proved to be in the middle of the back row, and asshe took her seat she looked anxiously to see who were her classmates.All the girls of both the upper and lower divisions were already intheir places, and the view of twenty-one dark or fair heads, andtwenty-one various coloured hair ribbons was rather bewildering. Murielwas two rows in front, and Jean a little to her left, and in the hastyglance she was able to bestow she noticed Avis and two of the othercompanions with whom she had travelled to Morton on the day of herarrival. Miss Rowe took the call-over, and entered Patty's name on theregister in a neat, firm handwriting; then, mustering the seven membersof the lower division, she marched them out of the room for a separatelesson, leaving the platform to Miss Harper, who arrived punctually atthe stroke of nine. The mistress of the Fourth Form had a strikingpersonality which could not fail to influence those with whom she cameinto contact--tall, dark, and handsome, she gave the impression of muchstrength of will, keen wits, and great abilities. She was a very cleverteacher, who liked to push on quick pupils, but was a little ruthlesstowards stupid girls. She knew how to make the dullest subjectentertaining, and expected a high average of work, having no tolerationfor laziness, and a contempt for incompetence. No girl ever dreamt ofwhispering or idling during Miss Harper's classes. As a rule, a word oreven a look was sufficient to maintain order. She rarely if everinflicted a punishment for a breach of discipline; to do so, sheconsidered, would be an acknowledgment of her lack of authority, andindeed the girls dreaded one of her scathing reproofs far more than animposition or the loss of a mark. Her bright, vivacious, interestingstyle, her fund of appropriate stories for every occasion, and her manyamusing remarks and comments, made her extremely popular with her classin spite of her strictness, and the moment she took her place on theplatform all eyes were fixed on her clever, intellectual face. Thesubject of her lecture this morning was the reign of James I,
and toPatty, accustomed to Miss Dawson's mild explanations, it was arevelation in the way of teaching. As she had not prepared the chapter,she could, of course, not answer any of the questions asked; but inspite of that she felt she had never grasped any lesson so thoroughlybefore: every little detail seemed impressed upon her memory, and shewas quite sorry when the class came to an end, and Mademoiselle arrivedto take French translation. Eleven o'clock was the signal for tenminutes' interval for lunch, and most of the girls began at once toleave the room. Patty was on the point of following, when a hand waslaid on her arm, and turning round she saw Enid, the pretty dark-eyedgirl who had eaten so many sweets in the train.

  "I've been looking out for you ever since we got to school," said thelatter. "What became of you yesterday? I didn't see even the end of yourhair ribbon."

  "I was having exams. nearly all day," answered Patty, "but I was in therecreation room in the evening. Didn't you see me?"

  "No, of course I didn't, or I'd have come and spoken to you."

  "I wish you had, then, for nobody spoke to me at all, and no one's saida word to me at meals, or in my bedroom either."

  In spite of herself, Patty could not help her voice sounding ratheraggrieved.

  "What a shame! Then you don't know anybody at The Priory yet?"

  "Only my cousin Muriel."

  "Muriel Pearson? Is she your cousin?"

  "Yes."

  "Well!" exclaimed Enid, throwing such a depth of expression into thebrief monosyllable, that it seemed to convey a whole volume of indignantcomment.

  "Do you actually mean to say," put in Avis, who had joined them, "thatMuriel Pearson's your cousin, and yet she's never taken any notice ofyou, nor introduced you to anybody?"

  Patty nodded. She did not want to accuse Muriel, but she certainly couldnot deny the fact.

  "Then she's the meanest, nastiest girl in the whole school, and I shalljust tell her so," said Enid, flushing quite scarlet with righteouswrath. "I never thought much of her, but I didn't believe she'd havedone such a horrid thing as this. She deserves to be sent to Coventryfor it."

  "Didn't Miss Lincoln ask anybody to be friends with you?" enquired Avis.

  "No; I only saw Miss Lincoln for a few minutes in the library when Icame."

  "That's queer, because she always sees that new girls are made to feelat home. But I expect she'd think your cousin would be sure to lookafter you. Oh, it's too bad! I can't forgive Muriel."

  "Come with us to lunch, and we'll try and make up for it, at any rate,"said Enid, seizing Patty by the arm, and dragging her down the passageto the pantry. "My name's Enid Walker, and this is Avis Wentworth.That's Winnie Robinson over there. Come here, Winnie, I want to tell yousomething. Do you know, this new girl is Muriel Pearson's cousin, andMuriel never introduced her to anybody, and she's not had a soul to talkto since she came. Isn't Muriel mean?"

  "Disgusting!" cried Winnie; "but it's just like her. She and MaudGreening and Vera Clifford and Kitty Harrison have made a little set allto themselves, and they won't let anyone else come into it. Not that onewants to, I'm sure. I don't care to be friends with them in the least.You'd better drink your milk, Avis, if you want it. Be quick! The bellwill ring in a moment. The bread and butter's all gone, I'm afraid."

  "Never mind, I don't care for any. Why, talk of people and they're sureto turn up! Here she is!" replied Avis, as Muriel entered the pantry toreplace her empty glass on the table.

  "Muriel Pearson, there's something we want to say," began Enid. "The wayyou've treated your cousin is simply horrid. You ought to be thoroughlyashamed of yourself, and I hope you are."

  Muriel raised her eyebrows and looked at Enid with an expression ofsupercilious surprise.

  "Really, Enid Walker," she replied, "who asked you to interfere in myaffairs?"

  "Nobody, but I mean to, all the same. You deserve to be cut by the wholeclass, and I shan't be friends with you again."

  "That's no great loss," said Muriel; "I wasn't aware that we ever werefriends."

  Her tone was disdainful, and the coolness of her manner contrastedstrongly with Enid's excited indignation.

  "But you were mean, Muriel," said Avis. "Why couldn't you introducePatty to some of us?"

  "It doesn't seem to have been necessary," replied Muriel; "you'veevidently taken her up on your own account. I suppose Patty can make herfriends, and I can have mine?"

  "But you left her quite alone at first, with nobody to speak to," saidWinnie; "it was most unkind. You weren't treated like that when you werea new girl. I remember taking you round the school myself."

  "You've a better memory than I have, then," said Muriel. "I wish you'dall mind your own business. When I want to know your opinions, I'll askfor them." And she stalked out of the pantry with a very haughty look onher face, and without bestowing a glance on Patty.

  "She needn't ask me to paint anything in her album, for I shan't do hereven a pencil sketch!" declared Winnie.

  "I wish I hadn't given her the rest of my chocolates! I wouldn't havedone so if I'd known," said Avis.

  "I'm glad she's not my cousin," said Enid; then, suddenly realizing thather remark was scarcely tactful, and that Patty was lookinguncomfortable, she continued: "Never mind, Patty, we like you, you know.You shan't be able to say now that you haven't a friend in the school.I'm going to ask Miss Lincoln to let us each move up a little, so thatyou can sit next to me at dinner. I know Cissie Gardiner won't mindgiving you her seat when I tell her the reason. There's the bell! I wishwe could have our desks near each other, but Miss Harper won't let uschange when once we've chosen places for the term. Be quick! We mustfly, or we shall all lose order marks."