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diff --git a/26549-h/26549-h.htm b/26549-h/26549-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07146de --- /dev/null +++ b/26549-h/26549-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6171 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Caps and Capers, by Gabrielle E. Jackson. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.2em;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size: 1.4em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Caps and Capers, by Gabrielle E. Jackson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Caps and Capers + A Story of Boarding-School Life + +Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson + +Illustrator: C. M. Relyea + +Release Date: September 7, 2008 [EBook #26549] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPS AND CAPERS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-cvr.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 327px; height: 463px;' /><br /> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:1.4em;'>CAPS AND CAPERS</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 333px; height: 455px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 333px;'> +<i>Frontispiece—Caps and Capers</i>. “NOW, GIRLS, COME ON! LET’S EAT OUR CREAM.” See p. 92.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:2.2em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>CAPS and CAPERS</p> +<p style='font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:2em; font-style:italic;'>A Story of Boarding-School Life</p> +<p>by</p> +<p style='font-size:1.5em; margin-bottom:1em; font-variant:small-caps;'>Gabrielle E. Jackson</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; font-style:italic;'>Author of “Pretty Polly Perkins,”</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; font-style:italic;'>“Denise and Ned Toodles,” “By Love’s</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; font-style:italic;'>Sweet Rule,” “The Colburn Prize,”</p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:3em; font-style:italic;'>etc., etc.</p> +<p>With illustrations</p> +<p style='margin-bottom:2em;'>by C. M. <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Relyea</span></p> +<p style='letter-spacing:0.5em;'>PHILADELPHIA</p> +<p>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'>Copyright, 1901, by Henry Altemus</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce' style='font-size:0.8em; font-variant:small-caps;'> +<p>To</p> +<p>the dear girls of “Dwight School,”</p> +<p>who, by their sweet friendship,</p> +<p>have unconsciously</p> +<p>helped to make this winter</p> +<p>one of the</p> +<p>happiest she has ever known,</p> +<p>this little story is most</p> +<p>affectionately</p> +<p>inscribed</p> +<p>by the</p> +<p>AUTHOR.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Contents</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Which Shall It Be?</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_WHICH_SHALL_IT_BE'>13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“A Touch Can Make or a Touch Can Mar”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II__A_TOUCH_CAN_MAKE_OR_A_TOUCH_CAN_MAR'>21</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“A Feeling of Sadness and Longing”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III__A_FEELING_OF_SADNESS_SND_LONGING'>29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>New Experiences</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_NEW_EXPERIENCES'>41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Two Sides of a Question</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_TWO_SIDES_OF_A_QUESTION'>53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Dull and Prosy</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_DULL_AND_PROSY'>63</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The P. U. L.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_THE_P_U_L'>71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Caps and Capers</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_CAPS_AND_CAPERS'>81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Modern Diogenes</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_A_MODERN_DIOGENES'>89</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“They Could Never Deceive Me”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X__THEY_COULD_NEVER_DECEIVE_ME'>97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“La Somnambula”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI__LA_SOMNAMBULA'>107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Have You Not Been Deceived This Time?”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII__HAVE_YOU_NOT_BEEN_DECEIVED_THIS_TIME'>119</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>English as She is Spelled</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_ENGLISH_AS_SHE_IS_SPELLED'>127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV__JINGLE_BELLS_JINGLE_BELLS'>135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Pride Goeth Before a Fall”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV__PRIDE_GOETH_BEFORE_A_FALL'>143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Letters</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_LETTERS'>153</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Haf Anybody Seen My Umbrel?”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII__HAF_ANYBODY_SEEN_MY_UMBREL'>161</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Little Hinge</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_THE_LITTLE_HINGE'>169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Fatal or Fated are Moments”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX__FATAL_OR_FATED_ARE_MOMENTS'>179</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Now Tread We a Measure.”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX__NOW_TREAD_WE_A_MEASURE'>187</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Conspirators</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI_CONSPIRATORS'>197</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“We’ve Got ’em! We’ve Got ’em!“</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII__WE_VE_GOT__EM_WE_VE_GOT__EM'>205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Camera’s Capers.</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_A_CAMERA_S_CAPERS'>213</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Whispers</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_WHISPERS'>225</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“What Are You Doing Up this Time of Night?”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV__WHAT_ARE_YOU_DOING_UP_THIS_TIME_OF_NIGHT'>233</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“Love (and Schoolgirls) Laugh at Locksmiths”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI__LOVE_AND_SCHOOLGIRLS_LAUGH_AT_LOCKSMITHS'>243</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Ariadne’s Clue</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVII_ARIADNE_S_CLUE'>253</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“When Buds And Blossoms Burst”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVIII__WHEN_BUDS_AND_BLOSSOMS_BURST'>261</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Commencement</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIX_COMMENCEMENT'>271</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>“O Fortunate, O Happy Day”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXX__O_FORTUNATE_O_HAPPY_DAY'>279</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>Illustrations</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto'> +<col style='width:80%;' /> +<col style='width:20%;' /> +<tr> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Now, girls, come on! let’s eat our cream.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'>Frontispiece</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“You could have popped me over from ambush.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Do you wish to join the P. U. L.?”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>75</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Go, tell Mrs. Stone she isn’t up to snuff.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Sthick to yer horses, Moik.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Let us begin a brand new leaf to-day.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_6'>175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“I feel so sort of grown up and grand.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_7'>193</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“An’ have ye been in there all this time?”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_8'>221</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Away went Marie, vanishing bit by bit.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_9'>247</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Her hand resting lightly on the arm of her friend.”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_10'>285</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style='font-size:1.4em;'>CAPS AND CAPERS</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_WHICH_SHALL_IT_BE' id='I_WHICH_SHALL_IT_BE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>WHICH SHALL IT BE?</h3> +</div> + +<p>“And now that I have them, how am I +to decide? That is the question?”</p> +<p>The speaker was a fine-looking man +about thirty-five years of age, seated before a +large writing-table in a handsomely appointed +library. It was littered with catalogues, pamphlets, +letters and papers sent from dozens of +schools, and from the quantity of them one +would fancy that every school in the country +was represented. This was the result of an advertisement +in the “Times” for a school in +which young children are received, carefully +trained, thoroughly taught, and which can furnish +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +unquestionable references regarding its social +standing and other qualifications.</p> +<p>It was a handsome, but seriously perplexed, +face which bent over the letters, and more than +once the shapely hand was raised to the puckered +forehead and the fingers thrust impatiently +through the golden brown hair, setting it on end +and causing its owner to look more distracted +than ever.</p> +<p>“Poor, wee lassie, you little realize what a +problem you are to me. Would to God the one +best qualified to solve it could have been spared +to you,” and the handsome head fell forward +upon the hands, as tears of bitter anguish flooded +the brown eyes.</p> +<p>Can anything be more pathetic than a strong +man’s tears? And Clayton Reeve’s were wrung +from an almost despairing heart.</p> +<p>For ten years his life had been a dream of +happiness. At twenty-five he had married a +beautiful, talented girl, who made his home as +nearly perfect as a home can be made, and when, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +three years later, a little daughter, her mother’s +living image, came to live with them, he felt that +he had no more to ask for. Seven years slipped +away, as only years of perfect happiness can slip, +and then came the end. The beautiful wife and +mother went to sleep forever, leaving the dear +husband and lovely little daughter alone. For +six months Mr. Reeve strove to fill the mother’s +place, but until she was taken from him he had +never realized how perfectly and completely his +almost idolized wife had filled his home, conducting +all so quietly and gracefully that even +those nearest and dearest never suspected how +much thought she had given to their comfort +until her firm, yet gentle, rule was missed.</p> +<p>Happily, Toinette was too young to fully +appreciate her loss, and although she grieved in +her childish way for the sweet, smiling mother +who had so loved her, it was a child’s blessed +evanescent grief, which could find consolation +in her pets and dollies, and—blessed boon—forget. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></p> +<p>But Clayton Reeve never forgot, not for one +moment; and though the six months had in a +measure softened his grief, his sense of loss and +loneliness increased each day, until at last he +could no longer endure the sight of the home +which they together had planned and beautified.</p> +<p>Unfortunately, neither he nor his wife had +near relatives. She had been an only child +whose parents had died shortly after her marriage, +and such distant relatives as remained to +him were far away in England, his native land. +His greatest problem was the little daughter. +Nursemaids and nursery-governesses were to be +had by the score, but nursemaids and nursery-governesses +were one thing with a mistress at +the head of the household and quite another +without one, as, during the past six months, Mr. +Reeve had learned to his sorrow, and the poor +man had more than once been driven to the verge +of insanity by their want of thought, or even +worse.</p> +<p>At last he determined to close his house, place +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +Toinette in some “ideal” school, and travel for +six months, or even longer, little dreaming that +the six months would lengthen into as many +years ere he again saw her. The trip begun for +diversion was soon merged into one for business +interests, as the prominent law firm of which he +was a member had matters of importance to be +looked after upon the other side of the water, +and were only too glad to have so efficient a +person to do it.</p> +<p>So, before he realized it, half the globe divided +him from the sunny-haired little daughter whom +he had placed in the supposed ideal school, +chosen after deliberate consideration from those +he had corresponded with.</p> +<p>But this anticipates a trifle.</p> +<p>As he sits in the library of his big house, a +house which seems so like some beautiful instrument +lacking the touch of the master hand to +draw forth its sweetest and best, the sound of +little dancing feet can be heard through the half-open +door, and a sweet little voice calls out: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>“Papa, Papa Clayton. Where is my precious +Daddy?” and a golden-haired child running +into the room throws herself into his arms, clasps +her own about his neck and nestles her head +upon his shoulder.</p> +<p>He held her close as he asked:</p> +<p>“Well, little Heart’s-Ease, what can the old +Daddy do for you?”</p> +<p>The child raised her head, and, looking at him +with her big brown eyes, eyes so like his own, +said, reproachfully: “You are <i>not</i> an old Daddy; +Stanton (the butler) is old, you are just my own, +own Papa Clayton, and mamma used to say that +you <i>couldn’t</i> grow old ’cause she and I loved +you so hard.”</p> +<p>Mr. Reeve quivered slightly at the child’s +words, and with a surprised look she asked:</p> +<p>“Are you cold, dear Daddy? It isn’t cold +here, is it?”</p> +<p>“No, not in the room, Heart’s-Ease, but right +here,” laying his hand upon his heart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></p> +<p>The child regarded him questioningly with +her big, earnest eyes, and said:</p> +<p>“Did it grow cold because mamma went so +sound asleep?”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid so; but now let us talk about +something else: I’ve some news for you, but do +not know how you will like it; sit still while I +tell it to you,” and he began to unfold his plan +regarding the school.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II__A_TOUCH_CAN_MAKE_OR_A_TOUCH_CAN_MAR' id='II__A_TOUCH_CAN_MAKE_OR_A_TOUCH_CAN_MAR'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>“A TOUCH CAN MAKE OR A TOUCH CAN MAR”</h3> +</div> + +<p>The school was chosen and Toinette placed +therein. What momentous results often +follow a simple act. When Clayton +Reeve placed his little girl with the Misses +Carter, intending to leave her there a few +months, and seek the change of scene so essential +to his health, he did not realize that her +whole future would be more or less influenced +by the period she was destined to spend there. +No brighter, sunnier, happier disposition could +have been met with than Toinette’s when she +entered the school; none more restless, distrustful +and dissatisfied than her’s when she left +it, nearly six years later.</p> +<p>If we are held accountable for sins of omission, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +as well as sins of commission, certainly the +Misses Carter had a long account to meet.</p> +<p>Like many others who had chosen that vocation, +they were utterly incapable of filling it +either to their own credit or the advantage of +those they taught. While perfectly capable of +imparting the knowledge they had obtained +from books, and of making any number of rules +to be followed as those of the “Medes and Persians,” +they did not, in the very remotest degree, +possess the insight into character, the sympathy +with their pupils so essential in true teachers.</p> +<p>It is not alone to learn that which is contained +between the covers of a book that our girls are +sent to school or college, but also to gather in +the thousand and one things untaught by either +books or words. These must be absorbed as the +flowers absorb the sunshine and dew, growing +lovelier, sweeter and more attractive each day +and never suspecting it.</p> +<p>And so the shaping of Toinette’s character, so +beautifully begun by the wise, gentle mother, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +passed into other and less sensitive hands. It +was like a delicate bit of pottery, the pride of +the potter’s heart, upon which he had spent uncountable +hours, and was fashioning so skilfully, +almost fearing to touch it lest he mar instead of +add to its beauty; dreading to let others approach +lest, lacking his own nice conceptions, they bring +about a result he had so earnestly sought to avoid, +and the vase lose its perfect symmetry. But, +alas! called from his work never to return, it is +completed by less skilful hands, a less delicate +conception, and, while the result is pleasing, the +perfect harmony of proportion is wanting, and +those who see it feel conscious of its incompleteness, +yet scarcely know why.</p> +<p>We will skip over those six miserable years, +so fraught with small trials, jealousies, deceptions +and an ever-increasing distrust, to a certain Saturday +morning in December.</p> +<p>The early winter had been an exceptionally +trying one, and Toinette, now nearly fourteen +years old, had seen and learned many things +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +which can only be taught by experience. She +had seen that in some people’s eyes the possession +of money can atone for many shortcomings in +character, and that certain lines of conduct may +be condoned in a girl who has means, while they +are condemned in a girl who has not; that +she herself had many liberties and many favors +shown her which were denied some of her companions, +although those companions were quite +as well born and bred as herself, and with all the +latent nobility of her character did she scorn not +only the favors but those who showed them, and +often said to her roommate, Cicely Powell: “If +<i>I</i> chose to steal the very Bible out of chapel, +Miss Carter would only say, ‘Naughty Toinette,’ +in that smirking way of hers, and then never do +a single thing; but if Barbara Ellsworth even +looks sideways she simply annihilates her. I +<i>hate</i> it, for it is only because Barbara is poor +and I’m—well, Miss Carter likes to have the +income I yield; I’m a profitable bit of ‘stock,’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +and must be well cared for,” and a burning flush +rose to the girl’s sensitive cheeks.</p> +<p>It was a bitter speech for one so young, and +argued an all too intimate acquaintance with +those who did not bear the mark patent of +“gentlewoman.”</p> +<p>The six years had wrought many changes in +the little child, both in mind and body, for, even +though one had been cramped, and lacked a +healthful development, the other had blossomed +into a very beautiful young girl, who would have +gladdened any parent’s heart. She was neither +tall nor short, but beautifully proportioned. Her +head, with its wealth of sunny, wavy hair, was +carried in the same stately manner which had +always been so marked a characteristic in her +father, and gave to her a rather dignified and +reserved air for her years. The big brown eyes +looked you squarely in the face, although latterly +they had a slightly distrustful expression. +Hurry home, Clayton Reeve, before it becomes +habitual. The nose was straight and sensitive, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +and the mouth the saving grace of the face, for +nothing could alter its soft, beautiful curves, and +the lips continued to smile as they had done in +early childhood, when there was cause for smiles +only. The mother’s finger seemed to rest there, +all invisible to others, and curve the corners upward, +as though in apology for the hardened +expression gradually creeping over the rest of +the face.</p> +<p>It is difficult to understand how a parent can +leave a child wholly to the care of strangers for +so long a period as Mr. Reeve left Toinette, but +one thing after another led him further and +further from home, first to Southern Europe, +then across the Mediterranean into wilder, +newer scenes, where nations were striving +mightily. Then, just as he began to think that +ere long his own land would welcome him, news +reached him of trouble in a land still nearer +the rising sun, and his firm needed their interests +in that far land carefully guarded. So thither +he journeyed. But at last all was adjusted, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +and, with a heart beating high with hope, he +started for his own dear land and dearer +daughter.</p> +<p>It must be confessed that he had many conflicting +emotions as the great ship plowed its +way across the broad Pacific, and ample time in +which to indulge them. Many were the mental +pictures he drew of the girl there awaiting him, +and would have felt no little surprise, as well as +indignation, could he have known that she was +left in ignorance of the date of his arrival. But +Miss Carter had reasons of her own for concealing +it, and had merely told Toinette that her +father was contemplating a return to the States +during the coming year. It seemed rather a +cold message to the girl whose <i>all</i> he was, for +she had written to him repeatedly, and poured +out in her letters all the suppressed warmth of +her nature, yet never had his replies touched +upon the subject of her loneliness and intense +desire to see him, but had always assured her +that he was delighted to know that she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +happy and fond of her teachers. And Toinette +had not <i>quite</i> reached the age of wisdom which +caused her to suspect <i>why</i> he gave so little heed +to such information, although it would not have +required a much longer residence at the Misses +Carter’s to enlighten her. Happily, before the +revelation was made she was beyond further +chicanery.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III__A_FEELING_OF_SADNESS_SND_LONGING' id='III__A_FEELING_OF_SADNESS_SND_LONGING'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>“A FEELING OF SADNESS AND LONGING”</h3> +</div> + +<p>The half year was nearly ended, and most +of the girls were looking eagerly forward +to the Christmas vacation, which would +release them from a cordially detested surveillance. +But Toinette had no release to look forward +to; vacation or term time were much the +same to her. She had spent some of her holidays +with her schoolmates, but the greater part +of them had been passed in the school, and dull +enough they were, too.</p> +<p>The past week had been a particularly stormy +one, and the outcome had reflected anything but +credit upon the school. Consequently, the girls +were out of sorts and miserable, and the world +looked decidedly blue, with only a faint rosy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +tint far down in the horizon, where vacation +peeped.</p> +<p>As in most schools, Saturday was a holiday. +The day was wonderfully soft and mild for +December, and shortly after breakfast Toinette +threw her golf-cape about her shoulders and +stepped out upon the piazza to see if the fresh +air would blow away the mental vapors hovering +about her, for she felt not unlike a ship at sea +without a compass. Poor little lassie, although +what might be called a rich girl, in one respect +she was a very poor one indeed, for she had +scarcely known the influence of a happy home, +or the tender mother love which we all need, +whether we be big daughters or little ones. +True, she had never known what it meant to +want those things which girls often wish to have, +but which limited means place beyond their +reach. But often amidst the luxuries of her +surroundings, for her father provided most liberally +for her, she would be seized with a restless +longing for something, she hardly knew what, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +which made her feel out of sorts with herself +and everybody else.</p> +<p>“What ails you, this morning?” asked her +chum, Cicely Powell, joining her upon the +piazza. “You look as solemn as an oyster, and +I should think you’d feel jolly because it’s +Saturday, and that horrid Grace Thatcher won’t +be here to poke her inquisitive nose into all our +plans,” referring to the prime mischief-maker of +the school, already departed for her vacation, +with the admonition to think twice before returning.</p> +<p>“I don’t know <i>what’s</i> the matter with me: +I wish I did. Somehow, I don’t feel satisfied +with myself or anyone else, and I half believe I +<i>hate</i> everybody,” was Toinette’s petulant reply.</p> +<p>“Well, I like that, I declare!” was the sharp +retort. “Perhaps you include <i>me</i> among those +you hate, and if that is the case, Toinette Reeve, +you may just do as you like; I don’t care a +straw.”</p> +<p>Ordinarily Toinette’s reply would have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +as sharp as Cicely’s, but this time she just looked +at her with her big eyes—eyes suspiciously +bright, as though tears lay not far back of +them—and walked away, leaving Cicely to +wonder what had come over her.</p> +<p>“Well, I never!” was her rather vague comment. +“I don’t see what has come over Toinette +since that last flareup. Mercy knows, we’ve +had so many that we all ought to be used to +them by this time. She has acted as though +she were sorry that that horrid Grace was sent +off earlier than the others, and I’m sure she has +as much reason to be glad of it as any of us +have. She did nothing but tell tales about all +of us, and peep and spy upon her more than +anyone else. Miss Carter would never have +found out about half the things she did if it +hadn’t been for Grace, and we could have had +no end of fun,” and after this rather prolonged +monologue Cicely went to join the other girls.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Toinette had drawn the hood of +her cape over her head and strolled down to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +lower end of the garden, where a rustic summer-house +not far from the gate afforded a quiet little +nook in which to indulge one’s fancies, whether +pleasant or painful. Curling herself up in one +corner, she rested her cheek upon her arm, which +she had thrown over the railing, and looked +down the road toward the railway station.</p> +<p>Although a very beautiful one, it was a sad, +wistful young face which turned toward the sunshine +and shadows dancing upon the road. +Poor little Toinette, now is the moment in which +the mother-love you are unconsciously longing +for would make the world anew for you. If, +as you sit there, a gentle form and face could +creep up quietly, slip an arm about your waist +as she takes her seat beside you, and ask in the +tender tone that only mothers use: “Well, +Sweetheart, what is troubling you? Tell mother +all about it, and let us see if there is not a sunny +lining to the dark cloud that is casting its unpleasant +shadow over this cozy nook.”</p> +<p>Where is the daughter who could resist it? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +It would not be many minutes before the head +would find a happy resting-place upon the +shoulder beside it, and all the little trials and +troubles—trials so very real and very appalling +to young hearts—would be put into words, and +lose half their bitterness in the telling just because +love—that mighty magician—had come to +help bear them.</p> +<p>A great man once said: “O opportunity, thy +guilt is great!” and I have often wondered why +he did not add, “or thou art very precious.” +So much depends upon an auspicious moment. +A big door can swing upon a very small +hinge.</p> +<p>As Toinette looked down the road with unseeing +eyes, the whistle of an incoming train, +brought her back to a realization of things +around her. The station was barely half a mile +away, and ere ten minutes had passed a man +appeared in the distance. Evidently the owner +of that athletic figure knew where he was bound, +and was going to <i>get</i> there as quickly as his firm, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +long strides could carry him. He was a large +man, sun-burned to the point of duskiness, +bearded and moustached as though barbers were +unknown in the land from which he hailed. +Dressed in servicable tweed knickerbockers and +Norfolk jacket, his Alpine hat placed upon his +head to <i>stay put</i>, his grip slung by a strap across +his broad shoulders, he came striding over the +ground as though intent upon very important +business. Toinette watched his approach in a +listless sort of way, but as he drew nearer and +nearer seemed to recognize something familiar.</p> +<p>“Who can he be, and where have I seen him, +I wonder?” she said, half aloud, as she peered +at him from behind the lattice-work of the +summer-house.</p> +<p>On he came, quite unconscious of the big eyes +regarding him so intently, and presently stopped +to look about him, as though trying to recall old +landmarks. He now stood almost opposite +Toinette, when, chancing to glance toward the +house, he became aware of her presence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>“Why, little lady, you could have popped me +over from ambush if you had had a gun, for I +walked straight upon you and never suspected +that you were there. Can you direct me to the +Misses Carter’s school? The station-master said +it was about ten minutes’ walk, but it is so many +years since I have been here that I find I’ve +forgotten the lay of the land, and I don’t want +to waste much time, for I’ve a very precious +somebody there whom I’m very anxious to see. +Last time I saw her she was only about knee-high +to a grasshopper, but I suspect I shall find +a young lady now, and have to be introduced to +her.”</p> +<p>At the sound of his voice Toinette arose to her +feet, her color coming and going, and her heart +beating so loudly that she was sure he could +hear it. As he finished speaking he regarded +with very genuine surprise the young girl who, +with parted lips and outstretched hands, was +walking toward him like one who doubted the +evidence of her own senses, and with a cry of, +“Papa! oh, papa! don’t you know me?” she +was gathered into the strong arms whose owner +had travelled half around the globe in order to +win that one precious moment.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +<img src='images/illus-037.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 329px; height: 461px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 329px;'> +“YOU COULD HAVE POPPED ME OVER FROM AMBUSH.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_NEW_EXPERIENCES' id='IV_NEW_EXPERIENCES'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>NEW EXPERIENCES</h3> +</div> + +<p>It did not take Clayton Reeve very long to +gain a pretty clear idea of the condition of +things at the Misses Carter’s school, or to +realize what influences had been brought to bear +upon his only daughter. To say that he was +keenly disappointed but mildly expresses it, and +he reproached himself bitterly for having left +her so long to the care of strangers. He remained +with Toinette until the school closed for +the holidays, and the time was the happiest she +had ever known. Nor was it for her alone, for +the other girls came in for their full share. He +was a very liberal man, and it gave him genuine +pleasure to make others happy.</p> +<p>The Misses Carter lost no opportunity of putting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +their establishment in a favorable light, for +they had a strong suspicion that they were in +a fair way to lose something of much more +tangible value to themselves: a very handsome +income. But Mr. Reeve easily saw through +their little foibles, and was not deceived by the +pretty veneer into believing that all was strong +and firm beneath.</p> +<p>He had traveled about the world too much +during the past six years not to have learned +something of human nature, and to read it pretty +correctly. Furthermore, his feeling of self-reproach +made him keenly alive to every change +upon Toinette’s speaking countenance, and when +he saw the look of questioning surprise which +came over it when one or the other of the Misses +Carter made some playful overture at petting +her, or one of the other girls, he drew his own +deductions.</p> +<p>When vacation arrived he settled his bill for +the year, bade them a courteous farewell, and, +with Toinette, “scraped the dust from his feet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +and left the mansion.” Then came a two-weeks’ +holiday such as she had never even dreamed of. +Mr. Reeve took rooms in one of New York’s finest +hotels, and gave himself up to the pleasure of +renewing his acquaintance with his daughter. +That holiday was never forgotten by either of +them, but for very different reasons.</p> +<p>“By Jove,” he said to himself more than once, +“I’ve let a good bit of precious time, and many +happy hours, slip away, if I’m not mistaken, +and I don’t know whether I shall ever catch +up.”</p> +<p>During their stay in the city Mr. Reeve went +in quest of his old college chum, Sydney Powell, +Cicely’s father, and had an interview with him +that was brief, but very much to the point.</p> +<p>“Go ahead, Clint, old chap, and find what is +needed for the little girls, if you can. Cicely +will never go back to the Carter school, and I +should be glad to have the girls keep together. +They seem fond of each other. How would you +like to run out to Montcliff to look up that school? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +I’ve had fine reports of it from Fred Hubbard, +whose daughter is a pupil there?”</p> +<p>And so it came to pass that directly after +vacation the two girls were escorted to Sunny +Bank, as the school was called, and, after a very +satisfactory talk with its sensible principal, Mr. +Reeve left them to her care, feeling sure that +this time he had not made any mistake.</p> +<p>Toinette and Cicely had adjoining rooms, and +nothing could have been daintier than the room +appointments. From their windows they could +look out over a wide sweep of the western valley, +where the sun was just sinking behind the hills, +and leaving upon the sky a glorious promise of +the day to follow.</p> +<p>They were still busy arranging their pretty +trifles about the rooms when the soft chime of +the Chinese gong in the wide hall below announced +dinner. Thus far they had not seen +any of the other girls, but as they stepped from +their rooms they were met by Miss Preston, who +said, as she slipped an arm about each waist: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p> +<p>“I do not forget how lonely <i>I</i> felt when I first +entered a strange school, so let me try to make +it easier for my new girls by introducing some +of my old ones; <i>real</i> old,” she added, laughingly, +as she called to two girls who were curled up on +one corner of the big divan at the lower end of +the hall.</p> +<p>“Come here, chicks, and let me make you +acquainted with Miss Reeve and Miss Powell. +These are Miss Gordon and Miss Osgood, my +dears, but as we are all sort of ‘sisters, cousins +and aunts’ in this big home, I’ll just hint right +off that their home names are Ruth and Edith, +who will be glad to welcome my Toinette and +Cicely.”</p> +<p>By this time they had reached the cheerful +dining-room, and with a very significant exchange +of glances Toinette and Cicely took their +seats, the latter whispering under cover of the +bustle caused by the entrance of the other pupils: +“My goodness, if Miss Carter had ever spoken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +like that to us, we should have fallen flat, +shouldn’t we?”</p> +<p>Ruth sat upon one side, and Edith upon the +other, and it did not take the new girls long to +discover that the dinner hour must be one of the +pleasantest of the day, for all talked and chatted +in the liveliest manner, discussing various happenings, +and again and again appealing to Miss +Preston, who was not one whit behind in the +spirit of good-fellowship which prevailed.</p> +<p>There were six tables, each accommodating +ten people, and a teacher sat at the head of each. +In every instance a teacher who was wise enough +not to observe <i>too</i> much, but who in reality saw +everything, although she could laugh and joke +with the girls, put them at their ease, and at the +same time set them so perfect an example that +few girls would have cared to fail in following it. +Far from exercising a restraining influence, they +proved the jolliest of companions, as the repeated +appeals to their opinions, or the requests +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +for some anecdote or amusing story, evidently +old favorites, amply testified.</p> +<p>When the pleasant dinner was ended the girls +gathered in the big hall, where Toinette and +Cicely were introduced to many of the others.</p> +<p>“What have we to do now?” asked Toinette, +whose sharp eyes had been observing everything +worth observing, and whose active mind had received +more impressions within the past hour +than it had been called upon to receive in a +year. It is needless to add that she was quick +enough to profit by them, and to appreciate that +in <i>this</i> school were taught more surprising things +than chemistry or science.</p> +<p>“Do?” asked Ruth.</p> +<p>“Yes; isn’t there some RULE to be observed +after dinner?” and a rather ironical tone came +into Toinette’s voice.</p> +<p>“Yes; come along, and Edith and I’ll show +you the rule, as you call it,” answered Ruth, as +she caught up the big basket-ball lying upon one +of the chairs in the hall, flew through the door +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +with it, across the piazza and into the gymnasium +beyond.</p> +<p>After an instant’s hesitation the two girls followed, +joining her and Edith, who had run Ruth +a lively race.</p> +<p>“You don’t mean to say that the teachers let +you run and romp like this, do you?” demanded +Cicely.</p> +<p>“Let us!” cried Edith in surprise. “Why +shouldn’t they? We aren’t doing any harm, +are we?”</p> +<p>“No, I don’t suppose there is any harm, but +if we had done such a thing at Miss Carter’s, +what do you think would have happened, Toinette?”</p> +<p>Toinette pursed her mouth into the primmest +pucker, rolled her eyes in a horrified way, +clasped her hands before her, and said, in a +tragic tone: “Young <i>ladies!</i> Such conduct is +most <i>unseemly</i>,” in such perfect mimicry of Miss +Carter that Ruth and Edith shouted.</p> +<p>“Well, all I can say is, that I’m thankful <i>we</i> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +were not sent to that school; aren’t you, Ruth?” +said Edith.</p> +<p>“Better believe I am,” was the feeling reply. +“I get skittish even in this blessed place sometimes, +but if I had been sent there I’d have +been just like one of those little red imps that +Miss Preston has standing on her writing table.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you’d have felt all rubbed the wrong +way, just as Cicely and I feel, and just hate the +sight of a teacher, and want to do everything +you could to plague them,” said Toinette, petulantly.</p> +<p>“Well, you won’t want to do that <i>here</i>” answered +Edith, emphatically. “If you cut any +such capers in <i>this</i> school, it won’t be the <i>teachers</i> +who will go for you, but the <i>girls</i>,” with a significant +wag of her head.</p> +<p>“The girls?” asked Cicely, with a puzzled +expression.</p> +<p>“Certain. We think our school about the +best going, and we aren’t going to let anyone +else think differently, if we can help it; are we, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +Ruth? So, if a girl takes it into her head to be +rude and cranky to the teachers, or other girls, +she finds herself in a corner pretty quick, I can +tell you.”</p> +<p>“Suppose you break the rules?” asked Toinette.</p> +<p>“Aren’t any to break,” answered happy-go-lucky +Ruth, as she pranced down the big room +after the ball, which had gone bouncing off.</p> +<p>“No <i>rules!</i>” incredulously.</p> +<p>“Not a single one. All you’ve got to do is to +be nice to everybody, remember you’re a gentlewoman +(or you wouldn’t be here, let me tell +you), and do your jolly best to pass your examinations. +If you don’t it is your own fault, and +you have to suffer for it; no one else, that’s +sure; for you can have all the help you ask for.”</p> +<p>Toinette and Cicely exchanged glances.</p> +<p>“Oh, I daresay you don’t believe us,” said +Edith, who had correctly interpreted the glances, +“but just you wait and see. All the new girls +think the same, and I daresay that we should +have, too, if we had come here from some other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +school; but, thank goodness, we didn’t. There +aren’t any more schools like this, are there, +Ruth?”</p> +<p>“Nary one; there’s only one, and we’ve got +it,” cried the irrepressible Ruth, and two weeks +later the girls found that, truly, no rules could +be broken where none existed.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_TWO_SIDES_OF_A_QUESTION' id='V_TWO_SIDES_OF_A_QUESTION'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>TWO SIDES OF A QUESTION</h3> +</div> + +<p>It could hardly be expected that, after her +training of the past six and a half years, +Toinette would at once respond to the +wiser, more elevating influences now surrounding +her. The old impulses would return, and +a desire to conceal where no concealment was +necessary often placed her in a false light. +She distrusted those in authority simply because +they were in authority, rather than that they +ever made it apparent. It seemed to have become +second nature with her, and bade fair to +prove a work of almost infinite patience and +love upon the part of the teachers to undo the +mischief wrought in those miserable years.</p> +<p>But, after making a toy of the poor child +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +for all that time, fickle fate seemed about to +make amends, and, although it was yet to be +proven, Toinette was now launched upon a sunny +sea, and destined to sail into a happy harbor.</p> +<p>She was sitting in her room one beautiful +afternoon about a week after her arrival at the +school, and, unconsciously doing profitable examples +in rhetoric by drawing nice contrasts +between her present surroundings and her +former ones. Presently a tap came upon her +door, and she called: “Come in.”</p> +<p>In bounced Ruth, crying: “Come on down +to the village with us, will you? Edith and +Cicely are waiting at the gate.”</p> +<p>“Which teacher is going with us?” asked +Toinette, suspiciously.</p> +<p>“Teacher?” echoed Ruth. “Why, none, of +course. Why don’t you ask if we are going in a +baby-carriage?” and she laughed as she slipped +her arm through Toinette’s.</p> +<p>“You don’t mean to say that we will be allowed +to go by ourselves?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>“Toinette Reeve, I think you’ve got the +queerest ideas I ever heard of! Come on!”</p> +<p>In spite of Ruth’s assurance, Toinette cast apprehensive +glances about her, as though she +expected a frowning face to appear around some +corner and rebuke them. Instead, however, +they came upon Miss Howard just at the end of +the corridor, who asked in a cheery voice:</p> +<p>“Where away so briskly, my lady birds?”</p> +<p>“Only to the village; good-bye,” answered +Ruth, waving her hand in farewell.</p> +<p>“Pleasant journey. You will probably run +across Miss Preston down there somewhere, and +can act as bodyguard for her.”</p> +<p>The girls walked briskly on, and presently +Cicely asked:</p> +<p>“What are you going for, anyway?”</p> +<p>“Some good things, to be sure. I’m just +perishing for some cream-peppermints, and my +week’s pocket-money is scorching holes in my +pocket as fast as ever it can.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>“Do you think Miss Preston would scold if +I got something, too?” asked Toinette.</p> +<p>“What would she scold about? You didn’t +<i>steal</i> the money you’re going to buy it with, +did you? And your stomach’s your own, isn’t +it? Besides, when you’ve been here a while +longer you’ll learn that Miss Preston <i>doesn’t</i> +scold. If she thinks a thing isn’t good for you +to do, she just asks you not to do it, and she +takes it for granted that you’ve got sense enough +to understand why.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess you’re all <i>saints</i> in this school,” +replied Toinette, sarcastically.</p> +<p>“Well, as near as <i>I</i> can make out, you had a +pretty good supply of sinners where you came +from,” was the prompt retort.</p> +<p>When Ruth’s pocket was saved from destruction +the girls started homeward. They had not +gone far when three of the boys from the large +school at the upper end of the town were seen +coming toward them.</p> +<p>“Oh, jolly,” cried Edith, “there are Ned, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +Allan and Gilbert! Now we’ll have fun; they’re +awfully nice. Allan has the dearest pony and +trap you ever saw, and is just as generous as can +be with it.”</p> +<p>The boys were now beside them, and, raising +their caps politely, joined the party and were +introduced to the new girls. This was a complete +revelation to Cicely and Toinette, for at +Miss Carter’s school boys had been regarded as +a species of wild animal, to be shunned as though +they carried destruction to all whom they might +overtake.</p> +<p>But here were Ruth and Edith walking along +with three of those monsters in manly form, +and, still worse, talking to them in the frankest, +merriest manner, as though there were no such +thing on earth as schools and teachers. Toinette +and Cicely dropped a little behind, and soon +found an opportunity to draw Edith with them.</p> +<p>“Don’t forget that Miss Howard said that +Miss Preston was down in the village. I’ll bet +a cookie there’ll be a fine rumpus if she catches +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +us gallivanting with all these boys,” whispered +Toinette.</p> +<p>A funny smile quivered about the corners of +Edith’s mouth, but before she could answer Miss +Preston herself stood before them. She had +suddenly turned in from a side street. As +though detected in some serious misdemeanor, +Toinette and Cicely hung back, and Edith remained +beside them.</p> +<p>With such a smile as only Miss Preston could +summon, she bowed to the group, and said:</p> +<p>“How do you do, little people? Are you +going to let me add one more to the party? I’m +not very big, you know, and I like a bodyguard. +Besides, I haven’t seen the boys in a ‘blue +moon,’ and I think it high time I took them +to task, for they haven’t been to call upon us +in an age. Give an account of yourselves, +young sirs. Before very long there is going to +be a dance at a house I could mention, and you +don’t want to be forgotten by the hostess, do +you?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p> +<p>Toinette and Cicely found it difficult to believe +themselves awake. Touching Edith’s elbow, +they indicated by mysterious signs that +they wished to ask something, and dropped still +further behind.</p> +<p>“What does it all mean, anyhow? She +doesn’t really mean to have the boys at the +house, does she?”</p> +<p>Edith’s eyes began to twinkle as though someone +had dropped a little diamond into each, and, +without answering, she gave a funny laugh and +took a few quick steps forward. Slipping an +arm about Miss Preston’s waist, she said: “Miss +Preston?”</p> +<p>“Yes, dear,” turning a pleasant face toward +the girl.</p> +<p>“The girls are planning a candy frolic for +next Friday night, and were going to ask your +permission to-day, only they haven’t had time +yet. May we have it over in the kitchen of +the cottage, and may the boys come, too?”</p> +<p>A merry smile had overspread Miss Preston’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +face, and when Edith finished speaking, she +said:</p> +<p>“Young gentlemen, I hope you didn’t hear +the last remark made by my friend, Miss Osgood; +at all events, you’re not supposed to have +done so; it would be embarrassing for us all. +But, since you did not, I’ll say to her: Yes, +you may have your candy frolic, and that is for +her ears alone. Now to you: The girls are to +have a candy frolic Friday evening, and would +be delighted to have your company.”</p> +<p>It had all been said in Miss Preston’s irresistibly +funny way, and was greeted with shouts +of laughter. Toinette and Cicely had learned +something new. All now crowded about her +urging her to accept some of their goodies, and, +joining heartily in the spirit of good-comradeship, +she took a sweetie from first one box and +then another. Possibly another person, with a +stricter regard for Mrs. Grundy’s extremely refined +sensibilities, might have hesitated to walk +along the highways surrounded by half a dozen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +boys and girls, all chattering as hard as their +tongues could wag, and munching cream-peppermints; +but Miss Preston’s motto was “Vis in +ute,” and, with the fine instinct so often wanting +in those who have young characters to form, +she looked upon the question from their side, +feeling sure that sooner or later would arise questions +which she would wish them to regard from +hers; and therein lay the key-note of her success.</p> +<p>She would no more have thought of raising +the barrier of teacher and pupil between herself +and her girls than she would have thought of +depriving them of something necessary to their +physical welfare. The girls were her friends +and she theirs—their best and truest, to whom +they might come with their joys or their sorrows, +sure of her sympathy with either, and, +rather than cast a shadow upon their confidence, +she would have toiled up the hill with the whole +school swarming about her, and an express-wagon +of sweets following close behind. That +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +was the secret of her wonderful power over +them. They never realized the disparity between +their own ages and hers, because she had +never forgotten when life was young.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI_DULL_AND_PROSY' id='VI_DULL_AND_PROSY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>DULL AND PROSY</h3> +</div> + +<p>It is to be hoped that those who read this +story will not run off with the idea that I +am trying to set Miss Preston’s school up +as a model in every sense of the word, for I am +not. I am simply trying to tell a story of boarding-school +life as it really was “once upon a +time.” And I think that I ought to be able to +tell it pretty correctly, having seen with my own +eyes and heard with my own ears many of the +pranks related. The methods followed and the +results obtained may be believed or not; that +rests with the individual reading. Long ago, +in my own childhood days, our “old Virginy” +cook used to say to me: “La, chile, dey’s a heap +sight mo’ flies ketched wid ’lasses dan vingegar,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +and I have come to the conclusion that she had +truth on her side.</p> +<p>The girls were by no means saints. Saints, +after all, are rather ethereal creatures, and Miss +Preston’s girls were real flesh and blood lassies, +brimful of life and fun, and, like most lassies, +ready for a good time.</p> +<p>As Ruth had said, there were no rules; that +is, the girls were never told that they must <i>not</i> +do this, or that they <i>must</i> do the other thing. +A spirit of courtesy dominated everything, and +a subtle influence pervaded the entire school, +bringing about desired results without words. +The girls understood that all possible liberty +would be granted them, and that their outgoings +and incomings would be exactly such as would +be allowed them in their own homes, and if +some were inclined to abuse that liberty they +soon learned where license began.</p> +<p>No school turned out better equipped girls, and +none held a higher standard in college examinations. +A Sunny Bank diploma was a sure passport. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +When the girls worked they worked hard, +and when playtime came it was enjoyed to the full. +Naturally, with so many dispositions surrounding +her, Miss Preston often in secret floundered +in a “slough of despond,” for that which could +influence one girl for her good might prove a +complete failure when brought to bear upon +another. Never was the old adage, “What is +one man’s meat is another man’s poison,” more +truly illustrated.</p> +<p>But Miss Preston had a stanch friend, and +trusted Him implicitly. Often, when perplexed +and troubled, a half-hour’s quiet talk with Him +close shut behind her own door would give her +wisdom and strength for the baffling question, +and when she again appeared among them the +girls wondered at her serene expression and +winning smile, for in that half-hour’s seclusion +she had managed to remove all trace of the soil +from the “slough,” and, refreshed and strengthened +by an unfailing help, could resume her +“Pilgrimage.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></p> +<p>She often said, in her quaint way: “The +hardest work I have to do is to undo,” and that +was very true. Many times the home influence +was of the worst possible sort for a young girl, +or else there was just none at all. Such girls +were difficult subjects. Many had come from +other schools, as in Toinette’s case, where distrust +seemed to be the key-note of the establishment, +and then came Miss Preston’s severest +trials. The confidence of such girls must be +won ere a step could be taken in the right +direction. It was a rare exception when Miss +Preston failed to win it.</p> +<p>“You feel such a nasty little bit of a crawling +thing when you’ve done a mean thing to Miss +Preston,” a girl once said. “If she’d only give +you a first-class blowing up—for that’s just what +you know you deserve all the time—you could +stand it, but she never does. She just puts her +arm around you and looks straight through you +with those soft gray eyes of hers, and never says +one word. Then you begin to shrivel up, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +you keep right on shriveling till you feel like +Alice in Wonderland. You can’t say boo, because +<i>she</i> hasn’t, and when she gives you a soft +little kiss on your forehead, and whispers so +gently: Don’t try to talk about it now, dear; +just go and lock yourself in your room and +have a quiet think, and I’m sure the kink will +straighten out. I could lie flat on the floor and +let her dance a hornpipe on me if she wanted to.”</p> +<p>It was not to be expected that all the other +teachers would display such remarkable tact as +their principal, but her example went a long +way. Moreover, she was very careful in the +choice of those in whose care her girls were to +be given, and often said: “Neither schools nor +colleges make teachers: it is God first, and +mothers afterward.” And she was not far +wrong, for God must put love into the human +heart, and mothers must shape the character. +When I see a child playing with her dollies, I +can form a pretty shrewd guess of the manner of +woman that child’s mother is. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>Frolics and pranks of all sorts were by no +means unknown in the school, and often they +were funny enough, but what Miss Preston did +not know about those frolics was not worth +knowing. Her instructions to her teachers were: +“Don’t see <i>too much</i>. Unless there is danger of +flood or fire, appendicitis or pneumonia, be +blind.”</p> +<p>Many of the girls had their own ponies and +carriages, and drove about the beautiful suburbs +of Montcliff. If the boys chose to hop up +behind a trap and drive along, too, where was +the harm? The very fact that it need not be +concealed made it a matter of course. Friday +evenings were always ones of exceptional liberty. +Callers of both sexes came, and the girls danced, +had candy pulls, or any sort of impromptu fun. +Once a year, usually in February, a dance was +given, which was, of course, <i>the</i> event of the +season.</p> +<p>During the week the girls kept early hours, +and at nine-thirty the house was, as a rule, en +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +route for the “Land o’ Nod,” but exceptions +came to prove the rule, and nothing was more +liable to cause one than the arrival of a box +from home. Upon such occasions the “fire, +flood, appendicitis and pneumonia” hint held +good.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_THE_P_U_L' id='VII_THE_P_U_L'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>THE P. U. L.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“What upon earth are you doing!” +exclaimed Toinette, as she opened +Ruth’s door, in response to the +“come in” which followed her knock, and stood +transfixed upon the threshold at the spectacle +she beheld.</p> +<p>“Cleaning house, to be sure. Didn’t you +ever do it?”</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly that way,” was Toinette’s +reply.</p> +<p>Ruth threw back her head and gave a merry +peal of laughter.</p> +<p>“It <i>is</i> rather a novel way, I will admit, but, +you see, I hate to do things just exactly as everybody +else does, so I sailed right in, head over +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +ears. To tell the truth, now I’m in, I wish it +wasn’t <i>quite</i> so deep,” and Ruth cast a look +strongly savoring of despair at the conglomeration +surrounding her.</p> +<p>She was seated in the middle of the floor, and +almost buried beneath the contents of every +drawer and closet in the room. Not only her +own, but Edith’s belongings, too, had been +dumped in a promiscuous heap on the floor, and +such a sea of underclothing, stockings, shoes, +dresses, waists, jackets, coats, hats, gloves, collars, +ties, ribbons, veils, dressing-sacques, golf-capes +and belts, to say nothing of the contents of both +their jewel boxes, no pen can describe.</p> +<p>Not content with the contents, the drawers, +too, had been dragged out to be dusted, and +were standing on end all about her, a veritable +rampart of defence.</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t think you would know where to +begin,” said Toinette.</p> +<p>“I don’t, and I think I’ll leave the whole +mess for Helma to tidy up in the morning,” and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +up jumped Ruth, to give the last stroke to the +disorder by overturning the tray of pins and +hairpins which she had been sorting when +Toinette entered.</p> +<p>“There, now you have done it!” exclaimed +Edith, “and I can tell you one thing, you may +just as well make up your mind to put my +things back where you got them, ’cause I’m not +going to,” and she wagged her head positively.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear me, this is what comes of trying to +be a P. U. L.,” said Ruth.</p> +<p>“A P. U. L.?” asked Toinette. “What in +the world is that?”</p> +<p>“<i>That’s</i> what it is! I found it stuck up in +my room when I got back from recitations to-day. +I’ve been in such a tear of a hurry for +the last few mornings that my room hasn’t been +quite up to the mark, I suppose, but Miss Preston +never said a word, and now here’s this thing +stuck here.”</p> +<p>Toinette took the sheet of paper which Ruth +handed to her, and began to read: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='text-align: center;'>THE PICK-UP LEAGUE</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Do you wish to join the P. U. L.?</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Then listen to this, but don’t you tell,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>For it’s a great secret, and will be—well—</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>We <i>hope</i>, as potent as “book and bell.”</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>A P. U. L. has a place for her hat,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And keeps it there; O wonder of that!</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Her gloves are put away in their case;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Her coat hung up with a charming grace.</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>School-books and papers are laid away,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>To be quickly found on the following day.</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Then, ere she starts, so blithe and gay,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>She tarries a moment just to say:</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“Wait, just a jiff, while I stop to put</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>This blessed gown on its proper hook,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And tuck this ‘nightie’ snugly from sight</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Under my pillow for to-night.</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“And all these little, kinky hairs,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Which, though so frail, can prove such snares,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And furnish some one a chance to say:</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>‘Your comb and brush were not cleaned to-day.’</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“Hair ribbons, trinkets, scraps and bits,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Papers and pencils and torn snips,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Left scattered about can prove <i>such</i> pits!</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And <i>in</i> we tumble, and just ‘catch fits.’</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“And this is the reason we formed the league,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And will keep its rules, you had better believe:</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>To keep our rooms tidy, to keep things neat,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>So much that is ‘bitter’ may be turned ‘sweet.’”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +<img src='images/illus-075.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 317px; height: 449px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 317px;'> +“DO YOU WISH TO JOIN THE P. U. L.?”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></div> +<p>When she had finished reading, she sat down +on the edge of the bed and laughed till she +cried.</p> +<p>“Great, isn’t it?” asked Ruth. “That’s the +way Miss Preston brings us up to schedule time. +When I came home from the school-building +this afternoon I thought I’d do wonders; and,” +she added, ruefully, “I guess I’ve done them. +Good gracious, I’m so hungry from working +so hard that I just can’t see straight. +Isn’t there something eatable in the establishment?”</p> +<p>“If that much work reduces you to a state +of starvation, what will you be when it’s all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +done?” asked Edith. “There <i>were</i> some crackers +on the shelf, but land knows where they +are now; you’ve dragged every blessed thing +off of it.”</p> +<p>“There are your crackers, right under your +nose,” said Ruth, triumphantly, as she pointed +to a box of wafers half hidden under Edith’s best +hat. “There’s some tea in that caddy, and you +can heat some water in the kettle. What more +do you want?”</p> +<p>Edith scratched a match and held it to the +little alcohol lamp under the tea-kettle, but no +flame resulted.</p> +<p>“Every bit of alcohol is burned out. Have +you any more?”</p> +<p>“Not a drop; used the last to get the pine-gum +off my fingers after we came back from the +woods last Tuesday. Here, take the cologne, +that will do just as well,” and forthwith the +cologne was poured into the lamp, which was +soon burning away right merrily. The water was +heated, the tea made, and four girls sat down in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +the midst of the topsy-turvy room to sip tea and +munch saltines.</p> +<p>“I came in to ask,” said Toinette, “whether +you girls have any secret societies in this school; +have you?”</p> +<p>“Nary one, as I know of,” answered the +irrepressible Ruth. “Wish we had.”</p> +<p>“Let’s start one,” said Toinette. “We had +two or three at Miss Carter’s; they had to be +secret or none at all, and it was no end of fun. +Papa wrote me that he was going to send me a +box of good things before long, and when it +comes let’s meet that night and have a feast. +He will no doubt send enough for the entire +school, he always does, and I want some of the +girls to have the benefit of it.”</p> +<p>“Don’t believe you will have to urge them +very hard,” said Edith, laughing.</p> +<p>“Good!” cried Ruth. “Which girls shall +we ask?”</p> +<p>Toinette named eight girls beside themselves, +saying: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>“That will make an even dozen to start with. +More may come later, but that is enough to +begin; don’t you think so?”</p> +<p>“Plenty. If we have too many there will be +sure to be someone to let the cat out of the bag. +Come on, Cicely, let’s go hunt the others up,” +and, leaving Toinette and Edith in the orderly (?) +room, off they flew.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_CAPS_AND_CAPERS' id='VIII_CAPS_AND_CAPERS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>CAPS AND CAPERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>The eight girls were quickly gathered in +Ruth’s and Edith’s room and listening +eagerly to the scheme afoot. It need not +be added that it was unanimously carried, and +it was only necessary to choose a name for the +society.</p> +<p>“Let’s all wear masks and caps and cut all +sorts of capers. It will be just no end of fun,” +cried Ethel Squire, a pretty, bright girl of fifteen +who was always ready for a frolic.</p> +<p>“Splendid!” cried Toinette, “and Ethel has +given me a fine idea for a name; let’s call it +the C. C. C.”</p> +<p>“C. C. C.? What under the sun does that +stand for?” asked Helen Burgess, a quiet, serene +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +little body, and a general favorite with the other +girls.</p> +<p>“Guess,” said Toinette.</p> +<p>“Cuffs and Collars Club,” said May Foster; +“mine cause me more trouble than all the rest +of my toilet, so they are never far from my +thoughts.”</p> +<p>“Cake and Cackle Club,” said another.</p> +<p>“Cheese and Cider; a delicious combination +when you’ve acquired a taste for them!” said +Marie Taylor.</p> +<p>“Clandestine Carnivori,” was the last guess, +which raised a shout.</p> +<p>“Good gracious! let me tell you quickly before +you exhaust the dictionary,” laughed Toinette; +“how will the Caps and Capers Club do?”</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Ruth, “just the very thing. +We’ll all wear our bath-robes and white caps +and masks. I’ve loads of white crepe paper, +which will be the very thing to make them of, +so let’s sit down and make them right away. +Come on, girls, help clear up this mess, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +then I’ll find the paper. I can give the finishing +touches to the closets and bureau drawers +to-morrow.”</p> +<p>All turned to with more ardor than skill, and +in a very few moments the conglomeration upon +the floor had vanished. How it fared with Ruth +and Edith when it came time to dress has never +been disclosed. However, the room restored to +outward order, twelve girls set to work to fashion +caps and masks, and, as the last one was completed, +the dressing-bell rang and all scattered +to prepare for dinner.</p> +<p>The evening hours at Sunny Bank were very +pleasant ones, for during the winter, while days +were short and nights were long, there was not +much opportunity for outdoor diversion. Immediately +after dinner Miss Howard, the literature +teacher, would place her snug little rocking-chair +before the cheerful open fire in the big +hall, and the girls would gather about her; some +on chairs, some on hassocks, and some curled +upon the large fur rug in front of the blazing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +logs, while she read aloud for an hour. A fine +library in Mont Cliff supplied books of every +imaginable sort, and the girls were allowed to +take turns in selecting them; providing, of course, +their selections were wise ones. But with Miss +Howard as guide they could not go far astray, +and many a delightful hour was passed before +the fire. Just at present the books chosen were +those relating to English history, and contained +good, hard facts, but, when the girls grew +a little tired of such substantial diet, historical +novels came handy for a relish. As England was +cutting a prominent figure in the world just +then, the girls were encouraged to keep in touch +with the current events, and to talk freely about +them. The last book read, at least the one they +were just concluding, was one which brought into +strong contrast the reigns of England’s two +greatest queens, and the subject was discussed in +a lively manner.</p> +<p>The book was finished shortly before the hour +ended, and, laying it upon her lap, Miss Howard +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +began to ask a few leading questions in +order to get the girls started. As always happens, +there were some girls not wildly enthusiastic +over historical subjects, and such books +did not hold their attention as a modern novel +filled with thrilling situations would have done. +But these were the very ones whom Miss Howard +most wished to reach, and, feeling sure that +her chances of doing so through such methods +were far greater than could be hoped for if she +pinned them right down to hard, dry facts, she +took infinite pains to make her readings as interesting +as much research and a careful selection +of books could make them.</p> +<p>The conversation was in full swing, and Miss +Howard, in high feather over the very evident +impression the book had made, was congratulating +herself upon her choice of that particular +volume, when one girl asked:</p> +<p>“Miss Howard, what particular act of Elizabeth’s +reign do you think had the greatest influence +upon later reigns?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span></p> +<p>“That is rather a difficult question to answer, +Natala. It was such a brilliant reign and so +fraught with portentous results in the future +that it would be very difficult to say that this or +that one act was greatest of all; although, unquestionably, +the translation of the Bible was one +of the greatest blessings to posterity. Who can +tell me something of great interest which happened +then?”</p> +<p>“I can!” cried Pauline Holden.</p> +<p>“I’m more than delighted to hear it,” answered +Miss Howard, for Pauline was at once +her joy and her despair. Affectionate and +good-natured to the last degree, she was never +disturbed by anything, but I put it very mildly +when I say that Pauline did not possess a brilliant +mind.</p> +<p>“Yes,” continued Pauline. “There are not +many things in history that I care two straws +about, but I remembered that because the names +made me think of a rhyme my old nurse used +to say when she put me to bed.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span></p> +<p>“Miss Howard’s hopes received a slight shock, +but she asked:</p> +<p>“Will you tell us what it is?”</p> +<p>“It was letting Matthew, Mark, Luke and +John out,” triumphantly.</p> +<p>“Letting whom out?” asked Miss Howard, +wondering what upon earth was to follow.</p> +<p>“Yes, don’t you remember they let them out +during Elizabeth’s reign?”</p> +<p>“Let them out of <i>where</i>?”</p> +<p>“Why, out of the Tower, to be sure, and it +made such a difference in a history some man +was writing just then, because they had had a +lot to do with it somehow—I don’t remember +just what it was. Maybe one of the other girls +can.”</p> +<p>By this time all the other girls were nearly +dying of suppressed laughter, and when poor +Pauline turned to them so seriously it proved +the last straw, and such a shout as greeted her +fairly made the wall ring. It was too much for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +Miss Howard, and, with one last look of despair, +she gave way and laughed till she cried.</p> +<p>When the laugh had subsided and they had +recovered their breath, Miss Howard endeavored +to explain to the brilliant expounder of English +history that Queen Elizabeth had had more to +do with keeping Matthew, Mark, Luke and +John out of the Bible than <i>in</i> the Tower of +London.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_A_MODERN_DIOGENES' id='IX_A_MODERN_DIOGENES'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>A MODERN DIOGENES</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Half-past nine. Sh! Yes, down in +the old laundry.”</p> +<p>“Who’s coming?”</p> +<p>“The whole club. No end of fun.”</p> +<p>This whispered conversation took place in the +upper corridor. Many of the girls had come +from schools where frolics were looked upon as +an almost heinous crime, and strict rules and +surveillance had made their lives a burden to +them.</p> +<p>It was about ten o’clock when ghostly figures +began to slip through the dark halls. Lights +had been extinguished at nine-thirty and all was +now silent.</p> +<p>Miss Preston was in her room in a remote +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +part of the house, and most of the other teachers +had rooms in the adjoining building. The +laundry in this house was never used, and stout +blinds shut out—and in—all light.</p> +<p>Tap, tap, tap.</p> +<p>“Who’s there?” was whispered from within.</p> +<p>“C. C. C., open for me.”</p> +<p>The door opened, and in skipped a figure +arrayed like the six already assembled, in a +warm dressing-gown and a high peaked paper +cap, with white tissue mask and spy-holes.</p> +<p>All spoke in whispers, so it was almost impossible +to recognize any one. But this only +added to the fun and mystery. “Spread the +feast, girls; the others will soon be here. Let’s +see, how many are there? Seven! Why don’t +the other five hurry? I wonder which ones +here aren’t here?” one girl laughingly whispered.</p> +<p>“They’ll come, never fear, but their rooms +are nearer ‘headquarters,’” said another.</p> +<p>“What luck! Miss Preston doesn’t suspect a +thing. I met her in the hall just before ‘lights’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +bell, and she said as innocently as could be, ‘You +look as though you were quite ready for the +“land o’ dreams,” Elsie, but so long as you do +not take a gallop on a “night mare” all will be +well,’ and I could hardly help laughing when +I thought how soon I might be equipped for +one.”</p> +<p>“This fudge is my contribution,” said another.</p> +<p>“Hold on, girls! I’ve a brilliant idea,” said +Toinette. “Who’s got a long hairpin? Good! +that’s fine. Now prepare for something delectable,” +and, straightening out the pin, she stuck a +marsh mallow on it and held the white lump of +lusciousness over the one candle until it was +toasted a golden if rather smoky brown.</p> +<p>Tap, tap, tap.</p> +<p>“It’s the others. Quick! let them in, for +it’s half-past ten already.”</p> +<p>The signals were exchanged, and in walked +not five but nine more figures.</p> +<p>“Oh, girls, such luck! Just as I came out of +my room I ran right into Maud Hanscomb’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +arms, and she <i>wouldn’t</i> let me go till I’d told +her what was up and promised to let her and +the other girls share our fun. She said they +suspected something was up, and they were +bound to share it. And such a spread! Land +knows how they got it! Just look.”</p> +<p>The tubs were now groaning under their +burden of king apples, cookies, which bore a +striking resemblance to those served at dinner; +crackers, which had surely rested in the housekeeper’s +pantry, and, joy of joys, a huge tub of +ice cream, to say nothing of what the original +five brought.</p> +<p>“Now, girls, come on! Let’s eat our cream +and make sure of it in case of accidents,” said +the stout red ghost, in red cap and mask, who +presided over the tub. “No time to get plates, +so hand over anything you’ve got, and excuse the +elegance of my spoon. It’s cook’s soup spoon, +and may give the cream an oniony flavor, but +that will add to the novelty,” she said as she +served it. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p>“Who is she, anyhow?” asked one girl, who +sat eating cream from a soap dish.</p> +<p>“Haven’t the least idea. One of the old girls, +I dare say, but who cares when she can conjure +up such delicacies?”</p> +<p>As midnight struck appetites and feast came +to an end.</p> +<p>“I vote,” whispered one girl, “that we all +take off our masks and have a good look at each +other, so we’ll know who’s who when we meet +in public.”</p> +<p>“It’s a go,” whispered several others, and off +they all came.</p> +<p>“Let’s have more light,” said the donor of +the cream, and reached up and touched the +electric button.</p> +<p>“Oh! Oh! Oh! Don’t! Miss Preston will +catch us!” cried dismayed voices, but Miss +Preston herself stood before them, a red mask +in one hand and a great spoon in the other.</p> +<p>“This isn’t the first spread I’ve attended,” +she said, “and I hope it won’t be the last. I’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +had too good a time. I had an idea the old +laundry would prove an inviting place to-night, +but I never attend a feast without my tub and +candle—or electric light in this twentieth century—for, +like another mortal who had a fancy +for tubs and a candle, I am in search of honest +folk.</p> +<p>“Your spread was a great success, girls. Only +next time let me know beforehand. I may not +be able to be present in person, but I can still +furnish the tub and light, and it will be a comfort +to me to know the menu in order to guard +against future ills. Good-night. I’m ready for +my bed, and I shouldn’t wonder if you were, +too,” and, with a flourish of her red cap and big +spoon, Miss Preston slipped through the door.</p> +<p>Some very wise ghosts sped away through +the dark corridors, and whispered conversations +were held far into the “wee, sma’ hours.”</p> +<p>The next day the story was all over the school, +and met with various comments. One of Miss +Preston’s combined torments and blessings was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +the teacher of chemistry, a thoroughly conscientious +woman, and exceptionally capable, but a +woman who took life very seriously. Miss +Preston used to say that Mrs. Stone must have +been forty years old when she was born, and consequently +had missed all her child and girlhood. +She was kind and just to the girls, but could not +for the life of her understand why they <i>must</i> +have fun, and that fun in secret was twice the +fun that everybody knew about.</p> +<p>Well Miss Preston knew that Mrs. Stone +would take advantage of her privilege as an old +friend, as well as one of the oldest teachers, and +come in her solemn way to discuss the latest +escapade, pro and con, so she was not in the +least surprised when there came a light tap upon +her door that afternoon, and Mrs. Stone entered. +“‘Save me from my friends,’” quoted Miss +Preston, under her breath.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X__THEY_COULD_NEVER_DECEIVE_ME' id='X__THEY_COULD_NEVER_DECEIVE_ME'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>“THEY COULD NEVER DECEIVE ME”</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Well, Mrs. Stone, what can I do for you, +and why such a serious expression?”</p> +<p>“My dear Marion,” said Mrs. Stone, +using Miss Preston’s Christian name, as she +sometimes did when more than usually solicitous +of her welfare, “I’ve come to have a little talk +with you regarding what happened last night, +and I’m sure you will not take it amiss from +one who has known you since your childhood.”</p> +<p>“Do I often take it amiss?” asked Miss +Preston, with an odd smile.</p> +<p>“Indeed, no; you are most considerate of my +feelings, and I fully appreciate it, considering +our business relations. Of course, I have not +the slightest right to dictate to you, nor would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +I care to have you regard it in the light of dictation. +It is only my extreme interest in your +welfare that prompts me to speak at all.”</p> +<p>“And is my welfare in serious peril now?” +asked Miss Preston, half laughing as she recalled +the previous evening’s prank and her own +very thorough enjoyment of the fun.</p> +<p>“No, my dear, not in peril, but I fear that +you will never grow to look upon your position +in the world with sufficient seriousness, +for, I assure you, your responsibility is enormous.”</p> +<p>“Would I could forget that mighty fact for +one little fleeting moment,” thought Miss Preston, +but, aloud, she asked:</p> +<p>“And do you think that I am not fully conscious +of it, Mrs. Stone?”</p> +<p>“Oh, most conscious! most conscious! You +could not be more conscientious, I am sure, but +you sometimes let a misdemeanor, such as occurred +last night, go unpunished, and it establishes +an unfortunate precedent, I fear.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>“Did you ever know me to punish any girl +placed in my charge?” asked Miss Preston, a +slight flush creeping over her face.</p> +<p>“Certainly not! Certainly not!” cried Mrs. +Stone, hastily, for she had touched upon a point +which she knew to be a very sensitive one with +her principal, and wished to smooth matters +down a trifle. “I do not mean punishment in +the generally accepted term, but do you think it +wholly wise to let the girls feel that they can do +such things and, in a measure, find them +condoned?”</p> +<p>“Do you think that forbidding them would +put an end to them?”</p> +<p>“Merely forbidding might not do so, but exacting +some penalty for such disobedience would +probably make them think twice before they +disobeyed again.”</p> +<p>“Did they disobey this time?” Miss Preston +asked quietly.</p> +<p>Mrs. Stone looked a trifle disconcerted as she +answered: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></p> +<p>“Possibly it was not direct disobedience, but +it certainly savored of deceit.”</p> +<p>“I should be glad to have you ask any girl +who has become a member of that comical C. C. C. if +she thinks she has been guilty of deceit, +and I’ll venture to say that she will look you +squarely in the eyes and say: ‘Deceit! How +could <i>that</i> fun be deceitful?’”</p> +<p>“Do you not think that it may lead to other +undesirable lines of conduct?”</p> +<p>“It may lead to other sorts of innocent fun,” +was the dry remark. “Mrs. Stone, were you +ever young? Surely, you have not forgotten +what the world looked like then. Wasn’t it +invariably the thing you were least expected to +do that it gave you the most satisfaction to do? +Listen to me one moment, for, while I appreciate +your sincere interest in my work and myself, I +cannot allow you to run off with the idea that +I regard my girls as prone to deceitful actions. +It is just fun, pure and simple, and the natural +result of happy, healthy girlhood. Far better +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +let it have a safe vent than try to suppress it, +and take very strong chances of directing it into +less desirable channels. At the worst, a deranged +stomach can follow, and a glass of bi-carbonate +of soda-water is a simple remedy, if not an over-delightful +one. I knew all about the feast several +days ago, and took my own way of letting the +girls know that I’d found it out. It was no use +to forbid it for that night, for, just as sure as +fate, they would have planned it for another, +and devoured a lot of stuff far less wholesome +than the contents of Toinette’s box and my tub. +As it was, we all had a good time, and I’ll +warrant you that the next time the C. C. C.’s +meet I’ll get a hint regarding the tub, at any rate.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps it will prove so. I trust so, at all +events. You are a far wiser woman than I am.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps no wiser, but better able to recall +the things which helped to make my girlhood +a sunny one, and school frolics played no small +part in them.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></p> +<p>“I can but hope that the girls will refrain +from practicing deceit. Of course, they cannot +deceive <i>me</i>; no girl has ever yet succeeded in +doing so, although many have tried to. But I +can invariably detect the sham, and meet it successfully.”</p> +<p>“I hope you may never find yourself undone,” +said Miss Preston, with a laugh. “Girls +are pretty quick-witted creatures.”</p> +<p>Girls are not blind to their elders’ weaknesses +and pet delusions, and it was an understood +thing among them all that Mrs. Stone was +easily “taken in,” to use their own expression. +Consequently, they told her things, and laid +innocent little traps for her to walk into, such +as they would never have thought of doing for a +more wide-awake teacher, or, at least, one who +did not make such a strong point of her power +of discernment.</p> +<p>It was the very night after the Caps and +Capers escapade that the girls were gathered in the +upper hall talking about the previous night’s fun. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span></p> +<p>“It’s no use talking; you <i>can’t</i> get ahead of +Miss Preston,” said one of the older girls. “You +may think you have, and feel aglow clear down +to the cockles of your heart, then—whew! in +she walks upon you as cool as—”</p> +<p>“Ice cream!” burst in another girl. “To +my dying day, girls, I shall never forget that +red ghost.”</p> +<p>“How did she ever find it out, I’d like to +know,” asked Toinette. “Not a soul said a +word, and my box didn’t come till the very last +minute. I hardly had time to let the girls know, +and how Miss Preston ever got her tub of cream +in time is more than I can puzzle out. Maybe +Mrs. Stores had it on hand.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Stores! Yes, I guess so,” cried the +girls, scornfully. “You don’t for one moment +suppose that <i>she</i> would let us have a whole tub +of ice cream, do you? Not much,” said Lou +Perry.</p> +<p>“Why, if Miss Preston wanted it it would +be different, you see,” answered Toinette. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></p> +<p>“No, it wouldn’t, either. Miss Preston never +bothers with the housekeeping or the housekeeper, +although she is always just as lovely +to her as she can be—she is to everybody, for +that matter.”</p> +<p>“For my part, I’m glad she found it out,” +laughed Cicely, “but if I’d suspected beforehand +that she would, wild horses wouldn’t have +dragged me into that laundry. It’s pretty +easy not to be afraid of such a teacher; she +seems just like one of us. Wasn’t she too funny +with that big spoon and the red mask?”</p> +<p>“Are all the other teachers so quick to ‘catch +on?’” asked Toinette.</p> +<p>“Most of them are sharp as two sticks,” replied +Ethel, “but they never let on. There is +only one who makes the boast that she has never +been deceived by any girl, and we’ve all been +just wild to play her some trick, only we’ve +never yet hit upon a really good one.”</p> +<p>“You ought to get Toinette to do the scene +from ‘Somnambula,’” said Cicely, laughing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p> +<p>“What is it? What is it? What is it?” +cried a half-dozen voices.</p> +<p>“The funniest thing you ever saw in all your +born days,” said Cicely.</p> +<p>“Oh, tell us about it; please, do,” begged the +girls.</p> +<p>“Let her do it for you; it will be ten times +funnier than telling it.”</p> +<p>“When will you do it?”</p> +<p>“To-night, if I can manage it; it will be a +good time after last night’s cut-up.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI__LA_SOMNAMBULA' id='XI__LA_SOMNAMBULA'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>“LA SOMNAMBULA”</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the bell for retiring rang at half-past +nine that night, it produced a +most remarkable effect, for, instead of +suggesting snug beds and dream-land, it seemed +instantly to banish any desire for sleep which +the previous study hour from eight to nine had +aroused in several of the girls.</p> +<p>They all went to their rooms, to be sure, but +once within them a startling change took place. +Instead of undressing like wise young people, +they slipped off their dresses, and put on their +night-dresses over the rest of their clothing, then +all crawled into bed to await the first act of +“La Somnambula.”</p> +<p>They had barely gotten settled when footsteps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +were heard coming softly down the corridor, as +though the feet taking the steps were encased +in wool slippers, and the owner of those feet +wished to avoid being heard. A few steps were +taken, then a pause made to listen, then on went +the cat-like tread from door to door.</p> +<p>Toinette’s and Cicely’s rooms communicated, +and just beyond, with another communicating +door, was the room occupied by Ruth and Edith, +but the door was always fastened. Perhaps +Miss Preston considered three communicating +rooms altogether too convivial, and decided that +“an ounce of prevention was always worth a +pound of cure.”</p> +<p>As the stealthy footfalls passed on down the +hall, a light tap fell upon Toinette’s door, and, +springing out of bed, she flew to give a corresponding +tap, and listen for what might follow.</p> +<p>“Sh-h!” came in a whisper from the other +side.</p> +<p>“Yes,” was the low reply.</p> +<p>“Did you hear the ‘Princess’ walk down the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +hall?” The Princess was the big Maltese house +cat, and a privileged character.</p> +<p>“A pretty big <i>cat</i>,” was whispered back.</p> +<p>“That was Mother Stone, and she was just as +anxious to avoid being heard by Miss Preston +as she was anxious to hear what might be going +on in our rooms. If Miss Preston caught her +listening at anybody’s door, she would be angrier +than if we sat up all night.”</p> +<p>“What does she think we’re up to, anyway?” +whispered Toinette.</p> +<p>“No telling, but she knows we had a frolic +last night and is on the lookout for another +to-night, I guess.”</p> +<p>“Maybe she won’t look in vain,” laughed +Toinette, softly.</p> +<p>Twelve o’clock had just been struck by the +tall clock in the lower hall, when a white figure +walked slowly down the corridor. Her hair +fell in long, waving ringlets far below her waist, +her pretty white hands were outstretched in front +of her, and the great eyes, wide open, stared straight +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +before her with a strange, unseeing stare. As +she walked along she whispered softly to herself, +but the words were hardly audible. On she +went, through the long corridor, down the little +side hall, which led to the pantry below, still +muttering in that uncanny manner.</p> +<p>It had long been a standing joke in the school +that Mrs. Stone slept like a cat, with one eye +open and one ear alert for every sound, for she +was continually hearing burglars, or marauders +of some sort or other. So it is not surprising +that before that ghost had gone very far another +white figure popped its head out into the hall +and uttered a smothered exclamation at sight of +number one.</p> +<p>“Dear me! dear me!” she murmured, “my +suspicions were not amiss. Poor, dear Marion, is +so very self-confident. I was sure the last night’s +folly would lead to something else. Such is +invariably the case,” and she followed rapidly +after the figure which was just vanishing around +the turn in the lower hall. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“Those children are certainly planning +another supper, and, what is far worse, are adding +to the discredit of such an act by resorting to +dishonest means of procuring the wherewithal +for it. Oh, it is shocking, shocking! And yet +Marion cannot be convinced that her girls are +capable of deceit. Poor child, poor child, it is +fortunate for her that there is someone at hand +to come to her rescue at such a crisis,” and Mrs. +Stone reached the bottom of the stairs just as the +evil-intentioned ghost slipped into the housekeeper’s +pantry.</p> +<p>“Really, I must be quite sure before I speak, +or I may bring about still greater trouble. But +what <i>can</i> she want here at this hour of the night +if it be not some of Mrs. Store’s provisions?” +and she wrung her hands in despair.</p> +<p>A dim light burned in the lower hall, rendering +everything there plainly visible from above; +and if Mrs. Stone had not been so distressed by +that which was before her, she might have been +aware of certain happenings just above her. Why +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +did not some good fairy whisper in her ear just +at that moment: “An’ had you one eye behind +you, you might see more detraction at your +heels than fortune before you,” but there were +apparently none out of Dream Land.</p> +<p>As her foot touched the lower step, five or six +heads peered over the banister railing above, +and what mystery of gravitation prevented as +many bodies from toppling over after them I +am unable to say.</p> +<p>“Do look! Do look! She is after her full +tilt, girls,” whispered Cicely. “Didn’t I tell +you it would be the funniest thing you ever +saw?”</p> +<p>“Sh! She’ll hear us, and the whole thing will +be spoilt,” said Ethel.</p> +<p>“No, indeed, she won’t,” answered Ruth, +“she is too intent upon catching Toinette.”</p> +<p>“O, why <i>can’t</i> I stretch my neck out a yard +or two so that I may see what is going on in that +pantry? Come on girls, I’m going downstairs +if I die for it,” and down crept Lou, followed by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +all the others, for there was no lack of bedroom +slippers at Sunny Bank.</p> +<p>Meantime Toinette had entered the store-room, +and, going straight to the corner where some +smoked hams and bacon were hanging, took a +monstrous ham from its hook, then, muttering, +“Crackers, too, crackers, too,” opened the cracker +box and drew forth a handful.</p> +<p>Mrs. Stone was thoroughly scandalized, but, +just as she was about to speak, Toinette turned +full upon her and said:</p> +<p>“Yes, I will have some mustard, and a beefsteak, +and baked beans, please. Mrs. Stores +had some on the table to-night.”</p> +<p>By this time Mrs. Stone began to realize that +the girl was not accountable for her actions, for +never was there a better bit of acting for an +amateur. Yet she dared not wake her, for stories +of the serious harm which had befallen somnambulists, +when wakened suddenly in unfamiliar +surroundings, flashed through her brain, and +she was nearly beside herself with anxiety. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>“What shall I do? what <i>shall</i> I do?” she +said aloud in great distress; and, as though in +answer to her question, Toinette answered:</p> +<p>“Go, tell Mrs. Stone that she isn’t up to snuff +as much as she thinks she is.”</p> +<p>This was too much, and, laying her hand +gently on Toinette’s arm, she said, softly:</p> +<p>“My dear child, hadn’t you better come +back upstairs with me?”</p> +<p>Without changing her expression, Toinette +replied:</p> +<p>“How oats, peas, beans and barley grow, +nor you, nor I, nor Mrs. Stone knows,” and +began to dance around in a circle with her ham +tightly clasped in one arm, and the crackers +scattering from one end of the pantry to the other.</p> +<p>Now thoroughly alarmed, and almost in tears, +Mrs. Stone said:</p> +<p>“Oh, my dear, dear little girl, won’t you +come back to your room with me?” and, grasping +hold of Toinette’s arm, endeavored to lead +her from the pantry.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +<img src='images/illus-115.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 305px; height: 467px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 305px;'> +“GO, TELL MRS. STONE SHE ISN’T UP TO SNUFF.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span></div> +<p>But my lady was having altogether too good +a time to end her frolic so soon, while the +audience upon the stairs were nearly dying from +their efforts not to scream. So, without changing +that dreadful stare which she had maintained +throughout her performance, she said, as though +repeating Mrs. Stone’s own words:</p> +<p>“Come back—come back—come back, my +Bonny, to me,” and turned to leave the pantry. +She had barely gotten outside the door, however, +when she paused, and, muttering something +about lemons and pickles, slipped away from +Mrs. Stone’s grasp and disappeared within the +pantry again.</p> +<p>Trembling with excitement, Mrs. Stone stood +for one instant, and then saying, “Miss Preston +must be called, Miss Preston must be called,” +turned and literally flew up the stairs, for once +too lost to everything but the matter in hand +to be aware of anything else, which was certainly +fortunate for the white-robed figures, which nearly +fell over each other in their scramble to escape.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII__HAVE_YOU_NOT_BEEN_DECEIVED_THIS_TIME' id='XII__HAVE_YOU_NOT_BEEN_DECEIVED_THIS_TIME'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>“HAVE YOU NOT BEEN DECEIVED THIS TIME?”</h3> +</div> + +<p>When Miss Preston arrived upon the +scene Toinette was serenely making +her way upstairs, her burdens still in +her arms, but supplemented by several lemons +and a bottle of pickles. She took no notice +whatever of the new arrival, but walked straight +to her own room, and, placing her treasures +upon her bed, covered them carefully with her +bedclothes. At this covert act poor Mrs. Stone +gasped despairingly, and, grasping Miss Preston’s +arm, said, in a most tragic whisper: +“Marion, Marion, what did I tell you?”</p> +<p>But “Marion” was very much alive to the +situation, and, had not a slight quiver about +Toinette’s mouth while Mrs. Stone was speaking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +confirmed her suspicions, some very audible +giggles from the rooms close at hand would have +done so.</p> +<p>Having tucked her ham snugly to bed, Toinette +proceeded to tuck herself there, and, with a +sigh as innocent as a tired infant’s, she closed +those staring eyes and slipped off to the land of +dreams.</p> +<p>“Well, I think the first act is ended,” said +Miss Preston, with the funniest of smiles, “and +we shall not have the second to-night, at any rate. +But this one was certainly performed by a star,” +and, stepping to Toinette’s bedside, she quietly +drew from beneath the covers the “dry stores” +there sequestered, placed them upon the table, +and then smoothed the clothes carefully about +her.</p> +<p>Mrs. Stone began to gather up the articles Miss +Preston laid upon the table, and, consequently, +did not see her slyly pinch the rosy cheek resting +upon the pillow nor the flash of intelligence +which two big brown eyes sent back. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p>They then left Toinette to her slumbers (?), +and, after carrying the pilfered articles back to +the housekeeper’s pantry, returned to Miss Preston’s +room, where Mrs. Stone dropped into the +first chair that came handy. She was as near +a nervous collapse as she well could be, and +came very close to losing her temper when Miss +Preston seated herself upon her couch, clasped +her hands before her, and laughed as poor Mrs. +Stone had never known her to laugh before.</p> +<p>“Why, Marion! Marion!” she cried. “<i>Have</i> +you taken leave of your senses?”</p> +<p>It was some seconds before Miss Preston +could control her voice enough to reply, and, +when she did, it proved the very last straw to +complete Mrs. Stone’s discomfiture, for her words +were:</p> +<p>“Mehitable Stone, had anyone told me that I +was sheltering beneath my roof-tree such a consummate +actress, I should have been the most surprised +woman in Montcliff. Upon my word +I never saw anything better done.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>“Acting!” exclaimed Mrs. Stone, aghast. +“You do not for one moment imagine that poor +child was acting? Impossible! Why, she was +as sound asleep as she ever was in all her life, +and there was not the least sign that she was conscious +of my touch when I took hold of her arm +to lead her from the pantry. Do you suppose +it would have been possible for her to dissemble +to that extent? <i>Never!</i>”</p> +<p>Miss Preston did not answer, but laughed +softly again.</p> +<p>It was too much for Mrs. Stone; rising suddenly +to her feet, she said, with asperity: “It is +useless for us to discuss the matter further to-night, +nay, <i>this morning</i>,” looking at the tiny +clock ticking away upon Miss Preston’s desk, +“but I trust that in broad daylight you may see +more clearly. For my part, nothing will ever +convince me that that child was deceiving me; +my knowledge of girls is too perfect. It was a +most pronounced case of somnambulism, the outcome +of last night’s injudicious eating, and, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +my opinion, a very alarming condition, as one +can never tell to what it may lead. Her digestion +may be seriously impaired. It is quite unsafe +to leave her alone to-night, for she may be +seized with another attack at any moment. I +shall spend the remainder of the night upon the +couch in her room,” and away she went to take +up her sentinel duty.</p> +<p>“It is quite unnecessary,” called Miss Preston +after the retreating figure, but no heed was +given to the words, and when Toinette waked in +the morning what was her surprise to find Mrs. +Stone bending over her asking, in the most solicitous +of voices, if she were feeling quite well.</p> +<p>For a moment Toinette was unable to take in +the situation, but her wits got into working order +pretty quickly, and only her quivering lips +would have betrayed her to a more discerning +person. Mrs. Stone, however, saw nothing but an +inclination to weep, and, stooping over Toinette, +said, soothingly: “There, there, dear, don’t hurry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +to rise, you are a little nervous this morning +and ought to rest.”</p> +<p>But Toinette was at the breakfast table as +promptly as anyone, and as she took her seat +she gave a quick glance toward Miss Preston; +but that astute woman was pouring cream into +her coffee-cup. An hour later, when all were +scurrying about getting ready for the walk to +the schoolhouse, which was situated several +blocks from the home house and its adjacent cottages, +Toinette came face to face with Miss Preston +in one of the upper halls. Both stopped +short, looked each other squarely in the eyes, +and said nothing. Then Miss Preston’s eyes +began to smile, and her mouth followed their example, +and, placing one finger under Toinette’s +chin, she said:</p> +<p>“I am forced to admit that it was one of the +funniest things I’ve ever seen, and extremely +well done, but it scared Mrs. Stone nearly to +death; so, please, don’t favor us with the second +act.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span></p> +<p>And that was the only allusion ever made by +Miss Preston to the midnight ramble, nor was +it ever repeated for Mrs. Stone’s benefit, although +nothing could ever have persuaded the +good lady that she had been the victim of a hoax +that night.</p> +<p>It would have been difficult to find a more +consummate teacher than Miss Preston, or one +who, without their ever suspecting it, could so +bring her girls up to the mark. It was a rare +exception when she failed to accomplish her aim, +and her tact was truly wonderful. There was +rarely a harsh word spoken, although Miss Preston +could speak sharply enough when occasion +required. But she seldom felt that it did. She +had most unique methods, and they proved wonderfully +successful. Then, too, some very old-fashioned +ideas were firmly imbedded in her mind, +which in the present day and age are often forgotten. +That bad spelling is a disgrace to any +girl was one of these, and most nobly did she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +labor to make such a disgrace impossible for any +of her girls.</p> +<p>Knowing how cordially human nature detests +doing the very thing best for it, she never had +regular spelling lessons in the school, but twice +a week every girl in it, big and little alike, +gathered in the large assembly room to choose +sides and spell each other down. So irresistibly +funny were these spelling matches, and so admirably +did they display Miss Preston’s peculiar +power over the girls, and their response to her +wonderful magnetism, that I think they deserve +a chapter to themselves.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_ENGLISH_AS_SHE_IS_SPELLED' id='XIII_ENGLISH_AS_SHE_IS_SPELLED'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED</h3> +</div> + +<p>The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays +and Fridays was the time set +aside for the spelling matches. On Wednesday +the words were chosen at random, sometimes +from history, sometimes from geography, +again from something which the classes had been +reading; but Friday’s words were invariably +a surprise.</p> +<p>One morning, immediately after the opening +exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her +bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:</p> +<p>“It will be well for those girls who are to +lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day +to choose with exceptional acumen—Annabel, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +spell that word!” So suddenly had the +command been sprung upon her that, whatever +knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed +five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of +her head, and she answered:</p> +<p>“<i>Ackumen.</i>”</p> +<p>“Sorry I haven’t time to pass it on just now, +but I’ll reserve that honor. As I was saying, +the heads had best keep their wits wide-awake, +for I’m going to choose the words from a highly +scientific and instructive volume to-day. It is +called “How to Feed Children,” and in this you +will observe that I have a double object in view: +to teach you which words, as well as the sort of +food, to be digested. Wholesome instruction, +my dears; and now to work, every woman Jill +of you.”</p> +<p>At ten-thirty all were again assembled in the +big room, and a lively choosing of sides ensued. +It was not by any means invariably the older +girls who could spell best, for often some of the +younger ones led them a fine race. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>Taking up the brilliantly bound little book, +Miss Preston said:</p> +<p>“Now, my friends, I hope you will look upon +the cover of this book as a brilliant and rosy +example of what I expect, and, I beg of you, do +not disappoint me,” holding up the bright red +book for the inspection of all. “Do not become +excited, but learn to take a ‘philosophical’ view +of it.” Miss Preston paused, and so well did +the girls understand her original way of doing +things that “philosophical” was at once essayed. +The first attempt resulted in “<i>philosopical</i>.”</p> +<p>“A little too suggestive of milk-toast, I’m +afraid, Marion. We must have our philosophy +upon a sound basis. Next.”</p> +<p>Several words passed successfully down the +line until “course” was given, and when that +was spelled “<i>cource</i>” Miss Preston’s face was a +study.</p> +<p>“That which we are most inclined to accept +as a matter <i>of course</i> we may be sure will prove +a matter of mortification to us. Katherine, you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +are given to poetic flights. Who was it that said: +‘The course of true love never did run smooth?’ +He would have had an opportunity to learn that +there were also other courses which did not run +smoothly had he followed—‘pedagogy.’”</p> +<p>This proved a stumbling-block for the first +girl, but the next one spelled it correctly.</p> +<p>“You see, Alma, that even the road thereto +has its pitfalls, so take warning.”</p> +<p>“Catch me ever teaching,” was the half-audible +reply, but softly as it was spoken sharp +ears caught it.</p> +<p>“Posterity will be grateful for the blessings +in store for it, ‘undoubtedly.’”</p> +<p>The word fell to a little girl, but was rattled +off as quick as a wink, to Miss Preston’s great +amusement, for the child was an ambitious little +body who hated to be outdone by the big girls.</p> +<p>“Desirability” was the next word, and was +given to one of the largest, although by no means +the most brilliant, girls in the school.</p> +<p>She hesitated a moment, and then said: “If +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +desire is spelled d-e-s-i-r-e, I suppose the other +end of it will be a-b-i-l-i-t-y.”</p> +<p>“A quality in which you are lacking,” was +the instantaneous retort. “If you desired it +more, your ability would be greater.”</p> +<p>When desirability had been successfully dealt +with, ten or more words were happily disposed +of, then came another poser in the form of +‘physiognomical,’ and the groans which greeted +it foretold its fate.</p> +<p>“What does it <i>mean</i>, anyway, Miss Preston?” +asked one girl.</p> +<p>“Well, there is more than one way of telling +you its meaning, but I believe in simple explanations, +so I will say, that when you all rush off +to the cloak-room at one o’clock that it would be +well for you to observe carefully the expression +upon the other girl’s face when you throw down +her hat and coat in your eagerness to get your +own first. You will then, doubtless, have an excellent +opportunity to form a correct idea of the +meaning of physiognomical. Then you may +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +come and tell me whether you consider her +character an angelic or impish one.”</p> +<p>How well Miss Preston was aware of their +besetting sins, and how shrewdly did she use +them to their undoing.</p> +<p>I should never dare tell the wonderful combinations +of letters which were brought together +ere that dreadful word was spelled correctly; but +such a rapid sitting down followed that a stranger +coming suddenly upon them might have supposed +that Miss Preston’s girls were fainting one after +another.</p> +<p>About fifty words, all told, were spelled with +more or less success, and then came the grand +summing up, and those girls who could not yield +a clean record from beginning to end had to pay +the penalty.</p> +<p>Not a very severe one, to be sure, but one they +were not likely to forget, for each word that they +had misspelled was written upon a good-sized +piece of paper and pinned upon their breasts +“as a reward of demerit,” Miss Preston told +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +them, and, although it was all done in fun and +joked and laughed over at the time, each girl +knew that those words must be thoroughly committed +to memory before the Wednesday spelling +match began its lively session, or her report at +the end of the term would be lacking in completeness.</p> +<p>And so, between “jest and earnest,” did Miss +Preston handle her girls, drawing by gentleness +from a sensitive nature, by firmness from a careless +one, by sarcasm (and woe to the girl who +provoked it, for it was, truly, “like a polished +razor keen”) from a flippant, and by one of her +rare, sweet smiles from the ambitious all that was +best to be drawn.</p> +<p>Toinette was naturally a remarkably bright +girl, and possessed qualities of mind which only +required gentle suggestions to develop their latent +powers. Refined and delicate by nature, keen +of comprehension, she slipped into her proper +niche directly way was made for her, and filled +it to her own credit and the satisfaction of others. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +Nor did it take Miss Preston long to discover +that a delicately strung instrument had been +placed in her hands, and that it must be touched +with skillful fingers if its best notes were to be +given forth.</p> +<p>The weeks slipped away, and winter, as though +to pay up for its tardy arrival, came in earnest, +bringing in February the heavy snowstorms +one looks for much earlier in the season in this +part of the globe. The girls hailed them with +wild demonstrations, for snow meant sleigh-rides, +and it is a frosty old codger who can frown and +grumble at the sound of sleigh-bells.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV__JINGLE_BELLS_JINGLE_BELLS' id='XIV__JINGLE_BELLS_JINGLE_BELLS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>“JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS”</h3> +</div> + +<p>One morning early in February the girls +looked out of their windows to behold a +wonderful new world—a white one to +replace the dull gray one, which would have +made their spirits sympathetically gray, perhaps, +had they been older. But, happily, it +must be a very smoky gray indeed that can +depress fifteen.</p> +<p>“Quick, Edith, come and look!” and then, +flying across the room, Ruth thumped upon +Toinette’s door, and called out: “Sleigh-bells! +Sleigh-bells! Don’t you hear them?”</p> +<p>The snow had fallen steadily all night, piling +up softly and silently the great white mounds, +covering up unsightly objects, laying the downiest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +of coverlids upon the dull old world until it +was hardly recognizable. Every ledge, every +branch and tiny twig held its feathery burden, +or shook it softly upon the white mass covering +the ground. Hardly a breath of air stirred, and +the fir trees looked as though St. Nick had +visited them in the night to dress a tree for every +little toddler in the land.</p> +<p>Down, down, down came the flakes, as though +they never meant to stop, and as one threw back +one’s head to look upward at the millions of tiny +feathers falling so gently, one seemed to float +upward upon fairy wings and sail away, away +into the realms of the Snow Maiden.</p> +<p>It was hard to keep one’s wits upon one’s work +that day, and many a stolen glance was given to +the fairy world beyond the windows of the recitation-rooms. +About five o’clock the weather +cleared, the sun setting in a glory of crimson and +purple clouds. An hour later up came my lady +moon, to smile approval upon the enchanting +scene and hint all sorts of possibilities. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></p> +<p>Lou Cornwall came flying into Toinette’s room +just after dinner to find it well filled with seven +or eight others.</p> +<p>“May I come, too?” she asked. “Oh, girls, if +we don’t have a sleigh-ride to-morrow, I’ll have +a conniption fit certain as the world.”</p> +<p>“Do you always have one when there is +snow?” asked Toinette.</p> +<p>“Which, a sleigh-ride or a conniption fit?” +laughed Lou. “You’d better believe we have +sleigh-rides.”</p> +<p>“You’d better believe! I’ve been here five +years, and we’ve never missed one yet. Do you +remember the night last winter, when we all went +sleighing and came home at eleven o’clock nearly +frozen stiff, Bess? Whew! it was cold. When +we got back we found Miss Preston making +chocolate for us. There she was in her bedroom +robe and slippers. She had gotten out of bed to +do it because she found out at the last minute +that that fat old Mrs. Schmidt had gone poking +off to bed, and hadn’t left a single thing for us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></p> +<p>“I guess I <i>do</i> remember, and didn’t it taste +good?” was the feeling answer.</p> +<p>“You weren’t here the year before,” said +Lou. “Sit still, my heart! Shall I ever forget +it?”</p> +<p>“What about it? Tell us!” cried the girls in +a chorus.</p> +<p>“That was the first year Mrs. Schmidt was +here, and, thank goodness, she isn’t here any +longer, and she hadn’t learned as much as she +learned afterwards. My goodness, wasn’t she +stingy? She thought one egg ought to be enough +for six girls, I believe. It took Miss Preston +about a year to get her to understand that we +were not to be kept on half rations. Well, that +night we were expecting something extra fine. +We got it!” and Lou stopped to laugh at the +recollection. “We rushed into the house, hungrier +than wolves, and ready to empty the pantry, +and what do you think we found? A lot of +<i>after-dinner coffee cups</i> of very weak cocoa, with +<i>nary</i> saucer to set them in, and two small crackers +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +apiece. ‘I was thinking you would come in +hungry, young ladies, so I make you some chocolate. +You don’t mind that I have not some +saucers, it make so many dishes for washing,’ she +said, smiling that pudgy smile of hers. Ugh! +I can’t bear to think of it even to this day, and +she was ten million times better before she left +last spring. That was the reason Miss Preston +took matters into her own hands the next time, +I guess.”</p> +<p>Just then a tap came at the door, and Miss +Preston put her head in to ask:</p> +<p>“Can you girls do extra hard work between +this and eight o’clock?”</p> +<p>Had she entertained any doubts of their ability +to individually do the work of three, the shout +which answered her in the affirmative would +have banished them forever, for the girls were +not slow to guess that some surprise was afoot.</p> +<p>“Very well, I’ll trust you all to prepare tomorrow’s +lessons without exchanging an unnecessary +word, and at eight o’clock I’ll ring my bell, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +and then you must all put on extra warm wraps +and go out on the piazza to—look at the moon. +I shall not expect you to come in till ten-thirty.”</p> +<p>As the last word was uttered Miss Preston met +her doom, for five girls pounced upon her, bore +her to the couch and hugged her till she cried +for mercy.</p> +<p>“Come with us, oh! come with us,” they cried. +“It will be twice as nice if you’ll come!”</p> +<p>“Come <i>where</i>? Do you suppose I’ve lived +all these years and never seen the <i>moon</i>?” and +laughing merrily she slipped away from them, +only pausing to add: “It is ten minutes of +seven now.”</p> +<p>The hint was enough, and not a girl “got +left” that night.</p> +<p>At eight o’clock a silvery ting-a-ling was +heard, and never was bell more promptly responded +to. Had it been a fire alarm the rooms +could not have been more quickly emptied.</p> +<p>The moonlight made all outside nearly as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +bright as day, and when the girls went out upon +the porch they found three huge sleighs, with +four horses each, waiting to whirl them over the +shining roads for miles. Miss Preston did not +make one of the party, but Miss Howard was a +welcome substitute, for, next to Miss Preston, the +girls loved her better than any of the other +teachers, and Toinette was sorely divided in her +mind as to which she was learning to love the better.</p> +<p>Off they started, singing, laughing at nothing, +calling merrily to all they overtook, or passed, +and sending the school yell, which Miss Howard +had made up upon the spur of the moment for +them,</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“Hoo-rah-ray! Hoo-rah-ray!</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 1.47em;'>Sunny Bank, Montcliff,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 3.67em;'>U. S. A.,”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>out upon the frosty air, until the very hills rang +with the cry, and flung it back in merry echoes.</p> +<p>Miss Howard’s sleigh led the van, and one or +two of the girls had clambered up to ride upon +the high front seat with the driver, a sturdy old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +Irishman, who would have driven twenty horses +all night long to please any of Miss Preston’s +girls. Ruth sat beside him, with Toinette next to +her, and Edith was squeezed against the outer +edge. But who cares about being squeezed under +such circumstances? It’s more fun.</p> +<p>The snow had fallen so lightly that sometimes +the runners cut through slightly; but, all things +considered, the sleighing was very good. Still, +the driver kept the horses well in hand, for they +were good ones and ready to respond to a word. +Moreover, the hilarity behind them seemed to +have proved infectious, for every now and again +a leader or a wheeler would prance about as +though joining in the fun, and presently another +animal became infected and wanted to prance, +too. Had she not, the next chapter need not +have been written.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV__PRIDE_GOETH_BEFORE_A_FALL' id='XV__PRIDE_GOETH_BEFORE_A_FALL'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL”</h3> +</div> + +<p>More than five miles had slipped away +under those swiftly-moving runners ere +Ruth was suddenly seized with a desire +to emulate a famous charioteer of olden time, +one “Phæton, of whom the histories have sung, +in every meter, and every tongue,” if a certain +poet may be relied upon. So, turning a beguiling +face toward the unsuspecting Michael beside +her, she said:</p> +<p>“You’re a fine driver, aren’t you, Michael?”</p> +<p>“’T is experience ivery man nades; I’ve had +me own,” observed Michael, complacently.</p> +<p>“It must be very hard to drive four horses at +once.”</p> +<p>“Anny one what kin droive two dacently +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +should be able enough to handle four; ’t is not +the number of horses, but the sinse at the other +ind av the reins.”</p> +<p>“Is that so? I thought it needed a strong +man to drive so many.”</p> +<p>“Indade, no; it does not that. I’ve seen a +schmall, little man, hardly bigger than yerself, +takin’ six along with the turn av his hand.”</p> +<p>“Could he hold them if they started to go +fast?”</p> +<p>“Certain as the woirld, he cud do that same. +’T was meself that taught him the thrick av it. +’T is easy larnt.”</p> +<p>“Then teach me right now, will you?”</p> +<p>Poor Michael, he saw when it was too late +that boasting is dangerous work, but to refuse +anything to “wan av the young ladies” never +for an instant occurred to him. Probably had +he asked Miss Howard’s consent he would have +been spared complying with a request which his +better judgment questioned, but that did not +occur to him, either, so, giving one apprehensive +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +glance behind him at the twenty or more passengers +in the sleigh, he placed the reins in +Ruth’s hands, adjusting them in the most scientific +manner.</p> +<p>They were skimming along over a beautiful +bit of road with a thick fir wood upon one side +and open fields upon the other. The road was +level as a floor, and no turn would be made for +fully half a mile. Horses know so well the difference +between their own driver’s touch and a +stranger’s hand, and the four whose reins Ruth +now held were not dullards. They had been +going along at a steady round trot, with no +thought of making the pace a livelier one, but +directly the reins passed out of Michael’s hands +the spirit of mischief, ever uppermost in Ruth, +flew like an electric fluid straight through those +four reins, and, in less time than it takes to tell +about it, those horses had made up their minds to +add a little to the general hilarity behind them.</p> +<p>The change was scarcely perceptible at first, +but little by little they increased their pace, till +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +they were fairly flying over the ground. Not +one whit did the girls in the sleigh object; the +faster the better for them. The sleighs behind +did their best to keep up, but no such horses +were in the livery stable as the four harnessed +to Michael’s sleigh, for Michael was the trusted +of the trusted.</p> +<p>But he was growing very uneasy, and, leaning +down close to Ruth, said: “Ye’d better be lettin’ +me take thim now, Miss. We’ve the turn +to make jist beyant.”</p> +<p>“O, I can make it all right; you know you +said that anybody who drives two horses decently +could drive four just as well, and I’ve driven +papa’s always.”</p> +<p>“Yis, yis,” said Michael quickly, seeing when +too late that he had talked to his own undoing, +“but ye’d better be lettin’ me handle thim be +moonlight; ’t is deceptive, moonlight is,” and he +reached to take the reins from her. But alas! +empires may be lost by a second’s delay, and a +second was responsible for much now. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p> +<p>As Michael reached for the reins the turn was +reached also, and where is the livery stable +horse that does not know every turn toward +home even better than his driver, be the driver +the oldest in that section of the country! Around +whirled the leaders, and hard upon them came +the wheelers, and a-lack-a-day! hard, <i>very</i> hard, +upon a huge stone at the corner came the runner +of the front bob.</p> +<p>Had the whole sleighful been suddenly plunged +into a hundred cubic feet of hydrogen gas, +sound could not have ceased more abruptly for +one second, and then there arose to the thousands +of little laughing stars and their dignified +mother, the moon, a howl which made the welkin +ring.</p> +<p>Shall I attempt to describe what had happened +in the drawing of a breath? A bob runner +was hopelessly wrecked; two horses were sitting +upon their haunches, while two others were +striving to prove to those who were not too much +occupied with their own concerns to notice that, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +after all is said and done, the Lord <i>did</i> intend +that such animals should walk upon two legs if +they saw fit to do so. Michael stood up to his +middle in a snow-drift; Ruth sat as calmly upon +a snow bank as though she preferred it to any +other seat she had ever selected, albeit she was +well-nigh smothered by the back and cushions +of her novel resting-place; Toinette was dumped +heels-over-head into the body of the sleigh, +where she landed fairly and squarely in Miss +Howard’s lap; Edith hung on to the seat railing +for dear life, and screamed as though the lives of +all in the sleigh (or out of it) depended upon +her summons for assistance. The sleigh had not +upset, yet what kept it in a horizontal position +must forever remain a mystery, and such a heap +of scrambling, squirming, screaming girls as +were piled up five or six deep in the bottom of +it may never be seen again. Some had been +dumped overboard outright, and were floundering +about in the snow, which, happily, had saved +them from serious harm. With the inborn +chivalry of his race, Michael’s first thoughts +said: “Fly to the rescue of the demoiselles,” but +stern duty said: “Sthick to yer horses, Moik, or +they’ll smash things to smithereens, and, bedad, +I sthuck wid all me moight, or the Lord only +knows where we’d all have fetched up at that +same night,” he said, when relating his experiences +some hours later.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +<img src='images/illus-149.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 332px; height: 466px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 332px;'> +“STHICK TO YER HORSES, MOIK.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></div> +<p>When excitement was at its height the other +sleighs arrived upon the scene, and if there had +been an uproar before, there was a mighty cry +abroad in the land now. But, dear me, it is all +in a lifetime; so why leave these floundering +mortals piled up in heaps any longer? They +were unsnarled eventually, gotten upon their +feet (or their neighbors’), packed like sardines +into the two other sleighs, and, with six instead +of four horses now drawing each, started homeward, +none the worse for their spill, excepting a +good shaking up, a few handfuls of snow merrily +forming rills and rivulets down their necks, +some badly battered hats and torn coats, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +one of them, at least, with some wholesome lessons +regarding handling four frisky horses when +the air is frosty and a number of lives may +depend upon keeping “top side go, la!”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_LETTERS' id='XVI_LETTERS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>LETTERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the sleighing party reached home +they found hot chocolate and ginger +cookies awaiting them. Before retiring, +Miss Preston had seen to it that neither +shivering nor hungry bodies should be tucked +into bed that night.</p> +<p>Five weeks had now sped away, and Toinette +was beginning to look upon her new abiding-place +as home; at least, it was nearer to it than any she +could remember. The old life at the Carter +school seemed a sort of nightmare from which +she had wakened to find broad daylight and +all the miserable fancies dispelled.</p> +<p>She and Cicely were seated at their desks one +afternoon. It was half-past four and study hour. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +Cicely was hard at work upon her algebra lesson, +but Toinette was writing a letter. This, +she knew quite well, was not what she was supposed +to be doing, but the five weeks had not +sufficed to undo the mischief done in seven years, +and she was writing simply from a spirit of perversity. +There was ample time to do it during +her hours of freedom, but the very fact of doing +it when she knew full well that she ought to be +at work on her German added piquancy to the +act. Moreover, the letter was to a boy with +whom she had become acquainted while at Miss +Carter’s, and had kept the acquaintance a most +profound secret. Not that she cared specially +for the boy, although he was a jolly sort of chap, +and had been a pleasant companion during their +stolen interviews, and often smuggled boxes of +candy and other “forbidden fruit” into the girl’s +possession.</p> +<p>Still, at Miss Carter’s a boy sprouting angel’s +wings would have been regarded in very much +the same light as though he were sprouting imp’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +horns, and any girl caught talking to one—much +less corresponding—would have had a +very bad quarter of an hour, indeed. So, though +she did not care two straws whether she ever +saw him again or not, all the wrong-headedness +which had been so carefully fostered for the past +years delighted in the thought that she was +doing something which might not be approved; +indeed, from her standpoint, would be decidedly +criticised, and to get ahead of a teacher had been +the “slogan” of the Carter school.</p> +<p>It was the custom at Sunny Bank for the +teachers to go around to the girls’ rooms during +the study hour to help, suggest, or give a little +“boost” over the hummocky places, so when a +pleasant voice asked at the door: “Can I help +you any, dearies?” Cicely answered from her +room:</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Howard, will you please tell me +something about this problem? I am afraid my +head is muddled.”</p> +<p>“To be sure, I will,” was the cheery reply, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +and Miss Howard passed through Toinette’s room +to Cicely’s.</p> +<p>As she did so her dress created a current of +air which carried a paper from Toinette’s desk +almost to her feet. She stooped to pick it up +and hand it back to Toinette, who had sprung +up to catch it, and, as she handed it to her, Miss +Howard noted the telltale color spring into the +girl’s face.</p> +<p>“Zephyrus is playing you tricks, dear,” she +said, smiling, and passed on to Cicely. After +giving her the needed assistance, she left them, +and a little further down the corridor met Miss +Preston.</p> +<p>“How are my chicks progressing, Miss +Howard?”</p> +<p>“Nicely, Miss Preston. Cicely needed a little +help with a problem in algebra, but I think +Toinette needs a little of yours in the problem of +life,” and Miss Howard went her way.</p> +<p>A word to the wise is sufficient.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the letter was finished, addressed, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +and slipped into Toinette’s pocket, to be mailed +later.</p> +<p>Ordinarily, all letters were placed in a small +basket to be carried to the office by the porter. +As Toinette came down the hall shortly before +dinner Miss Preston was just taking the letters +from the basket to place them in the porter’s +mailbag.</p> +<p>“Any mail to go, dear?” she asked.</p> +<p>“No, thank you, Miss Preston,” answered +Toinette, and, jumping from the last step, ran +off down the hall to join Cicely and the other +girls. In jumping from the step something +jolted from her pocket, but, falling upon the +heavy rug at the foot of the stairs, made no +sound. As the porter was about to take the +pouch from her hands Miss Preston’s eyes fell +upon the letter, and, supposing it to be one which +had been dropped from the basket, stooped to +pick it up. She was a quick-witted woman, and +the instant she saw the handwriting and the address +she drew her own conclusions. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span></p> +<p>“So that is part of the life problem, is it? +Poor little girl, she has got to learn something +which the average girl has to unlearn; where +they entirely trust their fellow-beings, she entirely +distrusts them. I wonder if I shall ever +be able to show her the middle path?” Telling +the porter to wait a moment, Miss Preston slipped +into the library, and, catching up a pencil and +slip of paper, wrote down the name and address +which was written upon the envelope, then, stepping +back to the hall, handed the porter the +letter to post.</p> +<p>Toinette joined the girls, and in the lively +chatter which ensued forgot all about the letter +until several hours later, and then searched for +it in every possible and impossible place, but, of +course, without finding it, and was in a very <i>un</i>comfortable +frame of mind for several days, and +then something happened which did not serve to +reassure her, for a reply came to her from her +correspondent.</p> +<p>How in the world her letter had ever reached +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +him was the question which puzzled her not a +little, and she fretted over the thing till she was +in a fever. Then she determined to write again +to ask how and when the letter had reached him, +although she was beginning to wish that boy, +letter and all, were at the bottom of the Red Sea, +so much had they tormented her. So a second +letter was written, and then came the puzzle of +getting it into the mail bag unnoticed. At Miss +Carter’s school all letters had been examined +before they were allowed to be mailed, and as +Toinette’s correspondence was supposed to be +limited to the letters she wrote to her father, she +had never inquired whether Miss Preston first +examined them or not, but, taking it for granted +that she did so, handed them to her unsealed. +On the other hand, Miss Preston, thinking +that it was simply carelessness that they were +not, usually sealed them and sent them upon +their way.</p> +<p>Although she had not said anything about it, +the little affair had by no means passed from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +Miss Preston’s thoughts, but she was trying to +think of the wisest way of going about it, and +was waiting for something to guide her.</p> +<p>“If I can only win her confidence,” she said +to herself more than once.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII__HAF_ANYBODY_SEEN_MY_UMBREL' id='XVII__HAF_ANYBODY_SEEN_MY_UMBREL'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>“HAF ANYBODY SEEN MY UMBREL?”</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was the last week in February, and in a +few days the school dance was to be given. +One afternoon a dozen or more girls were +gathered in Ethel’s room to see her dress which +had been sent out from town. It was as dainty +an affair as one could wish to see, and many +were the admiring glances cast upon it, and many +the praises it received. Possibly it was a trifle +elaborate for a girl of fifteen, for it was made of +delicate white chiffon over pale yellow satin, and +exquisitely embroidered with fine silver threads. +But Ethel looked very lovely in it as she preened +herself before the mirror, and was fully aware +of the fact.</p> +<p>“What are you going to wear, Toinette?” she +asked. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>“I’ve never worn anything but white yet,” +answered Toinette. “At Miss Carter’s all my +dresses were ordered by Miss Emeline, and she +said I ought not to wear anything else till I was +eighteen. I hope Miss Preston won’t say the +same.”</p> +<p>“I should think you would have hated to have +the teachers say just what you must wear, as well +as what you must study. Didn’t your father +ever send you any clothes?”</p> +<p>“Papa was too far away to know what I wore +or did,” answered Toinette, rather sadly.</p> +<p>“Aren’t you glad he is home again?” asked +quiet little Helen Burgess, who somehow always +managed to say soothing things when one felt +sort of ruffled up without knowing just why.</p> +<p>“You had better believe I am!” was the emphatic +reply. “What will you wear, Helen?”</p> +<p>“The same thing I always wear, I guess. +I haven’t much choice in the matter, you +know.”</p> +<p>Toinette colored slightly at her thoughtless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +remark, for she had not paused to think before +speaking. All the girls knew that Helen’s purse +was a very slender one, and that it was only by +self-sacrifice and close economy that her parents +were able to keep her at such an expensive school. +She made no secret of her lack of money, but +worked away bravely and cheerfully, always +sunny, always happy, with the enviable faculty +of invariably saying the right thing at the right +time. She had pronounced artistic tendencies, +and Miss Preston was anxious to encourage them +in every possible way. Her great desire was +to go to Europe and there see the originals of +the famous paintings of which she read. Each +year Miss Preston went abroad and took with +her several of the girls whose parents could +afford such indulgences for them, and Helen +longed to be one of them, although she never for +a moment hoped to be.</p> +<p>She did really remarkable work for a girl of +her age, and was improving all the time, but the +trip over the sea seemed as far off as a trip to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +the moon. Toinette was somewhat of a dilettante, +and pottered away with her water-colors with +more or less success. But she admired good +work, and was quick to see that Helen was a +hard student, and to respect her for it. Although +so unlike in disposition, as well as position, +a warm regard had sprung up between +them, and Toinette spent many hours watching +Helen work away at her drawing. The girl’s +ambition was to illustrate, and there was hardly +a girl in the school who had not posed for her, and +the drawings in her sketch-book were excellent.</p> +<p>Toinette had never been taught to think much +about others, and so it is not surprising that, +while she admired Helen, and wished that she +could have those things she so longed for, it +never occurred to her that perhaps there were +other and more fortunate girls who might have +helped a trifle if they chose to do so. That +she, herself, had it within her power to do it +never entered her head till the girls began to +talk about their new dresses, and what put it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +there then would be hard to tell. Nevertheless, +come it did, and when she heard Helen speak so +composedly of wearing to the school dance, <i>the</i> +event of the season, in their eyes, the same dress +which had done service for many a little entertainment +given through the winter, and which +gave unmistakable signs of having done so, she +realized for the first time what it must mean to +be deprived of those things which she had always +accepted as a matter of course.</p> +<p>Still, no definite plans took shape in her head +regarding it, and it is quite possible that none +might ever have done so had not something occurred +within a short time which seemed to be +the hinge upon which her whole after-life swung.</p> +<p>As the girls were in the midst of their chatter +about the new gowns a tap came at the door, and +Fraulein Palme looked in to ask:</p> +<p>“Haf anyone seen my umbrel? I haf hunt +eferywhere for him, and can’t see him anywhere.”</p> +<p>“No, Fraulein, we haven’t seen it,” answered +several voices. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“Where did you last have it?” asked Ruth.</p> +<p>“Right away in my room a little while before +I am ready to go out. I go down to the post-office +and must get wet without him.”</p> +<p>Two or three of the girls went into the hall +to look for the missing umbrella, and others +went back to Fraulein’s room with her to make +a more exhaustive search. But without success.</p> +<p>“Have you more than one?” asked Edith.</p> +<p>“No, it is but one I haf got. It is very +funnee,” and poor Fraulein looked sorely perplexed.</p> +<p>“Take mine, Fraulein. Yours will turn up +when you least expect it,” said Toinette.</p> +<p>“What did it look like, Fraulein?” asked +Cicely.</p> +<p>“Chust like thees,” was the astonishing answer, +as absent-minded Fraulein held forth the missing +umbrella, which all that time she had held tightly +clasped in her hand, and which had been the +cause of Edith’s question as to whether she had +more than one, for she supposed, of course, that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +the one Fraulein was so tightly holding must +either be one she did not care to carry, or else +one she was about to return to someone from +whom she had probably borrowed it.</p> +<p>The shout which was raised at her reply +speedily brought poor Fraulein back to her +senses, and murmuring:</p> +<p>“Ach, so! I think I come <i>veruckt</i>,” she hurried +off down the hall with the girls’ laughter +still ringing in her ears.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVIII_THE_LITTLE_HINGE' id='XVIII_THE_LITTLE_HINGE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>THE LITTLE HINGE</h3> +</div> + +<p>The day before the dance was to be given +Toinette wrote her second letter, arguing +that when everybody else had so much +to occupy their thoughts they would have little +time to notice other people’s doings, and the +letter could be mailed without exciting comment. +Waiting until the very last moment, she +ran down to the mail-basket to slip the letter in +it unobserved. As ill-luck would have it, Miss +Preston also had a letter to be slipped in at the +last moment, and she and Toinette came face to +face. It was too late to retreat, for the letter +was in her hand in plain view, so, forced into +an awkward position, she made a bad matter +worse. Dropping the letter quickly into the +basket, she said: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“Just a note for papa about something I want +for the dance to-morrow, Miss Preston; I didn’t +think you’d care, and I hadn’t time to do it +earlier,” and, with flaming cheeks, she turned to +go away.</p> +<p>“Wait just one moment, dear,” said Miss +Preston, “I’ve something to say to you. Walk +down to my room with me, please,” and she +slipped her arm about the girl’s waist.</p> +<p>No more was needed, and all the suspicion +and rebellion in Toinette’s nature rose up to do +battle with—windmills. It was a hard young +face that looked defiantly at Miss Preston.</p> +<p>“Toinette, dear, I want to have a little talk +with you,” she said, as she locked the door of +her sitting-room, and, seating herself upon the +divan, drew Toinette down beside her.</p> +<p>Toinette never changed her expression, but +looked straight before her with a most uncompromising +stare.</p> +<p>“You said just now that you did not think I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +would care if you sent a note to your father; +why should I, sweetheart?”</p> +<p>It must have been a stubborn heart, indeed, +which could resist Miss Preston’s sweet tone.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know, but teachers always seem +to mind every little thing one does,” replied +Toinette, sulkily.</p> +<p>“It seems to me that this would be entirely +too ‘little a thing’ for a teacher or anyone else +to mind. Don’t you think so yourself?”</p> +<p>“Well, of course, I didn’t think you would +mind simply because I wrote to papa, but because +I posted the letter without first letting you +read it,” answered Toinette.</p> +<p>Now, indeed, was Miss Preston learning something +new, and not even a child could have +questioned that her surprise was genuine when +she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Read your letters, my dear little girl! What +are you saying?” and a slight flush overspread +her refined face. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></p> +<p>It was now Toinette’s turn to be surprised as +she asked:</p> +<p>“Isn’t that the rule here, Miss Preston?”</p> +<p>“Is it anywhere? I can hardly believe it. +One’s correspondence is a very sacred thing, +Toinette, and I would as soon be guilty of listening +at another person’s door as of reading a letter +intended for another’s eyes. Oh, my little girl, +what mischief has been at work here?”</p> +<p>While Miss Preston was speaking Toinette +had risen to her feet, her eyes shining like stars, +and her color coming and going rapidly. Now, +taking both Miss Preston’s hands in her own, +she said, in a voice which quivered with excitement:</p> +<p>“Is that <i>truly</i> true, Miss Preston? Aren’t +the girls’ letters ever read? Haven’t mine been? +<i>Do</i> you trust me like that?”</p> +<p>Miss Preston looked the girl fairly in the eyes +as she answered:</p> +<p>“I trust you as I trust the others, because I feel +you to be a gentlewoman, and, as such, you would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +be as reluctant to do anything liable to cast discredit +upon yourself as I would be to have you. +I do not wish my girls to fear but to love me, +with all their hearts, and to trust me as I trust +them. I do not expect you to be perfect; we +all make mistakes; I make many, but we can +help each other, dear, and remember this: ‘Love +casteth out fear.’ Try to love me, my little girl, +and to feel that I am your friend; I want so +much to be.”</p> +<p>Miss Preston’s voice was very sweet and appealing, +and as she spoke Toinette’s eyes grew +limpid. Miss Preston still held her hands, and, +as she finished speaking, the girl dropped upon +her knees and clasped her arms about her waist, +buried her face in her lap and burst into a storm +of sobs. All the pent-up feeling, the longing, +the struggle, the yearning for tenderness of the +past lonely years was finding an outlet in the +bitter, bitter sobs which shook her slight frame.</p> +<p>Although Miss Preston knew comparatively +little of the girl’s former life, she had learned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +enough from Mr. Reeve, and observed enough +in the girl herself, to understand that this outburst +was not wholly the result of what had just +passed between them. So, gently stroking the +pretty golden hair, she wisely waited for the +grief to spend itself before she resumed her talk, +and, when the poor little trembling figure was +more composed, said:</p> +<p>“My poor little Toinette, let us begin a brand +new leaf to-day—‘thee and me,’ as the Quakers +so prettily put it. Let us try to believe that +even though I have spent thirty more years on +this big world than you have, that we can still +be good friends, and sympathize with each other +either in sunshine or shadow. To do this two +things are indispensible: confidence and love. +And we can never have the latter without first +winning the former. Remember this, dear, I +shall never doubt you. Whatever happens, you +may rest firm in the conviction that I shall always +accept your word when it is given. Our +self-respect suffers when we are doubted, and +one’s self-respect is a very precious thing, and +not to be lightly tampered with.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +<img src='images/illus-175.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 327px; height: 469px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 327px;'> +“LET US BEGIN A BRAND NEW LEAF TO-DAY.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></div> +<p>She now drew Toinette back to the couch beside +her, put her arm about her waist, and let +the tired head rest upon her shoulder. The girl +had ceased to sob, but looked worn and weary. +Miss Preston snuggled her close and waited for +her to speak, feeling sure that more was in her +heart, and that, in a nature such as she felt +Toinette’s to be, it would be impossible for her +to rest content until all doubts, all self-reproach +could be put behind her.</p> +<p>She sat perfectly still for a long time, her +hands clasped in her lap, and her big, brown +eyes, into which had crept a wonderfully soft +expression, looking far away beyond the walls of +Miss Preston’s sitting-room, far beyond the bedroom +next it, and off to some lonely, unsatisfied +years, when she had lived in a sort of truce with +all about her, never knowing just when hostilities +might be renewed. It had acted upon the +girl’s sensitive nature much as a chestnut-prickle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +acts upon the average mortal; a nasty, little, irritating +thing, hard to discover, a scrap of a thing +when found—if, indeed, it does not succeed in +eluding one altogether—and so insignificant that +one wonders how it could cause such discomfort. +But it is those miserable little chestnut-prickles +that are hardest to bear in this life, and so warp +one’s character that it is often unfitted to bear +the heavier burdens which must come into all +lives sooner or later.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIX__FATAL_OR_FATED_ARE_MOMENTS' id='XIX__FATAL_OR_FATED_ARE_MOMENTS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>“FATAL OR FATED ARE MOMENTS”</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Nobody has ever spoken to me as you +have, Miss Preston,” Toinette began +presently, “and I can’t tell you how I +feel. Maybe heaven will be better, but I don’t +believe I shall ever feel any happier than I feel +this minute. It seems as though I’d been living +in a sort of prison, all shut up in the dark, and +that now I am out in the sunshine and as free as +the birds. But I must tell you something more: I +can’t rest content unless I do. The letter I posted +to-day wasn’t to papa, I sent it to Howard Elting, +in Branton, and it isn’t the first I’ve written him, +either. I didn’t lie about the other one, Miss +Preston; I was ready to mail it, but lost it; I +don’t know how. Somebody must have found it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +and posted it, for he got it and answered it, and +I was so puzzled over it that I wrote again. +That was the letter you saw me post. Now, +that is the truth, and I know that you believe +me.”</p> +<p>Toinette had spoken very rapidly, scarcely +pausing for breath, and when she finished gave +a relieved little sigh and looked Miss Preston +squarely in the eyes. Truly, her self-respect +was regained.</p> +<p>Will some of my readers say: “What a tempest +in a teapot?” To many this may seem a +very trivial affair, but how small a thing can influence +our lives! A breath, the passing of a +summer shower, may help or hinder plans which +alter our entire lives. And Miss Preston was +wise enough to understand it. Here was a +beautiful soul given for a time into her keeping. +Now, at the period of its keenest receptive powers, +a delicate and sensitive thing needing very gentle +handling.</p> +<p>Stroking the head again resting upon her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +shoulder, as though it had found a safe and happy +haven after having been tossed about upon a +troubled sea, she said, quietly:</p> +<p>“I posted the letter, dear; I found it in the +hall where it had been dropped; it never occurred +to me that there was any cause for concealment; +the girls all correspond with their +friends; it is an understood thing. I recognized +your writing, and, as I had friends at Branton, +I wrote to ask if they knew the person written +to. They replied that they did, and told me +who he was. Knowing how few friends you have, +I wrote to this boy asking him to come to our +dance to-morrow night, because I thought the +little surprise might give you pleasure, and you +would be glad to welcome an old friend. Does +it please you, my little girl?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Preston!” was all Toinette said, +but those three words meant a great deal.</p> +<p>The dressing-bell now rang, and Toinette +sprang up with rather a dismayed look. As +though she interpreted it, Miss Preston said: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span></p> +<p>“You are in no condition to meet the other +girls to-night, dear. They cannot understand +your feelings, and, without meaning to be unkind +or curious, would ask questions which it +would embarrass you to answer. You are nervous +and unstrung, so lie down on my couch and +I will see that your dinner is brought up. I +shall say to the other girls that you are not feeling +well, and that it would be better not to disturb +you.” Then, going into her bedroom, Miss +Preston quickly made her own toilet. She had +just finished it when the chimes called all to dinner, +and, stooping over Toinette, she kissed her +softly and slipped from the room.</p> +<p>Some very serious thoughts passed through +Toinette’s head during the ensuing fifteen minutes, +and some resolutions were formed which +were held to as long as she lived.</p> +<p>A tap at the door, and a maid entered with a +dainty dinner. Placing a little stand close to +the couch, she put the tray upon it, and then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +asked: “Can I do anything more for you, Miss +Toinette?”</p> +<p>“No, thank you, Helma. This is very tempting.”</p> +<p>When Miss Preston came to her room an +hour later she found the tray quite empty, and +Toinette fast asleep. Arranging the couch pillows +more comfortably, and throwing a warm +puff over the sleeping girl, she whispered, softly: +“Poor little maid, your battle with Apollyon was +short and sharp, but, thank God, you’ve conquered, +even at the expense of an exhausted +mind and weary body.”</p> +<p>It was nearly midnight when Toinette opened +her eyes to see Miss Preston warmly wrapped +in her dressing-gown, and seated before the fire +reading. The lamp was carefully screened from +Toinette, who could not at first realize what had +happened, or why she was there, but Miss Preston’s +voice recalled her to herself.</p> +<p>“Do you feel rested, dear?” she asked. +“Don’t try to go to your room; just undress +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +and cuddle down in my bed with me to-night; +I’ve brought in your night-dress.”</p> +<p>Toinette did not answer, but, walking over to +Miss Preston, just rested her cheek against hers +for a moment. Twenty minutes later she was +fast asleep in her good friend’s bed.</p> +<p>The following day all was bustle and excitement +at Sunny Bank, for great preparations +were being made for the dance in the evening, +and understanding how much pleasure it gave +the girls to feel that they were of some assistance, +she let them fly about like so many grigs, helping +or hindering, as it happened.</p> +<p>They brought down all the pretty trifles from +their rooms, piled up sofa pillows till the couches +resembled a Turk’s palace; arranged the flowers, +and rearranged them, till poor Miss Preston began +to fear that there would be nothing left of +them. However, it was an exceedingly attractive +house which was thrown open to her guests +at eight o’clock that evening, and the girls had +had no small share in making it so. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span></p> +<p>A very complete understanding seemed to +exist between Toinette and Miss Preston now, +for, although no words were spoken, none were +needed; just an exchange of glances told that +two hearts were very happy that night, for +love and confidence had come to dwell within +them.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XX__NOW_TREAD_WE_A_MEASURE' id='XX__NOW_TREAD_WE_A_MEASURE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>“NOW TREAD WE A MEASURE.”</h3> +</div> + +<p>Shall we ever grow too old to recall the +pleasure of our school dances? Then +lights seem brighter, toilets more ravishing, +music sweeter, our partners more fascinating, +and the supper more tempting than ever +before or after.</p> +<p>The house was brilliantly lighted from top to +bottom, excepting in such cosy corners as were +specially conducive to confidential chats, and in +these softly shaded lamps cast a fairy-like light.</p> +<p>Miss Preston, dressed in black velvet, with +some rich old lace to enhance its charms, received +her guests in the great hall, some of the +older girls receiving with her.</p> +<p>There were ten or more girls who were taking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +special courses, and these were styled “parlor +boarders,” and at the end of the school term +would enter society. Consequently, this dance +was looked upon as a preliminary step for the +one to follow, and the girls regarded it as a sort +of “golden mile-stone” in their lives, which +marked off the point at which “the brook and +river meet.”</p> +<p>A prettier, happier lot of girls could hardly +have been found, and none looked lovelier, or +happier, than Toinette. Her dress, a soft, +creamy white chiffon, admirably suited to her +golden coloring, had been sent to her by her +father, whose taste was unerring. No matter +how many miles of this big globe divided them, +he never forgot her needs, and, if unable to supply +them himself, took good care that some one +else should do so. So the dress had arrived the +night before, and Miss Preston had been able +to give her another pleasant surprise for the +dance. And now she looked as the lilies of the +field for fairness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p> +<p>She was whirling away upon her partner’s +arm, when, chancing to glance toward the door, +she beheld something which brought her to an +abrupt stand-still, much to her partner’s amazement. +Miss Preston stood in the doorway, and, +standing beside her, with one hand resting lightly +upon his hip and the other raised a little above +his head, and resting against the door-casing, +stood a tall, remarkably handsome man. His +attitude was unstudied, but brought out to perfection +the fine lines of his figure.</p> +<p>Hastily exclaiming: “Oh, please, excuse me, +or else come with me,” Toinette glided between +the whirling figures, and, forgetful of all else, +cried out in a joyous voice: “Papa, papa Clayton, +where <i>did</i> you come from?”</p> +<p>It was so like the childish voice he had loved +to hear so long ago, that he started with pleasure.</p> +<p>During the brief holiday Toinette had spent +with him he had missed the spontaneity he had +known in the little child, and, without being +able to analyze it, felt that something was wanting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +in the girl. She had been sweet and winning, +yet under it all had been a manner quite incomprehensible +to him, as though she did not feel +quite sure of her position in his affections. Her +laugh had lacked the true girlish ring, and +her conversation with him seemed guarded, as +though she had never quite spoken all her +thoughts.</p> +<p>He had been immeasurably distressed by it, +for he could not understand the cause, and bitterly +reproached himself for not being better acquainted +with his own child. In the merry girl +who now stood before him, her eyes shining, her +cheeks flushed with excitement, her voice so +joyous, he saw no trace of the listless one he had +placed in Miss Preston’s charge two months before.</p> +<p>Slipping one arm about her, he snuggled her +close to his side, as he answered:</p> +<p>“A blue-coated biped left a good, substantial +hint at my office not long since, and this is what +came of following it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p>“<i>You</i> did it! I’m sure of it,” laughed Toinette, +shaking her finger at Miss Preston, as the +latter said: “I leave you to a livelier entertainer, +now, Mr. Reeve, while I go to look after some of +my guests who may not be so fortunately situated,” +and she slipped away, Toinette calling +after her: “You are responsible for most of the +nice things which happen here. Oh, daddy,” +dropping unconsciously into the old childish pet +name, “I’ve such stacks of things to tell you. +But, excuse me just one second, while I find a +partner for that boy I’ve left stranded high and +dry over there; doesn’t he look miserable? +Then I’ll come back,” and, kissing her hand +gaily, she ran off. Returning a moment or two +later, she said:</p> +<p>“There! he’s all fixed, and is sure to have a +good time with Ethel and Lou; they’re not a +team, but a four-in-hand. Now, come and have +a dance with me, and then we’ll go off all by +ourselves and have the cosiest time you ever +dreamed of. I feel so proud to have you all to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +myself,” she added, as they glided away to the +soft strains of the music, “so sort of grown-up +and grand with such a handsome partner.”</p> +<p>“Hear! hear! Do you want to make me +vain? I haven’t been accustomed to hearing +such barefaced compliments. They make me +blush.”</p> +<p>“I really believe they <i>do</i>,” answered Toinette, +throwing back her head to get a better look at +him, and laughing softly when she saw a slight +flush upon his face. “Never mind, it is all in +the family, you know.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps I have other reasons for feeling a +trifle elated,” he said, as the dance came to an +end and he followed Toinette to one of the cozy +corners. Springing up among the cushions, she +patted them invitingly, and said:</p> +<p>“Come, sit down here beside me, and let me +tell you all about the loveliest time of my life. +Oh, daddy, I <i>do</i> so love to be here, and you don’t +know how good Miss Preston is to me. She is +good to us all, but, somehow the other girls don’t +seem to need so much setting straight as <i>I</i> have. +I think I must have been all kinked up in little +hard knots before I came here, and Miss Preston +has begun to untie them. She hasn’t got all +untied yet, but I feel so sort of loosened up and +easy that everything seems lots more comfortable.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +<a name='linki_7' id='linki_7'></a> +<img src='images/illus-193.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 322px; height: 462px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 322px;'> +“I FEEL SO SORT OF GROWN UP AND GRAND.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></div> +<p>Clayton Reeve did not smile at Toinette’s odd +way of explaining her feelings. He knew it to be +a fourteen-year-old girl who spoke, and that her +thoughts, to be natural, must be put into her own +words.</p> +<p>On she rambled, telling one thing after another, +and, while they were talking, Helen +Burgess stopped near their snuggery. It was +too dimly lighted for her to discover them, and +the next thing they knew they were unwitting +eavesdroppers, for Helen was talking very earnestly +to one of her boon companions, a day-pupil +at the school, and one of the brightest in it, but, +like Helen, not embarrassed with riches. For +some time the girls had been saving their small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +allowances toward the purchase of cameras, but +so slowly did the sums accumulate that it was +rather discouraging for them. They were now +talking about their respective ways of procuring +the sums of money needed, and the trifle they +had managed to save, and the small amounts +they earned in one way or another, to augment +the original sums, seemed so paltry to Toinette, +who never stopped to ask whence came the five-dollar +bills so regularly sent her each week, and +who, had a fancy entered her head for one, +would have walked out and bought a camera +very much as she would have bought a paper of +pins.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXI_CONSPIRATORS' id='XXI_CONSPIRATORS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>CONSPIRATORS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Reeve would have risen from his +snug corner and discovered himself to +the girls, but Toinette laid her finger +upon her lips to enjoin silence, and, although +he could not quite understand her desire to play +eavesdropper, he complied. From the subject of +the cameras the girls went on to Helen’s work +in the art class, for Jean was much interested in +that also, and they often built air-castles about +the wonderful things they would do when that +fabulous “stone ship” should sail safely into +port. They talked earnestly for girls of thirteen +and fifteen, and Mr. Reeve could not fail to be +impressed by the strength of purpose they seemed +to possess, and, having a good bit of stick-to-ativeness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +himself, admired it in others. Moreover, +he had been forced to make his own way +in life when young, and could sympathize with +other aspiring souls.</p> +<p>Presently the two girls moved away, and then +Toinette whispered: “I don’t know what you +think of me for making you play ‘Paul Pry,’ +but I had a reason for it, and now I’ll tell you +what it was.”</p> +<p>“I inferred as much, so kept mum.”</p> +<p>“Well, you see, since I’ve been here I’ve +waked up a little, and, somehow, have begun to +think about other people, and wonder if they +were happy. At Miss Carter’s school everybody +just seemed to think about themselves, or, if +they thought of anybody else, it was generally +to wonder how they could get ahead of them +in some way. But here it is all so different, +and everybody seems to try to find out what +they can do to make someone else happy. I +can’t begin to tell you how it is done, because I +don’t know myself; only it <i>is</i>, and it makes you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +feel sort of happy all over,” said Toinette, trying +to put into words that subtle something which +makes us feel at peace with all mankind, and +little realizing that its cause lay right within herself; +for a sense of having done one’s very best +and a clear conscience are wonderful rosy spectacles +through which to see life.</p> +<p>“Go on, I’m keenly interested, and these +little confidences are very delightful,” said her +father, with an encouraging nod and smile.</p> +<p>“So I began to want to do little things, too, +and, do you know, daddy, you’d be really surprised +if you knew what a lot of ways there are +of making the girls happy if you only take the +trouble to look for them. For instance, there is +Helen Burgess, the larger of the girls you saw +just now: we have become real good friends, and +she is very clever, and draws beautifully. But +she has so little to do with that she can’t afford +to get the things the other girls have to work +with, nor have the advantages they have. She +and Jean have been trying ever so long to get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +cameras, for they think that they could take +pretty views of Montcliff and sell them to the +people who come here in the summer, and I’m +sure they could, too. It does not make so much +difference to Jean, for, although she isn’t rich, +she isn’t exactly poor, either, you know, and +has a good many nice things, but Helen never +seems to have any. So I thought I’d have a +little talk with you and get you to send out a +cute little camera for each of them and never +let them know where they came from. Wouldn’t +that be great fun? But I want to pay for them. +You can use ten dollars of my money, and not +send me my allowance for two weeks; I’ve got +enough to last.”</p> +<p>“And what will my poverty-stricken lassie do +meantime?” asked Mr. Reeve.</p> +<p>“Oh, she is not so poverty-stricken as you +think,” laughed Toinette. “She won’t suffer. And +then I wanted to ask you if there wasn’t some +way of helping Helen in her art work. She +wants so much to go abroad with Miss Preston, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +has no more idea of ever being able to do so than +she has of going to the moon. What would it +cost, papa? Isn’t there some way of bringing +it about? Couldn’t you have a talk with Miss +Preston and find out all about it, and then we +could plan something, maybe.”</p> +<p>Toinette had become very earnest as she talked, +and was now leaning toward her father, her +hands clasped in her lap, and her expressive face +alive with enthusiasm.</p> +<p>Mr. Reeve hated to spoil the pretty picture, +but said, in the interested tone so comforting +when used by older people in speaking to young +folk: “I am sure we can evolve some plan. I +shall be very glad to speak to Miss Preston before +I return to the city, and haven’t the +slightest doubt that great things will come of +it.”</p> +<p>“How lovely! You’re just a darling! I’m +going to hug you right here behind the curtains!” +cried Toinette, as she sprung up and +clasped her arms about his neck. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p> +<p>“Haven’t you one or two more favors you’d +like to ask?” said Mr. Reeve, suggestively.</p> +<p>“No, not another one, just now,” she answered, +laughing softly. “Too many might turn your +head, and mine, too. But it is so good to have +you home once more. You don’t know how +lonely I’ve been without you, daddy. There +wasn’t anyone in the world who cared two straws +for me till you came back and I came here. +But I’ve got you now, and I’m not going to let +you go very soon again, I can tell you. You are +too precious, and we are going to have lovely +times together by-and-by when I grow up, aren’t +we?”</p> +<p>“We are not going to wait till then, sweetheart; +we are going to begin right off, this very +minute. I can’t afford to waste any more precious +time; too much has been wasted already,” +he said, as he raised the pretty face and kissed +it, and then, drawing her arm through his, +added: “Now let me do the honors. Introduce +me to your friends, and let me see if seven years’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +knocking about this old world has made me forget +the ‘Quips, and Cranks, and Wanton Wiles, +Nods, and Becks, and Wreathed Smiles’ I used to +know.”</p> +<p>They left the snuggery, and, blissfully conscious +of her honors, Toinette presented her +father to the girls. Just how proud they were +of the marked attention he showed to each I’ll +leave it to some other girls to guess. He danced +with them, took them to supper, sought out +the greatest delicacies for them, and played +the gallant as though he were but twenty instead +of forty-two. “He treated us just as though +we were the big girls,” they said, when holding +forth upon the subject the next day.</p> +<p>Twelve o’clock came all too soon.</p> +<p>Mr. Reeve remained over night, and the following +day found an opportunity to have a long +talk with Miss Preston—a talk which afforded +him great satisfaction for many reasons.</p> +<p>Toinette, with several of the other girls, escorted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +him to the train, and gave him a most +enthusiastic “send-off.”</p> +<p>In the course of a few days a package was delivered +at the school. Had bomb-shells been +dropped there they could hardly have created +more excitement. Jean’s house was only a few +blocks from the school, and one Saturday morning—for +the cameras were obliging enough to +choose that day to appear—Mrs. Rockwood’s +sitting-room was the scene of the wildest excitement.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXII__WE_VE_GOT__EM_WE_VE_GOT__EM' id='XXII__WE_VE_GOT__EM_WE_VE_GOT__EM'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>“WE’VE GOT ’EM! WE’VE GOT ’EM!”</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. Rockwood was in her sitting-room +one morning. It was Saturday, +and a day of liberty for Jean. She +had gone over to the school to spend a few hours +with Helen, and Mrs. Lockwood did not expect +her home until lunch-time, but, happening +to glance from her window about ten o’clock, +what was her surprise to see two figures approaching, +one with a series of bounds, prances and +jumps, which indicated a wildly hilarious and +satisfied frame of mind in Jean, and the other +with a subdued hop and skip, and then a sedate +walk, which, although less demonstrative, was +quite as indicative of a very deep and serene +happiness to any one familiar with Helen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></p> +<p>A moment later the front door slammed, and +two pairs of feet came tearing up the stairs as +though pursued by Boer cavalry, and two eager +voices cried:</p> +<p>“We’ve got ’em! We’ve got ’em! We’ve +got ’em!” and both girls came tearing into the +room to cast themselves and two very suggestive +looking parcels upon Mrs. Rockwood.</p> +<p>“What in this world has happened?” she +asked, in amazement, for both girls were breathless, +and could only point at the parcels in +her lap and say: “Open them! Open them, +quick!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Rockwood was a woman who entered +heart and soul into her daughter’s pleasures, +and nothing was ever quite right in Jean’s eyes +unless her mother shared it. Every little plan +must be talked over with her, and it was pretty +sure not to suffer any from one of her suggestions. +Helen spent a great deal of time with +Jean and was devoted to Mrs. Rockwood. Consequently, +when the cameras arrived at the school +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +that morning, and they found out that there was +really no mistake, but that they were certainly +intended for the persons whose names were so +plainly written upon the boxes, and sent in Miss +Preston’s care, they could hardly wait to get over +to Jean’s house to show their treasures to her +mother. Many had been the surmises as to +whom had sent such beauties, but Toinette kept +a perfectly sober face, and no one suspected the +secret.</p> +<p>Carefully removing the wrappings, Mrs. Rockwood +brought the contents of the boxes to view. +She was as much surprised as the girls, and exclaimed: +“Why, who could have sent them to +you, and how did anyone learn that you were so +anxious to have them? Such beauties, too!”</p> +<p>“That is the funniest part of it all, for we +never told a soul, and didn’t mean to till we had +them, and now here they are. I believe St. +Nick must have heard us wishing for them,” said +Helen.</p> +<p>“And to <i>both</i> of us, and just <i>alike</i>! Think of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +it! Oh, moddie, isn’t it lovely?” and Jean +threw her arms about her mother’s neck by way +of giving vent to her feelings.</p> +<p>“I’m as delighted as you and Helen are, +dear, only I wish we might learn who our benefactor +is.”</p> +<p>“Yes, isn’t it too bad. Well, it may crop out +later. I thought first it must be Miss Preston, +but she said that she did not know any more +about it than we did,” said Helen.</p> +<p>“Now, when may we take our pictures, and +what shall we take?” cried Jean.</p> +<p>“You suggest something, Mrs. Rockwood; it +will be nicer if you do it,” said Helen, dropping +down upon her knees beside Mrs. Rockwood, +and placing her arm around her friend’s waist.</p> +<p>Mrs. Rockwood drew her close to her side as +she replied:</p> +<p>“Let me examine these treasures which have +arrived so mysteriously, read the directions concerning +them, and then we’ll see what we’ll +see,” and she began to read: “Take the camera +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +into a perfectly dark closet, where no ray of +light can penetrate (even covering the keyhole), +and then place within it one of the sensitive +plates, being careful not to expose the unused +plates. Your camera is now ready to take the +picture, etc.” “That is all very simple, I’m sure, +and if the taking proves as simple as are the +directions you need have little apprehension of +failure. But your directions add very explicitly +that you must <i>not</i> attempt to take a picture unless +the day is sunny. So I fear those conditions +preclude the possibility of your taking any +upon this cloudy day, and you will have to possess +your souls in peace till ‘Old Sol’ favors you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, isn’t that too bad! I thought we +could take some right off. Don’t you think we +might at least try, mamma?”</p> +<p>“I fear they would prove failures; better wait +a more favorable light.”</p> +<p>As though to tantalize frail humanity, “Old +Sol” remained very exclusive all day, and, even +though Helen remained till evening in the hope +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +that he would overcome his fit of sulks, nothing +of the kind happened, and she was forced to go +back to the school without one.</p> +<p>“Just wait till Monday, and we’ll do wonders; +see if we don’t,” said Jean, as she bade her farewell, +little dreaming what wonders she was destined +to do with her magical box ere the sun set +Monday night.</p> +<p>“I’ll ask Miss Preston to let me come over +at four o’clock on Monday, and then we’ll go +out in the little dell and get a lovely picture. +You know the place I mean: where that old +clump of fir-trees stands by the ruined wall,” said +artistic Helen.</p> +<p>But when Monday arrived unforeseen difficulties +arose for Jean. The day was the sunniest +ever known, and, while waiting for Helen to +come, she got out the precious camera to set the +plates.</p> +<p>“Why, mamma, there isn’t a dark closet in +the whole house; not a single one,” cried Jean, +coming into her mother’s room as she was dressing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +to go out on Monday afternoon. “Now, +where in this world am I to open my plate-box, +I’d like to know?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Rockwood laughed as she turned toward +Jean, whose face was the picture of dismay. +“True enough, there isn’t. Now, who would +have supposed that the architect who designed +this house, and put a window in every closet, +could have been so short-sighted as not to +anticipate such a need as the present one?”</p> +<p>“But what am I to do?” desperately.</p> +<p>“Try putting a dark covering over the windows.”</p> +<p>“I have, but it’s just no use, for I can’t get it +pitch dark to save me.”</p> +<p>“And to think that barely forty-eight hours +ago I was congratulating myself that every closet +in the house could be properly aired. Alas! +how do our recent acquisitions alter our views?”</p> +<p>“Now, moddie, don’t laugh, but stop teasing +me, and just think as hard as ever you can <i>how</i> +I am to find a dark place.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></p> +<p>Mrs. Rockwood thought for a few moments, +and then said:</p> +<p>“I have it! Mary’s pot-closet, under the +back stairs; that is as dark as a pocket, I’m +sure.”</p> +<p>“There! I knew you’d find a way; you always +do. Just the very place, and now I’m +going straight down to fix it. Good-bye,” and, +kissing her mother, away she flew.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIII_A_CAMERA_S_CAPERS' id='XXIII_A_CAMERA_S_CAPERS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>A CAMERA’S CAPERS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Mary!” cried Jean, as she bounced into +the kitchen, where the maid, a typical +“child of Erin,” who worshipped +the very ground Jean trod upon, stood at the +sink paring her “taties” for the evening meal, +“see my new camera; I’m going to take a picture +with it, and I’ve got to go into your pot-closet +to fix the plates.”</p> +<p>“A picter, is it? And will ye be afther takin’ +a picter wid that schmall bit av a black box? +How do ye do it at all, I do’ know.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I go into a dark closet and put a gelatine +plate in the box, and then I go outdoors +and take my picture.”</p> +<p>“A gilitin plate, is it? Thin, faith, ye’ll +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +take ne’er a picter this day, for Oi’m jist afther +usin’ the last schrap av gilitin in the house to +make the wine jilly fer the dinner.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mean <i>that</i> kind of gelatine; the kind +I use is already prepared on little plates in this +box, and I have to go in the dark closet to fix +them.”</p> +<p>“Faith, I’d fix thim out here, thin, where ye +can see what ye’re about. It’s dungeon dhark +in the pot-closet.”</p> +<p>“That is exactly what I want, and, <i>please</i>, +don’t come near it, or open the door while I’m +in there, will you?”</p> +<p>“No, no; I’ll not come near ye. The minute +I’ve done me taties it’s down in the laundry +Oi’m goin’, an’ Oi’ll not bother ye at all; but +here, take this schmall, little candle wid ye +whan ye go in, fer it’s that dhark ye’ll not see +yer hand forninst ye,” and she caught up a +candle from the shelf.</p> +<p>“No, no! I don’t <i>want</i> any light; the darker +it is the better.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span></p> +<p>“It’s crackin’ yer head aff ye’ll be.”</p> +<p>“No, I sha’n’t,” said Jean, as she whisked +into the closet and drew the door together just +as Mary started down the back stairs to the +laundry.</p> +<p>Had the closet been designed for an eel-pot it +would have proved the most complete success, +for getting into it was a very simple matter, +whereas, getting <i>out</i> required considerable ingenuity. +Absorbed in the one idea of getting the +plates placed in the camera, Jean entirely forgot +the peculiarities of the fastening upon the +door. As she slammed it together every ray of +light vanished, and she was instantly enveloped +in an Egyptian darkness. Carefully opening +her box, she drew from it one of the plates, +touched it with her fingers to find which side +was coated with the gelatine preparation, placed +it in the camera and turned to leave the closet.</p> +<p>“Now, I’ll have a picture in just about two +jiffs,” she said, and pushed against the door. +To her surprise, it did not open. Another +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +push, with the same result. It then dawned +upon her that the spring-bolt had fastened upon +the outer side. Feeling carefully about in the +pitch darkness, she laid her things upon the shelf +and tried to find a way of getting out. But, +push, shake and rattle as she might, it was useless; +the door remained tightly fastened.</p> +<p>“Mary,” she called, “come and let me out, +please.”</p> +<p>No response.</p> +<p>“M-a-r-y! I’m locked in; come let me out!”</p> +<p>“What in the whorld is the matter wid ye?” +came from the foot of the stairs.</p> +<p>“I’m locked <i>in</i> and can’t get out; come and +open the door!”</p> +<p>“Och, worra! Don’t be callin’ to me not to +<i>open</i> the door; didn’t Oi tell ye Oi wouldn’t +come near ye, and Oi <i>won’t</i>. It’s goin’ down +to the bharn Oi am, and ye needn’t be for worritin’, +at all, at all,” and receding footsteps proved +Mary’s words only too true.</p> +<p>“Now, I’m in a pretty fix, am I not? Like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +enough she won’t come back for twenty minutes, +and here I’ve got to stay. Plague take the old +bolt!”</p> +<p>What imp of mischief made Mary return to +the laundry by the cellar-door, take up her +basket of freshly laundered clothes, and, after +carrying them up to Mrs. Rockwood’s bedroom, +go on to her own in the third story to dress for +the afternoon, must forever remain a mystery. +But this she did, and, as Jean heard her go up +the back stairs, beneath which she was securely +fastened in the pot-closet, she thumped and +pounded with renewed energy. But the only +response was:</p> +<p>“No, no; not for the whorld, darlint, would +Oi disthurbe ye and spoil yer purty picter.”</p> +<p>About an hour later Mrs. Rockwood, returning +from her call, met Helen upon the front +piazza.</p> +<p>“Has Jean got everything ready to take the +pictures?” she asked, eagerly. “It is such a +perfect day for it, and I am so anxious that I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +can hardly wait. It seems too good to be true +that we have really got cameras at last, doesn’t +it?”</p> +<p>“It seems as though the fairies must have +been aware of your great desire to have them, +and so took matters into their own hands,” replied +Mrs. Rockwood, as she unfastened the +front door with her latch-key and held it open +for Helen to enter.</p> +<p>As they entered the hall they were greeted +with a series of muffled thumps and bangs.</p> +<p>“I <i>do</i> wish Mary would remember what I +have so often told her about breaking her kindling +upon the cellar floor,” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>Rattle, rattle! Bang, bang! and then a crash +as though the roof were falling.</p> +<p>“What under the sun can be the matter!” +exclaimed Mrs. Rockwood.</p> +<p>Just then Mary appeared at the head of the +stairs.</p> +<p>“Why, Mary, what is all this noise?”</p> +<p>“Shure, it was comin’ down mesilf Oi was to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +see. Saints presarve us, can there be thieves +in the house, Oi do’ know!”</p> +<p>“Rather noisy thieves, I should think. Where +is Miss Jean?”</p> +<p>“Out in the fields beyant, wid her bit av a +camela takin’ her picter, Oi’m thinkin’. ’Twas +there she said she’d be goin’ afther she came +out of the pot-closet—saints have mercy! Could +she <i>git</i> out at all, at all?” and Mary tore down +the stairs, with Mrs. Rockwood and Helen close +at her heels. She reached the closet, flung open +the door, and beheld a spectacle. Seated on the +floor, in the midst of a scattered array of pots, +kettles and frying-pans, her box of plates upset, +her precious camera in her lap, and blissfully +unconscious that the slide was open, sat Jean, +a very picture of despair.</p> +<p>“Mighty man! And have ye been in here +all this toim, an’ not to be smothered dead!” +cried Mary.</p> +<p>“How could I be anywhere <i>else</i>, I’d like to +know?” said Jean, indignantly. “I called and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +<i>called</i>, but I couldn’t get you to let me out,” +and, bouncing up, she scrabbled the plates back +into their box, then caught up the camera to +see if all was as it should be with that. As she +jumped up the slide closed, and, quite unaware +that it had ever been open, she announced to +her nearly convulsed audience:</p> +<p>“Well, I’m <i>out</i> at last, and now I hope I can +take a picture; come on, Helen,” little dreaming +that the treacherous sunlight, which flashed +through the hall window and straight into the +pot-closet, had already printed a most perfect +one on the plate.</p> +<p>A few moments later both she and Helen +were out in the fields back of the house, and +had snapped charming little scenes.</p> +<p>Bemoaning her unintentional trick, Mary +went back to her work, while Mrs. Rockwood +went up to her room to laugh heartily over the +mishap, never suspecting that the funniest part +would appear in the sequel.</p> +<p>A half hour later the girls came flying into +her room to say, excitedly:</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +<a name='linki_8' id='linki_8'></a> +<img src='images/illus-221.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 332px; height: 461px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 332px;'> +“AN’ HAVE YE BEEN IN THERE ALL THIS TIME?”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></div> +<p>“We’ve taken them! We’ve taken them!”</p> +<p>“And I know they will be just lovely, for the +sun shone right on the trees and the ruins. +How I wish we could develop them; don’t you, +Helen?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’d like to know how, and, now that I +have the camera, I shall get a developing outfit +and learn; but let’s take these right over to +Charlton’s and have him develop them for us.”</p> +<p>They started for the village to leave the plates +to be developed, and waited with what patience +they could for the following day, when the photographer +promised to send them the proofs.</p> +<p>They came, and one at least was truly a +marvel.</p> +<p>In the foreground of Jean’s was a pretty +clump of fir-trees growing beside an old ruined +stone wall, under which nestled a bunch of dry +goldenrod. But the background! Did ever +the maddest artist’s brain conceive of such? +Clear and distinct, where sky should have been, +stood—a frying-pan!</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIV_WHISPERS' id='XXIV_WHISPERS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>WHISPERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>March, with its winds and storms, slipped +away as though glad to whisk such +trying days off the calendar, and, ere +the girls realized it, Easter vacation was upon +them, and capricious April was playing the +schoolgirl herself, with one day a smile and the +next a frown. But, like the schoolgirl, her +smiles were all the sunnier for the frowns.</p> +<p>It must indeed be a dull, prosy old heart +which cannot respond to the soft beauty of early +spring, and want to frisk and frolic for very +sympathy with all the new life springing into +existence all about it. And there were no dull +or prosy ones at Sunny Bank.</p> +<p>For some time the girls had known that this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +would be Miss Howard’s last year with them; +but now little whispers began to fly about, as +little whispers have a trick of doing, that Miss +Howard was about to enter another school, where +she would be pupil instead of teacher, and there +learn the sweetest lesson ever taught on this big +earth—a lesson which says, “Not mine and +thine, but ours, for ours is mine and thine;” and, +while they rejoiced in her happiness, they were +nearly inconsolable at the thought of losing her, +for she had filled a very beautiful place in their +lives—far more beautiful than they suspected. +It was always Miss Howard who entered into +all their little plans and pleasures, participated +in their joys, and sympathized with their sorrows.</p> +<p>She was little more than a girl herself, yet +possessed the strength of character sometimes +wanting in a much older person, and by it set +a beautiful example for her girls to follow. +And they followed it unconsciously to themselves +and to her, for never was there a more modest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +little body than Miss Howard, and had anyone +hinted that she was a mighty balance-wheel to +her fly-away girls, a source of encouragement to +her timid ones, an inspiration to her ambitious +ones, and an object of very sincere affection to +all, she would probably have been the most surprised +person in the school. Yet such was undoubtedly +the fact, and it would have been a very +wrong-headed girl, indeed, who was not ready +to yield to her influence.</p> +<p>“If I felt criss-cross with all the world, I believe +I’d have to smile back when Miss Howard +smiled at me,” said Toinette, shortly after she +became a pupil in the school. “Her eyes are +just as soft as the little Alderney bossie’s, and +her lips look sort of grieved if the girls look +cross.”</p> +<p>And so the whispers grew louder and louder +till just after the Easter holidays were over, and +then all who loved her best learned that early +in June wedding bells would ring and a very +bonny bride would step forth from Sunny Bank, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +with several bonny bridesmaids leading the way, +and one maid of honor to scatter the posies which +were to be symbolical, as all hoped, of her future +pathway through life.</p> +<p>And then arose the all-important question as +to whom Miss Howard would choose for that +great honor, and excitement ran high.</p> +<p>All the girls had a strong suspicion that it +would be Toinette, although, to do her justice, +Toinette herself did not suspect it. Still, Miss +Howard had taken a keen interest in the girl +ever since she entered the school, and felt +strongly drawn toward her, being quick to see +her good qualities, and to understand that the +undesirable ones were very largely the result of +unfortunate circumstances. So she had striven +in her sweet and gracious way to help Toinette +without words, and had been a strong support to +Miss Preston.</p> +<p>As the warm spring days made wood and field +to blossom, the girls spent a great deal of their +time out of doors. Sunny Bank’s grounds were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +very beautiful, and the adjacent field and woodland +very enticing at that season. Basket-ball +was a favorite source of amusement, and the lawn +devoted to it as soft and smooth as velvet. So +nearly every afternoon the team could be seen +bounding about like so many marionettes, and if +touseled hair and demoralized attire resulted, +what did it matter? Rosy cheeks and ravenous +appetites were excellent compensations.</p> +<p>It was the fifteenth of April, and Toinette’s +birthday. Many a climb had the expressman’s +horse taken up the long hill leading to Sunny +Bank that morning, for, if Toinette had but few +friends, she certainly had a very generous father, +who meant that she should have her full share +of birthday remembrances, and they kept coming +thick and fast all day. With each came a funny +note to say that he was sending still another +package because he did not want her to have all +her surprises in a lump; they would seem so +much more if coming in installments. So they +kept coming all day long, and by four o’clock +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +her room looked like a fancy bazaar. Last of all +to arrive was a large box upon which was printed +in flaring scarlet letters: “Not to be opened till +it is ten A. M. in <i>Bombay</i>.”</p> +<p>The box stood in the hall when Miss Preston +passed through the hall to dinner, and, unless +suddenly stricken with ophthalmy, she could not +fail to see the flaring notice. “Ah,” she said, +softly, to herself, “you have a triple mission, +you inanimate bit of the carpenter’s skill: first, +to teach my girls a lesson in longitude and time, +second, to mutely ask my permission for a frolic +to-night, and, third, to suggest that when birthdays +arrive it would be a most auspicious time +for the “C. C. C.’s” to hold their revels, and +that Diogenes’ tub, if not himself, would be welcome, +so I had better act upon the hint and contribute +my share. Thank you, sir,” and, with a +funny little nod to the box, she went on to the +dining-room.</p> +<p>“What is the joke, Miss Preston?” asked +Cicely, as Miss Preston took her seat. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span></p> +<p>“Do you think I’m going to spoil it by revealing +it so soon? No, indeed,” and she +laughed softly.</p> +<p>When dinner was ended the girls flocked +around the box and curiosity ran riot. “What +does that mean, Miss Preston? Do tell us.”</p> +<p>“I have other matters of such importance on +hand that I must deputize Miss Howard to unravel +the mystery for you,” she said, as she +slipped away to the upper hall where the telephone +was placed, and a moment later the girls +heard the bell jingle and a funny, one-sided conversation +followed. “Hello, Central! 1305. Is +this 1305? Send me the usual order. Yes, +four kinds. Eight. Well packed. Be prompt.”</p> +<p>The porter carried the big box to Toinette’s +room and removed the lid for her. Such an +array! I’m not going to attempt to tell about +it, but shall let every girl who has ever attended +a chum’s birthday feast mention the articles of +which that feast consisted, and then, after combining +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +the entire list, they can form some idea +of the contents of Toinette’s box.</p> +<p>“Fly, Cicely, and hunt up every C. C. C., +and a dozen besides! We can never dispose of +such a cartload of stuff in a week if we don’t +have the entire school to help us,” cried Toinette, +as she lifted one thing after another from +the box.</p> +<p>There is a saying that “Ill news flies fast,” +but, in my humble opinion, it is as a stage-coach +beside the Empire State Express when compared +to the fleetness of good news. So it did not take +long to start this bit like an electric fluid +through the school, and what sort of “Free +Masonry” filled in details so successfully I know +not.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXV__WHAT_ARE_YOU_DOING_UP_THIS_TIME_OF_NIGHT' id='XXV__WHAT_ARE_YOU_DOING_UP_THIS_TIME_OF_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>“WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP THIS TIME OF NIGHT?”</h3> +</div> + +<p>It so happened that of the ten resident +teachers but three were at home that evening; +the others having joined a theatre +party going to town, and it would be midnight +before they returned.</p> +<p>Those at home were Miss Preston, Miss Howard, +and, unfortunately, Mrs. Stone. Of the first +two mentioned the girls felt small apprehension, +for they understood them pretty thoroughly, but +Mrs. Stone was an obstacle not so easily surmounted, +and it seemed to them that she was +never more ubiquitous.</p> +<p>At nine-thirty Miss Preston had bade all +good-night in an unusually solicitous manner, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +wishing each happy dreams. Miss Howard had +also retired to her room promptly at the stroke +of the clock, and everything worked most auspiciously +excepting the tucking away of Mother +Stone, and she positively refused to be tucked, +but kept prowling about like a lost spirit, till +Ruth said, in desperation: “If she doesn’t get +settled down pretty soon I’ll do something desperate; +see if I don’t.”</p> +<p>From room to room she went, popping her +head in at one to ask if there was anything she +could do for this girl, listening at the next door +for sounds of insomnia, creeping stealthily on +through the corridors to learn if any girl who +ought to be en route for Sleepy Town had by +chance missed her way.</p> +<p>She had made her way as far as the lower +end of the hall, where on one side the stairs +leading to the third story joined it, and on the +other a door opened into the bath-room, when a +rustle at the head of the stairs caused her to +glance quickly in that direction; but it was too +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +dark for her to see anything at the top of them. +She paused to listen, and her sharp ears detected +the sound again. That was sufficient. +Up she flew and came plump upon Lou Cornwall, +who had not had time to fly. Lou was +stout and did not move quickly, and was fair prey +for Mrs. Stone, who was as thin as a match, and +managed to glide about like a wraith.</p> +<p>Lou was arrayed in her bath-robe, and had +her cap and mask in her hand. Quickly concealing +them behind her lest Mrs. Stone’s sharp +eyes should discover them even in the dark, she +stood stock still waiting developments. Mrs. +Stone stooped from her towering height of five +feet nine to peer into the face of the plump little +figure huddled in the corner. “How you startled +me,” she said. “Why are you standing here +when everyone else is in bed, and what are you +doing up this time of night?”</p> +<p>“I had to get up, Mrs. Stone.”</p> +<p>“Why, may I enquire?”</p> +<p>“I am going to the bath-room.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span></p> +<p>“Then, why in the world don’t you <i>go</i> and not +stand huddled up here as though you were bent +on some mischief? It is no wonder that we suspect +you when you take such extraordinary +ways of doing perfectly simple things. Go on +at once, and, if you have been hesitating because +you are timid, I’ll wait here till you return,” +and down she planted herself upon the top step +to mount guard.</p> +<p>Groaning inwardly, away went Lou, muttering: +“If I don’t keep you perched there till +you nearly freeze, my name isn’t Lou Cornwall!”</p> +<p>And keep her she did, till Mrs. Stone had +another trouble added to her many, for she began +to fear that Lou had been taken ill, and +went to the bath-room door to speak to her. +Finding that she could not hold out any longer, +out she came, and, after receiving some very +emphatic admonitions from Mrs. Stone, crept +away to her room disgusted with herself, the +world at large, and Mrs. Stone in particular. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></p> +<p>Meantime, the other girls began to suspect +that Lou had fallen into ambush, and sent out a +scout to reconnoiter, and it was not many seconds +before the scout came scuttling back with the +alarming information that the enemy was close +at hand; in fact, that she was even now coming +upon them in force, for, when Mother Stone +found that Lou did not come from the bath-room +as promptly as she thought she should, all +her suspicions were instantly aroused, and she +was keen to make discoveries.</p> +<p>The girls had planned to meet in Toinette’s +room, and creep from there to the old laundry +as soon as all were assembled. About a dozen +were already there, but, when the scout returned +with such dire tidings, they decided that discretion +was the better part of valor, and all made +haste to get back to their rooms ere the enemy +appeared. But, alack-a-day! that enemy could +flit about in a surprisingly lively manner, and, +ere some of them had reached safety behind +their own doors, she came in view. To get to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +their rooms now was out of the question, so, +making a virtue of necessity, they all slipped +into a large closet used by the housemaids for +their brooms, etc.</p> +<p>Whether it was from a wholesome fear that +Miss Preston would be very apt to criticize a +too pronounced vigilance that Mrs. Stone refrained +from opening the girls’ doors, but contented +herself with simply listening, I cannot +say, but if she heard no sound within she always +passed on and left them to their innocent (?) slumbers. +So on she went from one room to another, +but, luckily, the alarm had gone before, and at each +room darkness and profound silence prevailed. +Satisfied that “all was well,” she murmured something +about, “It is always well to be upon the +alert, for once the girls understand that someone +is sure to detect the first signs of mischief, they +are far less liable to carry it to excess,” she set +off for her own room. In passing by the housemaid’s +door she saw that it was not tightly +closed and locked, as was the custom at night, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +and, with a joyous chuckle at her own astuteness, +she pounced upon it, locked the door, and +withdrawing the key sailed triumphantly to her +room, where, serene in her sense of well-doing, +she fell as sound asleep as her nature permitted.</p> +<p>Meantime, how fared it with the mice in the +trap? When the key was turned in the door, +and they were made prisoners, nothing but the +pitch darkness which enveloped them as a garment +prevented each girl’s face from plainly +announcing to her neighbor: “Here is a pretty +kettle of fish!” There were five in the closet: +Ruth, Edith, Pauline, May and Marie. Luckily, +a resourceful party. When all sound from the +hall had ceased, Ruth gave just one howl, and +then jumped up and down three times as hard +as she could jump, by way of giving vent to +her state of mind. Fortunately, the door was +a heavy one and the sound did not reach Mother +Stone’s ears.</p> +<p>“You crazy thing!” exclaimed Edith, “next +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +thing you know you will have her after us +again.”</p> +<p>“Suppose we do; we’ve got to get out somehow, +haven’t we?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but she is the last one in the world we +want to let us out. What a fix! If the girls +only knew of it, they would come and let us +out.”</p> +<p>“How could they when she has the key, I’d +like to know?”</p> +<p>Edith groaned: “I never thought of that +plagued old key. Bother take her and it, too! +Why couldn’t she have gone to bed just as +everybody else did, and have minded her own +business, too.”</p> +<p>“That was exactly what she thought she was +doing,” laughed May.</p> +<p>“It’s all very well to laugh, but <i>how</i> are we +to get down to the laundry, I’d like to know; +or the girls ever find out where we are?”</p> +<p>While all this talking had been going on, +little Marie, the liveliest, slightest, most quick-witted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +girl in the school, had been doing a lot +of thinking, and now turned to the others and +said:</p> +<p>“Do you see that scrap of a window up +there?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we see it, but it might as well be a rat-hole, +for all the good it will do us; nothing but +a rat could crawl through it!”</p> +<p>“Don’t be too sure,” answered Marie, with a +knowing laugh. “I can get through a pretty +small space when occasion demands, and, if I’m +not much mistaken, the demand is very urgent +just at this moment.”</p> +<p>“How under the sun can you reach it, even +if you can get through it after you’ve reached +it?”</p> +<p>“What good have you derived from your +gymnastic training this winter, I’d like to +know, if you have to ask me that?” demanded +Marie.</p> +<p>The window was one of those odd little affairs +one sometimes sees built in houses, perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +simply to excite curiosity and make one wonder +why they were ever built at all, for they do not +seem to be of the slightest use. The one in +question was situated high up in the closet, and +had probably been put there for ventilating purposes, +if anyone ever felt inclined to get a step-ladder +and clamber up to open it. It was shaped +like a segment of a circle, was only about eighteen +inches high at the widest part, and fastened +at the top with a bolt. Getting at it in broad +daylight would not have been an easy matter, +and now, with only the light of the moon shining +through it, it seemed an impossibility.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVI__LOVE_AND_SCHOOLGIRLS_LAUGH_AT_LOCKSMITHS' id='XXVI__LOVE_AND_SCHOOLGIRLS_LAUGH_AT_LOCKSMITHS'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>“LOVE (AND SCHOOLGIRLS) LAUGH AT LOCKSMITHS”</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Here, I’m going to take command of +affairs, since no one else seems inclined +to,” cried Marie. “May, you are the +strongest girl here; just give me a shoulder, will +you?”</p> +<p>“What shall I do?”</p> +<p>“Stand close to the wall underneath the +window, and let me get on your shoulder; it +may hurt a bit, but we can’t stay stived up in +here all night. Lend a hand, Ruth, and boost +me up.”</p> +<p>A step-ladder of knees and arms was formed, +and up scrambled Marie as nimbly as a squirrel. +Then another obstacle confronted her. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +window had probably never been opened since +it was built, and, having never been called upon +to do its share in the economy of that household, +was disinclined to begin now. Marie’s +slender fingers were dented and pinched in vain; +that window remained obdurate.</p> +<p>“For mercy sake come down and give the +old thing up! My shoulder is crushed flat,” +said May.</p> +<p>“Wait just one second longer, and I’ll have +it; see if I don’t. Ruth, hand me that stair-brush, +please.”</p> +<p>Ruth gave her the brush, and, saying to May: +“Now, brace yourself for a mighty push,” she +used the handle as a lever, gave a vigorous jerk, +when away went bolt, window, Marie and all. +Down she came with a thud, but, luckily, on a +pile of sweeping cloths, which saved her from +harm.</p> +<p>Scrabbling up, she cried: “Never mind, I’m +not hurt a bit; now boost me up again, and let +me see what is outside.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span></p> +<p>She was promptly lifted up, and, poking her +saucy head out into the moonlight, drew in long +whiffs of the sweet night air, which was wonderfully +refreshing after the stuffy closet.</p> +<p>“The shed is about ten feet below, girls. If +I had anything to lower myself down with I +could easily reach it; I’m almost afraid to let +myself drop, the shed slopes so.”</p> +<p>“Hang fast a second while Ruth and I tie +the sweeping-cloths together,” cried May, and +quickly catching up the calico covers they began +to tie them together.</p> +<p>“See that you tie them tightly,” warned +Marie. “I’ve had one bump already, and I +don’t want another.”</p> +<p>The cloths were soon ready, and one end +handed to her. She fastened it securely about +her waist, and, warning the others to hang on +for dear life, she began to crawl through the +narrow opening.</p> +<p>“My goodness, she is just like a monkey,” said +Pauline. “I never could have done it in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +world,” a most superfluous assertion, as no one +in the world would ever have suspected her of +being able to.</p> +<p>Away went Marie, vanishing bit by bit from +their sight till only her laughing black eyes, +with the soft dark hair above them, were visible +in the moonlight. The girls lowered away +slowly, and presently felt the strain upon the +cloths relax.</p> +<p>“She’s on the shed! Good!” said Edith, +“and now she’ll have us out in less than jig +time.”</p> +<p>But “many’s the slip twixt the—lip and the +birthday box,” and the girls began to suspect +Marie of treachery to the cause ere they again +heard her voice.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +<a name='linki_9' id='linki_9'></a> +<img src='images/illus-247.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 326px; height: 466px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 326px;'> +“AWAY WENT MARIE, VANISHING BIT BY BIT.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>Meantime, how fared it with her? Once upon +the shed all seemed plain sailing, but the shed +was somewhat like the mountains Moses climbed +so wearily; it gave her a glimpse of the promised +land without permitting her to enter it. The +ground was fully sixteen feet below her, and to +reach it without some means other than her own +nimble legs was obviously impossible. The shed +was only a small one built out over the kitchen, +but just beyond, with perhaps five feet dividing +them, was the end of the piazza roof, and if she +could only reach that she could let herself down +to the ground by the thick vines growing upon +it. But those five feet intervening looked a +perfect gulf, and how to get over them was a +poser. Jump it she dared not; step it she could +not. It began to look as though she must signal +to the girls in the closet to haul in their big +fish, when she chanced to spy something sticking +up through the honeysuckle vines. Crawling +carefully down to the edge of the shed, +she peered over, and saw the ends of the gardener’s +ladder. Pauline had not made a mistake +when she called her a monkey, for in +just one second she was at the bottom of that +ladder.</p> +<p>“Now I’m all right, and will soon have the +girls free,” and off she scurried to the side of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +the house upon which Toinette’s room was situated. +Gathering up a handful of soft earth +she threw it against the window, but with no result. +Then a second one followed. Had she +but known it, Toinette and her revellers had +long ago given them up, and were now down in +the old laundry spreading forth their array of +goodies. After wasting considerable time, Marie +suddenly bethought her of the above fact, and instantly +skipped off to that Mecca.</p> +<p>There was not a ray of light visible, but, +happily, sight is not the only sense with which +we are endowed, and Marie’s ears were as keen +as her eyes. Giving the three signal taps upon +one of the tightly closed window-blinds, she +waited a reply. But the girls were not expecting +taps from that quarter, and at once became +suspicious. But precious moments were fleeing, +and Marie was becoming desperate, so, flinging +prudence to the winds, she gave three sounding +bangs upon that window, and called out:</p> +<p>“If you don’t open this window and let me +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +in I’ll set Mother Stone on your track, sure as +you live!”</p> +<p>Open flew the window, and a moment later +Marie was relating her experiences to them. +Then came the question of rescuing the others. +Not an easy one to answer. But Marie had +gone so far, and, being a very resourceful little +body, had no notion of giving up yet, and saying +to the revellers: “I’m going to let those girls +out if I have to take the door down to do it,” +off she flitted, as quickly and silently as a butterfly. +In less time than it takes to tell it she +stood outside their prison, and saying, encouragingly: +“Don’t give up, girls; I’ll soon have you +out,” she slipped into the sewing-room opposite, +and emerged a second later with the little oil-can +and screw-driver from the machine drawer.</p> +<p>“For gracious sake, what <i>are</i> you going to +do?” whispered Cicely, who had come with her +to help if possible.</p> +<p>“Something I once saw a carpenter at our +house do, if I can. Sh! Don’t make any +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +noise,” and, reaching up to the top hinge, Marie +dropped a few drops of oil from her can upon +it, and then treated the lower one in the same +manner. The hinges were what are known as +“fish hinges,” the door being held in place by +a small iron peg slipped into the sockets of the +hinge. After she had oiled them, she placed +her screw-driver under the knob of the peg, +when, lo! up it slid as easily as could be, and +when both had been carefully slid out of place, +nothing prevented the door from being softly +drawn away from the hinges, swung outward, +and if it did not open from left to right, as it +had been intended to open, it was quite as +easy to walk through it when it opened from +right to left. To slip it back into place, when +five giggling girls had escaped, was equally +easy, and no one would ever have suspected +the skillful bit of mechanical engineering that +had taken place under their very noses at ten-thirty +that night.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVII_ARIADNE_S_CLUE' id='XXVII_ARIADNE_S_CLUE'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>ARIADNE’S CLUE</h3> +</div> + +<p>The manner in which those liberated girls +skipped down to the laundry was certainly +not snail-like. They had nearly +reached it when Ruth’s feet became entangled in +a piece of string, and, stooping down to loosen +it, she discovered a slip of paper fastened to the +end, and a large pin which had evidently stuck +it fast to the door-casing. No doubt some of +the girls had brushed against it in their hurry-scurry +to reach the laundry, and, but for the +ill wind which blew five of them into the housemaid’s +closet, this significant scrap of paper +would never have been discovered. The candle +they carried was brought to bear upon it, and +they read the following words: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span></p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>In ancient days, so the stories say,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>One Theseus found a remarkable way</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Of reaching a point he wished to gain,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And down to posterity came his fame.</p> +<br /> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>So, perhaps, posterity may also do well</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>To follow a “clue,” but never to tell</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Just what they found at the further end,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>Lest a rule should break instead of bend.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>“What can it mean? Where does it lead +to?” were the questions eagerly whispered.</p> +<p>“Come on, and let’s find out,” was Ruth’s +practical remark, and she began to wind up the +string. There seemed no end to it, and it led +them through the corridor, out of that into the +kitchen, then out to a small store-room built beneath +the kitchen porch. Here the end was tied +to a very suggestive-looking tub.</p> +<p>Had Diogenes succeeded in discovering an +honest man he could not have felt greater satisfaction +than these girls felt at the sight of that +modest little oval tub, with its sawdust covering; +and the way in which it was pounced upon, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +and borne in triumph to the laundry, brings my +story of that night’s revels to a climax, and no +more need be told.</p> +<p>When the twelve o’clock train whistled it was +the signal for the revels to end, and, ere the +carriages which were to meet the theatre-goers +could bring them up the hill, Sunny Bank was +as quiet and peaceful as though all its inmates +had been dreaming for hours.</p> +<p>The weather had become beautifully soft and +balmy for the middle of April, and the girls +were able to sit out of doors, and do many of +the things they had not hoped to do till May +should burgeon and bloom.</p> +<p>A few days after the frolic Toinette was sitting +in one of the pretty little summer-houses, of +which there were several dotted about the +grounds, when Miss Howard came in and took +her seat beside her.</p> +<p>“You have been playing at hide-and-seek +with me without knowing it,” she said, “for I +have been searching for you everywhere, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +only discovered you here by the glint of the sunshine +upon your hair.”</p> +<p>“Did you want me, Miss Howard? I’m sorry +you had to hunt for me,” answered Toinette. +“What can I do for you?”</p> +<p>“Give me some wise advice,” said Miss Howard, +smiling.</p> +<p>“<i>I</i> give you advice!” exclaimed Toinette.</p> +<p>“Yes; don’t you think you can?”</p> +<p>“I shall have to know what it is about before +I dare say yes or no, Miss Howard.”</p> +<p>“You know that I am going to leave you in +a few weeks, dear, and I want my leave-taking +to be closely identified with my girls, whom I +have learned to love so dearly, and whom, I +think, love me as well as I love them. I have +spent many happy years in this school, first as +pupil and then as teacher, and it has been a very +dear home to me. Now I am going away from +it forever, and though the future looks very +enticing, and I have every reason to believe +that it will be happy, still I cannot help +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +feeling sad at the thought of leaving the old +life behind. These are serious confidences for +me to burden you with, Toinette, but you have +crept into a very warm corner of my heart since +you became a pupil here, and I know that there +is a wise little head upon these shoulders,” said +Miss Howard, as she placed her hand on Toinette’s +shoulder.</p> +<p>The girl reached up, and drawing the hand +close to her cheek held it there, but did not speak.</p> +<p>“So now,” continued Miss Howard, “I am +going to ask you to help my outgoing from this +happy home to be a pleasant one, by being my +maid of honor when the time comes; will you, +dear?”</p> +<p>“You want <i>me</i> to be the maid of honor, Miss +Howard? You don’t truly mean it? There +are so many other girls whom you have known +so much longer, and whom you must love better +than you do me; although I don’t believe they +<i>can</i> love <i>you</i> any better than I do,” said Toinette, +naively. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span></p> +<p>“That is just it, dear. I do love them all, and +am sure that they are very fond of me. But +in your case it is just a little different. All +these girls have pleasant homes, and many loved +ones in them who plan for their happiness, and +to whom they will go directly vacation begins. +For many years you, like myself, have had +no home but the one a school offered, and which, +unlike mine, was sometimes not as happy a home +as it might have been, I fear. So, you see, we +have, in one way, had a bond of sympathy between +us even before we knew it to be so. And +now we have still another, for when we leave +here in June we shall each go to our own dear +home; you to one your father shall make for +you, I to the one my husband will provide for +me.”</p> +<p>A soft, pretty color had crept over Miss Howard’s +face as she spoke, and a very tender look +came into her beautiful eyes. Truly, she was +carrying something very sweet and holy to the +one who was to bear that name. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span></p> +<p>“So we shall step out into the new life together, +shall we not, Toinette, and each will be +the sweeter for our having done so?” asked +Miss Howard.</p> +<p>“It is too lovely even to think about, Miss +Howard. I don’t know how to make you understand +how proud and happy it makes me to +think that you chose me from among all the +others, and I hope they will not feel that you +should not have done so. Do you think they +will mind?”</p> +<p>“On the contrary, they are delighted with +my choice, for I told them my reasons, as I have +told them to you, and they see it in the same +light that I see it.”</p> +<p>“Then I shall be the happiest girl in Montcliff,” +cried Toinette.</p> +<p>“No, <i>next</i> to the happiest,” said Miss Howard, +laughing softly.</p> +<p>“Well, I shall be the happiest in <i>my</i> way, +and you in <i>yours</i>,” and Toinette wagged her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +head as though it would be of no use for Miss +Howard to try to make her concede <i>that</i> point.</p> +<p>“And now let us plan our maid of honor’s +toilet, and also what our six bridesmaids must +wear. It was upon that important question I +wished your advice, and, now that you know, do +you feel qualified to give it?”</p> +<p>“Oh, how lovely!” cried Toinette. “Why, +Miss Howard, it is almost like planning for my +own wedding, and you are too sweet for anything +to let me.”</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVIII__WHEN_BUDS_AND_BLOSSOMS_BURST' id='XXVIII__WHEN_BUDS_AND_BLOSSOMS_BURST'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>“WHEN BUDS AND BLOSSOMS BURST”</h3> +</div> + +<p>The planning of the toilets took considerable +time, and Miss Howard felt that +she had made no mistake when she asked +the girl’s advice. Like her father’s, Toinette’s +taste was unerring, and when she said:</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t it be pretty to have the girls +represent flowers?” Miss Howard was delighted +with the idea.</p> +<p>“What flowers would you suggest, dear?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Let me think just a moment, please,” said +Toinette, and she rested her chin upon her hands, +a favorite attitude of hers when thinking seriously +of anything. “How would a lily, a violet, a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +pansy, a daffodil, a narcissus, and a snowdrop +do?”</p> +<p>“How pretty!” exclaimed Miss Howard. +“What put such a picturesque idea in your +head? It is beautiful, and can be carried out +admirably. You must be my fair and lovely +lily; then shall come my violet and daffodil; +then my narcissus and lilac; then my pansy and +modest little snowdrop. That will exactly suit +Helen.”</p> +<p>“Who are to be the bridesmaids?”</p> +<p>“Edith, May, Ruth, Marie, Natala and +Helen.”</p> +<p>“How nice of you to choose all the younger +girls; it makes us feel so important. Now, let’s +plan just what the dresses are to be,” said +Toinette, becoming quite excited, and looking at +Miss Howard as though all must be completed +ere they left the summer-house.</p> +<p>“I am waiting for your suggestions,” said she.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t it be pretty to have all the dresses +made of white chiffon, or something soft like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +that, and have white, violet and yellow slips +under them? Then have the hats trimmed with +the flowers they represent. Would you like +that, Miss Howard?”</p> +<p>“Yes, immensely; but now I want to think +about Helen. You know she has very limited +means, and what might seem a small outlay for +the others would probably be a large one for her, +and I do not want to tax her resources, much +as I wish to have her for one of my bonny +maids.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Toinette, meditatively, “I suppose +the dresses will be rather expensive, but it +would be too bad not to have Helen; she is so +sweet and is so fond of you, Miss Howard.”</p> +<p>“Yes, she is a dear child, and I have felt a +great interest in her from the moment she entered +the school. I wish I knew of some way +of bettering her circumstances. Mr. Burgess is +a most estimable man, but not one liable to advance +rapidly through his own efforts, I fear. +He is most reliable and capable, but seems to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span> +lack the push so essential in this bustling day +and age. He would prove invaluable in any +position of trust, but would never secure such if +it depended upon his own efforts to do so.”</p> +<p>Toinette had listened very attentively while +Miss Howard was talking, and when she finished +said:</p> +<p>“When papa was out here for the dance I +spoke to him about Helen, and we had such a +nice little talk. The next day he spoke with +Miss Preston about those very things, but I do +not know what came of it. I wish I did. His +business affairs bring him into contact with so +many large firms of different kinds that I am +almost sure he could secure something for Mr. +Burgess. Do you know what I am going to +do?” said Toinette, eagerly, “I am going to +write to him right off, tell him all about our +plans; may I? About the wedding, the bridesmaids, +and everything; then I am going to +ask him if he has heard of anything that he +thinks would help Mr. Burgess, and, who knows, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +maybe, by the first of June all will be fixed up +so nicely that Helen can have things as nice +as the other girls—and, oh, Miss Howard!—wouldn’t +it be <i>lovely</i> if she could go abroad with +Miss Preston?” and Toinette clasped her hands +in rapture at the very thought.</p> +<p>Miss Howard laughed a happy little laugh, +and, taking Toinette’s face in both her hands, +kissed her cheeks very tenderly, saying as she +did so:</p> +<p>“I see that I made no mistake in my estimate +of your character, dear, although I did not bargain +for quite such a wise, resourceful little +head and efficient helper as you have proved. +How did you manage to think out so much in +so short a time?”</p> +<p>“I suppose it is because my brains have never +been overburdened with thoughts for other people,” +said Toinette, with an odd expression overspreading +her face, “and so the part of them +devoted to that sort of thing has had time to develop +to an astonishing degree. But I guess I’d +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +better begin to use the power before it becomes +abnormal; Miss Preston says that abnormal +development of any sort is dangerous,” and she +gave a funny little laugh as she glanced slyly +into Miss Howard’s eyes.</p> +<p>Miss Howard understood the quaint remark, +and, rising from her seat, said: “I shall not soon +forget our little talk, but must leave you now for +the ‘school ma’am’s’ duties. One of them will +be to endeavor to persuade Pauline that it was +<i>not</i> Henry VIII. who sought to reduce the +American Colonies to submission, nor Lafayette +who won the battle of Waterloo. Good-bye,” +and away tripped Miss Howard over the soft +green lawn.</p> +<p>Toinette sat for a few moments, and then, +springing up, said to herself: “I might as well +go and write that letter this very minute, and I +do hope papa will know of something right off. +How lovely it would be!”</p> +<p>The letter was soon written, and within two +hours was speeding upon its way to New York. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span> +Toinette had reasoned well, and, as good luck +would have it, the letter arrived at a most auspicious +moment. As Mr. Reeve sat reading it, +his face reflecting the happiness he felt at receiving +it so close upon the one which came to +him every Monday morning, a client was shown +into his office.</p> +<p>It happened to be one who was about to embark +upon a new line of business in which he +was venturing large sums of money, and which +required capable, trustworthy men to carry out +his plans. He had consulted with Mr. Reeve +many times before, and nearly all details were +completed; the few that remained dealt with +minor matters, so Mr. Reeve felt considerable +satisfaction at the thought of having brought all +arrangements through so successfully. But it +was certainly anything but a contented face he +saw before him when he glanced up from Toinette’s +letter upon Mr. Fowler’s entrance, and +his first words were: “Well, for a prosperous +capitalist, you bear a woeful countenance, Ned.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span></p> +<p>“If mine is woeful, yours certainly is not,” +was the prompt answer. “You look as though +you had been the recipient of some very pleasing +news.”</p> +<p>“A pretty good sort,” said Mr. Reeve, smiling. +“The sort that makes a man feel old and +young at the same time. Ever get any of that?”</p> +<p>“Don’t know as I do; it must be a rare specimen,” +said Mr. Fowler, dryly. “Better let me +know the kind it is; perhaps it will counterbalance +the kind I have for you this morning; +confound it!”</p> +<p>Seeing that Mr. Fowler was really disturbed +about something, Mr. Reeve dropped his bantering +tone, and went to serious matters. He then +learned that the bookkeeper whom Mr. Fowler +had engaged for the new line of business, and +who would also act as his confidential clerk and +office manager, would be unable to accept the +position, as he was called to England by the +death of his father, and would in future make +his home there. This was a serious loss to Mr. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span> +Fowler, for he had known this man for years, +and felt deep satisfaction at the thought of having +such an efficient assistant.</p> +<p>“And now,” he said, when he had told Mr. +Reeve all the facts, “who under heavens am I +to find to fill his place at such short notice, I’d +like to know? Such men are not to be picked +up at every corner.”</p> +<p>“Read that letter,” was all Mr. Reeve said, +and handed him Toinette’s letter.</p> +<p>Mr. Fowler took the letter, and began reading +with a very mystified expression, as though he +could not for the life of him understand what a +letter from Mr. Reeve’s daughter had to do with +his private affairs. But, as he read, his expression +changed, and when he came to the end he said: +“Well, it may be Kismet; can’t say. Funnier +things have happened. Look into it, will you, +Clayton? I’m sick and tired of the thing, +particularly when I thought all important details +settled.”</p> +<p>And Clayton Reeve did “look into it” very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned which +would help him to learn all that it was necessary +to know about Mr. Burgess, and nothing could +possibly have been more gratifying than what +he learned. As a result of it, Mr. Burgess was +offered the position from June first, and the +salary offered with it seemed a princely one to +him as compared to the one he had received as +clerk in the bank in Montcliff. It would be +hard to understand the happiness which that +schoolgirl letter brought to one family, or how +the writing of it changed two lives very materially, +and a third completely.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIX_COMMENCEMENT' id='XXIX_COMMENCEMENT'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>COMMENCEMENT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Many a girl has asked: “Why do they +call it commencement when it is really +the end?” If they have not found out +why, I am not going to tell the secret. But one +thing I have found out is this: Never in after +life do we ever feel <i>quite</i> so important as we do +when that day has been reached upon our life’s +calendar.</p> +<p>It was no exception at Sunny Bank, and when +the fifth of June dawned that year it found a +busy, bustling household. No, I am not telling +the exact truth: it was not when it <i>dawned</i>, but +fully three hours later, and then began the hurry-scurry +which continued till all were assembled +in chapel to listen to the opening prayer of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span> +good man who had for many a year opened the +Sunny Bank commencement exercises.</p> +<p>He had grown old in faithful service in Montcliff, +and was beloved and revered by all.</p> +<p>It is of no use for me to tell you all about +those exercises; to an outsider they were exactly +like many others that had taken place before; +to the girls themselves they were unique, and +stood out pre-eminent above all others. Everybody +was there who had the smallest excuse for +being, and just how happy six bodies were I +will leave you to learn from what follows.</p> +<p>The exercises were to take place in the evening, +and all day long relatives and friends of the +girls arrived thick and fast. Among the first +was Toinette’s father. “Couldn’t wait till evening, +you see,” he cried, as he met Toinette at +the railway station. “Yes, it is all settled; I +got them by a lucky chance at the very last +moment.”</p> +<p>“Did you say anything to Mr. Burgess about +it?” asked Toinette. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span></p> +<p>“No, I have not seen him; daresay he has +had his hands full since the first. We’ll speak +to Miss Preston first, and then call at the Burgess’ +and tell them.”</p> +<p>“How perfectly splendid! Oh, daddy, you +are a perfect wonder! How do you ever manage +to fetch things about so successfully?”</p> +<p>“Because I have found a wonderful incentive +to spur me on,” he answered as he handed her +into the carriage which was waiting for them, +and they whirled off up the hill.</p> +<p>“And you will stay here till after the wedding, +won’t you?” asked Toinette, snuggling +close to his side and slipping her arm through +his.</p> +<p>“What! Five whole days? What will you +do with me all that time?”</p> +<p>“No danger of your suffering from ennui, I +guess,” laughed Toinette. “I will guarantee to +keep you occupied. And then, daddy, after all +is over we’ll go off together, and won’t we have +glorious times!” and she gave a rapturous little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +bounce at the thought of the delightful days to +come.</p> +<p>Miss Preston was to sail for Europe on the +fifteenth of June, five days after Miss Howard’s +wedding, and six girls were to go with her. +When it became an understood thing that Mr. +Burgess’ financial affairs were to be so improved, +the possibility of Helen making one of the party +was talked over, although Mrs. Burgess was filled +with dismay at the thought of having her +daughter take such a step upon such short notice; +it seemed a tremendous thing to that quiet, +home-staying body. Still, Miss Preston had +long been anxious to have Helen go with her, +and, now that there seemed no further obstacle +to her doing so, could not make up her mind to +go without her.</p> +<p>She had talked it over with both Mr. and +Mrs. Burgess, but, it must be confessed, had met +with only lukewarm enthusiasm. Furthermore, +it was very late in the day to secure stateroom +accommodation upon the steamer by which Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +Preston would sail, her own and the girls having +been engaged for weeks.</p> +<p>Helen herself said very little, but Miss Preston +knew that the girl’s heart had long been set +upon going, and this year the route planned +took in the very points she had most wished to +visit, and which would prove the most profitable +for her to visit. In desperation, Miss Preston +turned to Mr. Reeve once more, for she had +found him a most resourceful man, and one not +likely to be easily baffled.</p> +<p>The result was that he had succeeded in making +a mutually agreeable exchange of staterooms +with some other people, and was now primed +and ready to carry the war into the enemy’s +country.</p> +<p>Soon after luncheon they all drove to Stonybrook, +a town about ten miles from Montcliff, +and Helen’s home. Evidently their persuasive +powers were strong, for ere the visit ended it was +decided that Helen should make one of Miss +Preston’s party to sail with her “over the ocean +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +blue,” and some very happy people drove back +to Montcliff that afternoon.</p> +<p>The house seemed very quiet after the girls’ +departure for their homes on the day following +commencement, for, excepting those who lived +too far away to return for the wedding, and +would remain as Miss Preston’s guests until after +the tenth, all had left that morning, and when +a house has been filled with twenty-five or thirty +girls, and all but eight or ten suddenly depart +from it, the quiet which ensues cannot be overlooked.</p> +<p>Mr. Reeve gave himself up to the enjoyment +of his five days’ vacation as only a busy man +can, and when I add that he was a very happy +man, too, I need say no more.</p> +<p>The year had been one of many experiences +both for him and for Toinette, and for both was +ending far more happily than he had hoped it +would. The future seemed to promise a great +deal to them both, for they were growing to understand +each other better every day, and Toinette +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span> +was developing into a very lovely, as well as +a very lovable, companion. They had planned +a delightful summer vacation, to be spent in +travelling leisurely from place to place, as the +fancy took them, and Toinette had suggested +nearly all.</p> +<p>The five days at Montcliff were spent in driving +about the beautiful country, playing tennis, +rambling about the pretty woods, and doing an +endless number of delightful nothings, as people +can sometimes do when they fully make up their +minds to put aside the cares of the world for a +time.</p> +<p>They soon came to an end, and then came Miss +Howard’s wedding day.</p> +<p>There has always seemed something inexpressibly +sweet in Longfellow’s words in reference +to the forming of new ties and establishing +the new home. In Miss Howard’s case it was +to be a home filled with all the sweetest hopes +that can come into a woman’s life: hopes sanctified +by love and founded upon respect. Could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +they have a firmer foundation? The future +held great promise for her, although worldly-minded +folk might say that the step she was +about to take was not marked off by a <i>golden</i> +mile-stone, nor the path she would follow be +paved with a golden pavement. She knew that +quite well, and had wisely decided that a noble +character and a brilliant mind were excellent +substitutes, however agreeable it may be to have +the former, and, also, that the former minus the +latter are fairy gold.</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXX__O_FORTUNATE_O_HAPPY_DAY' id='XXX__O_FORTUNATE_O_HAPPY_DAY'></a> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>“O FORTUNATE, O HAPPY DAY”</h3> +</div> + +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>“O fortunate, O happy day,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 1.47em;'>When a new household finds its place</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.73em;'>Among the myriad homes of earth,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.73em;'>Like a new star just sprung to birth,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0.0em;'>And rolled on its harmonious way</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 1.47em;'>Into the boundless realms of space!”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>As though all that was loveliest had united +to do her honor, and make the boundary-line +between the old and the new life +one to be long remembered by all who stood beside +her at it, the day set for Miss Howard’s +wedding was all that Lowell has written about it. +It was as “rare” and “perfect” as dear Mother +Nature could make it for one of her loveliest +children.</p> +<p>The girls had dressed the church, until it +seemed a very bower of bloom, and at every turn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +Miss Howard would find the posies of which she +was so fond. The three colors, if white may be +called a color, chosen for the bridesmaids’ dresses +were used in the decorations, and altar, chancel, +transept and aisles were brilliant with daffodils, +narcissuses and lilacs, which filled the church +with their perfume.</p> +<p>The wedding was to take place at four o’clock, +and when that hour arrived little space was left +in the church for the tardy ones.</p> +<p>Nearly all the girls had returned for the ceremony, +and a bonnier lot it would have been difficult +to find than that which filled the front pews +of the church, for Miss Howard would have +them all near her, insisting that none of the +other guests could possibly have the same loving +thoughts for her that her girls would have.</p> +<p>Promptly at the stroke of four the great organ +rolled out its message to all, and, after her few +distant relatives had been conducted to their +seats, Miss Howard’s bonny bridesmaids appeared, +following another fancy of hers by walking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +together, with the ushers leading. First +came Edith and Marie; Edith’s yellow golden hair +a perfect background for the big white chip hat, +with its masses of violets, and her fair, soft skin +made softer and fairer by the fairy-like chiffon +draped so artistically over the pale violet satin +beneath it. A daintily gilded basket filled with +violets told all the story.</p> +<p>Saucy and pert beside her walked the little +brownie Marie, looking for all the world like +the bobbing daffies in her white basket. One +wanted to sing the old nursery rhyme: “Daffy-down-dilly +has come to town,” for they were +nodding a friendly greeting from her hat, and +seemed to lend their golden sheen to the satin +beneath the white chiffon gown.</p> +<p>Behind them followed May Foster and Natala +King. May’s bronze-brown hair and brilliant +coloring were a perfect foil for the creamy-white +narcissus blossoms on her hat and the creamy-white +of her gown. While Natala’s light-brown +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span> +hair and hazel eyes needed just the lilac tints to +show how pretty they were.</p> +<p>Then came Ruth and Helen. Could Miss +Howard have chosen two who, placed beside +each other, would have formed a more pronounced +contrast? Not even the solemnity of +the occasion could overcome Ruth’s ruling passion, +curiosity: she was determined to see all to +be seen if it rested with her to do so. Nor were +the pert pansy blossoms upon her hat, nodding +a welcome to all, more on the alert. Or +could those which peeped from the folds of her +pansy-yellow gown, with its white chiffon draperies, +smile in a more friendly manner than +did Ruth, as she walked slowly up that aisle, +with shy, modest Helen at her side. Helen +looked the snowdrop to perfection, for if the +pansies needed Ruth’s gypsy coloring for a foil, +the snowdrops needed Helen’s pale blonde daintiness +for theirs. The only color which relieved +its pure white was the deep green of the wax-like +leaves, and the contrast was perfect. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +dress was of that soft silvery white only to be +contrived by the combination of satin and chiffon, +and Helen looked very lovely.</p> +<p>Behind them, a dream of fairness, walked +Toinette. Through the chiffon of her gown ran +fine golden threads, which caused it to glint and +glisten as the sunbeams. The white satin underneath +was of that peculiar ivory tint which combines +so exquisitely with gold tints. Her hat +was made of the chiffon, and trimmed with +Easter lilies, which nestled in its soft folds and +against the beautiful golden hair beneath them. +Her basket was also white, and she was a fitting +emblem of the pure soul she was leading to +the altar.</p> +<p>Then came the bride, her hand resting lightly +upon the arm of the friend who had led her +along the greater part of her life’s pathway, for +Miss Preston had been Miss Howard’s “guide, +philosopher and friend” almost as long as she +could remember. Very stately did she look, as +she walked up that aisle to give away at the altar +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +something which the years had rendered very +precious to her, for sometimes “old maids’ children” +are more dear to them than are the children +who claim the love of parents.</p> +<p>Miss Preston was very proud of her honors.</p> +<p>But no words can describe the girl who walked +at her side, her beautiful face made transcendently +so by the tenderest, holiest thought that +can fill a woman’s heart: that she is about to +become the wife of the man she loves. She +seemed to forget the church and all who were +gathered there to witness her happiness, and the +soft, dark eyes looked straight before her to the +altar, where her husband to be awaited her, as +though that altar was to her as the entrance to +the holy of holies; as, indeed, it was.</p> +<p>How brief is a marriage ceremony! A few +words are spoken and two lives are changed forever, +never again to be the same as they were +less than ten minutes before, but filled with new +duties, new obligations, and the responsibilities +we must all assume when we utter the words: +“I will.” God meant that it should be so, and +it is one of this world’s many blessings.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span> +<a name='linki_10' id='linki_10'></a> +<img src='images/illus-285.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 329px; height: 470px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 329px;'> +“THE BRIDE, HER HAND RESTING LIGHTLY ON THE ARM OF HER FRIEND.”<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span></div> +<p>The reception Miss Preston gave for her +“adopted daughter,” as she called Miss Howard, +now Mrs. Chichester, was long talked over by +the school, and quoted by the girls as “our reception” +for months.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Chichester sailed for Europe on +the same steamer which carried Miss Preston +and her girls, and a happier, merrier party it +would have been hard to find. Toinette and +Mr. Reeve went to bid them farewell and a +pleasant voyage, and the last faces those upon the +great ship saw as they swung out into the stream +were Toinette’s and her father’s.</p> +<p>And now we, too, must leave them—leave +them to the happy summer vacation, when they +learned how dear they were to each other, and +what a dear old world this is, after all, when two +people manage to look at it through little Dan +Cupid’s spectacles.</p> +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.26 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sat Sep 06 20:59:45 -0400 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Caps and Capers, by Gabrielle E. 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