Schoolgirl Jen at the Abbey

by Elsie J. Oxenham

  “Susie, what’s wrong with you to-day?” Jen cried, astounded.

  Joan raised her eyebrows. “Really, Susie! That’s for us to say. We want to see Vinny, and that’s enough.”

  “You always wants her!” Susie was almost in tears.

  “Susie’s jealous,” Janice said suddenly. “I wonder why?”

  “Susie, you couldn’t be such an ass!” Jen exploded.

  “Vinny brings you presents,” Susie half-sobbed. “And you was hurt along of her. And you gives her things!” She was struggling for self-control. “I haven’t got nothing to give you.”

  “Come here, Susie,” Joan said quietly. “No, don’t run away. We didn’t know you felt like this. You don’t understand. We are trying to arrange for Vinny to go to her father and brothers, away across the sea in Canada. If they’ll have her, I don’t suppose any of us will ever see her again. Is it worth while making yourself unhappy, when in a few weeks she may have gone?”

  Susie dashed her hand across her eyes. “She’ll go away?”

  “Jen, suppose you take Susie and tell her all about it?” Joan suggested.

  “Right! Come on, Susie Spindle! But don’t be more of an idiot than you can help,” Jen urged. “She’ll go to King’s Bottom, Joan. Can I go with her?”

  “No,” Joan said promptly. “You mustn’t do too much yet. You’ll stay here with Jandy and me. If Susie doesn’t want to go, tell me quickly, and I’ll find somebody else.”

  “I will go, Miss Joan,” Susie muttered shame-facedly.

  “Come on, then! I’ll go with you as far as the gate.” And Jen seized her arm and pulled her away.

  “I had no idea.” Joan looked at Janice. “I couldn’t scold the poor kid. She’s eaten up with jealousy, because we seem to be taking so much notice of Lavinia.”

  “Why is it?” Janice asked, much intrigued.

  “It’s because of Jen. Susie worships Jen; so does Lavinia. There was sure to be trouble, but I’ll admit I hadn’t foreseen it.”

  “It’s quite wise of both the kids. They might do worse than adore Jenny-Wren.”

  “It won’t hurt her; she’s too sensible; and it can only do them good. We had trouble with Susie during the measles time. She told me Jen’s secret about the pictures of the old church, without understanding what she was doing. Jen was heartbroken with disappointment and furious with Susie. In her excitement—you know what she is?”

  Janice grinned.

  “I do. She said too much? Did Susie cry herself sick?”

  “Just that. Susie was starting measles, though we didn’t know. Jen forgave her, but not till Susie’s poor little heart had nearly broken too. She’s devoted to Jen, who has been very good to Timothy—the brother Susie adores. Now she feels Lavinia has butted in. You can forgive her for being upset.”

  “Another reason for hoping Lavinia will go to Canada!”

  “Yes, but I hope old Boniface will rise to the occasion and go too. I don’t like to think of Vinny going alone. The stewardess might not be kind. Vinny would be very lonely.”

  “They’re mostly nice. But of course she might be unlucky. She’d be much happier if she had her uncle.”

  Jen came racing back. “Susie’s gone. I made her put on decent shoes; she was rushing off in her slippers—on those rough cart roads! I told her not to be silly.”

  “You can do anything with Susie, Jen,” Joan said gently.

  Jen reddened. “I know. I’m afraid it’s true. Isn’t she soft?”

  “No, very sensible,” Janice told her.

  “Be careful what you say to her.” Joan made no further comment. “And don’t talk to her too much about Lavinia.”

  “We’d better not tell her about Vinny’s new clothes.”

  Joan laughed. “Much better not. Susie needn’t know anything about Lavinia’s outfit. The idea will never occur to her.”

  CHAPTER XXVI

  A CALL FOR JEN

  “What is it?” Lavinia stared at the chain of beads and then at Joan and Jen.

  They had explained the map, to her great amazement. Standing in the meadow, they showed her the road through the gate-house, meeting the fish-stream, and the stump of the old tree, just where the cross was marked on the plan.

  “We thought at first it was in the Long Meadow, at your farm,” Joan added, as they went back to the house.

  Lavinia looked at her in sudden understanding. “Did you tell Mr. Jaikes?”

  “We had to tell him, because we wanted to dig round his tree. He said no, and then we came home and decided to try our own meadow instead.”

  “And there we found the treasure,” Jen added triumphantly.

  Lavinia looked at the beads, as if to her they seemed unworthy of so high a title, as was, indeed, the case. Just some old brown beads! Even if they had been used by a monk hundreds of years ago, she could not feel they were so very precious. But it was plain that they were important to Miss Joan and Miss Jen, who knew so much more than she did.

  “Mr. Jaikes been diggin’ round the tree in Long Meadow,” she said. “I guess he thinks as how there’s somethin’ there.”

  Jen gave a shout of delight. “We hoped he would! Did he dig all night, Vinny?”

  “Most o’ two nights, I reckon. He were terrible cross these last two mornin’s.”

  Joan laughed. “Poor Mr. Jaikes! But he wasn’t nice to us.”

  “I’m not a bit sorry for him,” Janice declared. “I hope he’ll spend several more nights digging.”

  “Oh, no! We must tell him it was a mistake, and that we’ve found the buried box—on our own ground.”

  “Don’t tell him!” Jen was hugging herself in glee. “Let him go on thinking it’s there, and digging without finding anything, till he grows old and grey with disappointment. Serves him right!”

  “Certainly not! Don’t be spiteful! I’ll write a note and explain.”

  “Don’t send it by Lavinia,” Janice warned her. “If it annoys him too much, he might turn on her.”

  “I don’t want to take him no letters,” Vinny said hurriedly, looking alarmed.

  “Any letters!” Jen reproved her.

  “I’ll post the letter,” Joan promised.

  Susie Spindle appeared at the door. “Miss Joan is wanted on the telephone.” She looked doubtfully at Lavinia and went indoors, while Joan ran to take the call.

  “I expect it’s Joy again,” Jen shouted after her. “Perhaps she’s had your letter telling how we found the treasure.”

  “It’s too soon for that,” Janice objected.

  Joan came to the door. “Jen, it’s for you. Your mother wants to speak to you.”

  “Mother? Where is she? Shall I be able to hear her?” Jen leapt to the doorway.

  “I heard her all right. She didn’t say where she was.”

  “I hope Father isn’t worse.” And Jen rushed to the telephone.

  “I’m sure he isn’t,” Joan called after her.

  “If it had been bad news, Mrs. Robins would have asked me to break it gently,” she said to Janice.

  “I expect they want the kid to go home. We shall miss her.”

  “Vinny, suppose you run off now,” Joan suggested.

  “Will Miss Jen go away?” Lavinia faltered.

  “If her mother wants her, of course she’ll go at once. Now don’t be silly!” Joan said sternly. “This isn’t Jen’s home, you know.”

  “I forgot,” Lavinia muttered.

  “We all forget,” Janice remarked. “Jen seems a part of the landscape. It’s odd to think she lives somewhere else, and has a family we have never seen.”

  “Off you go, Vinny!” said Joan.

  Reluctantly Lavinia turned and went away through the garden.

  “She’ll weep because she may never see Jen again,” Joan said grimly. “But it can’t be helped. What a pity girls care so much!”

  Jen came flying back, ablaze with excitement. “They want me to go at once. They’re home, and Father’s stood the journey
well, and they want to see me and hear all about everything. How soon can I go, Joan?”

  “To-morrow morning. Jandy and I will see that you’re ready, won’t we, Jandy Mac?”

  “I’m a famous packer.” Janice pretended to roll up her sleeves. “Let’s start! Shall we take her to town and put her in the train in charge of the guard?”

  “I can travel alone! I always do!” Jen cried wrathfully.

  “In this state of excitement, you might do anything,” Janice said. “You’d probably take the wrong train and go to Edinburgh instead of—where is it?”

  “Sheffield. We live on the moors, nine hundred feet up, but Sheffield’s the station. Mother will meet me; we’re to wire when I’ve started, so that she’ll know the time I’ll arrive.”

  “We’ll certainly put you into the train,” Joan said. “But I don’t think we need trouble the guard.”

  “And when we’ve got rid of you, Joan and I will do some trousseau shopping.”

  “Not for Vinny?” Jen asked anxiously. “We don’t know yet that she’s to go. I do want to help!”

  “No, dear, for me,” Janice explained. “I need an outfit too. I may as well do some of my shopping in London.”

  “Oh! Yes, of course! What fun you’ll have! Tell me everything you buy, Jandy Mac. Where’s Lavinia? I’d better say good-bye to her.”

  “I sent her home,” Joan said. “If we hear she’s going before you come back, you can write to her. But I think very likely she’ll still be here. The arrangements may take some time.”

  “I’d like to see her again before she vanishes into the wilds of Canada,” Jen admitted. “You will write and tell me all the plans, won’t you? I want to know about dear Boniface, and if his daughter wants him. And what Joy says when she sees Baby Kat’s book, and if she likes Minette and the baby and l’ecureuil. You must tell me everything, Joan!”

  “I shall make Jandy help. She’s a good one for letters. Now let’s start on your trunk! It must be all ready to-night. There won’t be time to think in the morning.”

  “And no midnight visiting!” Janice suggested.

  “Certainly not. Remember that, Jenny-Wren. When you go to bed to-night, you stay there.”

  Jen pouted. “I’d like to come and talk to you.”

  “I knew it!” Janice grinned.

  “I shall lock my door, so it won’t be any use,” Joan said firmly.

  CHAPTER XXVII

  DOUBTS OF BONIFACE

  “Joy! Joy! Are you all right again? Do you like the things we found?”

  Jen, brown and well after four weeks on her heather-clad moorland, sprang from the car and hurled herself on Joy, on the terrace before the Hall.

  “Don’t strangle me! Sorry we couldn’t meet you in town, but Cicely turned up unexpectedly and stayed to tea, and we couldn’t go off and leave her.” Joy, a second Joan, with the same brown eyes and long, dark red hair, struggled out of her wild embrace. “I’m very fit, and I’m thrilled with all your finds. How you could be so clever without me to help, is more than I can imagine!”

  “No need to ask how Jenny-Wren is!” Janice strolled out to them. “What a colour! It makes your hair look silly, my dear.”

  “I always go brown. You should see where I live! I am so glad you’re still here! I thought you’d have gone by now.”

  “They can’t get rid of me,” Janice laughed.

  “I don’t expect they want to. Is Joan all right?”

  “Not too bad, in spite of a lot of hard work.” Joan came to greet her. “You seem to have recovered from that blow on the head!”

  “I’ve forgotten all about it. Where’s your mother?” And Jen ran in to find Mrs. Shirley, whom she loved.

  “Now tell me everything!” she demanded, as she sat down to the special tea provided for the traveller. “It’s jolly nice of you to have me for three days before term begins! Mother and Father didn’t mind; they’re so glad I’ve found such nice kind friends near school,” she said demurely, her eyes dancing. “I’m glad too. I know I’m very lucky. Oh, Joan, look!” And she ran to her travelling-bag, searched in it, and flourished a cheque. “Ten pounds! Mother sent it to help with Lavinia’s outfit. She wanted to have a share in it.”

  “How very, very kind of Mrs. Robins!” Joan exclaimed, while Joy and Janice and Mrs. Shirley cried out in delight. “I suppose you know why you’ve come here for the last three days of the holidays?”

  “To help to dress Vinny?” Jen said hopefully. “You haven’t done it all, have you? I wrote and asked you to wait for me.”

  “We’ve waited, but we didn’t know you were bringing such a handsome contribution. We’ve fitted her out with shoes and a trunk and suitcase, but for the really thrilling things we thought we’d like to have your help. To-morrow we four are going to town, with all Lavinia’s measurements, to spend money and bring home a regular trousseau.”

  “Oh, glory! I brought a special present for her—some red beads. She’ll love them. I brought some for Susie as well—blue ones,” Jen added. “I thought I’d better not leave her out.”

  “Very wise!” Joan and Janice spoke together.

  “What about dear Boniface? Is he getting an outfit too? You told me his daughter wants him to come. Vinny’s father is pleased, isn’t he? May I see the letters?”

  “You may. All the relations have risen to the occasion and have sent money for fares, and Lavinia’s father has sent a present to Mrs. Jaikes, to repay her for her care of Vinny, so everybody is happy. Boniface’s daughter is thrilled at the thought of seeing her old father again, and Vinny’s dad and stepmother want her to come, and will meet her at Montreal when we send the name of the ship and the date she’ll arrive.”

  “Is Vinny pleased?”

  “In the seventh heaven of delight. I believe she’s even reconciled to the thought of going away from you.”

  “Thank goodness for that!” Jen said fervently. “We’ll put them safely on the ship, won’t we? Then it will be easy for them. They do seem such Babes in the Wood to be starting for Canada!”

  “I wish we felt as sure of Boniface as we do of Lavinia,” Janice remarked.

  “Why? What’s wrong with him?” Jen cried.

  “Jandy thinks the old chap’s going to funk at the last minute,” Joy explained. “I hope he won’t. I don’t like to feel he’s always about when we go into the Abbey.”

  “There was a look in his eye I didn’t like, last time we spoke to him about the journey,” Janice said.

  “I hope that won’t happen.” Joan spoke anxiously. “We can’t force him to go, but everyone would be terribly disappointed if he drew back now—his daughter and her family, and poor Vinny.”

  “And us,” Joy said grimly. “We want to get rid of him out of the Abbey. It will never seem ours again till he goes.”

  “I think his son wants him to go.” Joan made no comment on Joy’s attitude. “Boniface is visiting the son and his family, to say good-bye, Jen. He’ll be back to-morrow night.”

  “Have you booked their passage?”

  “Not yet. Jandy’s going to make inquiries in town. The letters only came this week,” Joan explained.

  After a hilarious day of shopping in town, the car brought the four girls home, laden with dress-boxes and parcels and bundles. A trunk and a suitcase had been bought in Wycombe and stood waiting at the farm in Lavinia’s tiny room, and Vinny looked into them and imagined them filled with new lovely clothes, every night before she went to bed.

  In the privacy of Joan’s room the purchases were shown to Mrs. Shirley. “We don’t want Susie to see all these splendours. It would be too hard on her,” Joan told her mother. “We’ll take them to King’s Bottom and help Lavinia to pack. She doesn’t know we’ve been to town, so it won’t hurt her to wait a day or two.”

  “They are good, useful garments.” Mrs. Shirley approved their choice. “I was afraid you might not get suitable things.”

  Jen blushed and looked self-conscious. “If it had
been left to me, some of them wouldn’t have been very sensible. I wanted different things; but I see now they’d have been just silly.”

  “We had Joan to keep us straight,” Janice laughed. “She was very stern.”

  “She might have been you yourself.” Joy looked at her aunt. “She wouldn’t stand any nonsense.”

  “We couldn’t waste dear Mrs. Robins’ money,” Joan retorted.

  “What about booking passages for the travellers?” Mrs. Shirley asked.

  “We haven’t done it definitely, but Jandy has a list of ships and berths. We only have to write and confirm the dates.”

  “I want to be sure of old Boniface, before we book his berth,” Janice said grimly. “I don’t feel too happy about him. Lavinia may have to travel in charge of the stewardess, after all.”

  “She’d hate that. I hope it won’t happen.” Joan looked troubled.

  “She’d be all right. But it would be jollier for her to have company. We’d better go to see the old chap after tea.”

  “Don’t let him cry off!” Joy said. “I want him out of the Abbey. I’m not as crazy about the place as Joan and Jen are, but I do like to feel it belongs to us after closing time, and that we can go in there to be quiet, without thinking an ancient spectre may appear in a doorway at any moment.”

  “Joy, he’s not that!” Jen cried.

  “He hasn’t been any trouble. He never interrupts or is a nuisance,” Joan said.

  “No, but he’s always there. I know you meant to be kind, but I’m sure it was a mistake. Now that we’ve this chance to get rid of him, we mustn’t let it slip,” Joy insisted. “Send him off to Canada! That’s what I say.”

  “Don’t come with us, when we go to see him, if that’s how you feel,” Joan said urgently. “I’d hate him to know anyone thinks he’s a nuisance. It would break his heart.”

  “I’m not coming. He hasn’t had much to do with me. You three are his pals; you’ll do the job better than I should.” Joy thrust the task on to the others. “But don’t let him back out now. He can’t be allowed to let everybody down.”

  “I hope his son has eased his mind, so that he won’t be so frightened. I believe he’s terrified of the journey,” Joan suggested.