The Leader of the Lower School: A Tale of School Life

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER X

  The Millionairess

  "HEARD the news?" enquired Barbara Kendrick one afternoon towards theend of February, lounging into the Juniors' recreation room with awould-be casual air, and whistling a jaunty tune which she fondly hopedwas expressive of superior indifference to news of any kind. Two girlssitting reading by the fire closed their books, and three at the table,who were in the agonies of three separate games of patience, temporarilylaid aside their cards.

  "No; what's up? Anything decent?" asked Norah Bell.

  Barbara strolled leisurely to the fireplace, and spread her hands to theblaze. Being a member of the Third, and having a most interesting pieceof information to communicate, she did not intend to make it too cheap,and wished to excite the curiosity of the Fourth Form girls before shevouchsafed to enlighten them.

  "Oh! something I heard just now downstairs. I was passing the Seniors'door, and Allie Spencer came out and told me."

  "Well?"

  "She said it concerned your Form."

  "Why us particularly?"

  "What's going to happen?"

  "Is it anything worth knowing, or not?"

  "Really, that depends how you take it," said Barbara, enjoying herself.

  "Look here, kiddie, you get on and tell us!"

  "Gee up, stupid!"

  Barbara paused, prolonging for one more blissful moment the joy oftantalizing her audience; but in that moment her chance was lost, forthe door opened suddenly, and in burst Hetty Hancock, like a tempestuousnorth wind, proclaiming without either hesitation or reserve theimportant tidings.

  "I say, isn't it a joke? There's actually a new boarder comingto-morrow."

  "New girls seem to choose odd times to come nowadays," said Lennie. "Whydidn't she wait till the half term--it's only about two weeks off?"

  "Perhaps she's been shipwrecked, like I was," suggested Gipsy.

  "Not a bit of it! She doesn't come from far. Her home's only about tenmiles off, I believe. Her name's Leonora Parker."

  "Parker! Parker! Surely not the Parkers of Ribblestone Abbey?" commentedNorah Bell.

  "I really don't know."

  "But I know!" put in Barbara Kendrick, delighted to score at last by hersuperior information. "They are the Parkers of Ribblestone Abbey."

  "Then they're most enormously rich people."

  "Yes, millionaires! And Leonora's the only child."

  "So she's an heiress!"

  "Rather--an heiress of millions."

  "You might call her a millionairess, in fact," chuckled Gipsy.

  "Good for you, Yankee Doodle!"

  "I say, it's rather a joke her coming here, isn't it?" said Norah Bell."A millionaire's daughter! I wonder what she'll be like?"

  "Sure to have the best of everything," said Daisy Scatcherd; "theloveliest dresses and the most expensive hats."

  "She won't be able to wear anything but her school 'sailor' here!"commented Dilys. "You needn't imagine she'll come decked out withdiamonds, Daisy."

  "She'll have absolutely unlimited pocket-money."

  "And be able to buy chocolates and walnut creams by the pound!" addedBarbara enviously.

  "Wonder what Form and what dormitory she'll be in?"

  "Well, at any rate I shan't be the last new girl," said Gipsy. "I'm gladto retire from the position."

  "Yes, Yankee Doodle. Your little nose will be quite put out of joint."

  "A millionairess at Briarcroft! Doesn't it sound magnificent?"

  "What a set of sillies you all are!" said Dilys. "I'm not going to makeany fuss over Leonora, even if she can buy chocolates by the pound. I'llwait and see how I like her before I give my opinion. She mayn't be niceat all."

  In spite of Dilys's attitude of aloofness the others could not helpanticipating with the keenest eagerness the advent of a fresh fellowboarder. The personality of the "millionairess", as they nicknamed her,was a subject of much speculation, and a whole row of noses wasflattened against the panes of the Juniors' sitting-room window towitness her arrival. The glimpse the girls got of her was distinctlydisappointing. She wore a tweed coat and skirt, and the orthodoxBriarcroft "sailor", with its narrow band and badge.

  "I thought she'd have come in a velvet coat and a big picture hat fullof feathers!" said Barbara, with rueful surprise in her tone.

  "I never dreamt she'd drive up in only a station cab!" said Norah Bell."Why didn't she arrive in her own motor?"

  When Leonora was introduced by Miss Poppleton to her schoolfellows attea-time, she certainly did not answer the expectations which had beenformed of her. She was short and rather squat, with heavy features andnondescript eyes and hair.

  "A most stodgy-looking girl," whispered Hetty. "I don't take to her atall. She's not one half as nice as Gipsy. By the by, where is Gipsy? Ihaven't seen her since four o'clock."

  Gipsy came in just then, and took her seat at the table, looking coldand rather dejected.

  "Where've you been?" whispered Hetty.

  "Arranging my new room. Didn't you know? I've been moved out of ourdormitory to make way for Leonora. Miss Edith carried all my thingsupstairs this morning."

  "How sickening! Is that girl to have your bed?"

  "Of course."

  "And where are you put?"

  "In that little box-room on the top floor. The boxes are all piled atone end, to make room for a camp bed."

  "You don't mean it? Well, I didn't think Poppie was capable of such ahorrid piece of nastiness."

  "There's no other place for me at present. I may be extremely gratefulto have that attic, so I'm informed. You forget I'm a charity girl!"said Gipsy bitterly.

  Poor Gipsy was smarting sorely from a brief conversation she had hadwith Miss Poppleton. The Principal had reminded her in very plain termsof her dependent position, and had questioned and cross-questioned heras to whether she could remember any possible clue by which her father'swhereabouts might be traced. Gipsy had already told all she knew, so thefresh catechism only seemed to her like the probing of an old wound. Shefelt so utterly helpless, so unable to offer any suggestions, or any wayout of the difficulty. But she stuck tenaciously to her faith in herfather.

  "Dad promised to come back for me, and he will!" she said, with a gleamin her dark eyes.

  "I'm afraid I know more of the world than you do, Gipsy, and it looksbad--very bad indeed!" replied Miss Poppleton, with a dismal shake ofher head. "Some men are only too anxious to cast off theirresponsibilities."

  Even Miss Edith, kind as ever though she was, seemed to take a gloomyview of the case.

  "I'm sorry, dear--very sorry!" she said, as she introduced Gipsy to herattic bedroom. "I don't like to have to turn you out of yourdormitory--and I'm sure Miss Poppleton doesn't either! But, you see,we're obliged to put Leonora there--and there's no other place but this.If your father hadn't behaved so queerly, of course it would have beendifferent. I'm very sorry, Gipsy--it's hard on a girl to be left likethis. I wonder he could have the heart to do it. And it's hard on mysister too. She has to think of ways and means. Dear, dear! what anamount of trouble there is in the world! And you're young to have tobegin to feel it. There! I've made you as comfortable as I can here,child. After all, you'll be downstairs most of your time."

  When Miss Edith had gone away, Gipsy sat down on the one chair in herroom, with a blank, wretched feeling that was beyond the relief oftears. It was not that she minded a camp bed in the least, and she hadoften slept in far rougher places than her new attic; but the changeseemed the outward and visible sign of her forlorn circumstances. BothMiss Poppleton's uncompromising remarks and Miss Edith's well-meantsympathy hurt her equally, for both expressed the same doubt of herfather's honour. Not until that afternoon had Gipsy thoroughly realizedhow utterly alone she was in the world. Every other girl in the schoolhad home and parents and relations, while she had nobody at all except afather who had--no, not forgotten her! that she would never allow; butfor some strange, mysterious reason had been kept from communicatingwith her.<
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  Gipsy had too generous a nature to bear Leonora any grudge for havingtaken her place in the dormitory. She even volunteered to give somevaluable hints to the newcomer, knowing by experience the thorns thatwere likely to beset her path. Leonora, however, did not seem at allafflicted by many things which would have been most trying to Gipsy. Shewent her own way stolidly, without reference to her schoolfellows'comments, good or bad. This attitude did not satisfy Briarcroftstandards, and by the time she had been there a week she had beenweighed in the balance of public opinion and found decidedly wanting.She was the exact opposite of what the boarders had expected. Far frombeing liberally disposed, and inclined to spend her superabundantpocket-money for the good of her companions, she appeared anxious totake advantage on the other side. She readily accepted all thechocolates and caramels that were offered her, but made no return; andif she bought any sweets she ate them herself in privacy. Sheappropriated other girls' hockey sticks, books, or fountain pensunblushingly, but had always an excuse if anyone wished to sample herpossessions.

  "She's the meanest thing I ever met in my life," said Lennie Chapmanindignantly one day. "She borrowed my penknife three times this morning,and when I asked her what had become of her own, she said it was such anice one, it seemed a pity to use it."

  "She spoilt my stylo. yesterday," complained Norah Bell, "and she nevereven offered to buy me another."

  "She's greedy, too," said Daisy Scatcherd, swelling the list ofLeonora's crimes. "When I handed her my box of candied fruits, shepicked out the very biggest!"

  "How piggie!"

  "And yet she's plenty of pocket-money."

  "Oh, yes, heaps, as much as she likes to ask for."

  "I don't see what's the use of being a millionairess if you're a miserat the same time!" remarked Dilys scornfully.

  A girl who receives everything and dispenses nothing is never popularamong her companions, so it was scarcely surprising that Leonora won nofavour. A few mercenary spirits, encouraged by the reputation of hermillions, made tentative advances of friendship, but rapidly withdrewthem on the discovery that it was likely to prove a one-sided bargain.

  "I wouldn't be friends with her if she owned the Bank of England!"declared Lennie. "I think she's too contemptible for words."

  "By the by, girls," said Dilys, "it's Miss Edith's birthday on the 1stof March. Aren't we Junior boarders going to get up anything in the wayof a present? I know the Seniors are giving her one."

  "Rather!" said Fiona Campbell. "I'd stretch a point for Miss Edie if Iwas on the verge of bankruptcy. I vote we open a subscription list. I'mgood for half a crown."

  "I expect most of us are," replied Lennie, taking paper and pencil towrite down names. "Except Leonora Parker!" she added with a laugh.

  "Don't you think she'll give?"

  "Not generously."

  "Oh, she'll have to!"

  "I declare, we'll make her for once!" said Dilys indignantly. "Sheshan't sneak out of everything."

  "I don't see how you're going to make her."

  "The millionairess won't fork out unless she feels inclined, I can tellyou that, my child."

  "Just you leave it to me. I'll manage it by fair means or foul."

  "Won't a subscription list make it rather awkward for Gipsy? You knowshe can't give anything," whispered Hetty Hancock to Dilys.

  "Not at all, the way I'm going to do it. I'll take care of Gipsy, you'llsee--make it easy for her, but nick in Leonora for more than shebargains."

  "You're cleverer than I thought you were."

  "Ah, you haven't plumbed the depths of my genius yet, my good child. Nowwhen Leonora----"

  "Hush! Here she comes."

  The millionairess walked to the fireplace, and stood leaning over thehigh fender, sharpening a cherished stump of lead pencil.

  "We're getting up a subscription," began Dilys, opening the attackwithout further delay. "It's to buy a present for Miss Edith's birthday.You'd like us to put your name down, wouldn't you?"

  "Well, I'm not sure," replied Leonora cautiously. "What are most of yougiving?"

  "Half a crown," replied a chorus of voices.

  "I've been at Briarcroft such a short time," demurred Leonora. "Perhapsit would really be better if the present came from you, who are all oldpupils."

  "There's something in that," said Dilys. "Both you and Gipsy Latimerhave only been here a little while, so it would be more appropriate,after all, to leave you both out of it, and let it be an old girls'gift. Lennie, do you hear? You're not to put down either Gipsy orLeonora, however much they beg and pray."

  "Right-oh!" said Lennie rather sulkily. She thought that Dilys, in herdelicacy for Gipsy, was sparing Leonora too much. But Dilys gave her awithering look, which so plainly implied: "Trust me to mind my ownbusiness" that she began hastily to hum a tune.

  "Perhaps you'd like to give Miss Edith something on your own account,"suggested Dilys craftily to the millionairess.

  "Exactly. It would be far better than my joining with the rest of you,"agreed Leonora, jumping at such an easy way out.

  "Tell me what it's to be, then, and we'll ask Miss Lindsay to order it."

  "Oh! I can get it myself, thanks."

  "We're not allowed. All shopping has to be done through Miss Lindsay. Ishould suggest a book."

  "I dare say that would do. There was one of yours that Miss Edith waslooking at yesterday."

  "Do you mean my small 'Christina Rossetti'? All right. Lennie, put downthat Leonora Parker wants to order a copy of Christina Rossetti'spoems."

  Thus cornered, Leonora was obliged to consent. Dilys's little book was ashilling edition--not ruinous, certainly, to the purse strings; socomparing that with a subscription of half a crown she considered shehad escaped cheaply.

  "You've let her off too easily," grumbled Lennie afterwards, as sheadded up her list. "It's a shame the richest girl in the class shouldgive the least."

  "I haven't finished with her yet, my friend--I've only begun!" chuckledDilys. "Let me go to Miss Lindsay."

  Dilys had a deep-laid scheme, which she considered too good to bedivulged at present, but which she hoped would be the undoing ofLeonora. She went to the mistresses' room with the subscription list,and handed the collection of half-crowns to Miss Lindsay.

  "Would you please order a Russia leather blotter for Miss Edith?" shesaid. "We've decided on that, unless you know of anything she'd likebetter. Leonora Parker would like to give her a separate present, quiteon her own account."

  "Indeed?" said Miss Lindsay, who had not yet grasped the new pupil'seconomical tendencies. "Then I suppose she wishes it to be somethinghandsome?"

  "She mentioned a copy of Christina Rossetti's poems, but she saidnothing about the price," returned Dilys stolidly.

  "Christina Rossetti's poems? Then she must surely mean that beautifulillustrated edition that we were talking about at tea-time yesterday. Iremember Miss Edith said how immensely she would like to see it. Nodoubt Leonora made a mental note of it. It was a kind thought of hers,which Miss Edith will appreciate, I am sure."

  "Is the edition expensive?" enquired Dilys casually.

  "Fifteen shillings net, but of course to Leonora that is a merenothing--no more than sixpence to most girls. Still, perhaps I'd bettersend for her and ask her."

  "She's having her music lesson," put in Dilys quickly.

  "The order ought to go off at once, if we are to have the presents intime for the 1st of March," said Miss Lindsay, glancing at the clock. "Imust write now to catch the post. I think I may venture to sendLeonora's commission without consulting her. She must certainly mean theillustrated edition, and in her case we really need not trouble toconsider the question of the price."

  Dilys went away, rubbing her hands with satisfaction.

  "Serves you right, Leonora Parker!" she chuckled to herself. "Yourlittle effort at economy is going to cost you rather more than youbargained for. Miss Lindsay's an absolute trump. I hate mean people whohoard up their money and keep it all f
or themselves."

  She confided her success to the others, but exacted a promise of strictsecrecy.

  "We'll simply say Miss Lindsay has sent for the book," she advised. "Ibelieve Leonora would be capable of countermanding the order if she knewthe amount of the bill. It will be a surprise for her later on."

  "And a ripping joke for us!"

  "It's Miss Lindsay's fault, though. She named the edition."

  "Oh, yes, of course! We understand that, my dear girl!"

  The presents arrived by return of post, just in time for Miss Edith'sbirthday--a splendid blotter of delicious-smelling leather, and theedition of Christina Rossetti's poems, a large and handsome volume fullof beautiful illustrations. Miss Lindsay brought them into the Juniors'sitting-room, and showed them to the delighted girls.

  "It was so nice of you, Leonora dear, to think of giving such a lovelygift to Miss Edith all on your own account," she remarked; "sothoughtful to have fixed upon the very thing she wanted. You meant thisedition, of course? I knew I could hardly be mistaken. Miss Edith willbe particularly pleased that a new girl should show such appreciation.The pictures are perfect gems. We'll wrap the book up again in itsvarious papers, and you must hide it carefully away until to-morrow.Would you like to give me the fifteen shillings now, or will MissPoppleton stop it out of your allowance?"

  Leonora's face was a study. Blank amazement struggled with disgust, andfor a moment she seemed almost tempted to deny all responsibility forhaving given the order. Pride, however, at the sight of the sneer atthe corners of Dilys Fenton's mouth, came to her rescue. She knew thegirls had tricked her, and she was determined not to afford them thesatisfaction of an open triumph.

  "Thank you very much, Miss Lindsay, for getting the book," she repliedcalmly. "I'll give you the money now, please. I'm glad it's the editionMiss Edith wants," and taking her parcel, she sailed from the room,without deigning to glance at the others.

  "Done her this time!" chuckled Dilys. "It'll do her good to shell outfor once."

  "She took it awfully well, though! Perhaps on the whole she wasn'taltogether sorry. Miss Edie's such a dear, anyone would want to give hernice things who'd got the money," sighed Gipsy, whose own offering waslimited to a little pen-and-ink drawing of the house.

  "She's not so bad on the whole, though she isn't liberal in the way ofsweets," remarked Daisy Scatcherd.

  "You greedy pig!" said Dilys. "We don't want her to keep us providedwith chocolates. As long as she's fair, that's all I care about. I thinkit's sickening to try and truckle to her because she's so rich. If youwanted to get anything out of her, I'm glad you were disappointed. 'Giveand take' and 'Share and share alike' are the best mottoes for school."

  "Thanks for the sermon!" said Daisy sarcastically.

  "I don't care if you do call it preaching!" retorted Dilys. "When firstLeonora came, some of you made such a ridiculous fuss over her, I wasquite disgusted. A girl ought to be judged on her own merits, not bywhat her father's got. If she shows herself ready to take a fair part ineverything, and be of some service to the school, then I'll approve ofher, and not till then."

  "Hear, hear!" cried Hetty Hancock.