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

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER XII

  A Spartan Maiden

  THE Spring Term was passing rapidly, and Gipsy had now been nearly sixmonths at Briarcroft. It felt a very, very long time to her since thefirst evening when she had introduced herself in so sprightly a fashionto her fellow boarders, and had given them a graphic account of theshipwreck. The old Gipsy of last October and the new Gipsy of thepresent March seemed like two different people, with a whole world ofexperience to divide them. The well-conducted regime of Briarcroft hadhad its due effect, and had considerably toned down her unconventionalColonial ways; while the trouble through which she was passing, like allseasons of adversity, had made her older and more thoughtful thanbefore. There was still no news of any kind from her father, and noanswer had yet been received from the cousins in New Zealand. MissPoppleton's manner towards Gipsy hardened a little more each week thatmail day arrived and brought no solution of the problem where her schoolfees were to come from. At present her attitude was that of grimacceptance of a most unwelcome burden. She was not actively unkind, andno doubt thought she was behaving very generously in keeping Gipsy atBriarcroft at all, but in a variety of small ways she made the girl feelthe humiliation of her position.

  To poor Gipsy the difficulties appeared to accumulate more and more. Theclothes which her father had bought for her in Liverpool were fastwearing out, and there seemed not the slightest prospect of renewing anyof them. In a school where the girls were always well, if simplydressed, it was not pleasant to be the only one in worn skirts,washed-out blouses, patched boots, mended gloves, and faded hairribbons. Gipsy had never before been stinted in either clothing orpocket-money, and it hurt her pride sorely. But in spite of her shabbyattire she looked a distinguished little figure, with her straight,upright habit of carriage, and quick alertness of manner. The sadness inher dark eyes gave her a new dignity, and though a few girls might passill-natured remarks about her clothes, her general prestige in theschool remained the same. There was an individuality about Gipsy whichmarked her out, and raised her above the ordinary level. She was full oforiginal ideas, and had a persuasive way of stating her views thatinvariably won her a following. The girls were becoming accustomed toconsult her on any important topic, and tacitly if not openly regardedher as the Captain of the Lower School. With some the fact that she was"down on her luck" invested her with a flavour of romance, moreespecially as she was very reserved on the subject.

  "I never dare ask Gipsy a word about her father," said Hetty Hancock."She shuts up like an oyster if one throws out the faintest hint."

  "Do you think she still believes in him?" queried Mary Parsons.

  "Rather! And I admire her for it. She's shown splendid spirit all thistime, and never once given in. She's a real Spartan."

  "Yes, Gipsy's as game as can be," commented Dilys. "She never looksbeaten, however hard Poppie snubs her, and Poppie's just abominablesometimes."

  "I'm often dying to help Gipsy," said Hetty. "But one can't help her.She'd be desperately offended if one offered to lend her pocket-money,or anything."

  "You'd better not try! No, I believe Gipsy's pride wouldn't let herborrow so much as a yard of hair ribbon, however badly she needed it."

  "Rather different from Leonora, who borrows everything she can persuadepeople to lend her."

  "Don't speak to me of Leonora! I rue the day she came into ourdormitory. She snores at night till I have to get up and shake her. Wecall her 'Snorer' now, instead of 'Leonora'. I wish Poppie'd put her inthe attic, instead of Gipsy."

  "Trust Poppie not to banish the millionairess! She's ever so proud ofhaving her at the school."

  "H'm! Her company's a doubtful privilege, in my opinion."

  "Yet Poppie had the cheek to suggest that we ought to make her a Guildofficer."

  "No! Did she?" exclaimed the girls. "It's not Poppie's business tointerfere in our affairs. We'll manage them for ourselves, thank you!We've got rid of the Seniors, and we're not going to let her dictatewhat we must do."

  Under Gipsy's fostering care the various branches of the United Guildhad prospered exceedingly. She was a most zealous and enterprisingsecretary, sparing no trouble to make things a success, and capable oforganizing all kinds of new departures. She had got up a photographicexhibition, and collected quite a nice little show of snapshots, neatlymounted on brown paper, and pinned round the play-room. She persuadedMiss White to allow the Form to start a museum in an empty desk thatstood in a corner, and spurred on the day girls to bring specimens forit of birds' eggs, stones, pressed flowers, and any curiosities withwhich they would consent to part. She made a neat catalogue of theexhibits, with the names of the donors, and then broached a scheme for aseries of museum lectures; but at that even her stanchest adherentsturned tail.

  "Got too many irons in the fire already to find time to write learnedpapers on Natural History, Yankee Doodle," objected Lennie. "One wouldhave to cram it all up out of the encyclopaedia, and that's too hard workfor this child!"

  "Wait till we have a museum anniversary, then we'll appoint you curator,and you shall spout for the occasion," suggested Hetty.

  A sketching club among the artistically disposed members of the LowerSchool met with some response, especially as it developed into amonthly competition. Gipsy boldly begged some attractive prints fromthe drawing mistress to serve as prizes, and, having chosen a subject tobe illustrated, pinned up the various attempts, signed with pseudonyms,and took the voting of the whole of the Juniors to decide the awards--anexciting occasion which everybody considered worthy of repetition.Gipsy's restless, energetic temperament was her salvation at thisparticular crisis of her career. If she had allowed herself to broodover her troubles, she would have been wretched indeed; but by throwingherself heartily into schemes for the general good of the community shesucceeded in being, if not exactly happy, at any rate a useful andcheerful addition to the school.

  The Sale of Work took place in March, and though she had not a singlepenny to spend on it, she contributed excellent service in other ways.She was indefatigable in assisting to arrange stalls, write programmes,or do any of the necessary drudgery that a bazaar always entails. Eventhe Seniors acknowledged her helpfulness, and Helen Roper admitted that"if one wanted a thing done quickly, Gipsy Latimer was worth a dozen ofthose other kids". In the matter of the Sale of Work the hatchet hadbeen buried between the Upper and the Lower Schools, and bothco-operated to make the affair a success. Now that the rights of theJuniors were fully established, and their claims to considerationrecognized, Gipsy was only too pleased to help the older girls, and ranabout holding step-ladders, handing tacks, fetching articles wanted, andgenerally doing odd jobs. Encouraged by the conciliatory attitude ofthe Seniors, she ventured to propose a scheme suggested by her foreignexperience.

  "Why shouldn't we turn the tea-room into a cafe chantant?" she said. "Weshould get far more money in that way than if people only went in forrefreshments. Charge them an admission, and then tea extra. They'll stayfar longer, and take more things, if music and singing are going on allthe time. It's really better than a separate concert, too, because youcan't always get people to go to the concerts, but hardly anyone canresist tea at four o'clock."

  After talking it over, the Seniors were graciously pleased to adoptGipsy's idea, and began to draw up a programme for the cafe chantant.Their struggle of the past had taught them a lesson in fair play, andthey therefore proposed to admit a certain number of Juniors asperformers, instead of, as formerly, keeping the whole thing in theirown hands.

  "I've put you down for two solos, Gipsy Latimer," said Helen Ropermagnanimously. "What would you like to sing?"

  Gipsy thought for a moment before she replied:

  "I wonder if it would be possible to borrow a banjo? I used to play oneout in America, and I know some very pretty Creole songs, and one or twoSpanish ones."

  "My brother has a banjo that he'd lend, I'm sure," said Lena Morris.

  "Good! We'll rig you out as a Spanish gipsy," agreed Helen. "There
arelots of things in our dramatic property box that would come in. You'dlook the part no end!"

  "I'll send the banjo this evening, so that you can practise it,"volunteered Lena.

  Naturally the afternoon of the bazaar was a great event at Briarcroft.Stalls had been put up in the lecture hall, and were prettily drapedwith muslin, while the walls of the room were decorated with flags,festoons of laurel leaves, and Chinese lanterns hung from wiresstretched across the platform. The flower stall was a particularsuccess, with its great bunches of daffodils, narcissus, violets, andother spring blossoms, and pots of tulips, lily of the valley, andhyacinths. Leonora had for once risen to the occasion. She had writtenhome to her mother for contributions, and Mrs. Parker had respondedgenerously, sending a quantity of beautiful flowers and pot plants to besold, and lending some of the finest palms in her conservatory to helpto deck the room.

  By three o'clock everything was in order for patrons, and really thearrangements reflected great credit upon the Committee. All the stallswere well laden with articles. Some of the Seniors had been busy makingbeautiful things. Doreen Tristram, who was taking lessons in chinapainting, brought some charming little teacups and saucers, painted withsprays of flowers. Helen Roper sent some excellent woodcarving, andthere was every description of needlecraft--traycloths in fine drawnthreadwork, doilys, cushions, tea cosies, nightdress cases, tablecentres, and other dainty bits of embroidery. By the appointed hour,groups of parents and friends began to arrive, and the hall was soonfull. The Lady Mayoress of Greyfield had consented to open the sale, andmade an excellent speech, explaining the object for which the money wasbeing raised, and urging the claims of the home for waifs and strays.She herself set a good example by purchasing a number of articles atvarious stalls, and the visitors followed suit liberally.

  The girls hovered about, picking and choosing what they should buy,according to the state of their purses or their individual tastes. Anovel feature, much patronized by the Juniors, was a Surprise Packettable. All kinds of tempting little articles were wrapped up in gaytissue paper, and purchased somewhat on the system of "buying a pig in apoke", an arrangement that at any rate afforded great amusement when theparcels were untied. The stalls soon began to exhibit a welcomebareness, and the stall-holders felt the fullness of their bags withsatisfaction. Towards four o'clock everybody showed a tendency tomigrate in the direction of the cafe chantant. This had been arranged inthe largest of the classrooms. Tea was served at small tables while aconcert proceeded, the guests being expected to retire after about tenminutes, so as to make room for others.

  Helen Roper had got together quite a good programme. Irma Dalton, aSecond Form day girl, a dainty, fairy-like child, gave a gracefulperformance of step dancing, Doreen Tristram played the violin, andthere were piano solos and songs from other members. Everyoneacknowledged, however, that Gipsy was the star of the occasion. She wasdressed specially for her part in a kind of half-Spanish costume, with ared skirt, a black velvet bodice over white sleeves, and a muslin fichutrimmed with lace. Her rich dark hair was allowed to hang loose, and agold-embroidered gauze scarf was twisted lightly round the top of herhead, the long ends falling below her waist. She wore sequin ornamentsand a quantity of Oriental bangles, which enhanced the fantastic effect,and gave her the appearance of a true Romany. She was not at allafflicted with shyness, and performed her share of the entertainmentwith a zest that charmed her audience. Her southern songs, with theircrooning refrains, seemed to bring visions of moonlit lagoons and theluscious scent of tropical flowers. She accompanied herself quiteprettily on the banjo, and had a stock of encores ready to meet thedemands for a further exhibition of her skill. She was such a successthat her fame spread over the bazaar. People came into the cafe chantantspecially to hear her, and everyone was asking who that bonny,gipsy-looking girl was that sang the charming Creole melodies.

  "We've taken exactly three times the money by the refreshment room thatwe did last year," said Helen Roper, counting up the gains afterwards.

  "It was a ripping idea of Gipsy's to add the music!" said Hetty Hancock,always anxious to put in a good word for her friend.

  "Yes, I'll give Gipsy the credit that's due to her," allowed Helen."She's worked hard over this affair, and behaved more decently than Iexpected. I think she's improved. She's not nearly so perky and cheekyas when she first came. She may turn out quite a nice girl yet."

  "Wonders will never cease! Praise for Gipsy from Helen Roper!" gaspedHetty to Lennie Chapman.

  Gipsy, in her editorial capacity, wrote a most vivid report of thebazaar for the _Juniors' Journal_, putting in a variety of grand wordsand flowery turns of speech calculated to impress her readers. She hadtaken special pains with this number of the Magazine. The chapter of herserial story was longer and more exciting than ever; under the headingof "Our Library Shelf" she had reviewed several books; she had written aleading article on the tennis and cricket prospects for the forthcomingseason; and by ceaseless urging had kept her contributors, who were aptto slack off, up to the mark in respect of literary matter. FionaCampbell had been persuaded to illustrate Norah Bell's storyette;Blanche Russell had sent an account of a winter holiday ski-ing inNorway; the Exchange and Mart had been fuller than ever of offers ofsilkworms, garden plants, and miscellaneous possessions; and Gipsy hadappended a catalogue of the Museum, with an appeal for more donations ofspecimens.

  "Our journal now seems a going concern, and a well-established featureof the Lower School; it is earnestly to be hoped that everyone will makea supreme effort to ensure its success, and that more members will taketheir share in swelling its pages. Criticisms and suggestions are freelyinvited, and will be discussed at the General Meeting to be held nextFriday, 21 March, at 4 p.m., in the dressing-room."

  So wrote Gipsy, and thought no more about the matter. This portion ofher editorial address, however, was seized upon by several of the girls,and led to results which she had certainly not expected.

  "Wants criticisms, does she?" said Maude Helm. "Well, I'll guaranteeshe'll get them for once."

  "And suggestions too!" giggled Gladys Merriman. "She's had it her ownway too long. The fuss people made about her at the bazaar was absurd."

  "You weren't even asked to sing at the cafe chantant, Gladys!" commentedAlice O'Connor.

  "There's been far too much of this favouritism lately. It's timesomebody took the thing up, and others had their fair turn. I wasspeaking to Leonora about it, and she quite agreed with me."

  "Yes; Poppie gave a strong hint she'd like Leonora pushed to the frontrather than Gipsy."

  "Poppie barely tolerates Gipsy."

  "I agree with you there. She'd rejoice to see her shelved."

  "Well, look here, we've no time to stand gossiping. If anything's to bedone, we'd best go and canvass among the kids."

  It was exactly at this crisis that Meg Gordon returned to school. Shehad been absent since the week before Christmas, when her brother haddeveloped measles. She herself had caught the infection, and one afteranother various brothers and sisters had sickened with it, so that forabout three months the whole family had been in quarantine. In her casethe old adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder" was undoubtedlytrue. She came back more devoted to Gipsy than ever, ready to hang uponher words, and yield her somewhat the same fealty as a squire of theMiddle Ages rendered to the knight to whom, by the laws of chivalry, hewas bound. It was well for Gipsy to have so firm an adherent, for herpresent position in the school caused her to be greatly in need ofstanch friends.