The Girls of St. Cyprian's: A Tale of School Life

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER IV

  Concerns VA

  Mildred's resolution to work was a huge effort to her easy-going,unpractical temperament, but she could not have made it at a morefavourable time. The new Alliance had aroused a general wave ofenthusiasm at St. Cyprian's, and many girls who before had been inclinedto shirk were now determined to put their shoulders to the wheel. Thereis a great deal in public opinion, and while a do-as-you-please attitudehad hitherto been in vogue, keenness and strenuousness now became thefashion. The school was divided into "Sloggers" and "Slackers", and thelatter were looked down upon, and made to feel their inferiority. Amongthe seventeen girls who composed VA there was of course every variety ofdisposition, from Laura Kirby, who was nicknamed "the walkingdictionary", to Sheila Moore, who was a byword for silliness. Naturallythey had their different little sets and cliques, but these were onlyaffairs of secondary importance; as a Form they were remarkably united,and anxious to maintain the credit of VA against the rest of the school.

  It was especially with regard to their seniors that they felt an elementof competition. To beat juniors was always a poor triumph, and nothingmuch to boast of, but the Form perpetually cherished the ambition to (asthey expressed it) "go one better than the Sixth". The Sixth were notdisposed to lay aside their laurels, so the struggle went on, in quitean amicable fashion, but with a spirit of rivalry all the same. It wasthe custom every few weeks for each of the three top forms to give ashort dialogue in French or German. These had nothing to do with theDramatic Society, being merely part of the school course, to accustomthe girls to converse in foreign languages, and they were performed withvery little ceremony before an audience of teachers and juniors. Thismonth a German scene had been apportioned to VA, and Kitty Fletcher,Bess Harrison, Mona Bradley, and Mildred Lancaster were chosen byFraeulein Schulte to represent the principal characters. It was notdifficult to learn their short parts, and last term, when once they hadcommitted them to memory, they would have thought no more of the matteruntil the afternoon of the performance. Now, however, in view of thegenerally-raised standard, they were disposed to take more trouble.

  "I'd just like to show the Sixth what we can do," said Kitty. "Supposeour dialogue turned out better than theirs? It would be such a triumph!"

  "It strikes me the Sixth intend to turn the tables, and spring asurprise on us," said Mildred. "I'm quite sure they're concoctingsomething."

  "Oh, how did you get to know? What is it?"

  "That I can't say, but I heard them murmuring something about arehearsal, and they all scooted off to the small studio."

  "Are they there now? I vote we go and see," suggested Bess Harrison.

  The four girls hurried upstairs at once, only to find the door of thestudio locked, and the Sixth firm in their refusal to open it.

  "I want to get my drawing-board!" wailed Mona through the keyhole.

  "Then you ought to have got it before. You'll have to wait now," was thestern reply.

  "But I must have it. And my chalk pencils. Let me in just for aninstant!"

  "I tell you I can't!"

  "What are you all doing in there?"

  "That's our concern."

  "Oh, you are mean!"

  "Go away this minute, and leave us in peace. What business have youintruding here?"

  Finding knocks and thumps on the door as useless as their entreaties,and that the keyhole had been carefully stopped up with a piece of softpaper, the four beat a retreat. They were consumed with curiosity,however.

  "I just mean to get to know, somehow!" exploded Bess.

  "Look here," said Mona, "I've an idea. Let us creep out through thatskylight window on the landing, crawl over the roof, and then we canpeep right down through the studio skylight. We'd see for ourselvesthen. It would be better than keyholes."

  Mona's brilliant suggestion was hailed with joy. The only obstacle whichoffered itself was the difficulty of climbing up to the skylight. ButMona was resourceful. She remembered the housemaids' cupboard at thetop of the stairs, and promptly purloined the step-ladder which stoodthere. Fortunately it was a tall one, so without any superhuman displayof agility they were able to reach the roof. A narrow parapet ran roundthe edge of the house, which afforded some slight security, but perhapsall four girls felt qualms when they found themselves at such a giddyheight. Not one would confess her fear, though, so they commenced tocreep cautiously forward in the direction of the studio.

  "It's like Alpine climbing!" gasped Kitty as they ascended the steepangle. "We've got to go over that ridge! Oh! I say, aren't the slateshot?"

  Giggling a little to hide their tremors, the adventurous four reachedthe chimney-stack, and paused for a moment to survey the prospect. Theycould obtain a truly bird's-eye view of the playground and the streetbeyond.

  "I know what it must feel like to see things from an aeroplane," saidMildred. "You just get the tops instead of the sides. Look at those hatsdown there!"

  "Oh, don't let us waste time in looking!" said Mona. "Suppose the Sixthshould have gone when we get to the studio? It would be such astupendous sell!"

  Urged by the mere idea of such a fiasco, the girls plucked up theircourage again, and pursued their caterpillar-like progress. They soonreached the studio skylight, and, peering down, were able easily to seeinto the room. The Sixth were still there, and very busily employed.Apparently they were holding a rehearsal, and they were dressed up incostumes suitable to the occasion. Dorrie Barlow wore a large Frenchpeasant cap, Kathleen Hodson sported a cloak and top-boots, and EdithArmitage, in a blue silk dress with a train, was evidently a lady ofhigh degree. Sublimely unconscious of the four spies above them, theseniors went on complacently with their work. Most of their conversationonly ascended as a general buzz, but every now and then a remark in alouder tone than usual was audible on the roof.

  "That's capital, Gertie!"

  "No one's an idea what we're doing."

  "We routed those Fifth-Formers!"

  "Cheek of them to come prying here!"

  "They went away no wiser, though!"

  "We must hide these costumes."

  The spectators above absolutely gurgled with joy, but they were carefulnot to betray their presence. Making a sign to the others, Mona motionedthem to withdraw their heads.

  "We've seen enough!" she whispered. "They might look up at any moment.Better beat a retreat now."

  Four very satisfied girls climbed back over the ridge of the roof. Theyhad gained exactly the information they wanted, and they meant to actupon it. They considered their action was a benefit to their Form.

  "We've done it so quickly," said Mona, who was leading the way, "weshall have time to scoot downstairs, and be just innocently loiteringabout the playground before the Sixth have finished. They'll neverguess!--Oh, I say, here's a go!"

  "What's the matter?"

  "Why, if the wretched skylight isn't shut!"

  This was bad news indeed. With consternation in their faces they creptcloser, and tried to lift the skylight up. They pulled till theirfingers were sore, but with no success.

  "Somebody must have come along the passage and shut it," said Kitty."It's a nuisance to have to give ourselves away, but I can't seeanything for it but to knock and get the window opened."

  "Someone's sure to be going along the passage," said Bess hopefully.

  So they knocked quietly at first, and then thumped with energysufficient to break the glass. There was no response, however; not evena solitary junior passed down the passage.

  "What are we to do?"

  Kitty's face was blank in the extreme.

  "The step-ladder's gone too!" squealed Bess.

  At that moment the big school bell clanged loudly for afternooncall-over. Waxing absolutely desperate, the girls not only thumped onthe glass, but shouted. To their intense relief their signals wereheard, and the figure of Rogers, the upper housemaid, hove into view.Calling to them to keep clear of the window, she opened the skylight.

  "Whatever are you doing up
there?" she enquired tartly.

  "Oh, Rogers, do be an angel, and fetch the steps quick!"

  The expression on Rogers's face was not at all angelic.

  "You've no business out on the roof, and you know it."

  "Yes, that's why we want to come down," returned Kitty, "if you'll onlylet us. Do fetch those steps, please!"

  Grumbling to herself, Rogers brought the step-ladder, and held it steadywhile the girls descended.

  "I shall tell Miss Cartwright," she announced. "Larks like these arebeyond a joke."

  "Oh, Rogers, don't--don't, please!" implored the sinners. "We'll vow onour honour never to do it again. Honest--honest, we won't!"

  "I can't have the steps taken out of my cupboard."

  "We won't so much as peep through the chink of the door again, far lesstouch anything."

  "Do, please, promise not to report us. Oh, we're going to be late forcall-over! There's the second bell."

  "Late you'll certainly be, and serve you right!" snapped Rogers. Then,relenting a little: "Well, I won't report you this time; but mind, if Iever catch you meddling with this window again, or touching anything inmy cupboard, you needn't expect to get off."

  Thankful to escape with nothing worse than a scolding, the four toredownstairs in the hope that they might just be in time to answer totheir names, but Miss Pollock was closing the register as they enteredthe room, and had already marked them down "late". Rather crest-fallen,they went to their various classes--Mildred to practise, Mona to herdrawing lesson, and Bess and Kitty to Latin preparation. At four o'clockthey met to compare notes.

  "After all, I think we scored," said Mona. "We found out what the Sixthwere doing."

  "Yes, and what we've got to do now is to get up our own dialogue incostume, and not let the Sixth have a hint of it beforehand."

  "It will take the wind out of their sails when they see us all dressedup."

  "Especially if we do the thing better."

  "That goes without saying. I've a far nicer dress at home than Edith'sblue silk."

  "We shall have to tell Eve and Maudie."

  "Of course, but no one else in the Form need know. It can be a surprisefor everybody."

  As a rule, though the school was obliged to be present to act audienceat the monthly dialogues, everybody considered them rather a bore. Eventhe girls who were taking part had not hitherto been very enthusiastic.They had been regarded strictly as lessons, and not in any senserecreation. This time, however, both the Sixth and the Fifth had asecret--a possession which adds a charm to any undertaking. The Fifthheld the decided advantage of knowing their seniors' intentions whilepreserving silence about their own. They held delightfully mysteriouscommittee meetings in the dressing-room, and private confabulations inthe playground. Long-suffering relations at home were induced to set towork with needles and thread, or to lend a variety of articles thatwould come in for the occasion. On the day of the dialogues severalbulky packages were smuggled into school. The girls had been obliged atthe last moment to take Miss Pollock into their confidence, and beg herto lock up the costumes in her cupboard until the afternoon, and tosecure them the use of a small practising room for a dressing-room.Five out of the six performers stayed to dinner at the College, so theyhad a little extra time for last arrangements. By dint of hard pleadingthey had managed to change places with VB, so that their dialogue camethird on the list instead of second.

  "That's good biz," said Kitty. "Now we shall be able to sit all throughthe Sixth's performance, and do our robing while VB are on the platform.Then we'll just walk on and astonish everybody."

  Punctually at three o'clock the whole school assembled in the biglecture-hall, and took their places, small girls in front, and olderones to the back, with a row of chairs reserved for teachers. In spiteof the discretion of the performers, some little hint had leaked outthat the afternoon's proceedings were to be of an extra specialcharacter, and there was considerable whispering and expectation amongthe audience. The six players in VA had seats at the end of a bench, sothat they could make an easy exit when necessary. They watched withkeenest anticipation as the door behind the platform opened and theactors in the French dialogue entered. The rank and file of the schoolhad not expected costumes, and clapped heartily at sight of the quaintfigures who were standing bowing and curtsying with eighteenth-centurydignity. Kathleen Hodson as Monsieur le Duc de Fontaineville was statelyin her top-boots, an evening cloak of her mother's flung across hershoulder, and a sword at her side.

  "Silk stockings and buckled shoes would have been more in keeping withthe period than those boots," whispered Bess to Mildred. "They haven'ttaken any trouble over details."

  "Dorrie Barlow's cap is only made of tissue-paper," triumphed Mildred."Wait till they see Eve's."

  The wearing of the dresses seemed decidedly inspiring to the performers,who gave their short piece with far more spirit than was their usualcustom. To be sure, Monsieur le Duc forgot his sword, and, tripping overit, nearly measured his length on the platform, but he recovered himselfwith admirable calm, and went on with his speech as if nothing hadhappened. Susanne, the peasant woman, clattered about in a real pair ofsabots, but had the misfortune to step on the train of Madame, hermistress, with rather disastrous results, to judge from the rendingsound which ensued. Gertie Raeburn was seized with stage-fright, forgother lines, and had to be prompted; and Hilda Smith, who enacted theAbbe, was distinctly heard to giggle under her ecclesiastical vestments.In spite of these slight flaws the piece was immensely appreciated, andbrought down a storm of applause, under cover of which our six heroinesof VA slipped quietly from the room.

  There was no time to be lost, for they knew VB's dialogue was onlyshort. Miss Pollock had placed their parcels in readiness, so theyopened them with utmost speed and began their toilets. They all helpedone another, and made such a record of haste that in exactly ten minutesthey were ready, and listening for the applause which would mark thetermination of VB's performance. At the very first clap they ran downthe passage; then, restraining their impatience, waited until theirpredecessors had made their due exit from the lecture-hall. It was withpardonable pride that they stepped on to the platform and watched thelook of amazement which spread over the audience. Nobody had expectedthem to be in costume--that was evident. The Sixth were lookingparticularly astonished, indeed almost annoyed. There was a discomfitedexpression on their faces, highly gratifying to the conspirators. EvenMiss Cartwright seemed surprised. The little German play had affordedgood opportunity for dressing up, and the girls had certainly risen tothe occasion.

  Bess Harrison, as "Else, the daughter of the Schloss", wore a charmingmediaeval robe, with velvet bodice and slashed sleeves; her long fairhair was plaited in two orthodox braids, and she held a distaff andspindle at which she worked industriously. Mildred, her betrothed, wasarrayed as a baron of the Lohengrin type, in a short robe ofpeacock-blue emblazoned with an heraldic dragon in scarlet. Her goldenhair was combed loosely over her shoulders, and surmounted by a smallducal coronet. She had a heavy chain round her neck, and armlets on herbare arms. Kitty Fletcher made a stately mediaeval grandmother, insilken gown, stiff ruffle, coif and wimple, and rattled the keys of theSchloss with great effect as she said her lines. Eve Mitchell as theserving-maid had a cap of real muslin, copied from an old Germanpicture, a green-and-black-striped skirt, cherry-coloured stockings, andbuckled shoes; while Maudie Stearne, in her capacity of seneschal,almost surpassed the rest in the gorgeousness of her embroidered cloak,chain armour, and winged helmet.

  The girls were on their mettle to do well, and played up mostsuccessfully. The whole dialogue went without a single hitch, and theactors threw enough scorn, grief, jealousy, alarm, and devotion intotheir parts to have sufficed for a longer play. As finally, quiteflushed with their efforts, they made their bows to the audience, theappreciative school broke into thunderous applause. The Sixth, noblyrepressing any spasms of envy that may have assailed them, were clappingheartily, Miss Cartwright beamed approval,
and Fraeulein Schulte was allcongratulations and smiles.

  "Really, this afternoon's dialogues have been a delightful innovation,"said the Principal. "The addition of costumes makes an immenseimprovement. It was a coincidence that the two Forms should have thoughtof it quite independently of each other. You must have been mutuallysurprised. I am very pleased indeed, girls. It is a step in the rightdirection when you organize these things on your own account."

  "It isn't quite such a coincidence as Miss Cartwright imagines,"chuckled Kitty, as she and her confederates disrobed in the practisingroom. "She doesn't know who peeped through the skylight."

  "And we certainly shan't tell her," laughed Mona.

  "We've stolen a march on the Sixth," said Mildred.

  "Yes, they had to give us the palm this afternoon," agreed Maudie. "Ithink we may decidedly feel we've scored."