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

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER XVI

  The Autumn Term

  Next day the monitresses reassembled in their sanctum at four o'clock tohold the short meeting which had been proposed. Laura had drawn up alist of very sensible and necessary rules, which it was their duty tosee kept, and these were read, approved, and carried unanimously.

  "It's all very fine for Laura to draft rules, but will she enforcethem?" whispered Maudie Stearne to Bess Harrison. "I wish we could gether to be firmer with those juniors. She lets them take libertiescontinually."

  "We'll try and keep her up to the mark," replied Bess, "and we must doall we can ourselves. It's well to have something to go upon, at anyrate. I bless Laura for this list. I shall hold it over the heads of myset of youngsters, and make a special black roll of any sinners whotransgress the least fraction of it."

  "Woe betide IVB if they talk in the hall or make signals to each otheracross the studio again!" said Lottie aloud. "I think these regulationswill about fix up the juniors, and if we stick to them we'll have nomore trouble. Is this all the biz, or has anybody anything else to putto the meeting?"

  "I have an idea," said Mildred. "You know you said yesterday that youwished your Twelfth Night revels could have the advantage of anorchestra. You're afraid the piano alone will sound so thin. Well, I'vebeen thinking it over, and I believe we could get up quite a decentlittle band amongst the Alliance. Mary Fawcett plays the violin verywell, and Lizzie Lucian, Clare Verrall, and Mary Langworthy are gettingalong nicely now with Herr Hoffmann. Then don't you remember the girlwho played a solo for Templeton at the Eisteddfod?--Erica Newstead, Ithink her name was. They've a girl at the Anglo-German, too, who Ibelieve is quite good, though they didn't trot her out at their concert.I'm sure, if we asked her, that Ella Martin would come and help us, andwith myself that would make eight violins. Then Millicent Greenwoodplays the 'cello, and we'd invite that girl who did the solo forNewington Green--Althea Ledbury. With four first violins, four secondviolins, two violoncellos, and the piano we should have quite a jollyband. What do you think of my project?"

  "Ripping!" agreed the girls.

  "It sounds splendid," said Lottie, "but there are just one or two thingswe ought to make clear. First, who's going to conduct? You and Ella willboth be needed to play."

  "I thought of Elizabeth Chalmers," replied Mildred; "she's very musical,and keeps time like a metronome. I believe she'd manage splendidly. Shewon't be needed for the piano, as you say one of the High School girlsis to take that."

  "Elizabeth's the very 'man for the job'! I hadn't thought of her. Yes, Iwish the High School hadn't commandeered the piano, but as it's alimited affair we were obliged to let them take it. There's one otherobjection, though, to the scheme, and rather a big one, I'm afraid. Themusic is only written for voices and piano."

  "That shelves the band, then, I'm afraid!" said Laura.

  "Not at all," returned Mildred. "If Lottie will bring me the music, I'mperfectly certain I can arrange it for first and second violin and'cello parts. I've been doing so much quartette work lately with theProfessor that it really shouldn't be very difficult."

  "Good old Mildred! I'm quite sure you can!" exclaimed Bess. "I believeyou'd fix it up for a whole orchestra, wind-instruments included ifrequired, not to mention the kettle-drums!"

  "Hardly that," laughed Mildred. "I'd prefer to keep to strings. However,I won't boast too soon. I'll try what I can manage, and then show youthe results."

  "I'll fetch the music to school to-morrow," said Lottie. "It would belovely to have an orchestra to augment our 'Dramatic'; it would justmake the thing go."

  Lottie arrived next morning with several books, in which she had markedthe special songs that were to be sung in the Twelfth Night revels. Ontaking them home, Mildred found that the airs were quite simple, andwith her knowledge of harmony and recent experience in quartetteplaying, she was able to arrange second-violin and violoncello parts,allowing the first violin to sustain the melody. It took her a longSaturday to perform the task, but she was satisfied with the result,and brought the score to school on Monday morning. Some of the othergirls volunteered to make the necessary copies during the dinnerinterval, and with their help the work was soon finished. The girls fromthe Anglo-German, Templeton, and Newington Green readily accepted theinvitation to join the orchestra, and arranged to come to St. Cyprian'sfor practices. Ella Martin was quite pleased to revisit her old school,and her clear, correct playing was of great assistance. As Mildred hadexpected, Elizabeth Chalmers made a capital conductor. Her sense of timewas excellent, she kept everybody well together, and above all thingsmade sure that the instruments were in tune. She wielded her batonalmost like an old, experienced bandmaster, rapping on her desk, iffaults occurred, with a promptitude worthy of Professor Hoffmannhimself.

  Mildred found it the greatest relief to have Lottie for a coadjutorinstead of a rival. As dramatic delegate, Lottie was responsible for themembers of St. Cyprian's who were acting in the revels, and was herselfto take a prominent part. She helped to train a chorus, but did nototherwise interfere with the music, confining her attentions mostly todrilling her own students in the rather elaborate dances which they hadundertaken. Mildred was quite ready to appreciate Lottie's powers ofadministration, and often admired her diplomacy in dealing withdifficult situations. Lottie, on her side, having found her true spherein the "Dramatic", was more ready to yield Mildred the palm in music,and the friction which had formerly existed between the two girlsseemed to have died away. They both made zealous and capablemonitresses, and on this common ground could meet in harmony.

  A subject had lately arisen upon which they were entirely agreed. Theyconsidered that Laura Kirby, as head of the school, was not nearly keenenough upon her duties. Laura was working very hard, in view of hermatriculation and scholarship examination next summer, and as Literarydelegate she was also preoccupied with the number of the _AllianceMagazine_ that was to be printed in time for Christmas. She did not careto be worried with too many school details, and rather than trouble toenforce her authority on the juniors, she would shut her eyes to muchthat was going on. Every now and then, if things got rather bad, shewould seemingly wake up, and distribute punishments where they were due;but the younger girls soon found out that she preferred to keep aconveniently blind vision for some of their transgressions, and, takingadvantage of this, they began to grow rather out of hand.

  A particular point at present disturbing several of the monitresses wasthe behaviour of the juniors on their way home from the College. St.Cyprian's was situated in Lime Grove, a quiet avenue which communicatedwith one of the main roads connecting Kirkton and its suburbs. Many ofthe girls used the electric trams, the stopping-place for which was justat the end of the Grove; they had often five minutes or more to waituntil their various cars arrived, and during that interval theyconducted themselves in a most unseemly fashion. Instead of standingaside and chatting quietly, they blocked up the pavement to theinconvenience of passers-by, and talked and laughed in a manner thatrendered them highly conspicuous.

  "The last few days it has been absolutely shameful!" said FredaKingston, discussing the situation with Lottie and Mildred. "There theyare, in their school hats and badges, so that everybody knows theybelong to St. Cyprian's. They bring disgrace on the Coll.! Some of themactually won't trouble to put on their gloves, and their behaviour makespeople stare."

  "And when their trams come up, they make a rush and crowd on in therudest manner, pushing past older people, and giggling, and generallymaking one ashamed for them," said Mildred.

  "The worst of it is that the very ones who behave so shockingly go bythe Carlton Hill car, and Laura is nearly always on it herself. She'sthere waiting at the corner, and she hears the babel of noise they'remaking, and sees them stampede up the steps on to the top of the tram,and she just pops inside herself, opens a book, and takes no notice,"said Lottie.

  "Something will have to be done, or St. Cyprian's will get quite a badreputation."

  "I
t's so abominably unlady-like."

  "It's that wretched little Katie Carter who's the ringleader. She's ahorrid child, and needs suppressing. Do you know what she and half adozen others did yesterday? Actually dared one another to run into thegardens of those nice houses half-way down the Grove, and each plucked aflower! If I had only caught them! It was Hilda Kilburn who told me."

  "It's simply moral slackness on Laura's part not to interfere."

  "What's to be done?"

  "Convene a special monitresses' meeting, bring the subject up, and putit strongly."

  "And tactfully too! We don't want exactly to take Laura to task if wecan help it. We shall have to get her to summon the meeting."

  The affair was arranged with due diplomacy; and when the monitressesgathered next day, during dinner interval, in the sanctum, Freda, asspokeswoman, put the case without casting any imputation upon the headgirl.

  "It has been urgently brought to our notice," she began, "that ourjuniors are conducting themselves on their way home in a manner utterlyunworthy of the traditions of the Coll."

  "Are we responsible for them once they're off the premises?" askedLaura, blushing slightly.

  "Most certainly. It's of vital importance to keep up the credit of theschool. As long as they are in the streets in St. Cyprian's hats theybelong to the Coll., and either establish its reputation or brand itwith disgrace. They're doing the latter at present."

  "It's bad enough to have to manage the little wretches in school withouttackling them outside," sighed Laura. "How can one enforce rules in thestreet?"

  "It's got to be done somehow," said Lottie. "We don't want it to come toMiss Cartwright's ears, as it very soon will if it's not stopped atonce. My proposal is this. Make a list of which girls go by tram. Placethem in groups according to their separate cars, and apportion amonitress to look after each set. Laura goes by the Carlton Hill,Mildred by the Alleston, and I go by the Lincoln Street, so we could beresponsible for any girls on those cars; and Bess and Maudie could takeit in turns to act guard over those who are waiting at the corner, whileFreda patrols the Grove to prevent a repetition of the garden outrage."

  "Good! For the time we should all be acting police," agreed Mildred."We'd give out beforehand that all juniors must leave the schoolpremises before 4.15, and that for any breach of lady-like behaviour onthe road we'll report them to Miss Cartwright. Once they know we meanbusiness, they'll have to reform."

  "I put it to the meeting, then," said Lottie, "that the monitresses infuture hold themselves responsible for the good conduct of the juniorsin the street and on the trams."

  "And I beg to second it," said Freda.

  Thus brought to a sense of her duty, Laura could not fail to agree withthe proposition. The juniors were informed of the new code, and thatvery afternoon it was put into force. The monitresses meant to stand nononsense, and marshalled their flocks as if they were drilling them inthe gymnasium. The effect was marvellous. Instead of a chattering,loud-voiced crowd obstructing the pavement, a queue of quiet,well-conducted girls waited at the corner almost in silence, and boardedtheir respective trams with perfect decorum. All wore their gloves, andhad been more particular than formerly that their coats were put onneatly, and their bootlaces well tucked away. Even Katie Carter wassubdued, and did not dare to play tricks on her confederates.

  Perhaps the matter had come to Miss Cartwright's ears after all, for inthe course of about a week she congratulated the monitresses upon theirvigilance. They referred to her remarks with much satisfaction at theirnext meeting.

  "It's nice to have one's efforts appreciated," said Bess. "I vote wedon't slack off, but keep up this patrol business. Of course it's agreat deal of trouble----"

  "But it's well worth it," agreed the others.

  Now that this matter with the juniors was settled, St. Cyprian's seemedto be going on well in every respect. Kitty Fletcher and Edna Carsonwere zealous in looking after the Games department, and spurred on thegirls to come to hockey practices. They had had a match with NewingtonGreen, and though they had been vanquished they had shown a good fight,and, considering the excellence of the rival team, had not on the wholecomported themselves badly. By increased efforts Kitty hoped that beforethe hockey season was over they might be able to win at least one match,and show that St. Cyprian's could take its place in athletics on afooting with other schools in the Alliance. She often regretted JoanRichards, and wished she could have asked her to join the team in anemergency; but it was against the rules for ex-pupils to play inmatches, so she had to content herself with present members. Oneunexpected source of strength consoled her for Joan's loss. RhodaSomerville took to hockey like a duck to water, and promised underKitty's tuition to become a most valuable asset to the team. She seemedto have every qualification for good play, and an enthusiasm whichrejoiced the heart of her captain. Rhoda's active habits in Westmorlandhad fitted her for sports, and in the gymnasium also she was beginningto establish a record. Her cricket capacities, of course, could not yetbe tested, but Kitty hoped next summer to put her to the proof.

  Rhoda found the life at St. Cyprian's most congenial. She had beenplaced on the Musical side of the school, and thoroughly enjoyed herpiano lessons with Herr Kleindorf, and the classes in theory and harmonywhich she attended. There was a delightful series of lectures this termon the great classical composers, with illustrations from their works,and Rhoda, who had not before had the opportunity of joining such acourse, found them deeply interesting. After her quiet country home atCastleford, St. Cyprian's seemed a new world, full from morning to nightof fresh impressions. She had learnt German with her father, so she hadthe pleasure of finding herself in Fraeulein Schulte's advanced class,and taking part in the monthly dialogues.

  In company with the other five girls who were boarded at the Principal'shouse, Rhoda had an excellent time. Miss Cartwright was kindness itself,and they had so many indulgences that they were almost regarded withenvy by the day scholars. As there were so few of them, it was possibleto allow them more privileges than they could have had at any ordinaryboarding-school, so they often congratulated themselves upon their goodfortune.

  In spite of these advantages, Rhoda's life was not without troubles.She was backward in several subjects, and had to work very hard to keepup with her Form. Sometimes she was almost baffled by the difficultieswhich arose, but she had any amount of grit and determination, and wasresolved to make headway in the school. On the whole she was a favouritewith her Form, but there was one girl whom she found a perpetual "thornin the flesh". Lottie Lowman's younger sister, Carrie, was at a ratherdisagreeable stage of her development. Lottie had improved very muchsince her appointment as monitress, but Carrie's sharp tongue was nimblein exercising itself at the expense of her class-mates. For someunexplained reason she had taken a dislike to Rhoda, and lost noopportunity of making her the butt of her wit. Carrie, though theyoungest in the Form, was one of the cleverest, and prided herself onthe two points. If Rhoda unfortunately made a mistake in a lesson, shewould sneer: "What! You sixteen and don't know that yet? Why, we learntit in the Upper Third!" She would visibly nudge her companions if Rhodafaltered in answering a question, thereby making her more nervous, andwould come out with pointed remarks about girls whose brains ran tohockey instead of "maths.". In the gymnasium she would watch Rhoda'sperformances with a critical eye, and triumph openly at her failures. Tobe sure, these were all rather foolish things, hardly worthy of notice,but they hurt notwithstanding, and had the effect of making severalgirls, who might have been friendly, join in the gibes just for the merefun of teasing.

  Rhoda was subjected to many small annoyances. One afternoon, just aseveryone was off for a practice, she could not find her hockey shoes.She was perfectly certain they had been in her boot locker only an hourbefore, but now there was not a sign of them. She hunted vainly up anddown the dressing-room, asking the girls if they had seen them, butnobody could give her any information, or seemed inclined to trouble tohelp her.

 
"How can I tell where you put your things? You should keep them in yourlocker!" retorted more than one irritably.

  "I did put them in my locker, but somebody's taken them out!" protestedRhoda.

  "Well, I didn't, at any rate! I've never even seen your shoes!"

  In a violent hurry the girls rushed away, leaving Rhoda alone in thedressing-room, still searching for her missing property. It was onlywhen she had examined every one of the long row of lockers that shediscovered her shoes stowed away under the books of Mabel Pollitt, whowas absent that day, and therefore could not possibly have appropriatedthem. Changing as quickly as she could, Rhoda ran out to the hockeyground, to find the captain in a ferment.

  "We've been waiting five minutes for you, Rhoda Somerville! Why can'tyou be punctual? I shan't allow time to be wasted, and if you're lateagain you may stop away altogether, so I give you fair notice!"

  "I couldn't find my shoes!" panted Rhoda.

  "A very poor excuse. Have them ready next time, and then there won't beall this trouble!"

  Carrie Lowman was nudging her chum, Beatrice Blair, and the two weregiggling with such open amusement that it was not difficult for Rhoda toknow to whom she might attribute her loss. She taxed them with it, butthey only burst into peals of laughter, and refused to answer her.

  "I'm sure they did it," said Doris Brewer, who was friendly to Rhoda. "Isaw them sniggering over something in the dressing-room."

  "Next week I shall put my shoes inside my desk, so that no one can playtricks with them," declared Rhoda. "It's much too bad to rag me likethis."

  Carrie and her chums considered Rhoda, as a new-comer, fair game for anysport, and they were prepared to take advantage of her ignorance in manyways. Rhoda's mathematics were decidedly below the standard of the restof the Form; and one morning, when she had been even less successfulthan usual, Carrie approached her after school.

  "You've failed again hopelessly, Rhoda Somerville," scoffed Carrie. "Isuppose you're aware that any girl who gets only ten per cent of herproblems right three times running has to go and report herself to themonitresses?"

  "I didn't know!" gasped Rhoda.

  "It's a solid fact!" declared Beatrice Blair.

  "They're having a meeting at one o'clock, so you'll have to turn up now,and confess your sins and cry _peccavi_!" added Carrie. "Laura Kirby'sA1 at maths., so I'm afraid you won't meet with too tender a reception."

  Poor Rhoda, who still had not grasped all the rules of St. Cyprian's,and was constantly encountering new ones, went off at once in a panic ofcompunction. It was a decided ordeal to face all the monitresses, eventhough Mildred was one of them, and she felt it humiliating to beobliged to confess her failure. She knocked timidly at the door of thesanctum, and entered, looking decidedly dejected, in response to Laura's"Come in!"

  "Well, what do you want?" asked the head girl rather impatiently.

  "I--I've come to report myself," stammered Rhoda.

  "What for?"

  "For failing three times running in maths."

  "Why, that's no business of ours."

  "But I was told to come."

  "Who sent you?" asked Lottie sharply.

  "Your sister--and Beatrice Blair. They said it was the rule."

  Lottie coloured with annoyance.

  "I shall have to speak to Carrie," she remarked. "She has no right torag new girls. It's a stupid custom, and must be stamped out of St.Cyprian's."

  "We have no such rule, Rhoda," said Mildred gently. "It was too bad tosend you on a false errand."

  "Then I needn't come here again and report my failures?"

  "Certainly not."

  "Oh, thanks!" Rhoda's face had lightened with visible relief. "I'mafraid I interrupted you."

  "I don't blame you. It wasn't your fault," returned Laura, closing theinterview. "I advise you in future to be careful what you believe. Asksomebody whom you can trust, before you accept anyone's statements. Youcan go now, and please shut the door after you."