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

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER XVIII

  Twelfth Night Revels

  The autumn term was drawing rapidly to a close and Christmas was near athand. The Literary branch of the Alliance had been particularly activein preparing a number of the united Magazine, which was now at theprinter's, and was to be issued shortly before breaking-up day. The sixeditresses who were responsible for its production had not found theirtask a light one. The expense of printing had limited them to onehundred pages, so many of their original plans had had to be curtailed.After much consultation it was decided to allow each school fifteenpages and two illustrations, either in line, or half-tone, the spacesfor which must be included in their portion. The remaining ten pages ofthe magazine were to contain a leading article on the Alliance, andspecial news, such as reports of the Eisteddfod and Exhibition, resultsof cricket and hockey matches since last Easter, the work of the variousleagues and guilds, and announcements for the forthcoming season.

  Rachel Hutton, the head girl of the High School, was voted generaleditress, and appointed to write the leader and the various reports,while each sub-editress was responsible for the portion allotted to herschool. The work did not sound very formidable, but when Laura Kirby, aseditress for St. Cyprian's, began to get her material together sherealized some of the thorns which beset the journalistic path. Fifteenpages of print seemed a small allowance, and very limiting to the powersof her contributors. She could almost have filled it on her own account.She wished all the best talent of the school to be represented, andtried to map out her space accordingly. It was most difficult, however,to keep her literary stars within due bounds. Nora Farrar, the generallyacknowledged poet laureate of the College, had been put down for a shortpoem of twelve lines, calculated exactly to fill half a page; but whenshe handed in her manuscript the dismayed editress found that itcontained no less than seven verses.

  "You'll have to cut some of it out," she suggested.

  "Cut it short! Impossible! Why, it would spoil it entirely," protestedthe poetess indignantly. "Can't some of the others shorten their thingsinstead?"

  "No, indeed! They'd prefer to lengthen them."

  "Well, look here, it will ruin my piece utterly if I have to chop outthe middle half of it."

  "I'm very sorry, but it's got to be done, unless you'd rather writeanother poem."

  Laura found that every contributor committed the same mistake, and eachmanuscript was apt to overflow its due number of words. The distractededitress had to be very stern in marking out passages which sheconsidered were not strictly necessary, and insisting upon theiromission. It was so hard to persuade the budding authoresses that thismatter of space was one of real importance, and that they must notexceed their allowance even by a single paragraph. Many were thegrumbles and protests, and as Laura was unfortunately not blessed withtoo large a share of tact, the making of the magazine proved a ratherstormy business. The illustrations were another source of difficulty.Freda Kingston brought a very pretty pen-and-ink sketch, over which shehad spent much time and trouble. She had drawn it the exact size it wasto appear in the magazine, and was highly annoyed when she was informedthat all drawings meant for reproduction must be on a scale half aslarge again as they would eventually be printed, as they were minimizedin the process of making the blocks.

  "I shall actually have to do it over again! Why didn't you tell mebefore, and save me all this trouble?" she asked plaintively.

  "I didn't know myself," groaned Laura. "I've only just found out howillustrations are printed. By the by, you'll have to make all your linesthicker, too, because those will be thinned down when it's diminished."

  "I hope they won't spoil my sketch at the printing works, I want to keepit afterwards."

  "You'll probably get it back adorned with the impress of thecompositor's thumb in black ink! It'll be a chance for you if you wantto acquire skill in reading finger-marks, but it won't be an improvementto your design, so you'd best prepare yourself for the worst."

  In spite of all these minor troubles Laura managed in the end to arrangeher fifteen pages satisfactorily, and sent them off in triumph to thegeneral editress by the appointed day. The printer faithfully fulfilledhis part of the bargain, and delivered the copies in good time, so thatthe magazines were ready for subscribers at the beginning of the lastweek of the term. It had been impossible to afford anything very grandin the way of a cover, so they had contented themselves with the title_The Alliance Journal_, and the motto "Unitas superabit", which had beenchosen as the watchword of the League. Rachel Hutton had written areally capital leading article as an introduction, and had contrived toexpress a large number of ideas and suggestions in an extremely smallspace. Each of the separate schools had contributed highly readablematter, and of a very varied character, so that sonnets, lyrics, andparodies, essays, detective stories, adventures, Nature notes, historicdialogues, reminiscences of country rambles, recitations, serious andcomic, humorous episodes, and school titbits all found due place.

  General opinion voted the magazine "ripping", and the editresses had theproud consciousness of having for once given entire satisfaction totheir reading public, a distinction which editors in the real world ofjournalism might well envy them.

  The supreme attraction of the last week of the term was the uniteddramatic performance that was to be given in aid of the Children'sHospital. It had been no easy matter to find any piece in which sixschools could be represented without giving undue prominence to one orother; but the Twelfth Night revels which had been chosen happilyallowed such a wide scope that each was able to undertake a separatedepartment of equal importance. The play was a general combination of anumber of old mediaeval festivities, and though it might be somewhatirregular to mingle them, the whole made an excellent entertainment.They were supposed to be acted on Twelfth Night, but as that date wouldfall during the holidays, it was considered no anomaly to anticipate it,and the event had been fixed for 20th December.

  All the schools had been busy practising their parts, and none hadworked harder than St. Cyprian's. The special portion of the performancewhich they had undertaken was the entrance of the King and Queen withtheir Court, and their enthronement amid due rejoicings. The speeches tobe learnt were only short, but there was a very elaborate ceremonial tobe observed, a dance to be executed by courtiers, and two part-songs tobe sung, therefore many rehearsals were needed before it was perfected.Lottie was indefatigable. She drilled the chorus, trained the dancers,coached the speakers, arranged the costumes, and during rehearsals, atany rate, was sometimes stage-manager, pianist, prompter, dancingmistress, Lord Chamberlain, and principal boy, all combined. She herselfwas to act King, and Rose Percival, a very pretty girl from IVA Form,had been chosen as the Queen.

  Mildred's orchestra was to play during the whole entertainment, so theylearnt the music for the songs, dances, and processions of all theschools, also the opening and closing marches. Erica Newstead, Tessievon Steinberg, and Althea Ledbury, the girls respectively fromTempleton, the Anglo-German and Newington Green, proved valuableadditions, and with their help the little band really sounded quiteeffective. Elizabeth Chalmers's zealous conductorship had trained themto play in good time, exactly together, and in excellent tune; and ifthey could not attain to rivalling Professor Hoffmann's Students'Orchestra, they were at least a very welcome augmentation to the musicalportion of the performance.

  Mildred keenly enjoyed the rehearsals. It is always gratifying whenone's pet scheme turns out well, and as she had taken much trouble inarranging the scores, she felt a pardonable pride in the success of herwork. She loved the music for its own sake, but she was also verypublic-spirited, both on behalf of St. Cyprian's and the Alliance, andglad to contribute her share for the common weal. The charity to whichthe proceeds were to be sent was one that appealed to the schools. TheKirkton Children's Hospital was a new institution that had only latelybeen opened. Many of the girls had been taken to see it, had walkedthrough the bright sunny wards, and had noticed the little patientswearing the red
-flannel jackets that had been provided by their UnitedNeedlecraft Guild. To help to raise funds to keep the cots occupied wasan object worth working for, and justified the original intention of theAlliance to be not only an institution for mutual improvement, but torender real aid to their poorer sisters in Kirkton.

  The revels were to be held in the Kirkton Assembly Hall, though in amuch larger room than that devoted to the Art Exhibition. Tickets hadbeen sent to the various schools, and had sold so well that a goodaudience was assured beforehand. The Mayoress of Kirkton was to bepresent, and to bring her children, and several other prominent citizenshad also promised their support. As it was essentially a children'sentertainment it was decided to hold it in the afternoon, which wouldgreatly simplify the difficulty of arranging for the safe home-going ofthe performers when it was over.

  Twenty girls from St. Cyprian's were to take part, not counting theorchestra, and these were the heroines of the hour at the College. Theirdress rehearsal was viewed and approved by a school audience, and thedeepest interest taken in their costumes. Many of the details of thesewere lent for the occasion. There had been dramatic entertainmentsbefore at St. Cyprian's, so some of the ex-performers had variousproperties laid by at home, which proved of valuable assistance to thegeneral effect. Clare Verrall, who had once been the ambassador in"Cinderella", was able to lend her gorgeous trumpet with its silkenhangings to Agnes White, who was to act herald. Bess Harrison, who yearsago had been one of the "Princes in the Tower", was delighted to findthat her velvet doublet and silken hose would exactly fit Lucy Stearne,who made a pretty page. Freda Kingston's artistic skill wasrequisitioned to provide crowns for the King and Queen, and withcardboard, gilt paper, and cracker jewels she manufactured quite amagnificent regalia. Ivy Linthwaite prepared the Elizabethan ruffs ofthe courtiers, and stencilled heraldic devices on various banners whichwere to be used; and as many other girls were ready to contributebeads, knots of ribbon, paste shoe buckles, ornaments for the hair, laceruffles, and other accessories useful in stage toilets, St. Cyprian'scongratulated itself that it would be able to make a brave show.

  The six companies of performers went early to the Exchange AssemblyHall, each school in charge of a mistress. The arrangements had beenwell made, so that there was no confusion over the dressing, though muchfun went on behind the scenes. The members of the Alliance had met sooften for various functions that they began to know one another, and toexchange greetings almost like old friends. Though each was a stanchsupporter of her own school, they were always ready to combine for ageneral object, and drop any rivalries for the moment. So St. Cyprian'sand Templeton girls might be seen chatting about hockey, and NewingtonGreen discussing the magazine with the Anglo-German, and a general_entente cordiale_ reigned supreme.

  The members of the orchestra had come in white dresses, and gave quite afestive appearance to the room as they took their places and commencedthe overture. Templeton was first on the programme, and opened theproceedings with a procession. Their players were dressed as boys andgirls in Old English costume, the former in smock-frocks, large felthats adorned with bunches of cowslips, and knees tied with knots of gayribbons; the latter in low-cut dresses, muslin cross-overs, mob-caps andmittens, so that the whole looked exactly as if they had stepped out ofa Kate Greenaway picture-book. To celebrate the season they sang aChristmas carol, and then proceeded to give a charming and elaborateexhibition of morris-dancing. They had been carefully drilled, and wentthrough the most intricate steps without a hitch, waving their sprigs ofholly, coloured handkerchiefs, or ribbon-tipped wands, according to therequirements of the measure. They sang well, and rendered all theirchoruses crisply and in exact accordance with the actions of the dances.With the orchestra to augment the music the effect was most gay, andgave a vivid impression of the Merrie England of former days.

  Templeton was succeeded by Newington Green, which had taken up a totallydifferent line. It had concentrated its energies on its younger members,and its first item was a dance of fairies and elves by small girls ofnine or ten years of age. They had been selected with a view to theirappearance. The fairies were all blue-eyed and fair-haired, and in theirthin gauzy robes looked true gossamer sprites, as light as air. Theirlittle feet tripped about as if scarcely touching the stage, and theyleft a general impression among the audience that they were of suchsylph-like and ethereal composition that it was almost possible to seethrough them. Their partners, the elves, were all brunettes, and worepale-green tights and helmets made to represent big bluebells. Both theyand their sister fairies carried long garlands of flowers, which theyused in the performance of their dance, now holding them aloft, nowwaving them to and fro, and now joining them in a floral chain to linkthe sprites together. The songs chosen were: "The Fairy Pipers", and"The Horns of Elfland", and Mildred had contrived so admirably toarrange the melodies with pizzicato passages on the violins that thering of the little magic pipes and horns was unmistakable, and theaudience listened almost spellbound to the fairy music.

  When the pretty scene was over, it was rivalled by another of equalinterest. As the fairies and elves danced off the stage, a troupe ofbutterflies flitted on instead. Their costumes had been prepared by theNewington Green art mistress and her best pupils. They were of thinbutter muslin, made extremely full from the neck, and with a thin pieceof bamboo stitched down the length of the skirt under each arm. Whenthese bamboos were seized at the bottom, and raised above the level ofthe head, the skirt extended so as to give an exact impression of wings.All the dresses had been painted with the characteristic markings ofcertain butterflies, and as their owners gently waved them about, itseemed as if Fritillaries, Tortoiseshells, Purple Emperors,Swallow-tails, Camberwell Beauties, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, andPeacocks were holding carnival together upon the stage. They danced acharming measure, twisting and turning so as to display the splendour oftheir wings, and winding in and out as if flitting about among theflowers. Each girl had a helmet contrived to represent a butterfly'shead, with long antennae and large round eyes, which further enhanced theinsect effect, and wore long brown stockings drawn over sandals, givinga far more characteristic effect than shoes. The music was dainty andappropriate, and after responding to a vigorous encore, the butterfliesflitted away, having covered Newington Green with glory.

  It was now the turn of St. Cyprian's. Their chief feature was thegrandeur of their procession, so an opening march announced theiradvent. They filed on to the stage with slow and stately steps, in allthe pomp and majesty which they had been able to get together. Firstcame the heralds, magnificent creatures in silk and velvet, holding longtrumpets from which hung emblazoned banners; then my Lord Chamberlain,in flowered robe and long cloak, bearing his wand of office, andushering in with much ceremony the King and Queen. Lottie really lookedvery fine in her gold-embroidered doublet, crimson cloak, long silkstockings, and magnificent crown; and Rose Percival, in pearl-trimmedwhite satin, with a mock-diamond necklace, her long flaxen hair arrangedto fall over her shoulders below her waist, and her pretty facesurmounted by her tiara, was regal enough to rival the monarchs ofstory-book fame. Their Court was not behind in gorgeousness. Thegentlemen-in-waiting looked true cavaliers with their curled lovelocks,lace ruffles, and plumed hats, and the ladies outvied them in thegayness of their colours and the elaboration of their ruffs.

  In this part of the revels there were a few speeches; the King and Queenwere enthroned, songs were sung, and an old-fashioned dance wasperformed by the courtiers, such as might have taken place at somepageant of the fifteenth century. At its conclusion, instead of retiringfrom the platform, the royalties kept their thrones, and their maids ofhonour and gentlemen-in-waiting grouped themselves picturesquely oneither side. They were to act stage audience for the mummers who cameto play before the Court. This important department of theentertainment had been undertaken by the High School, which had risennobly to the occasion. First came St. George of England, St. Andrew ofScotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales, all arrayed
asknights in armour and all mounted on hobby-horses. They wore surcoatsemblazoned with their countries' coats of arms, and carried pikes andshields; and with the permission of the King and Queen they engaged in aspirited tournament, making their hobbies prance about with fiery zeal,and dealing resounding blows on their pasteboard armour. But theirinternal rivalries were soon put an end to by the entrance of a commonenemy--a huge and terrific green dragon, a scaly monster with horriblejaws and businesslike talons with which it suggestively clawed the air.It immediately made for its opponents, and there followed a grand sceneof dodging, scuffling, and pursuing before the fabulous beast wasfinally subdued and bound in chains.

  A jester in motley costume, with hood and bauble, was a special featureof the mummers, and provided immense fun as he made his jokes and pliedhis comic antics upon the other characters, belabouring John Bull withhis bladder, rallying the doctor on the virtues of his pills, andtripping up the constable with the easy mirth of the clown in anold-fashioned pantomime. Quite out of breath with their violentexertions, the various champions ranged themselves on the steps of thethrone, to give the audience the pleasure of beholding them during theperformance of the next item on the programme.

  Marston Grove School was in no way behind the others. To make a variety,it had provided a series of "Songs in Character", mostly chosen fromnursery rhymes. "Where are you going to, my pretty maid?" was acted withlifelike coyness by a charming country wench swinging her milk can; Jackand Jill came together, bearing their pail between them; little MissMuffet fled in a panic from the onslaught of a gigantic spider; sixpretty innocents danced round a mulberry bush; Bo-Peep lamented the lossof her sheep; and Wee Willie Winkie stole about in his night-gown,blowing sand into the eyes of his companions. The costumes werecharming, and each little scene was perfect in itself.

  The Anglo-German, the last on the programme, had arranged a totallydifferent display as a final effect. A large grandfather's clock stoodat the back of the platform, and had before appeared only a part of thestage scenery. The space in front of this was now cleared, and after anappropriate speech from the King, and a song from the mummers, allwaited with close attention while the chimes rang out and the hour wastolled. As the last stroke died away, the door of the clock-case opened,and out trooped, one after another, a procession of wonderfulpersonages. First came old Father Time, with scythe and hour-glass, andbehind him the months of the year, from snowy January to rosy June,corn-crowned October and holly-decked December. Then followed many awell-known nursery character--Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots,Bluebeard, Aladdin, Hop o' my Thumb, the Three Bears, Cinderella, Jackthe Giant Killer, Beauty and the Beast, Catskin, the Snow Queen,Rumpelstiltskin, Robinson Crusoe, Dick Whittington, and Goody Two-Shoes.

  Ranging themselves at the front of the stage, they performed a prettyseries of German action-songs, very appropriate to the season, andending in compliments to the audience. As a climax to the whole, FatherChristmas made his appearance, bearing in his arms the New Year (adarling three-year-old baby, borrowed for the occasion), and in a littlespeech thanked everybody for coming to the performance, and gave heartygood wishes to all for the coming holidays. With one final parade roundthe stage the pageant retired. For the last time the butterfliesflitted, the fairies tripped, the dragon roared, and the jester swunghis bladder; then amid a storm of clapping and cheering, headed byFather Time and with Father Christmas at the rear, the long processionwound itself off the platform and behind the scenes, to theaccompaniment of sprightly music from the band.

  "Your orchestra really was a great addition, Mildred," said Mrs. Grahamthat evening. "It kept everybody together, and made the whole affairsound most gay."

  "I'm glad you say so! I think it was worth the trouble. We had aglorious afternoon, and every one of the six schools enjoyed itequally," said Mildred. "Do you know what we did in the dressing-roomafterwards? We all joined hands in one big circle and sang 'Auld langsyne', and shouted 'Hip, hip, hip, hooray!' for the Alliance."