Strangers at the Abbey

by Elsie J. Oxenham

  “She did not! She did her best to escape from school. But Joan was too much for her.”

  “She has been doing better at school lately,” Joan said. “And she has a big part in the end-of-term play. She is Jaques in As You Like It; that has pleased her very much. I believe she is really good.”

  “She’ll love that. But if she goes to the Continent with us——” Belle began, looking troubled.

  “Oh, you can’t take her away till the play is over!” Joy exclaimed.

  Belle looked at her husband doubtfully.

  “Young Rykie will have to choose between the play and the trip,” he said. “Our dates are fixed.”

  “She’ll go with you; who wouldn’t? She’ll chuck up the play and let the school down,” Joy groaned. “I wish you had waited three weeks longer before getting married, Isabella Van Toll!”

  Belle looked troubled. “I’ll be sorry about the play. But we do want Rykie with us.”

  “She ought to be with us now, having tea with you,” Joan said. “I’ll run up and tell her that you don’t know that story yet and that no one will say anything. It’s horrid for her not to be here for your first meal with us.”

  “I’ll come with you!” Belle sprang up. “Yes, please! I’ll have more tea presently. I’d like to reassure the kid. She can’t have done anything worth breaking her heart over, since you have obviously forgiven her.”

  “That will be kind, my dear.” Mrs. Shirley approved of her. “Our circle ought to be complete.”

  Together Joan and Belle went to the house, and Joan led the way up to Rykie’s room. They found Jen sitting on the bed, patting Rykie’s shoulder as she had seen Joan do, and telling her again and again that things would be all right and that Belle was too jolly to be very angry.

  “She may be a bit upset, but she’ll be nice about it,” she was saying as the door opened. “Oh, Joan! Rykie wants to have tea with Belle—with Mrs. Van Toll, I suppose I ought to say! But she daren’t go down, so she says she won’t have any. And I want my tea,” she added ruefully.

  “You poor, loyal, hungry kiddy!” Belle cried. “You’re both coming to have tea with us right now. And—I say! Forget Mrs. Van Toll! I’m just Belle to everybody here.”

  “But I’m not a relation!” Jen argued.

  Belle was bending over Rykie. “Come along, kiddy! I don’t know yet what it’s all about, but whatever it is I won’t eat you. Terry and I can’t stay long; we’re missing you, and we can’t afford to waste our visit. Come and sit by me and have your tea. I promise faithfully I won’t ask any questions.”

  Rykie sprang up and hugged her. “Belle, I was a perfect beast, and an idiot!”

  “Were you? That’s a pity. But I guess Joan has said it’s all right now, so I shall have to do the same. Come on! I want my tea. And so does your jolly pal.”

  “I’m Jen. It’s not much of a name, is it?” Jen handed a damp sponge to Rykie. “Get up and wash your face! You’ll feel tons better.”

  Very subdued, Rykie clung to her sister’s hand, and sat at her feet while Joy and Terry supplied her with tea and waited on Belle and hungry Jen. Terry’s eyes were amused, but he asked no questions.

  It seemed probable—even certain—to Belle that the trouble had been concerned with school. Nothing serious could have happened in this peaceful place! So she kept off the subject of the play and talked gaily of Hollywood, of journeys by plane, and of the new friends she had met.

  But the state of tension could not last. As soon as tea was over Joan rose. “I’d like to show you two the Abbey.”

  “Are you staying with us? We can put you up,” Joy said.

  Belle’s eyes swept round the garden and the beautiful old house. “That’s lovely of you! How we’d like to stay! We’ll come back presently, if you’ll really have us. But Terry has to see someone early to-morrow, so we’ll go back to town to-night, if you don’t mind. We only came to have a look at Rykie, and to let you see Terry and to tell you our plans.”

  “And to introduce Mrs. Isabella Van Toll!” Joy grinned. “Then you’d better run along with Joan. She’d never forgive you if you didn’t see the Abbey.”

  Following Joan, the two crossed the lawn to the shrubbery path. Rykie started to follow, then sank down on her rug again. “Joan’s going to tell her. Will she hate me, Jen?”

  “I should say not! She’s much too jolly,” Jen said stoutly. “She’ll have to know, so the sooner the better. You stay here with me.”

  “Come and carry cups and things!” Joy commanded. “Then we’ll wash up. It’s Sunday, and Susie Spindle must have her evening out.” And she kept the girls busy for the next difficult quarter of an hour.

  “Oh!” said Terry Van Toll, and gazed up at the refectory windows from the Abbot’s garden. “But how perfect!”

  “This way.” Joan led them down the dark tresaunt passage to the sunlit garth, surrounded by old grey walls, arched doorways and empty windows.

  “Glory! What a setting for a picture!” gasped the cinema expert. “Black-robed monks——”

  “White-robed! With black hoods hiding their faces. They were silent monks. But the Abbey isn’t going into films.” Joan left him gazing, fetched cushions, and spread them on the broken cloister steps. “Sit here, Belle, and read the letter. I’ll take Mr. Van Toll to see the refectory and the monks’ working and sleeping places.”

  From the lancet windows of the dormitory they looked down on the garth and saw Belle sitting on her cushions, the letter lying at her feet, her eyes gazing at the wide refectory windows.

  “Let’s go to her,” Joan said. “She knows the story now. She’ll want to talk to Rykie.”

  Belle was already on her feet as they reached her. “Rykie—I must go to her! Oh, Joan, I’m so sorry! But the poor kid—it was awful of her, but she’s breaking her heart about it now. Which is the way back? I love this marvellous old place, but I can’t look at it till I’ve seen her.”

  “Stay here with your husband and tell him the story. I’ll send Rykie to you,” Joan said quietly.

  “Oh, Terry, that poor kiddy! And it was really my fault, as she says, for asking her to come without making it possible for her. But I never thought—oh, Terry!”

  As she thrust the letter into his hand, there came a shout, and Rykie and Jen raced from the tresaunt to the garth.

  “Belle—oh, Belle! Wasn’t I horrible?” Rykie gasped.

  Belle held out her arms, and she rushed into them and sobbed out her trouble on her sister’s shoulder.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  A TRIP TO PARIS

  “I couldn’t stop her,” Jen explained to Joan. “We were washing up with Joy, when she suddenly flung down her towel and rushed off, saying she couldn’t bear it any longer. I thought I’d better come after her.”

  “Suppose you take Mr. Van Toll to see the tunnels.” Joan fetched torches from the little room in which the cushions were kept. “You’re quite as good a guide as I am. But I shall come too. Belle and Rykie want to be left alone for a few minutes.”

  Terry handed the letter back to Belle, his face sober. “Sorry, little sister! Belle and I were wrapped up in ourselves and I’m afraid we were thoughtless. We shouldn’t have spoken of your coming without telling you how to manage it. And your brother made things worse for you.”

  “Belle, have you read it all? Do you know what they did for Angus?” Rykie whispered. “Belle, after what he’d done! Weren’t they terribly kind?”

  “Come and see our underground passages!” Joan commanded Terry. “They really will thrill you. Leave these two to talk for a time.”

  Terry’s delight in the tunnels and the gate-house, and the awed reverence with which he inspected the Saxon crypt, the hermit’s well, and the Abbot Michael’s tomb, satisfied even Jen.

  “He never said ‘quaint’ once,” she whispered to Joan.

  “Belle must see all this,” he exclaimed again and again.

  “We’ll fetch her, and we’ll show you both t
he rest of the Abbey,” Joan agreed. “Then we must go back to Mother. She’ll be wondering if everything is all right.”

  Mrs. Shirley’s mind was set at rest when she saw Rykie clinging to her sister’s arm.

  “Is everybody happy now? Then come and talk over your plans, my dear.”

  Belle, Terry and Joan sat beside her, with Joy and Jen squatting on the rugs at their feet. Rykie, invited to join them, shook her head and stood by Belle’s chair, a strained look on her face.

  “I’ve been telling Rykie that we start for France at the end of this week,” Belle said gravely. “We shall go to Paris and then perhaps to Brussels. Terry has bought the car especially for this trip, so that we can tour in comfort, but he’ll sell it again when we go back to the States; he has his own car there, of course. Rykie can come with us, if she likes. I’m sure, in the circumstances, her school will let her off the exams, as she won’t be going back next term. But——”

  “But there’s the play!” Rykie broke out. She stared at Joan. “You’d feel I’d let you down dreadfully, if I went, wouldn’t you?”

  “Must stand by your contracts, little sister,” said Terry.

  “I should feel that,” Joan admitted. “I’m sorry about Paris and Brussels, but I’d hate to have you let us down, Rykie.”

  “It’s your old school, and they know I’m your cousin.” Rykie’s voice shook. “I suppose you’d feel very bad?”

  “I’d be terribly ashamed of you.”

  “Then I won’t do it,” Rykie cried. “I’ll give up the trip to Paris and stick to the play, rather than upset you, after—after you’ve been so kind.”

  “That’s brave,” Joan said quietly. “Thank you, Rykie.”

  “Oh, good for you!” Jen leapt up with one of her excited shouts. “I knew you wouldn’t let us down! Belle, she really is marvellous as Jaques; couldn’t you be there to see her?”

  “But if I could, couldn’t she come to France and be back for the performance?” Belle began. “I did want us to go together for our first visit!”

  A spark of hope lit up Rykie’s eyes. But it died at once. “There are last rehearsals, and especially the dress rehearsal. They wouldn’t let me off.”

  “Couldn’t be done,” said Terry. “If she’s going to be Jaques, she must be the best Jaques that school has ever seen. As to being at the show, that will need some thinking about. We’ll do it, if we can, but I doubt if it will be possible. Sister Rykie, you’ve chosen the right way; I salute you! Good luck to Jaques! You can have a trip to Paris later on.”

  Rykie coloured. “I said I’d do anything in the world that would please Joan. I didn’t think it would mean losing Paris with Belle, but I won’t go back on it.”

  “You stick to that,” Joy said, from her lowly seat on the rug. “Joan and I could never hold up our heads at school again, if you left them in the lurch at the last moment.”

  “I won’t do it,” Rykie said fervently. “I’ll make a success of Jaques, and then you’ll be glad I’m your cousin, won’t you?”

  “Oh, you’re not my cousin!”

  “I looked at Joan,” Rykie retorted.

  “I know you’ll make us proud. But I’m proud already, because you’re going to keep your promise,” Joan assured her.

  Before the Van Tolls drove away, Terry begged for a few words alone with Joan. She led him, by his wish, back to the Abbey, and they stood in the refectory beside the case of jewels.

  “These are very fine,” he said. “I hate to think the set has been broken. Miss Joan, I suppose you wouldn’t tell me who bought your ruby, so that I—I’d like to try——” He stumbled.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know,” Joan said gravely. “Our lawyer might be able to tell us; it was sold through him. But I couldn’t let you do that. It’s a kind thought, but we’re glad to have helped Angus, and the matter is ended now.”

  “The stones ought to be kept all together,” he urged. “I might be able to trace it and get it back for you.”

  “No,” Joan said, her tone final. “Thank you very much. I’ll tell Joy, but I know what she will say. We’ll leave matters as they are. But thank you for the very kind thought.”

  “Are they safe here?”

  “Oh, yes! No one can get in. But we think perhaps we’ll take them to the house. There’s really no need for tourists to see Lady Jehane’s jewels.”

  “I should do that,” he said, as they left the Abbey together.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  THRILLS FOR JEN

  Jen came in from school on Monday bubbling over with excitement.

  “Joan! Joy! Such a thrill! Gillian’s mother—Gillian is Orlando, and her mother’s Mrs. Morton-Brown, and they have that huge house down by the river, with the lovely gardens, Home House. She’s offered her garden for the Hospital Fête, and the Head wants it to be before the end of term, so that we can all be there. And Miss Macey has bagged As You Like It to be the biggest item on the programme! She saw the rehearsal on Saturday and evidently she was terrifically pleased. The school performance will be a final dress rehearsal; the real thing will be much more important than we thought. And—such fun, Joy! As Mirry will be away on her honeymoon, and Marguerite will be still in France, and the President goes to Ceylon next week, you’ll have to lead the procession!”

  “Procession? What is the child talking about?” Joy demanded, startled.

  “Oh, Joy! You know there’s always a procession of Queens, and some dances, at the fête. The dancing will be before tea and the play afterwards, so Nesta and Beetle will have plenty of time to change into Rosalind and Audrey. And Rykie will see you two being Queens, after all.”

  “I don’t mind leading the procession!” Joy’s chin went up. “I can do it quite as well as Mirry. I’ve done it before, when I was crowned, let me remind you! It will be a very little one; only four Queens. But Nesta’s the reigning Queen; she ought to lead. Outsiders will think I’m still at school.”

  “Nobody could possibly think you are still at school. And Nesta has quite enough on her mind, as Rosalind,” Joan remarked. “I expect Rykie will think it’s very funny, but she’ll have to see you and me being Queens for once.”

  “Why don’t you go first, instead of Joy?” Rykie’s whole-hearted adoration was given to Joan, to the intense though secret amusement of both Joan and Joy.

  “Because I’m a year younger, as Queen. Joy was the Fourth Queen; I was the Fifth.”

  “Will you dress up?”

  “Oh, my dear kid, yes!” Joy assured her. “Crowns and trains and bouquets! We look perfectly beautiful!”

  “Suppose we say quite impressive?” Joan laughed.

  “I hope Belle and Terry will be there,” Rykie observed. “I’d like them to see you.”

  “I’d like them to see the dancing,” Joan said. “Terry would want to put it on the films at once. Will the play be all right in a garden? It’s the proper setting, but will the girls’ voices carry?”

  “I don’t know. I’m worried about some of them,” Rykie admitted. “Their voices are all right, but they don’t trouble to speak out.”

  “Miss Cameron will see to that, when she knows it’s to be out of doors,” Joy remarked. “Are you sure about yourself?”

  Rykie looked at her in simple surprise. “You’ll be able to hear me all right.”

  Joy gave a grunt of amusement. “Hope so! You’re sure of yourself and that’s something.”

  Two days later Jen rushed in to tea, once more filled with wild excitement.

  “Joan! Joy! Joan, what do you think? Miss Macey watched my children yesterday, and she’d like them to do three singing-games at the fête, as a break between the country-dances! My babes, you know—at the fête, Joan! And one game is to be ‘Roman Soldiers,’ because she saw it and she’s sure the audience will love it!”

  “Of course they’ll love it; anybody would,” Joan said, laughing. “It’s one of the very best to watch. I am so glad, Jen!”

  “Some of
the Sixth looked on one day, and they simply shrieked when we did ‘Now we’ve only got one leg’!” Jen said breathlessly.

  “I’m sure they did! Your babies do it beautifully. It will be a real help to the fête.”

  “Do you think the audience will laugh?”

  “I should think they’ll yell, if you all hobble about with one leg and one arm and one eye,” Joy said. “You’ll be the star turn. The play will fade right out. The Head has really shown good sense this time.”

  “I’m a wee bit scared,” Jen admitted.

  “Not you!” Joan said bracingly. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. People always like seeing babies take part. What other games will you choose?”

  “ ‘Old Roger’; we love that. Which other one?”

  “ ‘Old Roger’ is good; it has quite a story. What about ‘Oats and Beans and Barley Grow’? It’s different from the other two, and it has the marriage verse, which will amuse people.”

  “It’s a nice tune,” Jen agreed. “And if they want any more there’s ‘There Came Three Dukes A-Riding.’ We’ll practise those, and then we’ll see what happens.”

  “Will the people know you’ve taught the kids?” Rykie asked.

  “I don’t know; I shouldn’t think so. What does it matter?”

  “You’ll be jolly important.”

  “I don’t care,” Jen retorted. “And anyway, that’s not the point!” And for the next few days she worked with her team at every opportunity.

  After the final rehearsal of the play for the whole school, to which the elder girls were invited, even Joy agreed with Rykie. Her voice rang out clearly in the big hall, and there was no doubt it would carry in the garden.

  “She’s jolly good,” Joy murmured. “She knows what she’s talking about; quite natural, and as clear and certain as she can be.”

  “I hope the Van Tolls will come back in time for Tuesday’s show,” Joan said. “Rykie couldn’t be better. Belle would be proud of her.”

  “Aileen could never have done it like this.”