The Jolliest School of All

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER X

  The School Carnival

  The Camellia Buds considered that they possessed a real grievance. Thedifference between an animated toy-shop and waxworks was so slight as tobe immaterial. In both the figures would require to be wound up, afterwhich they would perform various antics. The idea had certainlyoriginated with Peachy, and the Starry Circle had merely copied it.Their stunt was in fact a shameless plagiarism.

  "Why couldn't they have joined with us and we'd have done the toy-shopall together?" demanded Agnes crossly.

  "Oh, I don't know. It's just their perversity. It'll look so stupid tohave two separate shows. Whichever comes last will seem so stale afterthe other."

  "Why, of course, ours will come first! It _must_!"

  "There'll be a fight for it."

  "We can't squabble at the carnival with Miss Rodgers and Miss Morleylooking on. We'd better have our battle beforehand and get it over."

  "Tell the Stars we mean to have first innings?"

  "They'll never agree!"

  "Look here, it's no use coming to open war with them. I vote we trydiplomacy. Has anybody thought of the programs yet?"

  "I heard the seniors groaning over having to paint covers for them."

  "Well, let's go to them privately and volunteer to help. Then we shallhave the opportunity of telling them that the Transition stunt is to bein two divisions, and that Part I will be taken by ourselves."

  "Quite a brain-throb!"

  "Renie, I'm beginning to admire you!"

  "Peachy can paint beautifully!"

  "So can Joan and Esther. Shall I go and say we offer to do six programs?Right-o! Come with me, Peachy. You're our champion wheedler."

  The two delegates started at once on their diplomatic mission. Theyfelt indeed that there was no time to be lost. They found several of theprefects collected in Rachel's bedroom, where possibly they were havinga little private candy party, for there were sounds of a rustling ofpaper and a shutting of drawers before they were granted permission toenter the precincts. The Transition girls always envied the seniors'rooms. These were on the seaward side of the house, and their balconyhad glorious views over the bay and the surrounding coast. Thedecorations were very tasteful. The walls were gray, with a stenciledfrieze of hydrangeas, and there were soft-shaded Indian rugs on thepolished wood floor. Rachel and her roommates had provided their ownluxuries in the way of pretty cushions, table-covers, pictures, andflower-vases, and the general effect was of harmonious comfort.

  "Well? What can I do for you?" inquired the head girl briefly, as Stellaadmitted the diplomats.

  It was not a very encouraging reception. Possibly the prefects wereannoyed at being disturbed in the midst of what they were doing.

  Peachy, however, ignored Rachel's tone, and putting on her most winningsmile inquired:

  "We wonder if you're painting any program covers for the carnival?"

  Rachel lolled back in her chair and retied the bow that terminated herlong dark pigtail.

  "Perhaps we are and perhaps we aren't," was her somewhat cryptic reply.

  "The matter's in our hands entirely, of course," cooed Sybil, rocking toand fro on a cane _sedia_.

  "I know," put in Irene, trying to be tactful. "We only thought thatperhaps you might care to have a little help. Some of us would be readyto paint a few if you like."

  This put a different complexion on the case. The seniors, alwaysbristling for their privileges, resented idle curiosity--on the part ofthe Transition. But an offer of help was another matter.

  "There certainly is a great number to be done," said Erica, with abeseeching look at Rachel.

  The head girl thawed a little.

  "Well, we shouldn't mind your taking a few off our hands," she conceded."Half a dozen? Sybil, will you get those programs out of my drawer? Putanything you like on them--flowers, birds, figures, or landscapes. I'lllend you this to copy the printing from. Let me have them by Thursday ifyou can."

  Rachel glanced meaningly at the door, as if she considered the interviewmight now with decency come to an end. Neither Peachy nor Irene took thehint, however. The main object of their mission had not yet beenbroached.

  "You've not written the program inside yet," commented Peachy, openingone of the covers.

  "We'll do that later."

  "Shall we copy some for you?"

  "Oh, no, thanks!"

  Then Irene, growing desperate, blurted out what they had really come tosay.

  "The Transition stunt is to be in two parts this time. Bertha and Mabelare arranging one, and Peachy is getting up another. Do you mind puttingours down to come first?"

  "Sorry, but I'm afraid it can't be done," yawned Rachel. "Bertha hasbeen up and bagged first innings. I wrote it down, didn't I, Stella?Where's that list? Yes, here we are. The juniors are to come first,because Miss Morgan has trained them and she thinks they'll get thefidgets if they wait, and it's better to have their performance over.Then, of course, comes our stunt, and then the Transition."

  "Could we possibly have our half of the Transition stunt before yours?It would make more variety."

  "Most certainly not!"

  Rachel's brow was puckered in a frown, and Sybil, from the depths of therocking-chair, murmured, "Cheek!"

  "We've got the program all fixed up, and we're not going to change itfor anybody," chirped Erica.

  "Any one who isn't satisfied needn't act," endorsed Rachel, with such avery decided glance at the door that the two delegates could no longerobtrude their presence, and were obliged to beat an unwilling retreat.

  They walked along the passage very dissatisfied with the result of theirmission.

  "We've got all the fag of painting these wretched programs, and gainednothing at all," groused Irene.

  "They might have told us first about Bertha. Isn't she an absoluteJacob--supplanting us like this?"

  "Those seniors are _most_ unsympathetic. I want to go back and tellRachel what I think of her."

  "She'd only say, 'How foreign' if you got excited. And it wouldn't be anatom of use either."

  "They've taken the best place in the program for their stunt."

  "Trust the prefects to do that."

  "What's to be done about it?"

  "It will need some thinking over."

  Peachy's agile brains were rarely to be beaten. She slept upon theproblem, and informed her friends afterwards that inspiration came toher at exactly 3 a.m.

  "I know, because I heard the convent clock strike. I sat up in bed andlaughed. I wonder I didn't wake the dormitory, but nobody stirred afinger. Listen, and I'll explain. The situation at present is this:Bertha and her Starry Circle have cribbaged our idea and forestalled uson the program, and are going to act their wretched waxworks first, andare congratulating themselves that their piece will take the shine outof ours."

  "So it will, I'm afraid. The audience will have sat through the juniors'play, the seniors' stunt, and the waxworks. They'll be bored stiff tosee our toy-shop straight away afterwards."

  "Well, they _shan't_ see it. That's my idea. Let's drop the toy-shop anddo something quite different."

  "Drop our toy-shop! O-o-h!"

  "We'll do it some other time. But you see we've one advantage on theprogram at any rate. We come last."

  "That's what we're raving against."

  "I know! But if you think of it, it's a great opportunity. Suppose wedo a splendid finishing tableau instead of animated toys? It would makea magnificent wind-up, and would be a surprise for everybody. Think ofthe amazement of the Starry Circle, when they're expecting us to do apale copy of their own stunt, to see us posed as a tableau, andeverybody clapping the roof off."

  "It would be rather sporty."

  "Only I did so want to dress up as a kangaroo," mourned Joan dolefully.

  "You shall be Australia instead, and you'll look far nicer. I'llguarantee to make you ever so pretty. It's to be an Anglo-Americanpageant, to symbolize the school. We'll have Columbia and Britannia an
dall her colonies, in a sort of _entente cordiale_. You'll see it willplease Miss Morley and Miss Rodgers no end. That Starry Circle will bejust _aching_ with envy. They'll wish they'd been in it. It willabsolutely take the wind out of their sails and lay them flat."

  "Peachy Proctor, there's a spice of genius in your composition," saidJess admiringly. "I could never have thought of that myself."

  "Oh, fiddlesticks! Glad you approve though. Now what we've got to do isto hustle up and get busy over costumes. They'll take some contriving.Hide all your best things away from the Stars, or they'll becommandeering them. Mabel has no conscience. And be careful that not theleast teeny-weeny hint leaks out. Let's talk openly about the toy-shop,and pretend we're still going on practicing for it. It will be all thebigger sell for them when they find out."

  The Camellia Buds, having undertaken to paint six program covers, noblydid their duty and finished them in the prescribed time. Lorna offeredto take them to Rachel's room, and met with quite a gracious receptionfrom the head girl. So much so that she ventured to put forward asuggestion of her own.

  "May Part I of the Transition stunt have a time limit?" she asked. "Wewant to have some idea when we're to come on."

  "Certainly," agreed Rachel. "We can't let Part I go on _ad infinitum_. Ihadn't thought of that. I shall tell Bertha she may have ten minutes andno longer. I shall ring the curtain bell if she exceeds. I see yourpoint entirely. It's only fair."

  "I was afraid if it was getting near tea-time the audience mightn't wantto stay."

  "Exactly. I'll take care your stunt isn't crowded out. Trust that to me.I'm not head girl here for nothing. And I'm not entirely blind either.My advice is to look after yourselves."

  Lorna returned to the Camellia Buds feeling she had considerably scoredover the Stars. Her previous acquaintance with school theatricals hadtaught her that audiences are human, that even teachers will not sitthrough too lengthy a performance, and that the lure of tea cannot beresisted by those who are accustomed to drink it daily at 4 p.m. Astheir own dormitory was half in possession of the enemy, Irene and Lornaadjourned to Peachy's bedroom to make preparations for their costumes,and held cosy sewing-bees in company with Delia, Jess, Mary, and anyother chums who were able to join them. They kept their propertiessafely locked up inside one of the wardrobes in No. 13, and Peachy worethe key tied under her skirt with a piece of ribbon.

  "Because you can't trust that sneaking Mabel not to come in and pokeabout," she explained grimly. "I know she wants my dressing-gown."

  "We shall have to gallop with our costumes if we're to make anything ofa show," said Sheila, hastily running seams in a creation of scarlet andblue, destined to clothe Canada.

  "I know, but we'll wear them even if they've got raw edges and arefastened together with pins. I don't suppose the audience will be nearenough to see the stitches. I hope not, at any rate. Mine are absolutecats' cradles."

  By the day of the festival, however, the Camellia Buds were exactlyready. They had kept their secret strictly, and flattered themselvesthat their rivals the Stars were in complete ignorance of their changeof program. The acting was to be in the gymnasium, not in the garden,for a sirocco wind was blowing and the overcast sky promised rain. Itwas a pity, for the pergola would have made such a beautiful background,and some enthusiasts even petitioned Miss Morley to keep to her originalplan.

  "And have you all wet through, and the guests shivering with cold?" shereplied. "No, indeed! Be thankful we have such a large room as the gymto act in. Otherwise the fete would have been put off altogether."

  The girls were allowed, however, to decorate the platform with flowers,and to hang up Chinese lanterns so as to give a festive appearance tothe scene. The performers donned their costumes in good time, but worewaterproofs over them to conceal them. They wished to witness eachother's stunts, yet did not want to reveal their own secrets too soon.There was quite a good audience assembled in the gymnasium. Miss Rodgersand Miss Morley had sent out many invitations, and some parents andfriends had come over from Naples to combine a peep at the celebratedFossato festival with a visit to the school. Irene's cup of joy was fullwhen, to her utter amazement, she saw her own father, mother, andbrother walk into the room.

  "Well! You _are_ a surprise package," she exclaimed, greeting themgleefully. "Why didn't you write and tell me you were coming?"

  "We didn't know ourselves," said Vincent. "We never thought we couldmanage to get off, and we didn't want to disappoint you. When does yourstunt come on?"

  "Not till the end, so I can sit with you most of the time. Oh! It'ssimply too good to have you all turn up like this. Mother darling,there's a chair for you here, and I'll be in the middle between you andDaddy."

  The entertainment began with a fairy play acted by the juniors. Theylooked very pretty in their gauzy garments, and little Desiree, in agossamer robe of elfin green, made an attractive queen, so dainty andethereal that the audience almost expected to see through her. "What asweet child!" was the general comment, as she tripped back in responseto a storm of clapping, to give an encore to her "Moonbeam Song."

  The juniors retired, having covered themselves with glory, greatly tothe satisfaction of Miss Morgan, who had spent much time in trainingthem for their performance.

  It was now the turn of the seniors. They had got up an operetta ofRobin Hood, and appeared clad in the orthodox foresters' costume ofLincoln green, with bows, arrows, and quivers. Stella, as Maid Marian,and Phyllis, as the Curtle Friar, were especial successes; while WillScarlett and Little John gave a noble display of fencing withquarter-staves, a part of the program which they had practiced insecrecy, under the instruction of the gymnastic mistress, and nowpresented as a complete surprise to the school. Their acting was sospirited that everybody was quite sorry when the short piece was ended,and would have liked certain scenes repeated, had not Miss Morleypointed to her watch and shaken her head emphatically to forbid furtherencores. Past experience had warned her not to allow one section of theschool to monopolize an undue share of the time to the exclusion ofothers.

  "It's the turn of the Transition now," she said. "We shall only justwork through our program by half past four."

  Even the Camellia Buds, though they watched with jaundiced eyes, couldnot deny that the members of the Starry Circle managed their waxworksvery creditably. Elsie indeed, as Madame de Pompadour, was notconvincing, but Mabel made a distinguished Sir Walter Raleigh, andBertha surpassed herself as Queen Elizabeth. The rival sorority, afterwitnessing this triumph, was more and more thankful to have abandonedthe idea of acting an animated toy-shop. It would certainly have seemedtame to continue on the same lines as the prior performance. As it wasthey chuckled with satisfaction behind the curtain, while they arrangedthemselves for the tableau.

  "I guess it will make them sit up," purred Peachy, setting a curlstraight with the aid of her pocket-mirror. "It will be frightfully hardto keep still, for I shall just want to stare round and see their faces,but don't alarm yourselves. I promise not to give so much as a blink. Iwouldn't disgrace our stunt for the world. I'll be a rigid marble statuetill the curtain drops."

  "Sh! sh! Don't chatter so much," warned Jess. "Aren't you ready yet?Miss Morley's getting impatient."

  "It's nearly half past four, and I expect everybody is longing fortea," put in Irene.

  "They'll have to wait for it till we've done our stunt. We're not goingto be left out," said Peachy, hurriedly taking her pose.

  The allegorical scene in which the girls were grouped presented a prettypicture as the curtain rose.

  In the center Agnes and Delia, dressed as Britannia and Columbia,supported the Union Jack and the Stars and Strips together with a bunchof camellias as a delicate compliment to the school; Jess, in plaid andtam-o'-shanter, stood for her native Scotland; Peachy, with fringedleather leggings and cowboy's hat, was a ranch-girl; Joan in a somewhatsimilar costume represented "the bush" in Australia; Sheila in a whitecoat trimmed plentifully with cotton wool made a pretty Canada; Irene
was an Irish colleen; Mary, with bunches of mimosa, typified SouthAfrica; and Esther, gorgeous in Oriental drapery and numerous necklaces,was an Indian princess. But perhaps the most successful costume of allwas Lorna's. She had been chosen to take the character of New Zealand,and was dressed in a pale yellow wrapper decorated with beautiful spraysof tinted leaves. Round her head was a garland of orange blossoms, andin her arms she held great branches of oranges and lemons, to typify thefruits of the country she was impersonating. With Lorna's dark eyes andhair the effect was most striking. She kept her pose admirably, scarcelyblinking an eyelid, though Mary palpably moved, and even Joan was guiltyof a smile. The audience, immensely surprised and pleased with thetableau, clapped enthusiastically. It was felt to be a very fittingfinish to the festival.

  "You kept your secret well, girls," said Miss Morley, as shecongratulated them afterwards. "I'm sure nobody had the least hint. Itwas charmingly thought out and arranged. Come along now and have sometea. It has really been a most successful afternoon."

  Audience and performers, the latter in all the glory of their prettycostumes, mingled together now for conversation and tea-drinking. Irenequickly joined her family, and had much to say to them, and manyquestions to ask about their doings in Naples.

  "I say, Renie," whispered Vincent, suddenly interrupting her, "tell mewho's that lovely girl? She looked the best in the whole of yourtableau."

  Irene followed his glance to the yellow-clad figure handing the teacupswhich Miss Morley was filling.

  "That's Lorna. One of my best chums. Yes, that costume suits her. I wantto bring her to speak to Mother. Yes, Lorna, you _must_ come. I simplyshan't let you run away. Mummie darling, this is Lorna. We roomtogether, you know."

  Lorna, dragged forward much against her will to be introduced, stoodshy and blushing, but her heightened color and evident confusion addedto her attraction, and several heads were turned to glance at her amongthe guests in that quarter of the room. It was not until this occasionof the carnival that any one at the Villa Camellia had recognized Lornaas a budding beauty.

  "You ought always to wear yellow," Peachy said to her afterwards. "It'squite your color. By the by, who chooses your clothes for you?"

  "Miss Rodgers generally takes me to Naples and buys them."

  "She's no taste. Her ideas run to a gym suit and a school panama andnothing beyond. I'll give you a tip. Next time you need an evening dressor a Sunday jumper, engineer it so Miss Morley does the shopping. She'llget you something pretty, I'll guarantee. She chose that blue _crepe dechine_ for Delia. Don't forget. And don't look so fearfully surprised.If you haven't thought about your clothes before it's time you did. Mydear, you'll pay dressing. Come close and I'll whisper to you: some ofthose Stars are just too jealous of you for words. I'm tickled to bits."