The Jolliest School of All

by Angela Brazil

  CHAPTER XII

  Tar and Feathers

  After the decided triumph of their Anglo-American tableau at thecarnival, the Camellia Buds held up their heads against their rivals,the Starry Circle. There was hot competition between the two sororities,each continually trying to "go one better" than the other. If the Starsheld a surreptitious candy party, the Buds, at the risk of detection byRachel or some other prefect, gave a dormitory stunt, throwing out hintsafterwards of the fun they had enjoyed. Both societies producedmanuscript magazines, which were read in strict privacy at theirmeetings, and contained pointed allusions to their enemies' failings. Noold-fashioned Whigs and Tories could have preserved a keener feud, thedivision between them waxing so serious that sometimes they could hardlysit peaceably side by side in class.

  "It's all Mabel," declared Jess. "Of course we had two sororities beforeshe came, but we weren't at daggers drawn like this. Mabel has spoiledBertha, and those two lead everything--the rest are simply sheep."

  "Humph! Pretty black sheep I should call them," snorted Peachy."They're siding with one another now to break rules. I don't mean candyparties or just fun of that kind, but sneaking things: they're cheatingabominably over their exercises, and cribbing each other's translationswholesale. I found them at it yesterday and told them what I thoughtabout them. Some of them ought to know better. Rosamonde and Monicaaren't really that sort."

  "They're bear-led by Bertha and Mabel. I lay all the blame on them. Itwould be a good thing for the Stars if that precious pair could becaught tripping and taught a lesson."

  "I dare say it would but it's not an easy business," said Peachygloomily. "Mabel Hughes is an extremely slippery young person, and shegenerally manages to keep out of open trouble. I don't suppose any ofthe teachers, or even the prefects, have the least idea what she'sreally like."

  "And we can't go sneaking and tell them, so we must try and engineer thematter for ourselves."

  It was undoubtedly true that with the advent of Mabel Hughes a new andunpleasant element had crept into the Transition. Such an influence isoften very subtle. Girls who a term ago would not have condescended toany form of cheating, accepted a lower standard of honor, and tried toexcuse themselves on the ground that they merely did the same as others.The fact that the Camellia Buds did not share in the dishonesty was setdown to priggishness on their part, Bertha and Mabel often making jokesat their expense. One day an unpleasant matter happened in the school.It was the fortnightly examination, and when the Transition took theirplaces at their desks, with sheets of foolscap and lists of questions,it was found that the inkwells of each member of the Camellia Buds hadbeen stuffed up with blotting-paper, so that it was impossible for themto dip their pens.

  Miss Bickford, who did not even know of the existence of the sororities,and therefore could not perceive the significance of the fact thatcertain girls were thus served while others went free, flew into atowering rage, and accused Peachy, whose reputation as a practical jokerwas not altogether undeserved, of having played the shameless "joke."Peachy, smarting with the injustice of the false charge, forgot herselfand retorted hotly.

  "Priscilla Proctor!" thundered Miss Bickford. "I have sometimes excusedhigh spirits, but I never allow impertinence and insubordination. Leavethe room instantly and go upstairs to the sanatorium. You'll remainthere until you apologize."

  A dead hush fell over the class as Peachy, with flaming eyes and chin inthe air, flounced out and slammed the door after her. It was an extrememeasure at the Villa Camellia to banish a girl to the sanatorium, apublic disgrace generally administered only by one of the principals,and scarcely ever resorted to by a form mistress.

  Miss Bickford, with a red spot on each cheek, glared at the row offaces in front of her.

  "Can any one give any information about this business?" she asked, thenas nobody replied she continued, "I'm disgusted with the whole set ofyou. I wish to say that I'm not as blind as you seem to think, and I'venoticed many points about your work that are, to say the least,extremely suspicious. I tell you once and for all _this must stop_! Iwon't have cheating, practical jokes, or impertinence in this form. Doyou all thoroughly understand me? Very well then, don't let this kind ofthing ever happen again. Empty those ink-pots out on to that tray, and,Winnie, fetch the ink-bottle out of the cupboard and refill them. Thissenseless proceeding has wasted a large part of your examination time,but I shall make no excuse for it. Your papers will be marked as if youhad begun at nine o'clock."

  With Miss Bickford on the war-path no one dared to say a single word,but at mid-morning interval the injured Camellia Buds snatched theirbiscuits, and fled to their grotto in the garden to hold an indignationmeeting. Here they talked fast and freely.

  "It's a jolly shame!"

  "_Most_ unfair!"

  "Poor old Peachy!"

  "Who did it?"

  "Why, Mabel, of course!"

  "Or Bertha?"

  "One or other of them!"

  "Miss Bickford has noticed their cheating!"

  "Yes, and puts it off on to us all!"

  "I like that!"

  "It's so gloriously fair, isn't it?"

  "She may say she's not blind, but she's an absolute cat!"

  "What's to be done about it?"

  "Those Stars won't ever tell!"

  "Trust them to screen themselves!"

  "Oh, it's _too_ bad!"

  Letting off steam, though comforting to their feelings, did not bringthem any nearer to a solution of their problem. The unpleasant factremained that the rival sorority had played an abominable trick, andthat the blame at present rested upon Peachy. To prove her innocencerequired the wisdom of Solomon.

  If they could have explained the whole situation to Miss Bickford shewould at once have seen for herself that the offender must be among theranks of the Stars, but such a proceeding would mean not only an entirebreach of schoolgirl etiquette, but a betrayal of their own secretsociety. It was not to be thought of for a moment.

  "Peachy'll have to climb down and apologize," decided Jess.

  "Peachy eat humble-pie? Oh, good-night!"

  "Well, she certainly was cheeky."

  "Small blame to her!"

  "It was very silly of her, though, to flare out."

  "She's in the fix of her life now, poor dear."

  "Can't we do anything to help her?"

  "I don't know. Let's think it over and hold another meeting thisafternoon."

  Peachy's place at the dinner-table was empty that day, and her meal wassent up to the sanatorium upon a tray. Miss Bickford had told her sideof the story to Miss Rodgers, who agreed that discipline must bemaintained, and ordered the detention of the prisoner until she showedsymptoms of repentance. Meanwhile Peachy, still in an utterly rebelliousframe of mind, stayed upstairs, determined not to give way. It was dull,undoubtedly, to be banished to solitary confinement, for there was noteven a book in the room to amuse her. Her own thoughts were her soleoccupation. She had a very fertile brain, however, and suddenly a mostbrilliant suggestion occurred to her. The sanatorium was on the topstory of the Villa Camellia, and by peeping from its window she couldcommand a view of the iron balcony that fronted the rooms below. Shecalculated that she was probably exactly above dormitory 10, occupied byJoan, Esther, Mary, and Agnes, and that these chums would later on beengaged there at their preparation. With a little ingenuity it should bepossible to communicate with them. She unfortunately had neither pencilnor paper with her, so could not write a note, but she took off herbrooch and fastened it to the end of a long piece of string, which byextra good luck happened to be in her pocket. When she judged that theright moment had arrived she lowered her signal so that it would tap onthe balcony. There was, of course, a certain amount of risk about theventure, for she might have miscalculated, and be dropping her tokeninto the midst of enemies instead of friends. Greatly to her relief,however, Agnes appeared through the French window, and, after examiningthe brooch with apparent surprise, glanced upwards and saw Peachy's
face. She gave a comprehensive smile, put her fingers on her lips forsilence, bolted into her dormitory, and returned with a package ofchocolate which she tied firmly to the end of the string, then waved herhand and darted back to her preparation.

  Peachy drew up her present, chuckling with delight. She felt almost likea captive of the Middle Ages, and was beginning to plan a romanticescape down an improvised rope ladder, when it occurred to her that shewould scarcely know what to do with her liberty if she regained it.

  "Botheration!" she mused. "Unless I square things up I can't walk in totea, and I can't haunt the garden like a wandering ghost, and I've nomoney to pay my passage on the steamer, so I can't go home to Naples.Nothing for it but to stay here, I suppose, and see who gets tired outfirst."

  When the Camellia Buds were able to meet together again at a secretconclave in the garden, Agnes announced the important fact of havingestablished communication with the prisoner. After an animateddiscussion they decided to write her a round-robin letter and set forththeir idea of the situation. Each composed a sentence in turn, and Lornaacted as scribe. It ran thus:

  _The Grotto._

  _To our noble friend and Camellia Bud_-- _Greeting!_

  _The Sorority desires to express a vote of sympathy for the very unpleasant occurrence that happened this morning._

  A. DALTON.

  _Those Stars are the meanest things on earth and want spifflicating._

  J. LUCAS.

  _We admire you for the magnificent stand you are making, but we don't see how you are going to keep it up._

  M. FERGUSSON.

  _It's frightfully slow without you._

  I. BEVERLEY.

  _We think you'll have to cave in and apologize._

  S. YONGE.

  _But, of course, not own up to something you never did._

  J. CAMERON.

  _We'll get even with those Stars to make up for this._

  L. CARSON.

  _Don't stick in the Sanatorium all night._

  E. CARTMELL.

  _It's no use getting too mad, old sport! Come right down and talk sense._

  D. WATTS.

  This united effusion was placed in an envelope, and carried by Agnes toher dormitory, where, after scouts in the garden had assured her thatthe coast was clear, she ventured on to the veranda, and gave a cooeewhich brought Peachy to the window above. The latter let down her stringand drew up the letter, which she pondered upon in private. She was wiseenough to accept the good advice, and when Miss Bickford appeared lateron she tendered her apologies. The teacher had possibly repented of herhasty accusation, for she did not refer to the matter of the inkwells,but merely required satisfaction for "insubordination." That being givenPeachy was once more free, though she could hardly consider herselfrestored to full favor.

  "I used to like Miss Bickford," she grumped, "but I really don't thinkshe's been fair over this. Why couldn't she ask each girl separatelywhat she knew about it?"

  "Much good that would have done. Bertha and Mabel wouldn't have told thetruth, and things would only have been in a worse muddle. We'll catchthose two sometime if we can only think of how to do it."

  "Ah! That's just the question."

  Even the Stars had been rather alarmed by Miss Bickford's firmattitude, and for the present they did not dare to cheat openly or toplay any more tricks upon the form. Stopped in this direction theirringleaders turned their attention to other matters. What was the natureof these it was Irene's lot one day to discover. She happened to bewalking in a rather quiet part of the garden, a portion reserved mostlyfor vegetables, which adjoined the great wall that separated the estatefrom the highroad. As she sauntered along, doing nothing in particular,she noticed Mabel, who was standing under an orange tree close to thewall. At the same moment, advancing towards them came the sound ofRachel's voice caroling an old English song. Now there is nothing in theleast wrong or unorthodox in standing under an orange tree, yet theinstant Irene glimpsed Mabel's face she was certain her schoolmate wasin that particular spot for some reason the reverse of good. She lookeduneasily at Irene, glanced in Rachel's direction, seemed to hesitate,and finally took to her heels and bolted away through the bushes. Nextminute, over the top of the high wall descended a little parcel. Itcaught in the branches of the orange tree, fell to the ground, androlled under a clump of cabbages. Irene took no notice, and sauntered onin the direction of Rachel, but when the prefect had passed out of sightshe returned, groped among the vegetables, found the parcel, and slippedit into her packet.

  "Miss Mabel Hughes, I believe I've caught you tripping this time," shechuckled. "I must send out the fiery cross and call an immediate meetingof the Camellia Buds."

  Among the secret practices of the sorority was a private signal only tobe used in times of urgent necessity. It had been suggested by JessCameron, who took the idea from _The Lady of the Lake_, in which poem agathering of the clan is proclaimed by a runner bearing a cross of woodcharred in the fire. Two burnt matches fastened together with threadserved the Camellia Buds for their token, and it was the strictest riteof their order that any one receiving this cryptic symbol mustimmediately leave whatever she happened to be doing and proceedpost-haste to the rendezvous.

  So promptly did the members of the society respond to the summons thatwithin ten minutes of the issue of the fiery cross they were assembledin the summer-house in a state of much expectancy. Irene explained how aparcel had been thrown over the wall, evidently for Mabel, whoundoubtedly had been standing waiting for it. It was not addressed toMabel, however, and as it bore no direction at all on the outside theCamellia Buds considered themselves justified in opening it. Itcontained a package of cheap chocolate, and a letter written in aforeign hand in rather bad English.

  _Beautiful Signorina_,

  _Make me the compliment to accept of me this few chocolate. I like the letter you gave to me on Sunday. I will again present myself near to the hotel to wait upon you as you pass. Accept I pray you the assurance of my profoundest respects._

  EMANUELE SUTONI.

  "Who is Emanuele Sutoni?" gasped Delia. "And what's he got to do withus?"

  "Nothing to do with us," frowned Jess. "But I'm afraid Mabel has beentrying to get up some silly love affair. If Miss Morley or Miss Rodgersfound this out she'd be expelled."

  "What are we going to do about it? Tell Rachel?"

  "I don't think so," pondered Jess. "You see, of course, we're perfectlycertain among ourselves that the letter was meant for Mabel, but itisn't addressed to her so there's no real evidence. Not enough toconvince Rachel. It would be better really to tell her we've found outand that she's got to stop it."

  "I know! Let's tar and feather her!" squealed Peachy excitedly. "That'sthe best way to frighten her. Of course, I don't mean _real_ tar, butsoap does just as well. She thoroughly deserves it. I vote we do itto-night. We'll hold an inquisition in her dormitory. It will be easyenough to square Elsie."

  Peachy's grim idea appealed to the Camellia Buds. They considered it wastime that a public demonstration was made against Mabel, whose generalbehavior was very unworthy of the traditions of the Villa Camellia. Theydecided to have their tribunal immediately after the lights were turnedout, while the prefects, who sat up later than the Transition, werestill downstairs, and the mistresses were having cocoa in Miss Rodgers'study. The affair was to be a surprise for Mabel, but as Elsie alsoslept in the same dormitory it was necessary to secure her cooeperation,in case she might give the alarm and summon a prefect. Elsie, however,proved an easily won ally.

  "I can't bear Mabel," she assured Irene. "You may do anything you liketo her as far as I'm concerned. I shall pr
etend to be asleep. Monica andRosamonde and Winnie can't stand her either. I don't mind telling youthat we're going to resign from the Starry Circle and found a newsorority of our own. It isn't good enough to be mixed up with such girlsas Mabel and Bertha."

  "I'm glad you've found them out," said Irene. "It was high time somebodymade a protest."

  The four occupants of dormitory 3 went to bed as usual that night, butas soon as the lights were out Lorna and Irene put on theirdressing-gowns and stockings, and slipped into the bathroom. Here theyhastily completed the details of their costumes in company with the restof the Camellia Buds, who had rallied for the occasion. Three minutesafterwards a strange procession entered dormitory 3. Ten dressing-gownedfigures, each wearing a black mask and holding a piece of lighted candlein her hand, startled the astonished eyes of Mabel Hughes, who sat up inbed to stare at them.

  "What's all this about?" she asked.

  "We've come here to hold an inquisition on your conduct," replied asolemn voice from behind one of the black masks. "Will you kindly getout of bed and seat yourself upon this chair. We should be sorry to useforce, but I warn you you'll have to obey us."

  Looking a little scared Mabel apparently thought discretion the betterpart of valor. She rose, put on her dressing-gown, and took the seatindicated. Her inquisitors grouped themselves opposite, placing theircandles in a row upon the mantelpiece. Their spokeswoman, unfolding alarge sheet of paper, proceeded to read the indictment.

  _This is to tell all whom it may concern that Mabel Hughes, having broken every rule of decent and orderly behavior, and being no longer worthy of the name of gentlewoman, is here arraigned on the following charges:_

  _1. That she habitually takes advantage of and ill-treats the juniors when opportunity occurs._

  _2. That she cheats abominably at her work._

  _3. That she endeavors to persuade others to cheat._

  _4. That she degrades the name of the Villa Camellia by receiving letters which are thrown to her over the wall, and by handing answers to them on her way to church._

  Mabel, who had smiled scornfully at the first three charges, changedcolor at the fourth.

  "What do you know about letters?" she challenged sharply.

  "We know all," ventured the solemn voice. "You had better confess atonce, or the affair with Emanuele will be exposed to the prefects."

  "It's my own business," said Mabel sulkily.

  "No, it isn't. It's ours as well, and the whole school's. We don't wantthe Villa Camellia to be disgraced in the eyes of the town. You ought tobe ashamed of yourself. It's so _vulgar_. Now, will you promise to giveup all your bad habits and behave like a lady."

  "I'll promise nothing," snapped Mabel.

  "Then we shall be obliged to tar and feather you."

  Mabel laughed, imagining it was an empty threat, but she was rapidlyundeceived. Two inquisitors, seizing her by the arms, held her tightlyin her chair, while several others smeared soap over her face and stuckon feathers which they took out of a cushion. She would have screamed,but every time she opened her mouth to do so she received a dab of soapupon her tongue. When they considered her countenance was sufficientlyornamented, they presented her with a looking-glass to view the effect.

  "That's how we feel about it," the spokeswoman assured her. "This isjust to show you we won't stand your horrid ways. Will you promise nowto behave yourself, or do you want any more?"

  Apparently Mabel had had enough. She seemed rather frightened. Shegrumbled that she would agree to what they wished.

  "Just jolly well take care that you keep your promise then," warned herinquisitor. "If you begin any of your old tricks again we have evidenceagainst you, and we shall take it straight to Rachel. If I know anythingof Rachel she'll go to Miss Rodgers, and that means you're expelled. Sonow you know! You'd better be careful, Mabel Hughes. That's all we cameto say. You may wash your face if you like before you get into bedagain."

  The ten members of the inquisition, knowing that time was passing, andthat the prefects would soon be coming upstairs, judged it wise to breakup the meeting, and taking their candles beat a stately retreat to theirrespective dormitories. Lorna and Irene, returning to their cubicles,heard Elsie chuckling. She had not interfered in any way with theperformance, but it had evidently entertained her. She told the talenext day to her friends, with the result that Ruth, Rosamonde, Winnie,Monica, and Callie joined her in seceding from the Starry Circle,leaving Mabel and Bertha as sole remaining representatives of thatsorority.

  "We're fed up with you," Winnie assured the pair when they remonstrated."We're tired of your sneaking ways, and you may just keep them toyourselves. We're not going to let you copy our exercises any more. Andif we see you taking those kids' biscuits again there'll be squalls. No,we shan't tell you the name of our new sorority. We're not going to haveanything to do with you ever again. So there!"

  Public opinion had for once triumphed on the right side, and Mabel andBertha, greatly discomfited, found their influence over the late Starswas at an end. The threat of telling Rachel had frightened Mabel; shewas uncertain how much the Camellia Buds really knew, and judged itdiscreet to drop her clandestine correspondence. She had no wish for thematter to meet the ears of Miss Rodgers, who, she was well aware, wouldtake the most serious view of it. Though she cherished a grudge againsther late inquisitors, she submitted to their demands, and for the timeat any rate gave no outward cause for complaint.