study. It is just what we need in this school. Madame is old and lets
things go, and the other teachers only care to get through and have an
easy time. We ought to be a great deal better, brisker, and wiser than
we are, and I'm ready for a good stirring up if any one will give it to
us," declared Sally, who was a very independent girl and had read as
well as studied much.
"You Massachusetts girls are always raving about self-culture, and ready
for queer new ways. I'm contented with the old ones, and want to be let
alone and finished off easily," said Nelly, the pretty New Yorker.
"Well, I go with Sally, and want to get all I can in the way of health,
learning, and manners while I'm here; and I'm real glad Miss Orne has
come, for Madame's old-fashioned, niminy priminy ways did fret me
dreadfully. Miss Orne is more like our folks out West,--spry and strong
and smart, see if she isn't," said Julia, with a decided nod of her
auburn head.
"There she is now! Girls, she's running! actually trotting up the
avenue--not like a hen, but a boy--with her elbows down and her head up.
Do come and see!" cried Kitty, dancing about at the window as if she
longed to go and do likewise.
All ran in time to see a tall young lady come up the wide path at a good
pace, looking as fresh and blithe as the goddess of health, as she
smiled and nodded at them, so like a girl that all returned her salute
with equal cordiality.
"She gives a new sort of interest to the old treadmill, doesn't she?"
said Nelly, as they scattered to their places at the stroke of nine,
feeling unusually anxious to appear well before the new teacher.
While they pull down their jerseys and take up their books, we will
briefly state that Madame Stein's select boarding-school had for many
years received six girls at a time, and finished them off in the old
style. Plenty of French, German, music, painting, dancing, and
deportment turned out well-bred, accomplished, and amiable young ladies,
ready for fashionable society, easy lives, and entire dependence on
other people. Dainty and delicate creatures usually, for, as in most
schools of this sort, minds and manners were much cultivated, but bodies
rather neglected. Heads and backs ached, dyspepsia was a common ailment,
and poorlies of all sorts afflicted the dear girls, who ought not to
have known what "nerves" meant, and should have had no bottles in their
closets holding wine and iron, cough mixtures, soothing drops and
cod-liver oil for weak lungs. Gymnastics had once flourished, but the
fashion had gone by, and a short walk each day was all the exercise they
took, though they might have had glorious romps in the old coach-house
and bowling-alley in bad weather, and lovely rambles about the spacious
grounds; for the house was in the suburbs, and had once been a fine
country mansion. Some of the liveliest girls did race down the avenue
now and then, when Madame was away, and one irrepressible creature had
actually slid down the wide balusters, to the horror of the entire
household.
In cold weather all grew lazy and cuddled under blankets and around
registers, like so many warmth-loving pussies,--poor Madame's rheumatism
making her enjoy a hot-house temperature and indulge the girls in
luxurious habits. Now she had been obliged to give up entirely and take
to her bed, saying, with the resignation of an indolent nature:--
"If Anna Orne takes charge of the school I shall feel no anxiety. _She_
is equal to anything."
She certainly looked so as she came into the school-room ready for her
day's work, with lungs full of fresh air, brain stimulated by sound
sleep, wholesome exercise, and a simple breakfast, and a mind much
interested in the task before her. The girls' eyes followed her as she
took her place, involuntarily attracted by the unusual spectacle of a
robust woman. Everything about her seemed so fresh, harmonious, and
happy, that it was a pleasure to see the brilliant color in her cheeks,
the thick coils of glossy hair on her spirited head, the flash of white
teeth as she spoke, and the clear, bright glance of eyes both keen and
kind. But the most admiring glances were on the dark-blue jersey that
showed such fine curves of the broad shoulders, round waist, and plump
arms, without a wrinkle to mar its smooth perfection.
Girls are quick to see what is genuine, to respect what is strong, and
to love what is beautiful; so before that day was over, Miss Orne had
charmed them all; for they felt that she was not only able to teach but
to help and amuse them.
After tea the other teachers went to their rooms, glad to be free from
the chatter of half a dozen lively tongues; but Miss Orne remained in
the drawing-room, and set the girls to dancing till they were tired,
then gathered them round the long table to do what they liked till
prayer-time. Some had novels, others did fancy-work or lounged, and all
wondered what the new teacher would do next.
Six pairs of curious eyes were fixed upon her, as she sat sewing on some
queer bits of crash, and six lively fancies vainly tried to guess what
the articles were, for no one was rude enough to ask. Presently she
tried on a pair of mittens, and surveyed them with satisfaction, saying
as she caught Kitty staring with uncontrollable interest:--
"These are my beautifiers, and I never like to be without them."
"Are they to keep your hands white?" asked Maud, who spent a good deal
of time in caring for her own. "I wear old kid gloves at night after
cold-creaming mine."
"I wear these for five minutes night and morning, for a good rub, after
dipping them in cold water. Thanks to these rough friends, I seldom feel
the cold, get a good color, and keep well," answered Miss Orne,
polishing up her smooth cheek till it looked like a rosy apple.
"I'd like the color, but not the crash. Must it be so rough, and with
_cold_ water?" asked Maud, who often privately rubbed her pale face with
a bit of red flannel, rouge being forbidden except for theatricals.
"Best so; but there are other ways to get a color. Run up and down the
avenue three or four times a day, eat no pastry, and go to bed early,"
said Miss Orne, whose sharp eye had spied out the little weaknesses of
the girls, and whose kind heart longed to help them at once.
"It makes my back ache to run, and Madame says we are too old now."
"Never too old to care for one's health, my dear. Better run now than
lie on a sofa by and by, with a back that never stops aching."
"Do you cure your headaches in that way?" asked Nelly, rubbing her
forehead wearily.
"I never have them;" and Miss Orne's bright eyes were full of pity for
all pain.
"What do you do to help it?" cried Nelly, who firmly believed that it
was inevitable.
"I give my brain plenty of rest, air, and good food. I never know I have
any nerves, except in the enjoyment they give me, for I have learned how
to use them. I was not brought up to believe that I was born an
invalid, and was taught to understand the beautiful machinery God gave
me, and to keep it religiously in order."
Miss Orne spoke so seriously that there was a brief pause in which the
girls were wishing that some one had taught them this lesson and made
them as strong and lovely as their new teacher.
"If crash mittens would make my jersey set like yours I'd have a pair at
once," said Cordy, sadly eyeing the buttons on her own, which seemed in
danger of flying off if their plump wearer moved too quickly.
"Brisk runs are what you want, and less confectionery, sleep, and
lounging in easy chairs;" began Miss Orne, all ready to prescribe for
these poor girls, the most important part of whose education had been so
neglected.
"Why, how did you know?" said Cordy, blushing, as she bounced out of her
luxurious seat and whisked into her pocket the paper of chocolate creams
she was seldom without.
Her round eyes and artless surprise set the others to laughing, and gave
Sally courage to ask what she wanted, then and there.
"Miss Orne, I wish you would show us how to be strong and hearty, for I
do think girls are a feeble set now-a-days. We certainly need stirring
up, and I hope you will kindly do it. Please begin with me, then the
others will see that I mean what I say."
Miss Orne looked up at the tall, overgrown girl who stood before her,
with broad forehead, near-sighted eyes, and narrow chest of a student;
not at all what a girl of seventeen should be, physically, though a
clear mind and a brave spirit shone in her clever face and sounded in
her resolute voice.
"I shall very gladly do what I can for you, my dear. It is very simple,
and I am sure that a few months of my sort of training will help you
much; for you are just the kind of girl who should have a strong body,
to keep pace with a very active brain," answered Miss Orne, taking
Sally's thin, inky fingers in her own, with a friendly pressure that
showed her good will.
"Madame says violent exercise is not good for girls, so we gave up
gymnastics long ago," said Maud, in her languid voice, wishing that
Sally would not suggest disagreeable things.
"One does not need clubs, dumb bells, and bars for my style of exercise.
Let me show you;" and rising, Miss Orne went through a series of
energetic but graceful evolutions, which put every muscle in play
without great exertion.
"That looks easy enough," began Nelly.
"Try it," answered Miss Orne, with a sparkle of fun in her blue eyes.
They did try,--to the great astonishment of the solemn portraits on the
wall, unused to seeing such antics in that dignified apartment. But some
of the girls were out of breath in five minutes; others could not lift
their arms over their heads; Maud and Nelly broke several bones in their
corsets, trying to stoop; and Kitty tumbled down, in her efforts to
touch her toes without bending her knees. Sally got on the best of all,
being long of limb, easy in her clothes, and full of enthusiasm.
"Pretty well for beginners," said Miss Orne, as they paused at last,
flushed and merry. "Do that regularly every day, and you will soon gain
a few inches across the chest and fill out the new jerseys with firm,
elastic figures."
"Like yours," added Sally, with a face full of such honest admiration
that it could not offend.
Seeing that she had made one convert, and knowing that girls, like
sheep, are sure to follow a leader, Miss Orne said no more then, but
waited for the leaven to work. The others called it one of Sally's
notions, but were interested to see how she would get on, and had great
fun, when they went to bed, watching her faithful efforts to imitate her
teacher's rapid and effective motions.
"The wind-mill is going!" cried Kitty, as several of them sat on the
bed, laughing at the long arms swinging about.
"That is the hygienic elbow-exercise, and that the Orne Quickstep, a
mixture of the grasshopper's skip and the water-bug's slide," added
Julia, humming a tune in time to the stamp of the other's foot.
"We will call these the Jersey Jymnastics, and spell the last with a J,
my dear," said Nelly; and the name was received with as much applause as
the young ladies dared to give it at that hour.
"Laugh on, but see if you don't all follow my example sooner or later,
when I become a model of grace, strength, and beauty," retorted Sally,
as she turned them out and went to bed, tingling all over with a
delicious glow that sent the blood from her hot head to warm her cold
feet, and bring her the sound, refreshing sleep she so much needed.
This was the beginning of a new order of things, for Miss Orne carried
her energy into other matters besides gymnastics, and no one dared
oppose her when Madame shut her ears to all complaints, saying, "Obey
her in everything, and don't trouble me."
Pitchers of fresh milk took the place of tea and coffee; cake and pie
were rarely seen, but better bread, plain puddings, and plenty of fruit.
Rooms were cooled off, feather beds sent up garret, and thick curtains
abolished. Sun and air streamed in, and great cans of water appeared
suggestively at doors in the morning. Earlier hours were kept, and brisk
walks taken by nearly all the girls; for Miss Orne baited her hook
cleverly, and always had some pleasant project to make the wintry
expeditions inviting. There were games in the parlor instead of novels,
and fancy-work in the evening; shorter lessons, and longer talks on the
many useful subjects that are best learned from the lips of a true
teacher. A cooking class was started, not to make fancy dishes, but the
plain, substantial ones all housewives should understand. Several girls
swept their own rooms, and liked it after they saw Miss Orne do hers in
a becoming dust-cap; and these same pioneers, headed by Sally, boldly
coasted on the hill, swung clubs in the coach-house, and played tag in
the bowling-alley rainy days.
It took time to work these much-needed changes, but young people like
novelty; the old routine had grown tiresome, and Miss Orne made things
so lively and pleasant it was impossible to resist her wishes. Sally did
begin to straighten up, after a month or two of regular training; Maud
outgrew both corsets and backache; Nelly got a fresh color; Kitty found
her thin arms developing visible muscles; and Julia considered herself a
Von Hillern, after walking ten miles without fatigue.
But dear, fat Cordy was the most successful of all; and rejoiced greatly
over the loss of a few pounds when she gave up over-eating, long naps,
and lazy habits. Exercise became a sort of mania with her, and she was
continually trudging off for a constitutional, or trotting up and down
the halls when bad weather prevented the daily tramp. It was the desire
of her soul to grow thin, and such was her ardor that Miss Orne had to
check her sometimes, lest she should overdo the matter.
"All this is easy and pleasant now, because it is new," she said, "and
there is no one to criticise our simple, sensible ways; but when you go
away I am afraid you will undo the good I have tried to do you. People
will ridicule you, fashion will condemn, and frivolous pleasures make
our wholesome ones seem hard. Can you be steadfast, and keep on?"
"We will!" cried all the girls; but the older ones looked a little
anxious, as they thought of going home to introduce the new ways alone.
Miss Orne shook her head, earnestly wishing that she could impress the
important lesson indelibly upon them; and very soon something happened
which had that effect.
April came, and the snowdrops and crocuses were up in the garden beds.
Madame was able to sit at her window, peering out like a dormouse waking
from its winter sleep; and much did the good lady wonder at the blooming
faces turned up to nod and smile at her, the lively steps that tripped
about the house, and the amazing spectacle of _her_ young ladies racing
round the lawn as if they liked it. No one knew how Miss Orne reconciled
her to this new style of deportment; but she made no complaint,--only
shook her impressive cap when the girls came beaming in to pay little
visits, full of happy chat about their affairs. They seemed to take a
real interest in their studies now, to be very happy; and all looked so
well that the wise old lady said to herself:--
"Looks are everything with women, and I have never been able to show
such a bouquet of blooming creatures at my breaking up as I shall this
year. I will let well enough alone, and if fault is found, dear Anna's
shoulders are broad enough to bear it."
Things were in this promising state, and all were busily preparing for
the May fete, at which time this class of girls would graduate, when the
mysterious events occurred to which we have alluded.
They were gathered--the girls, not the events--round the table one
night, discussing, with the deep interest befitting such an important
topic, what they should wear on examination day.
"_I_ think white silk jerseys and pink or blue skirts would be lovely;
so pretty and so appropriate for the J. J. Club, and so nice for us to
do our exercises in. Miss Orne wants us to show how well we go together,
and of course we want to please her;" said Nelly taking the lead as
usual in matters of taste.
"Of course!" cried all the girls, with an alacrity which plainly showed
how entirely the new friend had won their hearts.
"I wouldn't have believed that six months could make such a difference
in one's figure and feelings," said Maud, surveying her waist with calm
satisfaction, though it was no longer slender, but in perfect proportion
to the rest of her youthful shape.
"I've had to let out every dress, and it's a mercy I'm going home, for I
shouldn't be decent if I kept on at this rate;" and Julia took a long
breath, proud of her broad chest, expanded by plenty of exercise, and
loose clothing.
"I take mine in, and don't have to worry about my buttons flying off, _a
la_ Clara Peggotty. I'm _so_ pleased I want to be training all the time,
for I'm not half thin enough yet," said Cordy, jumping up for a trot
round the room, that not a moment might be lost.
"Come, Sally, you ought to join in the jubilee, for you have done
wonders, and will be as straight as a ramrod in a little while. Why so
sober to-night? Is it because our dear Miss Orne leaves us to sit with
Madame?" asked Nelly, missing the gayest voice of the six, and observing
her friend's troubled face.
"I'm making up my mind whether I'd better tell you something or not.
Don't want to scare the servants, trouble Madame, or vex Miss Orne; for
I know _she_ wouldn't believe a word of it, though I saw it with my own
eyes," answered Sally, in such a mysterious tone that the girls with one
voice cried,--
"Tell us, this minute!"
"I will; and perhaps some of you can explain the matter."
As she spoke, Sally rose and stood on the rug with her hands behind her,
looking rather wild and queer; for her short hair was in a toss, her
eyes shone large behind her round glasses, and her voice sank to a
whisper as she made this startling announcement:--
"I've seen a ghost!"
A general shiver pervaded the listeners, and Cordy poked her head under
the sofa pillows with a faint cry, while the rest involuntarily drew
nearer to one another.
"Where?" demanded Julia, the bravest of the party.
"On the top of the house."
"Good gracious! When, Sally?" "What did it look like?" "Don't scare us
for fun,"--cried the girls, undecided whether to take this startling
story in jest or earnest.
"Listen, and I'll tell you all about it," answered Sally, holding up her
finger impressively.
"Night before last I sat till eleven, studying. Against the rules, I
know; but I forgot, and when I was through I opened my window to air the
room. It was bright moonlight, so I took a stroll along the top of the
piazza, and coming back with my eyes on the sky I naturally saw the roof
of the main house from my wing. I couldn't have been asleep, could I?
yet, I solemnly declare I saw a white figure with a veil over its head
roaming to and fro as quietly as a shadow. I looked and looked, then I
called softly, but it never answered, and suddenly it was gone."
"What did you do? quavered Cordy, in a smothered voice from under the
pillow.
"Went straight in, took my lamp and marched up to the cupola. Not a sign
of any one, all locked and the floor dusty, for we never go there now,
you know. I didn't like it, but just said, 'Sally, go to bed; it's an
optical illusion and serves you right for studying against the rule.'
That was the first time."
"Mercy on us! Did you see it again?" cried Maud, getting hold of Julia's
strong arm for protection.
"Yes, in the bowling-alley at midnight," whispered Sally.
"Do shut the door, Kit, and don't keep clutching at me in that scary
way; it's very unpleasant," said Nelly, glancing nervously over her
shoulder as the six pairs of wide-opened eyes were fixed on Sally.
"I got up to shut my window last night, and saw a light in the alley. A
dim one, but bright enough to show me the same white thing going up and
down, with the veil as before. I'll confess I was nervous then, for you
know there _is_ a story that in old times the man who lived here
wouldn't let his daughter marry the lover she wanted, and she pined away
and died, and said she'd haunt the cruel father, and she did. Old Mrs.
Foster told me all about it when I first came, and Madame asked me not
to repeat it, so I never did. I don't believe in ghosts, mind you, but
what on earth is it, trailing about in that ridiculous way?"
Sally spoke nervously and looked excited, for in spite of courage and
common sense she _was_ worried to account for the apparition.
"How long did it stay?" asked Julia, with her arm round Maud, who was
trembling and pale.
"A good fifteen minutes by my watch, then vanished, light and all, as
suddenly as before. I didn't go to look after it that time, but if I see
it again I'll hunt till I find out what it is. Who will go with me?"
No one volunteered, and Cordy emerged long enough to say imploringly:--
"Do tell Miss Orne, or get the police;" then dived out of sight again,
and lay quaking like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
"I won't! Miss Orne would think I was a fool, and the police don't
arrest ghosts. I'll do it myself, and Julia will help me, I know. She is
the bravest of you, and hasn't developed her biceps for nothing," said
Sally, bent on keeping all the glory of the capture to themselves if
possible.
Flattered by the compliment to her arms, Julia did not decline the
invitation, but made a very sensible suggestion, which was a great
relief to the timid, till Sally added a new fancy to haunt them.
"Perhaps it is one of the servants moon-struck or love-lorn. Myra looks
sentimental, and is always singing:--
"I'm waiting, waiting, darling,
Morning, night, and noon;
Oh, meet me by the river
When softly shines the moon."
"It's not Myra; I asked her, and she turned pale at the mere idea of
going anywhere alone after dark, and said cook had seen a banshee
gliding down the Lady's Walk one night, when she got up for camphor,
having the face-ache. I said no more, not wanting to scare them;
ignorant people are so superstitious."
Sally paused, and the girls all tried not to look "scared" or
"superstitious," but did not succeed very well.
"What are you going to do?" asked Nelly, in a respectful tone, as Julia
and Sally stood side by side, like Horatius and Herminius waiting for a
Spurius Lartius to join them.
"Watch, like cats for a mouse, and pounce as soon as possible. All
promise to say nothing; then we can't be laughed at if it turns out some
silly thing, as it probably will," answered Sally.
"We promise!" solemnly answered the girls, feeling deeply impressed with
the thrilling interest of the moment.
"Very well; now don't talk about it or think about it till we report, or
no one will sleep a wink," said Sally, walking off with her ally as
coolly as if, after frightening them out of their wits, they could
forget the matter at word of command.
The oath of silence was well kept, but lessons suffered, and so did
sleep, for the excitement was great, especially in the morning, when the
watchers reported the events of the night, and in the evening, when they
took turns to go on guard. There was much whisking of dressing-gowns up
and down the corridor of the west wing, where our six roomed, as the
girls flew to ask questions early each day, or scurried to bed, glancing
behind them for the banshee as they went.
Miss Orne observed the whispers, nods, and eager confabulations, but
said nothing, for Madame had confided to her that the young ladies were
planning a farewell gift for her. So she was blind and deaf, and smiled
at the important airs of her girlish admirers.
Three or four days passed, and no sign of the ghost appeared. The
boldest openly scoffed at the false alarm, and the most timid began to
recover from their fright.
Sally and Julia looked rather foolish as they answered, "no news,"
morning after morning, to the inquiries which were rapidly losing the
breathless eagerness so flattering to the watchers.
"You dreamed it, Sally. Go to sleep, and don't do it again," said Nelly,
on the fifth day, as she made her evening call and found the girls
yawning and cross for want of rest.
"She has exercised too much, and produced a morbid state of the brain,"
laughed Maud.
"I just wish she wouldn't scare me out of my senses for nothing,"
grumbled Cordy; "I used to sleep like a dormouse, and now I dream
dreadfully and wake up tired out. Come along, Kit, and let the old
ghosts carry off these silly creatures."
"My regards to the Woman in White _when_ you see her again, dear," added
Kitty, as the four went off to laugh at the whole thing, though they
carefully locked their doors and took a peep out of window before going
to sleep.