The swimming adventure took place on Friday. Saturday passed without
anything special occurring. Sunday was a lovely day, when they all
steamed about and enjoyed the fresh breezes, and, as Mr Durrant
expressed it, forgot dull Care. Monday also passed without excitement,
and on Tuesday, the little party returned in a body to Sunshine Lodge.
Now the crucial moment was close at hand, and what might have occurred
but for an unexpected obstacle, no one can quite say; for there is
little doubt that Mr Durrant was deeply impressed by Harriet's conduct.
He was such a brave man himself, that he could not but admire bravery
in others, and the girl who had risked her life for his son was not to
be lightly regarded. He still continued to feel much puzzled about her,
and still, in his heart of hearts, much preferred Robina.
But Robina Starling was by no means at her best just now. She looked
dull and sad and, notwithstanding every effort, care would sit upon her
young brow and visit her frank, although troubled, eyes. Still, the
person who really quite upset the whole scheme which had been so
carefully planned by Harriet Lane was the one who, under ordinary
circumstances, might have been least expected to do so. Her own
familiar friend was the obstacle who made matters just in the moment of
apparent victory exceedingly difficult.
Jane Bush was supposed to be a very commonplace little girl. In one
sense, this was true. She was not particularly clever: she was not at
all good-looking: she had few chances in life. She had, however, her
good points. She was devoted to the little brother and sister, who,
much younger than herself, had none of the advantages which she enjoyed.
While Harriet, in her way, was fearless and bold, Jane was a little bit
of a coward. Now cowards are extremely useful to wicked, designing
people. They are so easily entrapped, and when once they are in the
toils, it is almost impossible for them to get out again.
Jane felt herself in the toils as far as Harriet was concerned.
Nevertheless, she was very unhappy. Harriet, who must have a
confidante, had given Jane a graphic account of what really occurred in
the little cove not far from Totland Bay. Jane had listened with her
usual, absorbed attention, her round black eyes fixed on her companion's
pale face. In the excitement of the narrative, Harriet had squeezed
Jane's hand, and had said, with passionate emphasis:
"Oh! it was such a near thing! and when I saw him throw up his dear
little hands, and when I noticed that his little brown head went under
the waves, I thought I should go mad. Your five pounds, my own future,
all the happiness that I had planned for myself, seemed to me as nothing
at all--as nothing at all at that awful moment."
"I understand," said Jane. She spoke in a very low voice. "You don't
know, Harriet," she said then, "what I felt on board the yacht. They
let me on at once, of course, for the second mate saw me and sent a boat
to the pier, and I was on deck with nothing to do only just to look at
the sea and think. You must have all been in the water at the time, for
there came up a cloud, and the sea got quite rough, and I heard the
second mate say to one of the officers that there was a squall coming
on. Oh! I was nearly mad!"
"Yes; that was about the time," said Harriet, calmly. "It was a very
fearful time. It was then, just then, that I was earning my happy,
happy time with Ralph; my splendid future with all my educational
expenses paid: and you, you silly Jane, were earning your five pounds.
We were getting these things through our pain. I suppose it was worth
it."
"I don't know," said Jane, in a listless voice, "perhaps so."
She got up as she spoke and walked to the other side of the deck. This
conversation took place on Monday evening. It was overheard by no one.
The other girls were absorbed in their own interests, and Ralph was with
his father. Robina was reading by herself.
The week on board the yacht had not been a success as far as she was
concerned. Had she listened, as once before she was forced to listen to
a conversation between Harriet and Jane, she might have made up her mind
to a line of conduct which was now far from her thoughts.
As Jane lay down in her little berth in her pretty state cabin on that
last night on board the "Sea-Gull" she could not help thinking over
again of Harriet's graphic narrative; and she could not help reflecting
on her own most awful feelings, had anything really happened to Ralph.
Had anything really happened! Poor Jane trembled from head to foot.
She knew only too well what that "anything" would have been. There
would no longer have been in this wide world a little boy called Ralph--
a little brown-eyed boy with brown hair, and the sweetest smile in the
world, and the most gallant spirit. He would have gone away. No little
school-mother would have been needed to look after him. Harriet herself
might or might not be dead; but if Ralph had been drowned that time,
poor little Jane felt that she would have gone mad. Five pounds! They
were not so much after all. She felt dreadful: she could not sleep. In
the visions of the night, ugly things seemed to come and visit her. She
started up, pressing her hands to her eyes. Could she go on with this?
Could she allow a girl like Harriet to be companion, friend, and to a
certain extent protector of such a very precious little boy as Ralph.
Oh! how in her heart of hearts Jane did admire Robina! How earnestly
she wished that it had been her lot to have Robina as her friend!
"She would have made me strong," thought poor Jane. "She is never a
scrap afraid. Now I am always afraid. Perhaps it will be better for me
at school if Harriet is not there. Of course I am fond of Harriet: I
ought to be, for she and I are chums; and a girl must be a mean sort to
forsake her chum. But still--oh! she does make me feel wicked! I
almost wish I had not earned that five pounds. I don't think it will
bring any luck to Bobbie and Miriam."
Jane tried to force her thoughts to dwell upon the very shabby condition
of her little brother and sister; but, notwithstanding all her efforts,
she could not manage to do this. Miriam's lack of nice clothes, and
Bobbie's lack of shoes and socks could not appeal to her, for were not
their consciences quite contented and calm and happy? After all, was
there anything, anything so nice in the whole world as a contented
conscience?
The next day, when all the children went back to Sunshine Lodge, Jane
was greeted by a letter from the aunt who had charge of little Miriam
and Bobbie. It was a wonderfully cheerful letter. The aunt--Polly by
name--assured Jane that the children were particularly well, and that a
kind lady had taken a fancy to them and had given them a lot of clothes.
These clothes belonged to some of her own children who had outgrown
them, but they were of such good quality and so well made that both
Bobbie and Miriam looked almost stylish in them. Bobbie had got shoes,
and Miriam pretty frocks; and, in short, for a time at least, the little
ones wanted for nothing.
Jane felt as she read this letter that she quite hated it. It seemed to
take the ground from under her feet. Her five pounds could have been
done without. Ralph's life need not have been risked, and Jane herself
need not have been so fearfully deceitful, and need not have told a lie.
"Oh dear, oh dear!" she said to herself. Her face looked so comical in
its distress that Vivian Amberley, who was standing near, asked her if
anything was the matter.
"Oh yes," said Jane; "I have had a letter about the children."
"Are they ill?" asked Vivian.
"No, no," answered Jane. "They never were better; and they have got
such a lot of beautiful clothes--oh dear, oh dear!"
She gave a deep sigh, and went away.
"Well," said Vivian, turning to her companion; "I never heard of such a
funny reason as that for Jane to be so dismal. The children are well,
and have got a lot of new clothes! What can be up?"
"It's something to do with Harriet, of that I am sure," said Frederica.
Vivian lowered her voice. "I can't make out what is wrong," she said.
"There is something wrong: we all feel it," said Patience. "Why, look
at Robina."
Robina was not present, so no one could look at her. Patience went on
excitedly:
"From the very first, there has been something up with Robina, and she
looks worse than ever now. You know what a thoroughly jolly girl she
is. She won't tell us why, but she is not enjoying herself."
"I suppose she is excited," said Frederica, "about Mr Durrant's
decision. He is quite certain sure to choose her as school-mother for
Ralph."
"Quite certain sure?" repeated Patience. "You know very little when you
say that. I am equally certain that he won't choose her. Anyhow, we
are all to know to-morrow morning. This is Tuesday: he will tell us
what he has decided after breakfast to-morrow. It is exciting, isn't
it?"
"Well," said Rose, "I do love Mr Durrant, but I think he'll be an awful
goose if he chooses that Harriet to be Ralph's school-mother."
"She is very brave, whatever she is," said Vivian. "She was magnificent
that time when she got into the dangerous current and tried to save
Ralph. That sailor said it was touch and go, and that although he
brought them back to shore, Ralph might have been drowned but for
Harriet."
"Yes, it was brave enough," said Frederica then; "but somehow I don't
like the state of things. There's something up with Jane, there's
something up with Harriet. Now I don't care twopence either for Jane or
Harriet, but there's something up with Robina, and I love Robina."
"We all love her! Who could help it?" said the others.
"There is one good thing," said Rose; "if by any chance she is not
elected to be Ralph's school-mother, she will be back with us at Mrs
Burton's school next term. How splendid it would be if Harriet was not
always making mischief! How queer Harriet is!"
Just then, Harriet herself appeared. She was walking with Jane by her
side. Whether it was her immersion in the sea, and the excitement of
Jane through which she had lived, or whether it was that she was really
feeling things more than she cared to own, she looked paler than ever,
her blue eyes lighter, and the shadows under them more intense: her long
straight hair seemed to grow longer and more lanky, and her narrow
figure taller. She hardly glanced at the other girls, but went past
them, accompanied by Jane.
"There they go," said Frederica: "they are going to have a big confab
now somewhere. Why will Harriet never join the rest of us and be jolly
and merry? We are meant to have such a beautiful time at Sunshine
Lodge, but she really takes the fun out of things: her queer melancholy
face and her odd ways of going on would depress any party. I know Mr
Durrant feels it, and that he is dreadfully puzzled what to do."
"Oh! Here is Robina!"
These words were uttered by two or three of the girls who ran up to
Robina at that moment. Robina also was looking ill at ease, but her
face by no means wore the expression which characterised either Jane's
or Harriet's. The frank look could never leave her grey eyes. She
always held herself very erect, and her fine young figure, in
consequence, showed on every occasion to the best advantage. She wore a
pretty white frock now, and her fine brown hair fell in masses far below
her waist.
"Dear Robina!" said Rose, running up to her and taking her hand. "Do
sit down and be cosy with us all. Isn't it nice to be back again at
Sunshine Lodge! We have ten more happy days to spend here before school
begins."
"I haven't," said Robina, gently; "I am going away to-morrow."
"You are going away to-morrow!" cried several voices; while others said,
"What?" and others again exclaimed: "Oh Robina! what do you mean?" and
yet others cried, "No, no, we can't stand this, we are no: going to
allow it; we couldn't live without you, Robina!"
"You are all sweet," said Robina, "and I love you very much; and
perhaps--I am not quite sure what may happen now--but perhaps I may meet
you again at Abbeyfield. But that is not the point. I am leaving here
to-morrow: I am going home."
"But Robina, Robina, why? tell us why."
"There is no special secret," said Robina. "I did not mean to say
anything about it to you--at least, not quite so soon; but as I have met
you, I may as well say I have made up my mind--I love Ralph very dearly,
but I am not going to be his school-mother. I mean," she added proudly,
"that I shan't compete. I haven't the slightest doubt that the decision
will be made against me, but now, whether it is made for or against me,
I shan't compete. I am just going to tell Harriet that she need not
have any fear, and then I shall speak to Mr Durrant and I will ask him
to let me go back to father and mother. I can't explain any more than
that. It--it isn't exactly my fault: I am puzzled a good deal; and
perhaps if I were one of you, I could do differently, but being myself,
there is nothing for it but to withdraw."
"But there _is_ something for it," said Patience Chetwold. "You are
withdrawing because you know something, and because you won't say it,
and is that right or fair either to Mr Durrant or Ralph? Robina,
before you leave us, you have got to answer one question, and to answer
it truthfully."
"Well, what is it?" said Robina.
"You have never told a lie, and you know that," said Patience.
"I don't think I ever have," said Robina, thoughtfully. "No, I am sure
I never have told even the tiniest little half lie."
"Very well," said Patience, in a voice of triumph; "you will tell the
truth now."
"Or be silent," said Robina.
"Oh well, we will take your silence for what it is worth. Anyhow," said
Patience, "have I the permission of the rest of you girls to ask Robina
a question in all our names?"
"Certainly, certainly!" they said; and they crowded round Patience, who
placed herself in the middle of the group.
Patience was a tall, fair-haired girl with a great deal of quiet power
and dignity in her own way.
"This is a question which appeals to all us school-mothers," she said.
"We all feel ourselves more or less responsible for little Ralph. Mr
Durrant put him, as it were, under our charge when he brought him to
Abbeyfield School. Ralph chose Harriet to be his favourite
school-mother. Then we all know what happened, and Harriet, as we
hoped, repented, and we were glad; and you, Robina, were chosen as the
real school-mother, and you won the pony, and we were glad of that too.
But now things are changed. Still that fact does not alter the other
fact that we are still Ralph's school-mothers, and that we are bound, if
necessary, to protect him.
"Mr Durrant is one of the nicest men in all the world, and he has asked
us here for love of Ralph, and has given us the most glorious time, and
has done all that man could for our pleasure; and is this the return we
will make him--to allow him to choose a girl like Harriet to be
school-mother to Ralph? for of course we know--and he has said so--that
the choice lies between you,--Robina, and Harriet; and now you, just
before the moment of decision, back out of the whole thing and say you
won't be Ralph's school-mother, and that you are going home. The rest
of us think that a very cowardly and wrong thing to do: therefore we
demand from you, as being ourselves Ralph's school-mothers, an answer to
our question."
"Yes, yes!" here interrupted the others. "You have put the case very
well, Patience; and the question you are about to ask ought to be
answered."
"Our question is this," said Patience, raising her voice a little. "Are
you, or are you not, prepared to say that Harriet, as far as you know,
will be a kind and truthful and honourable school-mother to Ralph? Are
you happy in giving Ralph up yourself to Harriet's care? or do you know
anything against her?"
"I can't say, and I won't say," replied Robina, turning very red.
"There are things that even a girl placed in my position cannot do."
"Very well," said Patience, "you have answered. You can go now, Robina,
and tell Harriet your decision. But between now and to-morrow morning,
when the great decision is publicly made, we, the rest of the
school-mothers, will have something to say with regard to the matter."
Robina immediately left her companions. Her head was aching; her heart
was throbbing hard. Nevertheless, her mind was fully made up. She
found Jane and Harriet walking side by side in the neighbourhood of the
round pond. She approached quite close to them before they heard her.
She did not want to listen to their conversation.
"I eavesdropped once," she thought, "unintentionally of course;
nevertheless, I did such a horrid, such a mean, such a despicable thing,
and oh! how I have suffered in consequence! But I won't eavesdrop
again--not if I know it."
Nevertheless, as she came close to the other girls, she had time to look
at the pond, and to notice the exact position of that willow bough along
whose slender branch little Ralph had crept in order to gather the
water-lilies. The water-lilies were there still in great abundance with
all their delicate wax-like cups closed, for it was the time of their
slumber. The pond, too, looked still and glassy on its surface, except
when the duck-weed, and many parasites of the pond threw an unwholesome
glamour over its depths. Robina seemed to realise the whole scene that
had taken place there--the child who had dropped into the water, the
immediate power of the clinging weeds, the impossibility for the little
fellow to swim in his clothes. She saw again Harriet rushing to the
rescue, and she well guessed the storm of devotion which she had aroused
in the heart of the brave little child. But since that scene, which,
without its explanation, sounded innocent enough, another had taken
place--one that Robina herself had witnessed. Could she ever forget the
agony of that moment when, almost out of her depth, she had longed in
vain for the power to swim out to save Ralph! Would she at such a
moment have thought of any possible reward except that most divine
reward of all--that of giving up her very life for his?
Robina shook herself as though from a day-dream, and it was at this
instant that Harriet and Jane, turning, saw her standing in the path.
Jane's round face was quite pale, and there were tears in her black
eyes. She had been letting off some of the soreness of her heart to
Harriet, and Harriet had been the reverse of sympathising. Harriet had
said once or twice:
"All right, Jane: if you don't want the five pounds, you need not have
them. I can assure you it is an immense sacrifice on my part to give
you so much money; but when I make a promise, I keep it. You haven't
done much for me, so don't you think it: but I promised you five pounds.
My birthday will be this week: god-mother never forgets me. When the
five pound note comes, it will be handed over to you: you can take it or
leave it."
Why _was_ it that the last words of Harriet's sentence were wafted to
Robina's ears? "When the five pound note comes, you can take it or
leave it." Harriet turned pale and drew herself up abruptly.
"Well," she said, "have you been eavesdropping again?"
"No," said Robina, stoutly. "I came to speak to you as I heard that you
and Jane were walking in the shrubbery. I did hear your last sentence;
I heard you say to Jane, `When the five pounds comes, you can take it or
leave it.' I haven't an idea what that sentence means, nor does it
concern me. I want to speak to you, however, Harriet. Will you kindly
listen, please."
"Hadn't I better go?" said Jane, who felt exceedingly uncomfortable.
"No," said Robina; "unless Harriet greatly minds, I should prefer you to
stay, Jane. You are her special friend, and you ought to witness what I
am about to say to her. I don't think that you, Harriet, and you, Jane,
have many secrets from each other."
The two other girls were silent, but they both felt uncomfortable.
"What I have to say," continued Robina, "can be said in a very few words
indeed. I have just to tell you this, Harriet. I have made up my mind
to withdraw from the competition which was set to all the school-girls
who came to this house, but which was especially intended to be a
competition between you and me. I do not now wish to be Ralph Durrant's
school-mother: you will therefore have no difficulty to-morrow morning,
for there will be no one to compete with you. I am now going to tell
Mr Durrant what I have decided."
"But I say," cried Harriet, "you must have some reason for this!"
"I have my reasons, but those I am not prepared to give," said Robina.
"I know," continued Harriet, speaking in great excitement; "you nasty,
horrid spitfire! You find that you have utterly failed--that you have
not a chance of getting the position that you so covet; therefore you
think you will make an imposing appearance if you withdraw from the
competition. But let me tell you, that is monstrously unfair! You
ought not to withdraw at the eleventh hour."
"That is my affair," said Robina. "Even if I were elected school-mother
to-morrow, I should not accept the position."
"Oh, wouldn't you?" said Harriet. "It is so fine to hear you talking in
that way; you know perfectly well that you would just give your eyes for
it."
"If that is your opinion, you are welcome to keep it," said Robina.
"But anyhow, my mind is quite made up."
She was turning to go, when Harriet ran after her.
"Robina," she said, "do you mean--that is, you will go without saying
anything?"
"Ask me no questions; when you are made school-mother, I suppose you
will be content: and I suppose--at least I hope you will be good to
little Ralph."
Robina's lips quivered. Before Harriet could utter another word she had
pushed her brusquely aside, and disappeared in the direction towards the
house.
Book 2--CHAPTER FOURTEEN.