THE GOVERNORS OF THE SCHOOL EXAMINE RUTH.
At four o'clock that afternoon the governors of the Great Shirley School
met in the room set aside for the purpose. There were six governors, and
they were all ladies. Their names were Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Naylor, Mrs.
Ross, the two Misses Scott, and Miss Jane Smyth. The founders of the
Great Shirley School had ordained that it should always be governed by
women--that women should conduct its concerns, should see to the best
possible education of its pupils, and should manage these things to the
best of their ability. Even the trustees of the trust fund were women.
Amongst these ladies Miss Mackenzie was reckoned as head. She was a
tall, strong-minded woman, with iron-gray hair, false teeth, a prominent
nose, and small steel-gray eyes. Miss Mackenzie was between sixty and
seventy years of age; she always dressed in the severest and most
old-fashioned manner, and wore her iron-gray hair in ringlets on each
side of her head. She was an excellent woman of business, and was
dreaded not only by the schoolgirls, but also by one or two of the
ladies of the committee; those who most feared her were the two Misses
Scott and Miss Jane Smyth. Mrs. Ross was a fashionable woman who went a
good deal into London society, talked about the Great Shirley School to
her different friends, and was considered an expert on the subject of
girls' education. Mrs. Ross had a husband and a beautiful home; she
dressed remarkably well, and was looked down on in consequence by Miss
Mackenzie. Mrs. Naylor was the oldest of the governors. She was a
little, wizened lady with a face like a russet apple, a kindly smile,
and a sweet voice.
It was the custom of the governors to meet four times a year as a matter
of course, and as a matter of expediency they met about as many times
again. But a sudden meeting to be convened within forty-eight hours'
notice was almost unheard of in their experience.
When they were all seated round the table Miss Mackenzie, who was
chairwoman, took out the agenda and read its contents aloud. These were
brief enough:
"To inquire into the insurrection amongst the foundationers, and in
particular to cause full investigation to be made with regard to the
Irish girl, Kathleen O'Hara."
"This is really very astonishing," said Miss Mackenzie, turning to the
other governors. "An insurrection amongst the foundationers! Had we not
better summon Miss Ravenscroft, who will tell us what she means?"
A clerk who attended the meetings (also a woman) went away now to summon
Miss Ravenscroft. She appeared in a few minutes, was asked to seat
herself, and was requested to give a full explanation. This she did very
briefly.
"At the beginning of the term," she said, "a girl of the name of
Kathleen O'Hara joined our number. She was eccentric and untrained. She
came from the south-west of Ireland. I had her examined, and found that
she knew extremely little. We were forced to put her into much too low
a class for her years and general appearance."
"Well," said Miss Smyth, "that, after all, isn't a crime. I don't quite
understand."
"If you will kindly resume your story we shall be obliged, Miss
Ravenscroft," said Miss Mackenzie.
Miss Ravenscroft did resume it. She traced Kathleen's conduct from the
first day of her arrival to the present hour. Short as the time was--not
more than six weeks--she had worked havoc in the school. Her influence
was altogether felt amongst the foundationers. They crowded round her at
all hours; a glance from her eyes was sufficient to compel them to do
exactly what she wished. They ceased to be attentive to their lessons;
they were often discovered in school in a state of semi-drowsiness; they
were rebellious and impertinent to their teachers--in short, they were
in a state of insurrection.
"And you trace this disgraceful state of things to the advent of the
Irish girl?" said Miss Mackenzie.
"I am sorry to say, Miss Mackenzie, that I do. When I noticed that
Kathleen O'Hara had a disturbing influence over the girls I caused
further inquiries to be made, and I then made a discovery which
distressed me very much. My eyes were first opened by the fact that one
of our teachers picked up off the floor, just where a certain Clara
Sawyer, one of the best and most promising of the foundationers, was
sitting, a small locket, evidently a badge. She brought it to me, and I
now hand it to you ladies for inspection."
The little silver heart-shaped badge was passed from one lady to
another. The Misses Scott thought it pretty and quaint. Miss Jane Smyth
murmured the words "Wild Irish Girls" under her breath. Mrs. Ross pushed
it away from her as though it was beneath notice. Mrs. Naylor said:
"Very pretty; quite touching, isn't it? Heart-shaped. I always think
that such a sweet emblem, don't you, Miss Mackenzie?"
But Miss Mackenzie, with a sniff, took up the little talisman and turned
it from right to left.
"'Wild Irish Girls,'" she said aloud. "What can this mean?"
"I can throw some light on the subject, but not much," said Miss
Ravenscroft. "It is quite evident that a society calling itself by this
name exists, and that it has been instituted and formed altogether by
Kathleen O'Hara, who has induced a great number--I should say fully
half--of the foundationers to join her. They meet, I have discovered, at
night; their rendezvous being, up to the present, a certain quarry a
short distance out of town. What they do at their meetings I cannot
tell, but I believe they are very riotous, with singing and dancing and
sports of all sorts. Of course, as you know, Miss Mackenzie, such
proceedings are altogether prohibited in our school."
"But this takes place out of school," said Mrs. Naylor.
"Mrs. Naylor, I should be much obliged if you would allow Miss
Ravenscroft to continue," said Miss Mackenzie.
Miss Ravenscroft did continue.
"Putting aside that question," she said, "the effect on the girls is
most disastrous. They are completely out of my control, and I know for a
fact that they do not care to please any one except Kathleen O'Hara."
"Of course our duty is plain," said Miss Mackenzie. "We must get the
ringleader into custody, so to speak, and either bind her over to break
up the society, and so keep the peace, or expel her from the school."
"She is a difficult girl to deal with," said Miss Ravenscroft. "She has
a great deal that is good in her; she is handsome and rich, very
affectionate, and full of spirit."
"But what has a girl who is handsome and rich to do in a school like the
Great Shirley?" asked Mrs. Ross.
"That is the curious part of it. Kathleen's mother was educated in this
school, and she made up her mind that her daughter should never go to
any other. Kathleen lives with the Tennants. I should be sorry if she
were expelled; there is so much that is good in her. It would be a pity
to harden her or hold her up to public disgrace. I hope some other way
may be discovered of bringing her to order."
"You are quite right. Miss Ravenscroft," said Miss Smyth. "I never did
hold with the severe hardening process."
"Certainly in the case of Kathleen it would do no good," said Miss
Ravenscroft.
"But what do you propose to do, then?" said Miss Mackenzie. "You have
not, I presume, asked us to come here without having some plan in your
head."
"The first thing to do is to get hold of all possible facts," said Miss
Ravenscroft. "Now, there is one girl in the school who could tell us--a
charming girl, a new girl--for she also only joined this term--but in
all respects the opposite of Kathleen O'Hara. She for a short time
belonged to the rebels, as I must call the Wild Irish Girls, but she saw
the folly of her conduct and left them. She could tell us all about them
if she liked, and help us to bring the insurrection to an end."
"Then that is capital," said Miss Mackenzie in a tone of enjoyment.
"Have the girl summoned, please, Miss Ravenscroft."
Miss Ravenscroft turned to the clerk, who went away at once in search
of Ruth. Ruth came in looking very white, her face dogged, her usual
beauty and charm of manner having quite deserted her. She wore her
little school-apron and she kept folding it between her fingers as she
stood in the presence of her judges.
"Your name?" said Miss Mackenzie.
"Ruth Craven."
"Your age?"
"I am fourteen."
"Where do you live?"
"In No. 2 Willow Cottages."
"Oh, I know," said Miss Mackenzie, looking with more approval at the
child. "I have often met your grandfather. You live with him and his
wife, don't you?"
"Yes, madam."
"And you have been admitted here as a foundationer?"
"Yes, madam."
"In what class is Ruth Craven, Miss Ravenscroft?"
"Ruth is a very diligent pupil. She is in the third remove," replied
Miss Ravenscroft, looking with kindly eyes at the child.
Ruth just glanced at her teacher, and then lowered her eyes. Her
beautiful little face was beginning to have its usual effect upon most
of the ladies present. Some of the stony despair had left it; the color
came and went in her cheeks. She ceased to fiddle with her apron, and
clasped her two little white hands tightly together.
"My child," said Mrs. Naylor, "your object in coming to school is
doubtless the best object of all."
Ruth raised inquiring eyes.
"I mean," said the little old lady, "that you want to learn all you
can--to gain knowledge and wisdom, to learn goodness and forbearance and
long-suffering and charity."
"Oh, yes," said Ruth, her eyes dilating.
"If," continued Miss Mackenzie, interrupting Mrs. Naylor, and speaking
in a very firm tone--"if, instead of these pleasant things happening, a
little girl learns to join insurrectionists, to forget those to whom she
is indebted for such tremendous advantages, then how do matters
stand--eh, Ruth Craven?"
"I don't understand," said Ruth.
Her trembling and fear had come back to her.
"The dear child is frightened, Miss Mackenzie," said Mrs. Naylor.
"I hope not," said Miss Mackenzie; "but I as chairwoman am obliged to
question her.--Ruth Craven, is it true that you became a member of a
silly schoolgirl society called the Wild Irish Girls, and that you wore
a badge like this?"
Ruth nodded.
"Don't nod to me. Speak."
"It is true," said Ruth.
"Are you now a member of that society?"
"No."
"Why did you join it?"
"Because I loved Kathleen O'Hara."
"She is the promoter, then?"
Ruth was silent.
"You have heard me?"
"Yes, madam."
"Kathleen O'Hara is the promoter?"
Again Ruth was silent. Miss Mackenzie glanced at the other ladies. After
a pause she continued:
"We will leave that matter for the present. Please write down, Miss
Judson"--here she turned to the clerk--"that Ruth Craven has refused to
answer my question with regard to Kathleen O'Hara. We will return to
that point later on.--Why did you leave the society?"
"I did so because I wanted to join a scheme proposed by a girl who was
not a foundationer and not a member of the society. Her name is
Cassandra Weldon."
"One of our best and most promising pupils," interrupted Miss
Ravenscroft.
"I know her," said Miss Mackenzie. "We have every reason to be proud of
Cassandra Weldon.--And so she, this charming and excellent Cassandra
Weldon, is your friend, little Ruth Craven?"
"She has been extremely good to me, madam. She offered me the services
of her own coach in order that I might work up for the Ayldice
Scholarship."
"And do you think you have a chance of getting it?"
"I don't know. I mean to try."
Her dark-blue eyes flashed with intelligence and longing as she uttered
these words.
"I think we are now in possession of the facts," said Miss Mackenzie.
"Is that not so, Mrs. Ross? Ruth Craven was a member of the
objectionable society; she very wisely left it, knowing that she would
better herself by doing so.--Now then, Ruth, we expect you to tell us
all about the society--where it meets, and as much as you know about its
rules. And you must also acquaint us with the names of the girls who are
members."
Ruth again was silent, but now she held herself erect and looked full at
Miss Mackenzie.
"You hear me, child. Speak. You can make your narrative brief. Where
does the society meet? What does it do? What are its rules? Go on; you
are not stupid, are you?"
"No, Miss Mackenzie," said Ruth, "I am not stupid; and I am very, sorry
indeed to seem rude, but I cannot answer your questions. You know that
Kathleen's society exists; that fact I cannot hide from you, but you
will not hear anything more from me. It would be a very terrible thing
for me to be expelled from this school; it would mean great sorrow to my
grandfather and grandmother; but I cannot betray my friend Kathleen, nor
any of the other girls of the society."
Miss Mackenzie was silent for quite a minute. The other ladies fidgeted
as they sat. Ruth, having delivered her soul, looked down. After a long
pause Miss Mackenzie said quite gently:
"Ruth Craven, you scarcely realize your own position. We cannot possibly
let a little girl who is rebellious, who keeps secrets to herself which
she ought to tell for the benefit of the school, continue in our midst.
We will give you three days to think over this matter. If at the end of
three days you are still obstinately silent, there is nothing whatever
for it but that you should be expelled from the school. Do you
understand what that means?"
"It means that I must go, that I shall lose all the advantages," said
Ruth.
"It means that and more. It means that in the presence of the whole
school you are pronounced unworthy, that you leave the school publicly,
being desired to do so by your teacher. It is an unpleasant ceremony,
and one which you will never be able to forget; it will haunt you for
life, Ruth Craven. I trust, however, my dear child, that such extreme
measures will not be necessary. You think now that you are honorable in
making yourself a martyr, but it is not so. We who are old must know
more than you can possibly know, Ruth, with regard to the benefits of a
great establishment like this. Insurrection must be put down with a
firm hand. You will see for yourself how right we are, and how wrong and
silly and childish you are.--Miss Ravenscroft, a special meeting of the
governors will take place in this room on Saturday morning. This is
Wednesday. Until then we hope that Ruth Craven will carefully consider
her conduct, and be prepared to answer the very vital questions which
will be put to her.--You can go, Ruth."
Ruth left the room.
"An extraordinary child," said Miss Mackenzie.
"A sweet child, I call her," said Mrs. Naylor. "What a beautiful face!"
"My dear Mrs. Naylor, does the beauty of Ruth Craven's face affect this
question? She is, in my opinion, extremely silly, and a very naughty
child.--Miss Ravenscroft, we leave it to you to bring the little girl to
reason. I have known her grandfather ever since he kept a grocer's shop
in the High Street. I have respected him more than any man I ever knew.
This child in appearance is one of Nature's ladies, but we must get her
to see things in the right light, and if necessary she must be made an
example of. It will be very painful, but it must be done."
"I will do what I can," said Miss Ravenscroft; "but from the little I
have seen of Ruth, I imagine she would go to the stake before she would
betray those who are kind to her. I will, however, confide in Cassandra;
she is extremely fond of Ruth, and she may influence her where others
fail. I can't help saying, Miss Mackenzie, that it would be a very
terrible thing, and would, I believe much injure the school, if a girl
like Ruth were expelled. The other foundationers would feel it; there
would be a sense of martyrdom. Sides would be taken for and against her.
I trust that this extreme step will not be necessary."
"If she does not tell us what she knows, it will be not only necessary,
but it will be carried into effect, and in my presence," said Miss
Mackenzie. "But now to return to the more immediate business. You say
these girls meet in a quarry?"
"I have heard rumors to that effect."
"Do you think they meet there every night? Are their scandalous
proceedings a nightly occurrence?"
"Oh, no; I do not think they meet oftener than once a week."
"Have you any idea what night they choose?"
"I am rather under the impression that this is the night."
"Then send some one to see, Miss Ravenscroft. One or two of the teachers
would be the best. They could go to the quarry to-night and wait there
in order to see if the girls arrive. If they do, my orders are that they
take no apparent notice of them, but write down the names of all
present. If that can be done, and you are successful in finding the
girls, we shall have the matter, as it were, in a nutshell, and we shall
soon crush this disgraceful rebellion."
"And what about Kathleen?" asked Miss Ravenscroft.
"There is very little doubt that she will have to be expelled. Such a
girl as that is a firebrand in a school, and however rich she may be,
and however well-born, the sooner she leaves us the better."