BRIDGET O'HARA'S STALL.
"And now, my dears," said Mrs. Freeman, addressing her assembled
school, "we have come to the end of our school term; the prizes
have been distributed; the examinations are over. To those girls
who have succeeded in winning prizes, and who have, in consequence,
been raised to higher classes in the school, I offer my most hearty
congratulations; they have worked well and steadily, and they now reap
their due rewards. You, my dears"--the head mistress waved her hand in
the direction of the successful girls who were each of them pinning
a white satin badge into their dresses, and were standing together
in a little group--"you, my dears, will wear the badge of honor all
through the remainder of this day; may honor dwell in your hearts,
and may success attend you through life; that success, my dear girls,
which comes from earnest living, from constant endeavor to pursue the
right, from constant determination to forsake the wrong. You have been
successful in this day's examinations; you have every reason to be
pleased with your success; but, at the same time, it must not render
you self-confident. In short, my dear girls, you must ask for strength
other than your own to carry you safely though the waves of this
troublesome world. I now want to say a word or two to those girls who
have not to-day earned prizes. I want you, my dear children, not to go
away with any undue sense of discouragement. If, through carelessness
or inattention, you have not got the prize you coveted, you must
try very hard to be careful and attentive next term; you must also,
however, remember that every girl cannot win a prize, but that patience
and constant endeavor will secure to each of you the best rewards in
due time. On the whole, the term's work has been satisfactory, and the
progress made in every branch of study gratifying. I now declare the
school closed as far as lessons are concerned. Some of you will go away
to your own homes to-night; some to-morrow morning. We shall all meet
again, I hope, in September; and now there is a very happy time before
us. To the courage and the thoughtfulness of a young girl in this
school whom you all know--I allude to Janet May--we are going to have
a Fancy Fair for the benefit of a child who has none of the advantages
which you one and all possess. Evelyn Percival, as the head girl of the
school, and as my special friend and right hand, will hold the first
stall at the Fancy Fair; this, of course, is her due--but, that every
justice should be done, I wish you all, girls, now to acknowledge that
the first thought of the fair was due to Janet. Shall we cheer her?"
A chorus of applause followed the head mistress's speech. Janet, in
her white dress with green ribbons, the glistening satin badge of a
prize-winner pinned on her breast, stood pale and slender, a little in
advance of the other girls who had also won prizes. A brief gleam of
triumph filled her dark, steel-blue eyes; she glanced at Evelyn, who,
next to her, occupied the most conspicuous position; her breath came
fast; her lips trembled. The burst of applause was delicious to her.
The girls were all clapping and stamping vigorously. Their "hip, hip,
hurrrah!" echoed through the large hall where the examinations had just
been held.
Raising her eyes suddenly, Janet perceived that Bridget O'Hara stood
motionless. She was in front of a group of smaller girls; her lips were
shut; neither hands nor feet responded to the volume of applause which
was echoing on all sides for Janet May.
"Now we'll cheer our head girl," said Mrs. Freeman. "We are thankful
for her restoration to health, and we wish her long to remain an inmate
of Mulberry Court. Now, girls, with all your might, three cheers for
Evelyn Percival, the school favorite!"
The burst of applause was deafening; the old roof rang with the
exultant young voices. Evelyn, in her turn, proposed some cheers for
the head mistress and the other teachers, after which the school broke
up.
"Why didn't you cheer Janet May, Biddy?" asked Violet, when the girls
were streaming out of the hall. "I noticed that you didn't say a word,
and that you neither clapped your hands nor stamped your feet. I was
surprised, for I thought you were so fond of her."
"I'm not fond of her at all," said Bridget. "Don't bother me, Vi; I
must run down now to the marquee to see about my stall."
Violet's little face looked mystified. She turned to say something to
her chum Alice, and Bridget ran down the lawn to the marquee.
The school was broken up by twelve o'clock, but the Fancy Fair was not
to be opened until three.
Evelyn Percival's stall had been fully dressed the night before. It
looked very lovely and inviting, and although Janet's and Bridget's
stall also looked pretty, the stall of the head girl took the shine out
of all the others.
When Bridget found herself standing by the marquee she looked around,
to find no one present but Janet.
"I suppose you are satisfied now?" she said, giving Miss May a slightly
contemptuous glance. "You had your desire; you were publicly honored
and clapped by the whole school."
"Well, my dear love," retorted Janet, who was most anxious to be
friendly with Bridget, "don't be vicious about it. I noticed that you
didn't clap me, nor cheer me. Why was that, _chérie_? Your conduct
didn't look at all amiable."
"I was to clap you for being good and honorable. As I happen to know
you are not at all good, and most frightfully dishonorable, it was
impossible for me to join in the applause."
"Oh, now, my dear Bridget, if you are going to preach!"
"I to preach? Certainly not! I need someone to preach _me_ sermons.
When are we to see Mrs. Freeman?"
"I told you not before this evening. Why will you worry me with that
unpleasant subject? We have enough on our hands now in getting the fair
well through."
"I wish it were over; I hate the Fancy Fair! I saw Miss Delicia looking
at me, and Miss Dent's eyes were so red, while Mrs. Freeman was talking
of the goodness of her girls. I never felt smaller nor meaner in my
life. If Mrs. Freeman had known everything, you would not have been
standing where you were, Janet, with all that false glory shining
about you. I couldn't have taken it, if it were me; but you didn't seem
to mind."
"Mind, dear? I like it, I assure you! I mean to have some more of that
sort of glory before the day is out. Ah, and here they come! I knew
they would not fail us."
Janet's eyes glistened with delight; she forgot all Biddy's unpleasant
words in the ecstasy of this moment. Two men were seen walking across
the lawn, each of them bearing a large hamper. They laid them down on
the grass beside Janet and Bridget.
"These are from Lady Kathleen Peterham," the foremost of the men said.
"She desired that they should be delivered without delay to Miss
Bridget O'Hara and Miss Janet May."
"This is Bridget O'Hara, and I am Janet May," exclaimed Janet.
The man touched his hat.
"That's all right, then, miss. There are four more hampers to be
brought along; we has 'em in a cart at the gate. My mate and me'll go
back and fetch 'em, miss; and Lady Kathleen said that one of us was to
stay and help you to open them."
"Yes, yes," said Janet eagerly. "Bring the hampers round, please,
to the back part of the marquee. We shall have the place quite to
ourselves, for the girls do not think there is anything more to be
done, and they are busy finishing their packing. Now, Biddy, Biddy,
help me! let us set to work. Oh, Glory and Honor, we shall have
something more to do with _you_ this day!"
Janet's delicate complexion began to flame with excitement; her hand
shook with eagerness. She fastened a large brown holland apron over
her pretty white dress, and with the aid of one of the men, who was
very handy and efficient, began to take out the contents of the hampers.
Bridget stood aside without offering to help. Janet gave her one or two
indignant glances, and then resolved to waste no further time on her.
The lovely things which Lady Kathleen had purchased in Paris were so
varied and so dazzling that the home-painted fans, and the various home
articles of beauty and art were pushed hastily out of sight, and the
stall practically redecked.
Lady Kathleen had evidently spared neither time nor money. Her
magnificent contribution to the Fancy Fair consisted of necklets,
bangles, scarfs, handkerchiefs, aprons, ties, every conceivable house
ornament, gay butterflies for the hair, bewitching little Parisian
bonnets; in short, a medley of fashion and beauty which intoxicated
Janet out of all reason. She clapped her hands, and laughed aloud, and
even Bridget so far forgot her sorrows and the gloom and disgrace which
each moment was bringing nearer, to exclaim at the treasures which were
taken out of the wonderful hampers.
Evelyn's really beautiful stall sank into complete insignificance
beside the stall which was decked with the rare articles of beauty
from the choicest Parisian shops. Evelyn might be head of the fair,
but Lady Kathleen would certainly have her wish, for no one with eyes
to see, and money in her pocket, would linger for a moment beside
the home-decked stall when the sort of fairyland which Bridget's and
Janet's stall now presented was waiting within a stone's throw for
their benefit.
Lady Katherine, remembering the wants of the children, had supplied
endless toys and bonbon boxes. In short, no one was forgotten. From
the youngest to the oldest a fairy contribution could be found on this
wonderful stall.
Lady Kathleen's final act of beneficence was shown in her having marked
an exceedingly low price on each of the beautiful articles. In short,
a whim had seized her ladyship. Money was of no moment to her; she
had spent lavishly, and gone to enormous expense. If every article on
the stall were sold, about half the money she had expended would be
realized, but that fact mattered nothing at all; her object being not
to benefit little Tim Donovan, but to bring honor and renown to her
beautiful niece Bridget.
Janet had great taste. She knew in a moment where to place each article
to the best advantage; she grouped her colors with an eye to artistic
effect; every touch from her deft fingers told. She was so excited and
intoxicated with the cheers she had received in the school, and now
with this fulfillment of her dearest dream, that her natural talent
arose almost to genius. Even Biddy could not help exclaiming with
wonder at the results she produced.
"Whatever you are, Janet, you're clever!" she said. "I never saw
anything more lovely than this stall; never, never, in all my life!"
"Well," said Janet, "if you admire it, Bridget, be good-natured about
it. Whatever is going to happen in the next few hours, let us be happy
while the bazaar is going on. Nothing can take place to disturb or
frighten us during that time. Let us, therefore, be happy."
"Lady Kathleen Peterham said, miss," remarked one of the men, now
approaching Janet, and touching his hat respectfully, "that this box
was to be given most especial to you and the other young lady when the
stall was decked. Lady Kathleen said you would know what was in it when
you opened it, and she'd be sure to be here herself in good time for
the fair. Is there anything more that me and my mate can do for you
both, young ladies?"
"No, nothing further," said Janet, "we are much obliged. Please
clear away the hampers and the pieces of paper and wool in which the
different things were wrapped, and if you return to Lady Kathleen say
that everything is most satisfactory."
Janet had assumed a slightly commanding air, which suited her well. The
men were under the impression that she must be Lady Kathleen's niece.
They respectfully attended to her bidding, and, holding the box in her
hand, she and Bridget walked round to the other side of the marquee.
It was a large box, and at another time Janet would have been
disinclined to burden herself with anything so heavy; but she was in
too good a humor now to think of small inconveniences. Attached to the
box was pinned a little note. It was directed to Bridget.
"Here!" said Janet, handing it to her. "This is from your aunt; you had
better read it at once."
"I don't suppose it matters," said Biddy.
"Of course it matters. I never saw anyone so dull and stupid! Shall I
read it to you?"
"If you like."
Janet tore the note open. Her eyes rested on the following words; she
read them aloud:
DARLING BIDDY:
I am told that Mrs. Freeman wishes all the stall-holders to wear
simple white with green ribbons, but there are different degrees
and qualities of this charming combination. I have selected
something very simple for you and your friend Miss May to wear
on this auspicious occasion. You will find your dresses in the
accompanying box. I can promise that they will fit you perfectly.
"O Biddy, Biddy!" said Janet, in excitement, "was there ever anyone so
kind as your Aunt Kathleen? Let us bring this box into the house at
once, and look at our finery."
Even Bridget was not proof against the charms of a new dress. She
had a great love for gay clothing, and one of the small things that
fretted her on the occasion of the Fancy Fair was having to wear a book
muslin dress, made after a prescribed pattern, with a simple sash of
apple-green round her waist.
She, therefore, willingly helped Janet to convey the big box to the
house.
In the general excitement and disturbance the girls had no difficulty
in conveying it unobserved to Bridget's bedroom, where they eagerly
opened it, and pulled out its contents.
Lady Kathleen Peterham had been careful to obey Mrs. Freeman's commands
to the letter. The Parisian frocks were also of book muslin, and the
sashes to be worn with them were of apple-green. But very wide was the
difference between the dresses made by a home dressmaker at Mulberry
Court and those which two pairs of eager eyes now feasted on.
Lady Kathleen was quite right when she said that there are many kinds
of simple costumes. The quality of this book muslin was of the finest;
the embroidery and lace of the most exquisite; the puffings and
frillings, the general cut and arrangements, were made in the newest,
the most stylish and the most becoming fashion. There was something
piquant about these dresses, which removed them many degrees from those
which Evelyn Percival, Dorothy Collingwood, and the other girls would
wear. There were white silk stockings for the girls' dainty feet, and
little apple-green satin shoes with pearl buckles and high heels for
them to wear with the stockings; there were rows of shining green beads
to clasp round their slender throats; and last, but not least, there
were the cunningest and most bewitching little headdresses in the world
to perch on their heads of sunny hair.
"Let us dress quickly," said Janet. "Let us slip the dresses on and run
down to the marquee and stay there. Oh, what _does_ dinner matter? no
one will mind whether we dine or not to-day. Let us stay in the marquee
until the fair opens; then, even if Mrs. Freeman should disapprove,
there won't be time for us to change. O Biddy, can it really be true
that I am not only to wear this exquisite costume, but to keep it? Oh,
what a woman your Aunt Kathleen is; she is really better than any fairy
godmother."
Bridget laughed, and cheered up a good deal while she was putting on
her beautiful dress. The two girls dressed with great expedition, and
ran down to the marquee, where they amused themselves flitting about
from one stall to another until half-past two.
The fair was to open at three, and at half-past two Mrs. Freeman,
the numerous teachers belonging to the school, and the rest of the
stall-holders streamed down in a body from the house. The white canvas
which concealed the front of the tent was removed, and the different
girls bustled to their stalls to give the finishing touches to
everything.
Bridget was feeling hungry for want of her dinner, but Janet was too
excited and too triumphant to feel the pangs of healthy appetite.
She stood a little in the shadow, a slight tremor of nervousness
running through her, notwithstanding her delight.
Mrs. Freeman was the first to enter the marquee; she was accompanied by
Evelyn and Dorothy; they all walked straight up to Evelyn's stall. It
was in the best position, and commanded the first view as one entered
the tent.
Mrs. Freeman had not hitherto seen the stalls; her hand was drawn
affectionately through Evelyn's arm, she had a careless and relieved
expression on her face which made her look years younger. As she had
just remarked to one of the teachers:
"I am like a schoolgirl myself to-day. I mean to slip away from dull
care for the next seven weeks."
Mrs. Freeman was a very handsome woman, and in her gray silk dress, and
a prettily arranged black lace scarf over her shoulders, she presented
a striking and impressive appearance.
"So this is our _first_ stall," she exclaimed; "very nice; very nice
indeed, Evelyn. I knew you had great taste, dear. I must now see what
Janet and Bridget have contrived between them."
Janet took this opportunity to step forward.
The shadow caused by the interior of the tent prevented Mrs. Freeman
from at once noticing the marked difference in her dress; she only
observed a very graceful girl, whose eyes were shining with happiness,
and cheeks flushed with natural excitement.
"Will it not be a good plan," said Janet, "to have the side canvas
removed also from the marquee. Visitors can then come in from both
sides, and there will be no sun round at this angle. Bridget's and my
stall is a good deal in shadow; we should like to have the side canvas
removed."
"Certainly," said Mrs. Freeman, "give your own directions, Janet."
Janet ran away, called to one of the gardeners, spoke to him quickly
and eagerly, ran up a step ladder herself to show him exactly what was
to be done, then, springing to the ground, she caught hold of Bridget's
hand and waited with a beating heart for the result.
What might have happened can never be known, but at the very moment
when the side canvas dropped, and the full glories of the Parisian
stall and the exquisitely dressed girls were exposed to view, a gay,
high voice was heard in the distance, and a lady was seen tripping with
little runs across the lawn, and advancing rapidly in the direction of
the marquee.
Mrs. Freeman at once went to meet this lady. Dorothy, Evelyn, Frances
Murray, and the many school teachers stood motionless, transfixed with
astonishment.
"Well, after that!" said Dolly at last, "are there fairies alive?
Janet, I think you are bewitched; what a stall!"
"I never saw anything so beautiful in my life," said Evelyn; "only I
think I ought to have been told."
"It's a nasty, mean trick!" said Frances Murray, "and I for one am not
going to be dazzled. It's enchantment, but it's not going to overcome
me." She turned away as she spoke; she realized the meaning of the
whole thing more quickly than the other two girls.
"Janet, come here," said Evelyn, running up to her, and pulling her
forward. "You are dressed in white muslin and green ribbons, but--O
Dolly! look at these girls' dresses. There is nothing whatever for us
to do but to hide our diminished heads."
"Not a bit of it!" said Dorothy in a stout voice. She turned away; her
cheeks were flushed with anger; she had never felt in a greater passion
in her life.
"It's a trick to humiliate you, Eva," she said in a whisper. "I might
have guessed that Janet would have been up to something; she never
wanted you to have anything to do with the fair. You would not have
been asked to join at all but for Mrs. Freeman's command, and now she
has invented this way to spite us both. I am not going to be cowed, of
course; but I never felt so plain and dowdy in my life. I see now why
she has taken up with that wretched little Bridget. Oh, why did we clap
Janet in the hall just now?"
"Never mind, dear," said Evelyn. "It does not really matter, of course,
whose stall is first. In my heart I never in the least cared to take a
prominent place in the bazaar. It was just Mrs. Freeman's wish."
"Just Mrs. Freeman's wish!" echoed Dorothy. "It was your right, Evelyn;
you know that perfectly well."
"Well, darling, my rights have been taken from me; not that it matters
in the very least. Please don't think that I am angry. Don't let us
seem sorry, Dolly; let us resign ourselves to the second position with
a good grace."
"Never!" said Dorothy, stamping her foot. "This is the first stall and
you are at the head of the fair, whether people buy from us or not.
What--is that you are saying, Janet? I don't want to listen to you."
"Only," said Janet, "you must not suppose this is my fault. I heard you
two muttering together, and I suppose you feel vexed that Bridget's and
my stall should be more beautiful than yours. If anyone is to blame in
the matter, it's Lady Kathleen Peterham. She said the other day she
would give us a contribution from Paris. It arrived this morning. How
could we possibly tell that it would be so large and magnificent?"
"And I suppose she sent you those dresses, too?"
"She did, quite unsolicited. Don't you admire them?'
"Go away! I don't want to speak to you!"
"You are making poor Bridget quite unhappy, Dorothy. Biddy, never mind,
dear; we will both do our utmost to keep in the shade, and, of course,
our stall is the second one, not the first. Whoever thought of its
being anything else?"
Janet turned away as she spoke. The rest of the children were now
pouring down from the house, and more and more guests were arriving
each moment. Lady Kathleen, after keeping Mrs. Freeman talking outside,
until the very last instant, now rushed in to survey the premises.
"Ah, my love!" she exclaimed, running up to her niece; "you do look
charming! I knew that cut about the shoulders, and that arrangement
of sleeve would suit you, Bridget. Come here, my treasure, and let
me look at you, and little May, too; sweet, dear little Mayflower. My
darling, let me whisper to you, you look most _recherchée--recherchée_,
yes, that is quite the word. Dear loves, your stall does us three
immense credit, does it not? Who talks of anyone else being first
now--eh, little Mayflower, eh?"
Janet laughed, flushed, and tripped about. Bridget threw her arms round
Lady Kathleen, and gave her a hug. Her presence slightly cheered her.
The bazaar now really began, and Janet's tact during the long hours of
hard work which followed never deserted her.
If Mrs. Freeman were angry she had no opportunity of showing her
feelings; neither Bridget nor Janet saw anything of Dolly and Evelyn;
they were surrounded by a stream of eager, worshiping, excited,
enthusiastic buyers. The dense mob which surrounded this one stall
seemed never for a moment to lighten. The girls worked with a will, and
money dropped into their boxes unceasingly.
Once Janet could not resist raising herself on tiptoe, and then
springing on an empty box, to see how Dolly's and Evelyn's stall was
faring.
Two or three sensible old ladies were calmly scrutinizing some
well-made children's frocks and pinafores; no one else seemed to be
buying; Dorothy and Evelyn did not look at all overworked. Turning her
head in another direction Janet saw that even the refreshment stall was
in nothing like the favor that her own stall was in. It was not only
the very beautiful things to be purchased, but the young stall-holders
were so piquant. One of them was so strikingly beautiful, and both
presented such an altogether uncommon appearance, that people pressed
forward to obtain a sight of them, and to wonder who they could be.
Finding that the work was too much even for the two indefatigable young
sellers, Lady Kathleen herself at last donned a green ribbon badge,
and tying on an apron, stepped behind the counter to help the sale.
Her good nature, her fun, her quick repartees, made her even a greater
favorite than the two girls. The excitement rose now fast and furious.
Never, in short, had there been a greater success than Bridget O'Hara's
stall.