BEHIND SCENES
The girls were hardly in a mood to return to their fudge-making, so
Stella produced a box of Whitman's chocolates and the group settled down
to eat them and discuss the events of the past exciting half hour. Polly
squatted upon the rug and with her uninjured arm hauled about half of
Tzaritza upon her lap. Tzaritza was positively foolish in her ecstatic
joy at being restored to favor.
"Poor Tzaritza, you got into trouble because I lost my temper, didn't
you? It was a heap more my fault than yours after all."
"Oh, there's nothing wrong with Tzaritza. It's the Sturgeon. Hateful old
thing! I just hope Mrs. Vincent gives her bally-hack," stormed Rosalie.
"Suppose we did shout and screech? It's Saturday night and we have a
right to if we like. But what under the sun did Mrs. Vincent want of
you, Peggy?"
"Oh, nothing very serious," answered Peggy, smiling in a way which set
Rosalie's curiosity a-galloping.
"Yes, what _did_ she want?" demanded Polly, turning to look up at Peggy.
"Can't tell anybody _now_. You'll all know after Thanksgiving," answered
Peggy, wagging her head in the negative.
"Oh, please tell us! Ah, do! We won't breathe a living, single word!"
cried the chorus.
"Uh-mh!" murmured Peggy in such perfect imitation of old Mammy that
Polly laughed outright.
"Aren't you even going to tell Polly?" asked Rosalie, who had arrived at
some very definite conclusion regarding these friends, for Rosalie was
far from slow if at times rather more self-assertive than the average
young lady is supposed to be.
For answer Peggy broke into a little air from a popular comic opera
running just then in Washington and to which Captain Stewart had taken
his little party only a few weeks before:
"And what is right for Tweedle-dum is wrong for Tweedle-dee," sang Peggy
in her sweet contralto voice, Polly following in her bird-like whistle.
The little ruse worked to perfection. The girls forgot all about Peggy's
"call down," as a summons to Mrs. Vincent's study was banned, and had a
rapture over Polly's whistling and Peggy's singing, nor were they
satisfied until a dozen airs had been given in the girl's very best
style. Then came the story of the concerts at home, and Polly's
whistling at the Masquerader's Show when Wharton Van Nostrand fell ill,
and a dozen other vivid little glimpses of the life back in Severndale
and up in "Middie's Haven" until their listeners were nearly wild with
excitement.
"And they are to have a house party there during the holidays, girls.
Think of that!" cried Helen.
"Honest?" cried Lily Pearl, leaning forward with clasped hands, while
even Juno, the superior, became animated and remarked:
"Really! I dare say you will choose your guests with extreme care as to
their appeal to the model young men they are likely to meet at
Annapolis, for I don't doubt your aunt, Mrs. Harold, is a most
punctilious chaperon."
"Juno's been eating hunks of the new Webster's Dictionary, girls. That's
how she happens to have all those long words so near the top. They got
stuck going down so they come up easy," interjected Rosalie.
Juno merely tossed her head, but vouchsafed no answer. Rosalie's Western
_gaucherie_ was beneath her notice. Juno's home was at the Hotel Astor
in New York City. At least as much of "home" as she knew. Her mother
had lived abroad for the past five years, and was now the Princess
Somebody-or-other. Her father kept his suite at the Astor but lived
almost anywhere else, his only daughter seeing him when he had less
enticing companionship. A "chaperon" did duty at the Astor when Juno was
in the city, which was not often. Consequently, Juno's ideas of domestic
felicity were not wholly edifying; her conception of anything pertaining
to home life about as hazy as the nebula.
"Perhaps if you ever know Tanta you'll be able to form your own
opinion," answered Polly quietly, looking steadily at Juno with those
wonderfully penetrating gray eyes until the girl shrugged and colored.
Stella laughed a low, odd little laugh and came over to drop upon the
rug beside Polly, saying as she slipped her arm around her and
good-naturedly dragged her down upon her lap:
"You are one funny, old-fashioned little kid, do you know that? Some
times I feel as though I were about twenty years your senior, and then
when I catch that size-me-up, read-me-through, look in your eyes, I make
up my mind _I'm_ the infant--not you. Where did you and Peggy catch and
bottle up all your worldly wisdom?"
"Didn't know _I_ had so much," laughed Polly, "but Peggy was born with
hers, I reckon. If I have any it has been bumped into my head partly by
mother, partly by Aunt Janet, and the job finished by the boys Juno has
been referring to. It doesn't do to try any nonsense with _that_ bunch;
they see through you and call your bluff as quick as a flash. We were
pretty good chums and I miss them more than I could ever miss a lot of
girls, I believe. Certainly, more than I missed the Montgentian girls
when I left them."
"Nothing like being entirely frank, I'm sure," was Juno's superior
remark:
"That's another thing the boys taught us," replied Polly imperturbably.
Just then the bell rang for "rooms."
"There's Tattoo!" cried Polly. "If I get settled down at Taps tonight
I'll be doing wonders. Miss Allen has bandaged up my arm as though
Tzaritza had bitten half of it off. Come on, 'Ritza. Peggy, you'll have
to get me out of my dudds tonight. Good-night, girls. Sorry we didn't
get our fudge made. Maybe if I'd let Helen alone you would have had it,"
and with a merry laugh Polly ran from the room, all animosity forgotten.
"What did she mean by 'Tattoo' and 'Taps,'" asked Natalie of Peggy.
"The warning call sounded on the bugle for the midshipmen to go to their
rooms, and the lights out call which follows. Have you never heard
them? They are so pretty. Polly and I love them so, and you can't think
how we miss them here. Polly always sounded them on her bugle at home.
You've no idea how sweetly she can do it," answered Peggy as she walked
toward her room beside Natalie.
"Oh, I wish I _could_ hear them. I wonder if mother knows anything about
them," cried Natalie enthusiastically. "Do you know, I think you and
Polly are perfectly wonderful, you have so many original ideas. I am
just crazy to know what mother wanted of you tonight. I'm going to ask
her. Do you think she will tell me?"
"Why not? The only reason I did not tell was because I felt I had no
right to. If Mrs. Vincent wants the others to know she will tell them,
but you are different. I reckon mothers can't keep anything from their
own daughters. At least Polly and her mother seem to share everything
and I know Mrs. Harold is just like a mother to me."
The girls separated and Peggy and Polly were soon behind closed doors
discussing Mrs. Vincent's private interview with the former.
The following Tuesday was Hallow E'en and where is your school-girl who
does not revel in its privileges? Mrs. Vincent, contrary to Miss
Sturgis' preconceived ideas of what was possible and proper for a girls'
school, though the latter never failed to quote the rigid discipline of
the school which had profited by her valuable services prior to her
engagement at Columbia Heights, was given to some departures which often
came near reducing Miss Sturgis to tears of vexation.
One of these rules, or rather the lack of them, was the arrangement of
the tables in the two dining-rooms. In the dining-room for the little
girls under twelve a teacher presided at each table as a matter of
course, but in the main dining-hall covers were laid for six at each
table, one of the girls presiding as hostess, her tenure of office
depending wholly upon her standing in the school, her deportment,
ability and general average of work. At the further end of the room Mrs.
Vincent's own table was placed, and the staff of eight resident teachers
sat with her. It was a far happier arrangement than the usual one of
placing a teacher at each table and having her, whether consciously or
unconsciously, arrogate the entire conversation, interests and viewpoint
to herself. Of course, there are some teachers who can still recall with
sufficient vividness their own school-girl life to feel keenly the
undercurrent of restraint which an older person almost invariably
starts when thrown with a group of younger ones, and who possesses the
power and tact to overcome it and enter the girl-world. But these are
the exceptions rather than the rule, and none knew this better than Mrs.
Vincent. Consequently, she chose her own way of removing all possible
danger of impaired digestion, believing that the best possible aid to
healthy appetites and perfectly assimilated food were untrammeled
spirits and hearty laughs. So she and her staff sat at their own table
where they were free to discuss the entire school if they chose to do
so, and the girls--for, surely, "turn-about-is-fairplay"--could discuss
them. It worked pretty well, too, in spite of Miss Sturgis' inclination
to keep one eye and one ear "batted" toward the other tables, often to
Mrs. Vincent's intense, though carefully concealed amusement.
And now came Hallow E'en, and with small regard for Miss Sturgis'
prejudices, plump in the middle of the school week! At the end of the
last recitation period that afternoon when the whole school of one
hundred fifty girls, big and little, had gathered in the chapel, for the
working day invariably ended with a few kindly helpful words spoken by
Mrs. Vincent and the reading of the thirty-fourth Psalm and singing
Shelley's beautiful hymn of praise, Mrs. Vincent paused for a moment
before dismissing her pupils. Many of the older girls knew what to
expect, but the newer ones began to wonder if their sins had found them
out. Nevertheless, Mrs. Vincent's expression was not alarming as she
moved a step toward them and asked:
"Which of my girls will be willing to give up her afternoon recreation
period and devote that time to the preparation of tomorrow's work!"
The effect was amusing. Some of the girls gave little gasps of surprise,
others, ohs! of protest, others distinct negatives, while a good many
seemed delighted at the prospect. These had known Mrs. Vincent longest.
"Those of you who are ready to return to the main hall at four o'clock
and work until five-thirty may be released from all further obligations
for the evening, and the attic, laundry and gymnasium will be placed at
your disposal for a Hallow E'en frolic and--"
But she got no further. Rosalie Breeze, sans ceremony, made one wild
leap from her chair and rushed toward the platform. Miss Sturgis made a
peremptory motion and stepped toward her, but Mrs. Vincent raised her
hand. The next second Rosalie had flung herself bodily into Mrs.
Vincent's arms, crying:
"Oh, if every schoolmarm was just exactly like _you_ I'd never, never do
one single bad thing to plague 'em and I'll let you use me for your
doormat if you want to!"
A less self-contained woman would have been staggered by the sudden
onslaught and felt her rule and dignity jeopardized. Mrs. Vincent was of
different fibre. She gathered the little madcap into her arms for one
second, then taking the witch-like face in both hands kissed each
flushed cheek as she said:
"I sometimes think you claim kinship with the pixies,--you are half a
witch. So you accept the bargain? Good! Have all the fun you wish but
don't burn the house down."
By this time the whole school had gathered around her, asking questions
forty to the minute.
Mrs. Vincent looked like a fly-away girl herself in her sympathetic
excitement, for her soft, curly chestnut hair had somewhat escaped its
combs and pins, and her cheeks were as rosy as the girls. Mrs. Vincent
was only forty, and now looked about half her age.
Polly and Peggy crowded close to her, Natalie shared her arms with
Rosalie, quiet, undemonstrative Marjorie's face glowed with affection,
while even Juno condescended to unbend, and Lily Pearl and Helen gave
vent to their emotions by embracing each other. Stella, tall, stately
and such a contrast to the others, beamed upon the group.
But Isabel put the finishing stroke by remarking with, a most superior
smile:
"O Mrs. Vincent, what a perfect darling you are! Don't you perfectly
dote on her girls? _I_ fell in love with her years ago when I first met
her and I've simply worshiped at her shrine ever since."
"Rats!" broke out Rosalie, and Mrs. Vincent had just about all she could
manage for a moment. Her emotions were sadly at odds. Polly's laugh
saved the day and deflected Isabel's scorn.
"I really do not see what is amusing you, Miss Howland; I am sure I am
only expressing the sentiments of my better poised schoolmates."
"Oh, we all agree with you--every single one of us--though we are
choosing different ways of showing it, you see. If Peggy and I had been
down home we'd probably have given the Four-N yell. That's _our_ way of
expressing our approbation. The boys taught us, and we think its a
pretty good way. It works off a whole lot of pent-up steam."
"What is it, Polly?" asked Mrs. Vincent.
"I'm afraid you would have to hear the boys give it to quite understand
it, Mrs. Vincent, but I tell you it makes one tingle right down to
one's very toes--that yell!"
"Can't you and Peggy give it to us on a small scale? Just as a sample of
what we may hear some day? Perhaps if the girls hear it they can fall
in. I'd like to hear it myself."
Polly paused a moment, looking doubtfully at Peggy. That old Naval
Academy Yell meant a good deal to these two girls. They had heard it
under so many thrilling circumstances.
"We will give it if you wish it, Mrs. Vincent, though it will sound
funny I'm afraid from just Polly and me. Maybe though, the girls will
try it too after we have given it."
With more volume and enthusiasm than would have seemed possible from
just two throats, Peggy and Polly began:
"N--n--n--n!
A--a--a--a!
V--v--v--v!
Y--y--y--y!
Navy! Navy! Navy! Navy!
Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent!"
the ending being entirely in the nature of a surprise to that lady who
blushed and laughed like a girl. But before she could escape, Polly had
sprung to the platform and as a cheer leader who would have put Wheedler
of old to shame was crying: "Come on!"
The girls caught the spirit and swing with a will and the room rang to
their voices.
Clapping her hands and laughing happily Mrs. Vincent ran toward the door
only pausing long enough to say:
"Four P. M. sharp! Then from seven to ten 'the
goblins will get you if you don't watch out!'"
"Let Polly sound 'Assembly' at four. Please do, Mrs. Vincent. It will
make us come double time," begged Peggy, running after her and detaining
her by slipping her arm about her waist.
"Assembly? I don't believe I quite understand."
"On her bugle, you know. It's so pretty, and we did that way at home if
we wanted to bring the bunch together in a hurry."
"Well, I'm learning something new every minute, I believe. Yes, sound
your bugle call, Polly, and be sure I shall be on the _qui vive_ to hear
it. Before we know it we shall have a _girls'_ military school."
"Oh, wouldn't it be perfectly splendid if we only could and all wear
brass buttons!" cried Rosalie.
"I think some of the discipline would be splendid for all of us, and
especially the spirit of the thing," answered Stella. "The trouble with
most girls lies in the fact that they don't know how to work together.
There isn't much class spirit, or coöperation. Maybe if we tried some of
the methods Peggy and Polly seem to know so much about we'd come closer
together."
"Team work, I guess you mean," said Polly quickly. "It means a whole
lot."
Sharply at four the staccato notes of "Assembly" rang across the terrace
as Polly sounded the call upon her bugle. The girls came hurrying from
every direction and the ensuing hour and a half, usually free for
recreation, was cheerfully given over to study. Dinner was served at six
and at seven-thirty the revels began.
At Peggy's suggestion a part of the afternoon had been devoted to
devising costumes out of anything at hand, for a fancy dress party had
been hastily decided upon. As a result of this some unique and original
Hallow E'en sprites, nymphs, dryads or witches foregathered in the big
laundry, "cleared for action," Polly said, and two or three aroused
little cries of admiration.
Peggy was a dryad. She had rushed away to the woods on Shashai to return
with her mount buried from sight in autumn leaves. The dark, rich reds
of the oaks, the deep yellow of the beeches, the dogwood's and maple's
gorgeous variations and the sweet-gums blood red mingled in a
bewildering confusion of color. Stripping the leaves from the twigs she
proceeded to sew them upon a plain linen gown, and the result was
exquisite, for not a vestige of the fabric remained visible, and Peggy's
piquant, rich coloring peeped from a garment of living, burning color.
She herself was the only one who did not fully appreciate the picture
she presented.
Polly's costume was a character from one of the children's pages in a
Sunday newspaper. The entire costume was made of newspapers, with "The
Yellow Kid" much in evidence, Polly's tawny hair lending itself well to
the color scheme.
Natalie, who was fair as a lily, had chosen "sunlight," and was a bonny
little sun goddess. Lily Pearl, after a great deal of fuss and fidgeting
had elected to go as Titania, and Helen essayed Oberon. Juno, who was
very musical, made quite a stately Sappho. Little, sedate Marjorie was
an Alaskan-Indian Princess, and Rosalie rigged up a Puck costume which
made her irresistible. Isabel chose to be Portia, though that erudite
lady seemed somewhat out of place among the mythological characters. But
Stella was a startling Sibyl, with book, staff, and a little crystal
globe (removed from her paper-weight) in which to read horoscopes. The
others went in all sorts of guises or disguises.
In the laundry they found all properties provided. To tell of all which
took place would crowd out too much which must follow. Of course apples
were bobbed for, a hat pin was run through them to prod the seeds for
the true lover's heart, and they were hung upon strings to be caught in
one's teeth (the apples, _not_ the hearts) if luckily one did not get
one's nose bumped as they swung back. Melted lead was poured through a
key into cold water to take the mysterious form which would reveal the
occupation, or profession, of the future _He_, and Lily Pearl was thrown
into an ecstasy by having _her_ sputtering metal take very distinctly
the form of a ship. _And that house party "bid" not even hinted at yet!_
They walked downstairs backward, looking into a mirror to discover the
particular masculine face which would fill their live's mirrors, though,
unhappily some of the potency of the charm was lost because it could not
be done upon the witching stroke of midnight.
Dumb cakes were made, _his_ initials pricked in the dough, while in
perfect silence the cakes were baked on the laundry steam dryer, joy and
rapture descending upon the fortunate she if the initials did not vanish
in the baking. A ball of twine was thrown out of the kitchen window,
but when the thrower hurried out to find the ardent one who had so
promptly snatched it up and fled, she discovered Horatio Hannibal
Harrison beating a hasty retreat. He had been playing "Peeping Tom" and
the ball had caught him squarely upon his woolly crown. A doubtful
conscience did the rest.
A dozen other tests followed until the girls' occult knowledge reached
the limit. Then they danced in the Gym to music furnished by Mrs.
Vincent, who ended the prancing by sending in a huge "fate cake," a big
basket of nuts, a jug of sweet cider and some of Aunt Hippy's cookies.
Cutting the fate cake ended the Hallow E'en frolic. Lily Pearl was
thrown into a flutter by finding the ring in her slice. Juno turned
scornful when a plump raisin fell to her share, Helen drew a tiny key
from her piece, and the coin dropped into Rosalie's lap.
"Rubbish! I don't want riches. I want a handsome husband," she cried
with refreshing frankness.
"I hardly think I would noise that fact abroad," was Isabel's superior
criticism.
"No, I wouldn't if I were you, it would be so perfectly preposterous,"
retorted Rosalie.
Isabel made no reply, but took care that no one else discovered who had
found the thimble.