The Lecture Hall is Dedicated
Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture
Hall had been in process of construction. Owing to the war, and the
scarcity of labour, it made slow progress. Sometimes the building went
on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done. Those
optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the
Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken. After innumerable delays
and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the
summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the
annual prize-giving.
The double function marked a great occasion in the annals of the school.
The increased accommodation would allow a large gathering, and many
invitations were sent forth. It was even whispered that the chair was to
be taken by the local Member of Parliament.
"Silverside's coming on no end!" said Consie Arkwright. "We never used
to have such grandees down. Miss Thompson used to be content with some
ordinary clergyman or elderly professor, to give the prizes, and now
she won't look at anybody below a bishop, or a mayor, or an M.P."
"She loves these functions!" chuckled Joyce. "She's perfectly happy when
she has on her best dress and her company smile, and is showing off the
school to an admiring crowd of visitors. I won't say that I don't rather
enjoy it myself. It makes one feel in the world somehow. It's jolly nice
to think that Silverside is of so much importance in the town."
"Bet we'll make a good show-up on Dedication Day!" commented Laura, who
had drifted into the conversation. "Hopscotch was saying something about
the whole school in white dresses and our badges. By the by, Miss
Thompson's got a little surprise for us. She's been having some
beautiful ribbon, in the school colours, specially woven for Silverside.
She showed it to Adah and me this morning in the study, and I can tell
you it's topping! We're each to have a piece of it for our hair, and
wear it on the great day, so that we all look alike. She's having new
hat bands woven, too, for next term. I think they'll be rather smart."
"I begin to wish I wasn't leaving," said Isobel almost mournfully.
"Really, Silverside has been much jollier lately than it used to be. It
would have been ripping fun to stop another year and work up the hockey,
as we've done the cricket and tennis."
"There'll be something to read out in the Games Report this time!"
purred Joyce.
"It'll be precious!" agreed Consie.
The Principal was naturally anxious that her pupils should make
a good display on so important an occasion. She arranged a very
carefully-thought-out programme of the ceremony. There were to be
speeches by local magnates, the School Report must be read, the hall
dedicated, and the prizes distributed. She decided that her pupils ought
to sing one or two suitable songs, and she came in to the singing class
one morning to discuss the matter with Miss Webster, and hear the girls
run through a few glees. She found it difficult to make a choice.
"They're nice in their way, but not altogether what is needed. I should
have liked something really appropriate to a Dedication. In fact, I'm
afraid I want what I am not at all likely to get--a special song
composed for Silverside."
"Could we adapt anything?" suggested Miss Webster, rapidly turning over
a pile of music, while the class, deeply interested, sat listening to
the discussion.
"Not much use without new words. Pity we have no poet in the school! If
there had been time, I'd have written to a music publisher and asked if
it would be possible to have a song composed for us. It's too late now.
I wish I'd thought of it sooner!"
"Oh, Miss Thompson," said Avelyn, suddenly springing to her feet and
blushing hotly at her own temerity, "I know a lady who writes songs!
She's very much interested in Silverside--I've told her so much about
it. I really believe if I asked her she'd make up just what you want.
She's quite clever enough to do it."
Miss Thompson's convex glasses were focused on Avelyn in a stare of
astonished gratification. She literally jumped at the idea.
"If you think your friend would really be so kind," she assented, "we
should be most grateful to her. Where does she live? At Lyngates? Then
write to her this afternoon, and see if you can persuade her to take
pity on us. I suppose she would know the sort of thing we want?"
"I'll explain exactly," promised Avelyn, sitting down, conscious that in
the eyes of the class she had covered herself with glory. She was
excused "English language" that afternoon for the purpose of writing her
letter to Miss Carrington, and sat with her blotter--an object of much
envy--while the remainder of the form wrestled with Anglo-Saxon
derivations.
"I don't think my Lavender Lady will fail me!" she murmured as she
stamped her envelope. "I believe it's just the sort of thing she'll like
doing."
Avelyn's trust in her friend was amply justified. She received by return
of post a card bearing the words: "Highly honoured. Will do my best."
"I knew she would--the dear, clever darling!" rejoiced Avelyn, waving
her post card in triumph as she ran down to the study to communicate the
good news to Miss Thompson.
On Friday evening, when Avelyn called at the bungalow, the Lavender Lady
had a neat music manuscript ready for her.
"I hope it will do," she said. "It's as far as possible what you asked
me for. I've tried to express a spirit of school patriotism and union in
the words, which seems to be the principal thing to aim at just now, and
I've arranged the music for three voices. You'll have to make copies of
it at school."
"Miss Peters will do that with the duplicator," beamed Avelyn. "I do
think you're just the most absolutely lovely and clever and delicious
person that I've ever met, or ever shall meet, in all this wide world!
How do you manage to think of things? I couldn't compose a song to save
my life!"
"Why, I really don't know! The ideas just float into my head somehow,"
laughed the Lavender Lady. "As a matter of fact, this tune came to me in
bed, at about half-past two in the morning, and I was obliged to get up
and go downstairs to the piano to try it over and jot it down on paper
before I forgot it. I knew that if I went to sleep again it would escape
me. There's nothing so elusive as music. Yes, I'll try it over for you
if you like. It'll sound much better, though, in three parts. I hope
your first sopranos can reach A sharp? If not, I must set it in a lower
key, but I like it best in this."
"They've got to get A sharp if they crack their voices!" decided Avelyn
firmly.
The dedication and prize giving were to be held on the last afternoon of
the term, and guests were invited for 2.30 prompt. The girls,
resplendent in white dresses and the new hair ribbons, made a brave
show, and all were sitting discreetly in their places when the
distinguished visitors were ushered on to the platform.
During the last six months a better tone and discipline had pervaded the
school, and there had been no repetition of the disorderly scene that
had preceded the laying of the foundation stone. Every pupil of
Silverside now prided herself upon her manners. It had become a matter
of _noblesse oblige_.
Mr. Robson, the Member of Parliament for Harlingden, was a short, stout
man, with a bald head and a big moustache, and some gift of oratory. He
fulfilled with dignity his duties as chairman, and made a capital
speech, bringing in his views about education, and wishing Silverside
every success. A hundred and ten youthful pairs of hands clapped
obediently, though some of the most junior heads had not altogether
grasped the drift of the remarks.
It was now the turn of the School Report. Miss Thompson, typed papers in
hand, was standing up and clearing her throat preparatory to reading it
aloud.
Avelyn, in the fifth row from the front, turned her head and took a
comprehensive glance round the room. It was certainly a hall to be proud
of, looking both stately and festive with its decorations of flowers and
flags and its large palms upon the platform. She was glad that the
Lavender Lady should see it. Miss Carrington had come to the gathering
with Mrs. Watson and Daphne; Captain Harper and Captain and Mrs.
Reynolds were sitting next to them. They caught Avelyn's eye, and smiled
as she looked across, then concentrated their attention on the platform,
where Miss Thompson was beginning to read the report.
The Principal first of all described the general work of the school,
what successes had been gained in public examinations, and what record
each Form could show. The average of marks was high, and both mistresses
and pupils might be congratulated on their efforts during the year.
After commenting on the improvement which had also been made in music,
part singing, drawing, and painting, Miss Thompson passed to the subject
of games.
"I am very glad to say," so ran the report, "that on its athletic as
well as its intellectual side the school is now holding its own. During
the winter season little was done in that respect, but with the spring a
great games revival took place, and the 'Loyal School League' was
instituted, the object of which was to win honours for Silverside. I
heartily congratulate the League both on the spirit of union and school
patriotism which it has fostered and on the successes which it has won.
The cricket throughout has been most spirited, and great thanks are due
to Miss Leslie and Miss Kennedy for their admirable help in coaching.
Out of six matches the school scored four victories, a very creditable
record for a first season. In tennis also we are beginning to take our
place. The improvement of the general play is most marked, and we hope
to have established a new standard of energy and efficiency. Our
champions were successful in defeating Pendlebury Ladies' College and
Westfield High School; a match was also played with the Clifford Girls'
Grammar School, which resulted in a draw. As we consider games to be an
extremely important item in our curriculum, we hope that this term's
strenuous effort has established a precedent in this respect, and that
the League will go on to greater triumphs in the future."
After the report came the distribution of prizes and Form trophies. VA
won a beautiful picture for a wild-flower competition; IVB gained the
cup for general improvement; and the Sixth the shield for knowledge of
contemporary events; while among individual successes Adah Gartley,
Annie Broadside, Maggie Stuart, Laura Talbot, and Irma Ridley were
called up to receive rewards of books.
"I am asked to announce," said the chairman, "that Miss Thompson and the
mistresses have presented a new gift to the school. This beautiful
silver cup is to be awarded annually to the girl who is considered to
have performed the greatest service for Silverside during the year. The
first to win it is Avelyn Watson, to whose enterprise and energy in
initiating the 'Loyal School League' much of the present success in
games may fairly be credited. I congratulate you," beaming at Avelyn as
he handed her the trophy, "that yours is the first name to be engraved
upon the cup."
Avelyn walked back to her place almost overwhelmed by the unexpected
honour. It was a complete surprise, for the mistresses had kept their
secret well, and had allowed no word of it to leak out beforehand. The
storm of clapping from the girls showed that the trophy, and the choice
of its winner, were equally appreciated. There could be no mistake about
the genuine cordiality of the applause.
"May I say, in conclusion," finished Mr. Robson, "that the part song
which will now be rendered by the singing class has been composed
specially for this occasion by a well-known musician, and that
henceforward it will take its place as what we might call the national
anthem of Silverside, to be sung at all school functions."
Miss Webster struck a chord on the piano, and the singing class rose.
The sunlight flooding through the window shone on their white dresses
and the colours that tied their hair. There were a few bars of prelude,
then, to a swinging, rousing, and most original tune, they sang:
"Girls of Silverside!
Hear us as we sing:
With the praises of our school
Let the rafters ring.
Loyal hearts and true
Bring we here to-day,
Chanting as our battle-cry,
'Silverside for aye!'
So join your hands and join your hearts,
And form a circle wide,
Let Silverside be all your pride,
Girls of Silverside!
"Girls of Silverside!
True you are and leal,
Each must strive her noble best
For the common weal.
Banish thoughts of self,
Make your interests wide,
Be the glory that you gain
All for Silverside.
So join your hands and join your hearts,
And form a circle wide,
Let Silverside be all your pride,
Girls of Silverside!
"Girls of Silverside!
For the good and right,
Here and in the wider world
Let us all unite.
To your strenuous care
Our honour we confide,
Let your lives be such as bring
Praise to Silverside.
So join your hands and join your hearts,
And form a circle wide,
Let Silverside be all your pride,
Girls of Silverside!"
When the function was over, and mistresses, visitors, and girls streamed
out of the new Lecture Hall, Avelyn's steps gravitated at once towards
her Lavender Lady.
"Your song was beautiful," she whispered. "Everybody says it's the best
tune they've heard for ages--it haunts us, we can't get it out of our
heads for a minute! Miss Webster says she could play it in her sleep. It
was just what we wanted--something specially for Silverside!"
"I'm glad it went off all right. Let me look at your cup. You lucky
girl! Just to think that 'Avelyn Watson' is the very first name to be
engraved upon it! Where are you going to keep such a treasure?"
"I shall take it home for the holidays, and then have it in our form
room next term. If you don't mind, I'd like it to spend a week at the
bungalow. I feel it was you who really won it, not I. The League was
your idea entirely. Even if I'd thought of it I should never have had
the courage to propose it, if it hadn't been for you. You inspired it
all! May the cup stand on your mantelpiece for a whole week?"
"Only on one condition--that you come and stay with me to take care of
it!"
"Oh! may I? I'd love to stay with you and have you all to myself."
Avelyn's eyes were shining.
"Hallo, old sport!" said Laura, coming rollicking up with Irma, Janet,
Mona, and a few other congenial spirits. "Congratulations! We didn't
know Miss Thompson had this cup up her sleeve, did we? Jolly decent of
her and the mistresses, I must say! We ought to subscribe and buy a
bracket to put it on. Won't it look fine when it's up, rather! Some of
the old girls are here to-day, and Miss Thompson's been telling them
about the League. They think it's topping!"
"And they say our hair ribbons are just too jinky for anything," added
Janet.
"Glad to hear they like them," said Avelyn, twisting round her plait
and readjusting the broad bow of pink, blue, and navy. "Yes, on the
whole, I really think it's rather priceless to have our hair tied with
the school colours."
"It stands for so much," put in the Lavender Lady gently.
"Right you are! We're all hall-marked safe and sound now for a united
Silverside," agreed Laura. "Next term our school will just forge ahead
and break the record."
Printed and Bound in Great Britain
_By Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow_
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
Hyphenation has been retained as it appears in the original
publication. Punctuation has been made consistent.
Page 41 and an upper story containing _changed to_
and an upper storey containing
Page 157 I wonder we've not see you _changed to_
I wonder we've not seen you
Page 171 All four girls were busy packing _changed to_
All five girls were busy packing