Speech Day
A night's rest did much to restore the two girls after their terrible
experience on the rocks. By next morning, though Muriel's foot still
hurt her when she walked, they were both well enough to return to
school, where, as you may imagine, they had many things to relate to
their companions, who were brimming over with eagerness to hear a full
and detailed account of the whole adventure. Muriel had a long interview
with Miss Lincoln in the library, from which she emerged with red eyes,
and, escaping from her friends, retired to her bedroom, and, drawing the
curtains of her cubicle, spent the afternoon alone. She was strangely
softened and subdued; she said little when Vera, Kitty, and Maud
stammered out their apologies for deserting her on the shore, and
appeared so preoccupied and thoughtful at tea-time, that she scarcely
noticed when the others spoke to her. Patty, who guessed what was
troubling her cousin, took her aside before preparation for a few
minutes' private talk.
"Never mind telling about the Caesar translation, Muriel," she said. "I
don't care in the least. No one believes now that it was mine, and you'd
never do such a thing again, I know; so what does it matter to whom it
belonged? It's quite an old story now."
"I've told Miss Harper already," said Muriel, "and all the class will
know about it to-morrow. Yes, Patty, I'd rather, thank you, I would
indeed."
"Then I shall go to Miss Harper," declared Patty, who wished to save her
cousin the humiliation of a public confession. "You shan't do this on my
account!"
To her surprise, Miss Harper took quite a different view of the matter.
"No, Patty," she said, decisively. "It is generous of you to want to
spare Muriel, but it is only right that she should bear the blame of
what she has done herself, instead of leaving it on another's shoulders.
She is making a very big effort, and we must not spoil her sacrifice. If
she clears your reputation before all the class, she will have made what
reparation she can, and have taken a first step on the straight path. It
is not always wise to shield people from the consequences of their own
faults, however much we may wish to, and you will be doing her a greater
kindness by helping her to keep certain good resolutions she has made.
I hope this affair may make a crisis in Muriel's life, and that we may
expect better things from her in the future. I am sure she is truly
sorry for having allowed you to be misjudged. Just at first, I confess,
I myself believed you to be guilty, though it was difficult to reconcile
your ownership of the book with what I knew of you. Various
circumstances, however, caused me to change my opinion, and I was
convinced that a great injustice had been done to you, which I shall now
be very glad to have the opportunity of setting right."
When the girls, therefore, were assembled on the following morning at
nine o'clock, Miss Harper, before she dismissed the lower division, said
that she wished to speak a few words to the whole class.
"You will all recollect," she began, "a distressing affair which took
place last term. A translation of Caesar was found by a monitress in this
room, and I had reason to believe it was the property of a member of the
upper division. Though we mentioned no names at the time, suspicion
attached itself strongly to one girl, who has since borne the blame of
the occurrence. I am glad to be able to assure you that this girl was
perfectly innocent. The real offender has confessed her fault, and now
wishes to tell you how sorry she is for the unworthy part which she has
played. Yes, it is on Muriel's behalf I am speaking," she continued, as
the latter quietly left her seat and came, with a pale face, to stand by
the teacher's side. "I think you will all appreciate the attempt she is
making to atone for the wrong which she has done, and that instead of
reproaching her you will allow the subject to drop, and will unite in
keeping up such a high standard for the future, that the reputation of
the Fourth Class may equal that of any other at The Priory. You may
return to your place, Muriel, and I will trust to your school-fellows'
honour to treat your confession with the consideration it deserves."
Miss Harper did not appeal to the class in vain. Though several girls
congratulated Patty privately, none mentioned the matter in Muriel's
hearing, or made any alteration in their behaviour to her. It was
evident that the cousins were now on very different terms with one
another, and Patty had so won all hearts that, with the exception of
Vera, everybody was delighted at the change.
"I always knew Muriel would be nice to you in the end," said Avis. "All
the girls who were nasty have come round, even Kitty Harrison and Maud
Greening. Ella Johnson told me how you stopped her and Doris and May
from reading in bed, and how thankful they were afterwards to you, when
Beatrice Wynne was found out at the same thing, and got into such
terrible trouble. The only one who holds back is Vera, and that's
because she's so jealous of Muriel; but I don't believe Muriel will ever
be really friends with her again: she can't forgive her for what
happened on the shore at Moorcliffe. She says Vera ran away and left her
to be drowned, and you stayed and saved her life. I hardly expect
they'll have a bedroom together next term."
"I don't want them to quarrel on my account," said Patty. "I've nothing
against Vera."
"Well, whether she likes you or not doesn't matter," said Enid. "I think
you're the sweetest girl I've ever met, and I don't mind telling anybody
so if they ask for my opinion. No, you needn't blush, because it's quite
true, and everyone else in the school would say the same."
It was now getting very near to the end of the term, and all at The
Priory were beginning to look forward to the long summer holidays.
Speech Day, always a great occasion, was this year to be of more than
usual importance, as the prizes were to be distributed by Sir John
Carston, the Member of Parliament for the County, whose wife was also to
be present.
"And of course hosts of parents and friends," said Enid, "to clap and
look pleased and say pretty things about us. My mother and my eldest
sister are coming, and Avis's father and mother, and Winnie's aunt, and
ever so many relations of other girls. They're to stay at the Queen's
Hotel, and they'll have quite a jolly time, I expect. They're allowed to
invite us to afternoon tea there the day before, if they like, so I
shall get Mother to ask you with me, if none of your own people will be
over."
"I'm afraid my father and mother will be too busy to come," said Patty,
"but I believe Muriel expects Uncle Sidney and Aunt Lucy."
"Then they are sure to ask you, so I shan't have a chance after all.
What a pity! I wanted you to meet Mother and Adeline. Never mind! It
doesn't matter, because---- But that's a secret."
"What's a secret?" enquired Patty.
"I shan't tell. Yes, I think I must. I really can't keep it bottled up
any longer. I wrote home to ask Mother if she would invite you to come
and stay with us during the holidays."
"Perhaps she won't want me."
"I'm sure she will. She hasn't had time to answer my letter yet, but I
know she'll say 'Yes' at once, especially when she's seen you. Would you
come, dear?"
"I'd love to," said Patty, "if they say 'Yes' at home too."
"Oh, I hope they will! We'd have the most glorious time together. You've
never been in Devonshire, and our house is close to the sea. We bathe
every day in summer, and swim out to a little rocky island sometimes.
Then we go for picnics on the moors, and have gipsy teas in the woods.
It's such fun to light a fire, and boil the kettle ourselves. And we
have two little rough ponies; one belongs to the boys, but I could
borrow a side-saddle for it from the Rectory, and then we could both go
for a ride together."
"Oh, it would be delightful!" said Patty, her eyes shining at the
prospect. "But I don't think you ought to have told me yet, when I
haven't really been invited."
"It doesn't matter, because I'm sure you will be. I've told Mother so
much about you. Oh, I wish the term would end quickly, and the holidays
would begin!"
The prize-giving was held in the gymnasium, which was the only room at
The Priory capable of accommodating all the classes and the various
friends invited to attend. The walls were hung with flags, and beautiful
vases of flowers were placed on the window sills to give an air of
festivity to the scene. Patty felt there was something very inspiriting
in the fact that she was a member of such a large community. She was
only one amongst many, it is true, but units make numbers, and, as Miss
Lincoln often reminded the girls, each had her own place to fill, and
must try to do her best for the sake of the whole school.
"I'm afraid I shan't win any credit for the Upper Fourth," thought
Patty. "I haven't a chance of a single prize, I know. Winnie's sure to
get the first English, and Enid the second, and either Beatrice or
Maggie will take the French, and perhaps the mathematics too. My exam.
papers weren't very good; I'm sure I shall be quite halfway down the
class. Well, never mind! As long as I haven't failed in anything, I
don't much care. Father and Mother will be satisfied, because they'll
know I've done as well as I could."
Although she did not expect to receive a prize, Patty nevertheless took
her seat in the gymnasium on the important afternoon in question with as
great interest as any other girl in the class. The platform was
decorated with palms and large ferns in pots; there was a table in the
middle of it, upon which were laid a number of books; and there were
chairs for Miss Lincoln, Sir John and Lady Carston, and a few others of
the more distinguished visitors. The proceedings, which were to consist
of both concert and prize-giving combined, opened with a short speech
from Miss Lincoln, welcoming the guests, and explaining briefly the
principal aims which she strove to carry out in her plan of education at
The Priory. A part-song followed from eight of the best girls in the
singing class, among whom was Avis, who had a remarkably sweet voice,
and whose high notes were as clear as a bell. Phyllis Chambers and
Marjory Gregson acted a dialogue in German, some of the most advanced
French scholars gave a scene from _Les Femmes Savantes_, and Enid
recited the famous soliloquy from _Hamlet_, which was much applauded.
With one or two more songs and piano pieces, and a solo on the violin
from a girl in the lowest class, the programme for the concert was
completed; and Sir John Carston then rose to address the school. He was
an amusing speaker, and made all smile by assuring them he felt more
nervous at facing an audience of so many young ladies than he would have
been in Parliament, or at a meeting of his constituents; and that he
hoped none of them were criticising his words from a literary
standpoint, and comparing them with the passages from Moliere and
Shakespeare which had just been so admirably rendered.
"Everybody will tell you," he proceeded, "that your schooldays are the
best time of your life. When I was a boy, I always thought that the
best part of my schooldays was the breaking-up day! I don't know whether
the teachers will agree with me, but I expect you girls will, and
perhaps even Miss Lincoln may be secretly looking forward to to-morrow,
though she won't reveal her feelings! I'm afraid from this you'll guess
that I must have been a dunce at school myself. I frankly confess I
never gained a prize in my life, but for that reason I shall appreciate
all the more my privilege of distributing these beautiful books; and you
will feel you have my true sympathy when I wish you a happy holiday and
a long one."
Everyone laughed as Sir John sat down; the girls hoped he would have
said a little more, but the time was limited, and Miss Lincoln was
waiting to read out the examination lists. The awards in the Upper
Fourth fell very much as Patty had expected: Winnie was first and Enid
second in English, Beatrice Wynne was easily top in French, but, to
everyone's surprise, Ella Johnson was head in mathematics. When all the
prizes had been given, and the fortunate owners had returned to their
places, Lady Carston stood up, and announced that she should like to say
a few words.
"By Miss Lincoln's permission," she began, "I am going to offer an extra
prize; the conditions for gaining it are to be quite different from
those for which you have already competed. I wish to present it to
whichever girl shall be judged by her companions to have been the most
kind, the most thoughtful and generous, and to have passed the most
unselfish life amongst you during the whole of the school year. The
voting is to be by ballot. Each of you will be given a small piece of
paper, on which I shall ask you to write the name of the one whom you
consider the fittest to receive my prize. Do not add your own signature,
and please do not tell anyone afterwards for whom you decided; let it be
a point of honour with you to keep that matter a secret. The papers must
be folded, and will then be collected by some of your teachers, who have
kindly promised to count the votes. Let me mention again: I do not ask
you to choose your favourite friend, or the most popular girl in your
class, but the one who, you really think, has made the greatest effort
towards living at the highest possible level, and whose conduct you can
most honestly admire as the truest and best."
There was a rustle of astonishment among the girls at the conclusion of
Lady Carston's speech. No such prize had been offered before at The
Priory, and the novelty of the idea rather appealed to them. Half-sheets
of notepaper were handed round by Miss Hall and Miss Rowe, and Miss
Lincoln announced that five minutes would be allowed for consideration,
at the end of which time the votes must be recorded. As each girl sat
with her pencil in her hand, the thoughts of all turned to Patty.
Everybody remembered some helpful little act which she had done, some
kind thing which she had said, or an occasion when she had given up her
own way to please someone else. It was not only in the Upper Fourth that
she was appreciated, but among those who had met her at games, during
walks, or in recreation, where, without any conscious effort on her
part, her influence had had its effect on the girls, who somehow felt
the better for having known her. As Enid said afterwards in strictest
confidence to Avis:
"Patty isn't the least scrap of a prig. She never preaches or finds
fault with one, and she's just as jolly as ever she can be; and yet she
always makes one feel ashamed if one isn't doing what's absolutely
straight. I've never seen her play a nasty, mean trick, nor heard her
say anything horrid or unkind since she came; and if Lady Carston wanted
to find out the nicest girl in the school, she couldn't fix on anybody
better than Patty."
By the end of the five minutes all the papers were folded and passed
back to Miss Rowe, who retired with Miss Hall to count them, while the
singing class filled in the time with another part-song. There was much
excitement when the two teachers returned, and handed the result to Miss
Lincoln and to Lady Carston. The latter rose at once.
"I am glad to be able to tell you," she announced, "that the decision
has been almost unanimous. With the exception of only three votes, every
girl has recorded the same name. To Patty Hirst, therefore, I award this
prize, feeling sure that I do so at the wish of the whole school. Come
here, my dear," she continued, as the surprised and blushing Patty was
led to the platform by Miss Rowe. "You must accept this copy of Ruskin's
_Sesame and Lilies_; it is a book that I think you will like some day,
when you are older, even if you cannot quite understand it now. Those
who go through life with a pleasant smile and a kind word make many
friends, and are always welcome visitors. Sympathy and helpfulness may
be very everyday virtues, but they are worth cultivating just as much as
French and mathematics, and I am sure all your companions will join with
me in saying, 'Well done!'"
As Patty walked back to her seat, Lady Carston's words were answered by
a perfect storm of clapping from the girls, who were delighted to have
an opportunity of showing their approval; and I think no prize could
have been offered which would have given more general satisfaction. As
for Patty, she could still hardly realize why she had been singled out
for so much notice. It was pleasant to hear her friends'
congratulations, but what she valued most of all was the squeeze of the
hand which Muriel gave her, with the whispered words: "I'm so glad,
Patty; I can't tell you how glad!" To fulfil her promise to Uncle Sidney
had been the aim of her strivings, but to have won her cousin's
affection as well was more than she had ever dared to hope for.
"You needn't look so bashful!" said Enid. "You're our pattern girl at
The Priory, and I don't mind telling you so. There's not the slightest
fear of spoiling you, and making you vain, so it won't do you any harm
for once to hear our true opinion of you."
"Oh, don't! Please don't!" cried Patty. "The prize shouldn't have been
given to me. You ought each to have had one as well, you ought indeed!
It's quite ridiculous to make such an absurd fuss over me, and I can't
imagine why you should."
But I think most of my readers will agree that Patty deserved it.
_Printed by Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow, Scotland._
* * * * *
By ANGELA BRAZIL
"Angela Brazil has proved her undoubted talent for writing a story of
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For the School Colours.
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The Jolliest Term on Record.
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The Nicest Girl in the School.
The Third Class at Miss Kaye's: A School Story.
The Fortunes of Philippa: A School Story.
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