The Girls of St. Wode's Read online

  THE GIRLS OF ST. WODE'S

  by

  MRS. L. T. MEADE

  Author of"Deb and the Duchess," "A Girl in Ten Thousand,""Good Luck," etc.

  New YorkGrosset & DunlapPublishers

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I--PREPARING FOR THE YOUNG DEBUTANTES. CHAPTER II--IN A THIRD-CLASS CARRIAGE. CHAPTER III--THE TORN DRESS. CHAPTER IV--IN THE GIRLS' BEDROOMS. CHAPTER V--THE MODERN VIEW OF LIFE. CHAPTER VI--BELLE THE SAGE. CHAPTER VII--THE FATE OF THE GIRLS. CHAPTER VIII--THE GILROYS. CHAPTER IX--ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT. CHAPTER X--LLEWELLYN'S GIFT. CHAPTER XI--ST. WODE'S COLLEGE. CHAPTER XII--INKY ANNIE. CHAPTER XIII--A COCOA PARTY. CHAPTER XIV--A COCOA PARTY--CONTINUED. CHAPTER XV--BELLE'S ROOM AT ST. WODE'S. CHAPTER XVI--FRESHERS. CHAPTER XVII--THE "MERRY ALICE." CHAPTER XVIII--THE GUILD OF ST. ELIZABETH. CHAPTER XIX--THE MAN BY THE RUIN. CHAPTER XX--NOT A BIT LIKE IT. CHAPTER XXI--WHAT IS UP? CHAPTER XXII--THE PROMISE. CHAPTER XXIII--THE PICNIC. CHAPTER XXIV--THE TWINS. CHAPTER XXV--THE PRAYER OF FAITH. CHAPTER XXVI--ANNIE'S REQUEST. CHAPTER XXVII--TELL ME THE TRUTH, LESLIE. CHAPTER XXVIII--RUPERT. CHAPTER XXIX--30 NEWBOLT SQUARE. CHAPTER XXX--ANNIE IN THE TOILS. CHAPTER XXXI--HANDWRITING. CHAPTER XXXII--WHO HAS TAKEN THE KEY? CHAPTER XXXIII--CONFESSION.

  CHAPTER I

  PREPARING FOR THE YOUNG DEBUTANTES.

  Eileen, Marjorie, and Letitia Chetwynd were expected home from school.It was a bright day early in April, and Mrs. Chetwynd was seated in herluxurious London drawing-room conversing with her special friend, Mrs.Acheson.

  Two years ago Mrs. Chetwynd, on the death of her husband, adistinguished Indian officer, had returned to England. She was afashionable, up-to-date-looking lady now. Her widow's dress wascarefully chosen--not too depressing, but all that was correct andproper.

  Mrs. Acheson, also the widow of an Indian officer, was not fashionablein the ordinary acceptance of the word. She was plainly, even shabbily,dressed. She wore long weepers to her widow's cap, and her hair wasbrushed smoothly away from her broad forehead. Her face was large andsomewhat sunburnt, her hands well shaped, but with a look about themwhich showed that they were not unacquainted with manual labor.

  "Yes," said Mrs. Chetwynd, uttering a sigh as she spoke, "this is agreat day for me. The girls are educated, and are coming home."

  "For good?" said Mrs. Acheson.

  "Well, yes, my dear; I suppose so. You see, they are all eighteen. It isabsurd to keep girls at school after eighteen. They were eighteen theend of last year. In these days, when people grow old so terribly fast,girls ought to have their so-called education finished at eighteen."

  "My dear Belle would not agree with you," said Mrs. Acheson.

  Mrs. Chetwynd threw up her hands and slightly raised her arched brows.

  "Spare me, dear Emily," she cried. "I do not want to hear any of yourdear, extraordinary, clever Belle's theories at present. I sincerelytrust--yes, my dear, I must be frank--I sincerely trust the wave of herinfluence will never come into my house."

  Mrs. Acheson sighed and sank back in her chair.

  "On the whole," she said, "I have much to be thankful for. I have enoughto live on, and the memory of my dear husband's brilliant career willalways be a comfort to me. Belle is also in excellent health. She is, ofcourse, one of the great admirations of my life; but I will admit it,dear, in a whisper, that she is also one of my trials. But, dear Helen,I had forgotten that you had three daughters; and how can they be alleighteen at the same time?"

  "I have not three daughters, my dear; I have only two. Letitia is not mydaughter. She is my niece; she is my dear husband's younger brother'schild. She happens to have been born within a month of Eileen andMarjorie, who are twins, consequently the three are practically the sameage. They will be home in about an hour and a half. They are all devotedto each other; but I confess it will be something of a handful takingthree into society at the same time."

  "Oh, you surely don't mean to introduce the whole three the sameseason?" said Mrs. Acheson. "How can you contemplate anything soappalling?"

  "But I do contemplate it," said Mrs. Chetwynd, "and I believe I shallmanage very well. I have been, of course, in close correspondence withtheir invaluable teacher, Mrs. Marchland, and have had frequentphotographs of the children. Eileen and Marjorie are alike in appearanceand strikingly handsome; they will be foils to Letitia, who is as fairas they are dark. Letitia is pretty and fascinating, of the petit order.I should think the three would make something of a sensation. You see,my dear, I have large means, for my husband came in for the property ofhis elder brother, who died six months before him. I can do well by thechildren, and I mean to do so."

  "You contemplate matrimony as the aim and object of your ambition?" saidMrs. Acheson.

  "Nothing of the kind," replied Mrs. Chetwynd, slightly reddening. "If itcomes, well and good. If a really estimable, worthy man takes a fancy toany of my girls, and his affection is returned, I shall look uponmarriage as a suitable life for my children; but I do not take them intosociety for the sole purpose of getting husbands."

  Mrs. Acheson slowly shook her head.

  "You will find it difficult to make people believe that," she said.

  "In all probability the three girls will marry," continued Mrs. Chetwyndin her calm, even voice, which seldom rose to excitement or dropped tomelancholy. "Marriage is what Providence intends for all happy women,early marriage and happy homes of their own. But I shall not hurry thematter nor put myself out about it. I mean the girls to have a goodtime, and will leave other matters to Providence."

  "Taking steps meanwhile to accomplish your real object," murmured Mrs.Acheson under her breath.

  "My dear Emily, do tell me about your Belle," continued Mrs. Chetwynd."So you have really sent her to St. Wode's College?"

  "Yes; and she is very happy there, and hopes to do well in her tripos."

  "I must frankly say that I hate girls' colleges," said Mrs. Chetwynd."After all, these new-fangled ideas that women have taken hold of aremost disastrous. What awful creatures one meets now and then! Allwomanliness extracted out of them--mere walking intellects with no heartsof any sort."

  "You really do run to the fair with the thing," replied Mrs. Acheson. "Iam sure my dear Belle----"

  But Mrs. Chetwynd did not want to hear about dear Belle. Just at thatmoment there came a welcome interruption in the shape of tea. It wasplaced on a small table in front of the hostess, who poured it out,helped her friend to rich cream, and offered her hot buttered cake. Mrs.Acheson could only manage plain teas at home, and she enjoyed herfriend's meals, she was fond of saying, all the more by contrast.

  "I shall long to hear of your dear girls, and also to see them," shesaid, as she sipped her tea and stirred it slowly with a small Russianspoon.

  "Well, come over and take a peep at them on Saturday," said Mrs.Chetwynd. "Belle is away, is she not?"

  "She comes home to-morrow night; she has had a very pleasant tour inSwitzerland. May I bring her with me?"

  Mrs. Chetwynd longed to say "No." She disliked Belle Acheson, shedisliked her manners and her mode of life, and she did not wish her toexercise the smallest influence over Letitia, Eileen, and Marjorie.After a moment's reflection, however, she came to the conclusion thatthese young ladies could not be injured by any one so plain andunimportant. She therefore bent her head in token of willingness toreceive Belle Acheson for a few hours into her house.

  "Let it be Saturday, then," she said. "Come as early as you can in theafternoon. If all goes well, I mean to have my three girls presentedthis season. I took this house for the purpose: it is in a fashionablelocality and close to everything. Yes, after all, three young debutanteswill in one sense be an a
dvantage. The thing will be out of the common;nothing is admired so much as the uncommon. I expect I shall enjoymyself; and the girls, whatever happens, shall have a good time. If youare wise, my dear Emily, you will try to introduce Belle. If you dressher well you might do wonders with her, and----"

  "Belle in society!" said Mrs. Acheson with a laugh. "Ah, I see you donot know her yet. Expect me on Saturday, and I will bring Belle if Ican."

  Mrs. Chetwynd heaved a sigh as her friend left the room.