Betty Vivian: A Story of Haddo Court School Page 10

  CHAPTER X

  RULE I. ACCEPTED

  Betty's room was empty, and at that time of day was rather chill, forthe three big windows were wide open in order to let in the fresh, keenair. Betty walked into the room still feeling that mysterious tinglingall over her, that tingling which had been awakened by her sudden andunexpected love for Mrs. Haddo. That love had been more or less dormantwithin her heart from the very first; but to-day it had received a newimpetus, and the curious fact was that she was almost glad to acceptpunishment because it was inflicted by Mrs. Haddo. Being the sort ofgirl she was, it occurred to her that the more severe she herself madethe punishment the more efficacious it would be.

  She accordingly sat down by one of the open windows, and, as a naturalconsequence, soon got very chilled. As she did not wish to catch coldand become a nuisance in the school, she proceeded to shut the windows,and had just done so--her fingers blue and all the beautiful glow gonefrom her young body--when there came a tap at the room door. Betty atfirst did not reply. She hoped the person, whoever that person might be,would go away. But the tap was repeated, and she was obliged indesperation to go to the door and see who was there.

  "I, and I want to speak to you," replied the voice of Fanny Crawford.

  Instantly there rose a violent rebellion in Betty's heart. All her lovefor Mrs. Haddo, with its softening influence, vanished; it melted slowlyout of sight, although, of course, it was still there. Her pleasanttime at the Mileses' farm, the delightful affection of the furious dogs,the excellent dinner, the quick drive back, were forgotten as thoughthey had never existed; and Betty only remembered Rule I., and that shehated Fanny Crawford. She stood perfectly still in the middle of theroom.

  Fanny boldly opened the door and entered. "I want to speak to you,Betty," she said.

  "But I don't want to speak to you," replied Betty.

  "Oh, how bitterly cold this room is!" said Fanny, not taking much noticeof this remark. "I shall light the fire myself; yes, I insist. It is alllaid ready; and as it is absolutely necessary for us to have a littlechat together, I may as well make the room comfortable for us both."

  "But I don't want you to light the fire; I want you to go."

  Fanny smiled. "Betty, dear," she said, "don't be unreasonable. You can'tdislike me as much as you imagine you do! Why should you go on in thisfashion?" As Fanny spoke she knelt down by the guard, put a match to thealready well-laid fire, and soon it was crackling and roaring up thechimney.

  "You are here," said Fanny, "because you broke a rule. We all know,every one in the school knows, Mrs. Haddo is not angry, but she insistson punishment. She never, never excuses a girl who breaks a rule. Thegirl must pay the penalty; afterwards, things are as they were before.It is amazing what an effect this has in keeping us all up to the markand in order. Now, Betty--Bettina, dear--come and sit by the fire andlet me hold your hands. Why, they're as blue as possible; you are quitefrozen, you poor child!"

  Fanny spoke in quite a nice, soothing voice. She had the same look onher face which she had worn that evening in Margaret Grant's bedroom.She seemed really desirous to be nice to Betty. She knew that Betty waseasily influenced by kindness; this was the case, for even Fanny didnot seem quite so objectionable when she smiled sweetly and spokegently. She now drew two chairs forward, one for herself and one forBetty. Betty had been intensely cold, and the pleasant glow of the firewas grateful. She sank into the chair which Fanny offered her with verymuch the air of being the proprietor of the room, and not Betty, andwaited for her companion to speak. She did not notice that Fanny hadplaced her own chair so that the back was to the light, whereas Bettysat where the full light from the three big windows fell on her face.

  "Well, now, I call this real comfy!" said Fanny. "They will send up yourtea, you know, and you can have a book from the school library if youlike. I should recommend 'The Daisy Chain' or 'The Heir of Redclyffe.'"

  "I don't want any books, thanks," said Betty.

  "But don't you love reading?"

  "I can't tell you. Perhaps I do, perhaps I don't."

  "Betty, won't you tell me anything?"

  "Fanny, I have nothing to tell you."

  "Oh, Betty, with a face like yours--nothing!"

  "Nothing at all--to you," replied Betty.

  "But to others--for instance," said Fanny, still keeping her goodtemper, "to Margaret Grant, or to Mrs. Haddo?"

  "They are different," said Betty.

  Fanny was silent for a minute. Then she said, "I want to tell yousomething, and I want to be quite frank. You have made a very greatimpression so far in the school. For your age and your littleexperience, you are in a high class, and all your teachers speak well ofyou. You are the sort of girl who is extremely likely to be popular--tohave, in short, a following. Now, I don't suppose there is in all theworld anything, Betty Vivian, that would appeal to a nature like yoursso strongly as to have a following--to have other girls hanging on yourwords, understanding your motives, listening to what you say, perhapseven trying to copy you. You will be very difficult to copy, Betty,because you are a rare piece of original matter. Nevertheless, all thesethings lie before you if you act warily now."

  "Go on," said Betty; "it is interesting to hear one's self discussed. Ofcourse, Fan, you have a motive for saying all this to me. What is it?"

  "I have," said Fanny.

  "You had better explain your motive. Things will be easier for us bothafterwards, won't they?"

  "Yes," said Fanny in a low tone, "that is true."

  "Go on, then," said Betty.

  "I want to speak about the Specialities."

  "Oh, I thought you were coming to them! They are to meet to-night, arethey not, in Susie Rushworth's room?"

  "That is correct."

  "And I am to be present?" said Betty.

  "You are to be present, if you will."

  "Why do you say 'if you will?' You know quite well that I shall bepresent."

  "Martha West will also be there," continued Fanny. "She will go throughvery much the sort of thing you went through last week, and she will begiven a week to consider before she finally decides whether she willjoin. Betty, have you made up your mind what to do? You might tell me,mightn't you? I am your own--your very own--cousin, and it was throughmy father you got admitted to this school."

  "Thanks for reminding me," said Betty; "but I don't know that I do feelas grateful as I ought. Perhaps that is one of the many defects in mynature. You have praised me in a kind way, but you don't know me a bit.I am full of faults. There is nothing good or great about me at all. Youhad best understand that from the beginning. Now, I may as well say atonce that I intend to be present at the Specialities' meeting to-night."

  "You do! Have you read Rule I.?"

  "Oh, yes, I have read it. I have read all the rules."

  "Don't you understand," said Fanny, speaking deliberately, "that thereis one dark spot in your life, Betty Vivian, that ought to preclude youfrom joining the Specialities? That dark spot can only be removed byconfession and restitution. You know to what I allude?"

  Betty stood up. Her face was as white as death. After a minute she said,"Are you going to do anything?"

  "I ought; it has troubled me sorely. To tell you the truth, I did notwant you to be admitted to the club; but the majority were in yourfavor. If ever they know of this they will not be in your favor. Oh,Betty, you cannot join because of Rule I.!"

  "And I will join," said Betty, "and I dare you to do your very worst!"

  "Very well, I have nothing more to say. I am sorry for you, BettyVivian. From this moment on remember that, whatever wrong thing you didin the past, you are going to do doubly and trebly wrong in the future.You are going to take a false vow, a vow you cannot keep. God help you!you will be miserable enough! But even now there is time, for it is notyet four o'clock. Oh, Betty, I haven't spoken of this to a soul; but canyou not reconsider?"

  "I mean to join," said Betty. "Rule I. will not, in my opinion, bebroken. The rule is that ea
ch member keeps no secret to herself whichthe other members ought to know. Why ought they know what concerns onlyme--me and my sisters?"

  "Do you think," said Fanny, bending towards her, and a queer changecoming over her face--"do you think for a single moment that you wouldbe made a Speciality if the girls of this school knew that you had toldmy father a _lie_? I leave it to your conscience. I will say no more."

  Fanny walked out of the room, shutting the door carefully behind her.Miss Symes came up presently. It was the custom of St. Cecilia to beparticularly kind to the girls who were in disgrace. Often and oftenthis most sweet woman brought them to see the error of their ways. Mrs.Haddo had told her about Betty, and how endearing she had found her, andwhat a splendid nature she fully believed the girl to possess. But whenMiss Symes, full of thoughts for Betty's comfort, entered the room,followed by a servant bringing a little tray of temptingly prepared tea,Betty's look was, to say the least of it, dour; she did not smile, shescarcely looked up, there was no brightness in her eyes, and there werecertainly no smiles round her lips.

  "The tray there, please, Hawkins," said Miss Symes. The woman obeyed andwithdrew.

  "I am glad you have a fire, Betty, dear," said Miss Symes when the twowere alone. "Now, you must be really hungry, for you had what I consideronly a snatch-dinner. Shall I leave you alone to have your tea incomfort, or would you like me to sit with you for a little?"

  "Oh, thanks so much!" replied Betty; "but I really would rather bealone. I have a good deal to think over."

  "I am afraid, my dear child, you are not very well."

  "On the contrary, I never was better," was Betty's response.

  "Your headache quite gone?"

  "Quite," said Betty with an emphatic nod.

  "Well, dear, I am sorry you have had to undergo this unpleasant time ofsolitary confinement. But our dear Mrs. Haddo is not really angry; sheknows quite well that you did not consider. She takes the deepestinterest in you, Betty, my child."

  "Oh, don't speak of her now, please!" said Betty with a sort of groan."I would rather be alone."

  "Haven't you a book of any sort? I will go and fetch one for you; andyou can turn on the electric light when it gets dark."

  "If you have something really interesting--that will make me forgeteverything in the world except what I am reading--I should like it."

  Miss Symes went away, and returned in a few minutes with "TreasureIsland." Strange as it may seem, Betty had not yet read this wonderfulbook.

  Without glancing at the girl, Miss Symes again left the room. In thecorridor she met Fanny Crawford. "Fanny," she said, "do you know what isthe matter with Betty Vivian?"

  Fanny smiled. "I have been to see her," she said. "Is she in badspirits? It didn't occur to me that she was."

  "Oh, you have been to see her, have you?"

  "Yes, only a short time ago. She looked very cold when I entered theroom; but I took the liberty to light the fire, and sat with her untilsuddenly she got cross and turned me out. She is a very queer girl isBetty."

  "A very fine girl, my dear!"

  Fanny made no response of any sort. She waited respectfully in case MissSymes should wish to say anything further. But Miss Symes had nothingmore to say; she only guessed that the change between the Betty in whomMrs. Haddo had been so interested, and the Betty she had found, must becaused in some inexplicable way by Fanny Crawford. What was the matterwith Fanny? It seemed to Miss Symes that, since the day when she hadtaken the girl into her full confidence with regard to the coming of theVivians, she was changed, and not for the better. There was a coldness,an impatience, a want of spontaneity about her, which the teacher'sobservant eye noticed, but, being in the dark as to the cause, could notaccount for.

  Meanwhile Betty ate her tea ravenously, and when it was finished turnedon the electric light and read "Treasure Island." This book was sofascinating that she forgot everything else in its perusal: the sealedpacket in its safe hiding-place, the Specialities themselves, the odiousFanny Crawford, Rule I.--everything was forgotten. Presently she raisedher head with a start. It was half-past seven. Olive Repton was comingto fetch her at five minutes to eight, when the Specialities were allexpected to assemble in Susie Rushworth's room.

  Betty put on a black dress that evening. It was made of a soft andclinging material, and was sufficiently open at the neck to show therounded purity of the young girl's throat, and short in the sleeves toexhibit the moldings of her arms. She was a beautifully made creature,and black suited her almost better than white. Her curiously paleface--which never had color, and yet never showed the slightestindication of weak health--was paler than usual to-night; but her eyeswere darker and brighter, and there was a determination about her whichslightly altered the character of her expression.

  The twins came rushing in at ten minutes to eight.

  "Oh, Bet, you are ready!" exclaimed Sylvia. "You are going to become areal Speciality! What glorious fun! How honored we'll be! I suppose youwon't let us into any of the secrets?"

  "Of course not, silly Sylvia!" replied Betty, smiling again at sight ofher sisters. "But I tell you what," she added; "if you both happen to beawake when I come back, which I think very doubtful, I am going to tellyou what happened this morning--something too wonderful. Don't be tooexcited about it, for it will keep until to-morrow; but think that I hada marvelous adventure, and, oh, my dears, it had to do with dogs!"

  "Dogs!" cried both twins simultaneously.

  "Yes, such glorious darlings! Oh, I've no time now--I must be off!Good-bye, both of you. Go to sleep if you like; I can tell youeverything in the morning."

  "I think we'll lie awake if it has anything to do with dogs," saidHetty. "We have been starving for them ever since we came here."

  But Betty was gone. Olive took her hand. "Betty," she said as theywalked very quickly towards the other wing of the house, "I like youbetter in black than in white. Black seems to bring out thewonderful--oh, I don't know what to call it!--the wonderful differencebetween you and other people."

  "Don't talk about me now," said Betty. "I am only one, and we shall beseven in a very short time. Seven in one! Isn't it curious? A sort ofbody composed of seven people!"

  "There'll be eight before long. The Specialities are going to be themost important people this term, that I am quite sure of," said Olive."Well, here's Susie's room, and it wants two minutes to eight."

  Susie greeted her guests with much cordiality. They all found seats.Supper was laid on a round table in one corner of the room. Olive, beingan old member, was quite at home, and handed round cups of cocoa anddelicious cakes to each of the girls. They ate and chatted, and whenMartha West made her appearance there was a shout of welcome from everyone.

  "Hail to the new Speciality!" exclaimed each girl in the room, BettyVivian alone excepted.

  Martha was a heavily made girl, with a big, sallow face; quantities ofblack hair, which grew low on her forehead, and which, as no effort onher part would keep it from falling down on one side, gave her asomewhat untidy appearance; she had heavy brows, too, which were inkeeping with the general contour of her face, and rather small grayeyes. There was no one, however, in the whole school who was betterloved than Martha West. Big and ungainly though she was, her voice wasone of the sweetest imaginable. She had also great force of character,and was regarded as one of the strong girls of the school. She wasalways helping others, was the soul of unselfishness, and although notexactly clever, was plodding and persevering. She was absolutely withoutself-consciousness; and when her companions welcomed her in this cheerymanner she smiled broadly, showing a row of pearly white teeth, and thensat down on the nearest chair.

  When supper was over, Margaret Grant came forward and stood by thelittle center-table, on which lay the vellum-bound book of the rules ofthe club. Margaret opened it with great solemnity, and called to BettyVivian to stand up.

  "Betty Vivian," she said, "we agreed a week ago to-day to admit you tothe full membership of a Speciality. According to our u
sual custom, wesent you a copy of the rules in order that you might study them in theirfullness. We now ask you if you have done so?"

  "I have," replied Betty. "I have read them, I should think, thirty orforty times."

  "Are you prepared, Betty Vivian, to accept our rules and become a memberof the Specialities, or do you prefer your full liberty and to return tothe ordinary routine of the school? We, none of us, wish you to adoptthe rules as part of your daily life unless you are prepared to keepthem in their entirety."

  "I wish to be a Speciality," replied Betty. Then she added slowly--andas she spoke she raised her brilliant eyes and fixed them on FannyCrawford's face--"I am prepared to keep the rules."

  "Thank you, Betty! Then I think, members, Betty Vivian can be admittedas a member of our little society. Betty, simple as our rules are, theycomprise much: openness of heart, sisterly love, converse with greatthoughts, pleasure in its truest sense (carrying that pleasure stillfurther by seeing that others enjoy it as well as ourselves), respect toall our teachers, and, above all things, forgetting ourselves and livingfor others. You see, Betty Vivian, that though the rules are quitesimple, they are very comprehensive. You have had a week to study them.Again I ask, are you prepared to accept them?"

  "Yes, I am prepared," said Betty; and again she flashed a glance atFanny Crawford.

  "Then I, as head of this little society for the time being, admit you asa member. Please, Betty, accept this little true-lovers' knot, and wearit this evening in your dress. Now, girls, let us every one cheer BettyVivian, and take her to our hearts as our true sister in the highestsense of the word."

  The girls flocked round Betty and shook hands with her. Amongst thosewho did so was Fanny Crawford. She squeezed Betty's hand significantly,and at the same moment put her finger to her lips. This action was soquick that only Betty observed it; but it told the girl that, now thatshe had "crossed the Rubicon," Fanny would not be the one to betray her.

  Betty sank down on a chair. She felt excited, elated, pleased, andhorrified. The rest of the evening passed as a sort of dream. She couldscarcely comprehend what she had done. She was a Speciality. She wasbound by great and holy rules, and yet in reality she was a far lowergirl than she had ever been in all her life before.

  The rules were read aloud in their fullness to Martha West, and theusual week's grace was accorded her. Then followed the fun, during thewhole of which time Betty was made the heroine of the occasion, asMartha would doubtless be that day week. The girls chatted a great dealto-night, and Betty was told of all the privileges which would now behers. She had never known until that moment that Mrs. Haddo, when shefound what excellent work the Speciality Club did in the school, hadfitted up a charming sitting-room for its members. Here, in winter, thefire burned all day. Fresh flowers were always to be seen. Here were tobe found such books as those of Ruskin, Tennyson, Browning--in short, afine collection of the greater writers. Betty was told that she was nowfree to enter this room; that, being a Speciality, she would be exemptfrom certain small and irksome duties in order to give her more time toattend to those broad rules of life which she had now adopted as hercode.

  Betty listened, and all the time, as she listened, her heart sank lowerand lower. Fanny did not even pretend to watch Betty now. She had, so tospeak, done with her. Fanny felt as sure as though some angel in theroom were recording the fact that Betty was now well started on thedownward track. She felt ashamed of her as a cousin. She felt thegreatest possible contempt for her. But if she was herself to keep RuleI., she must force these feelings out of sight, and tolerate Betty untilshe saw the error of her ways.

  "The less I have to do with her in the future the better," thoughtFanny. "It would be exceedingly unpleasant for me if it were known thatI had allowed her to be admitted without telling Margaret what I knew.But, somehow, I couldn't do it. I thought Betty herself would be greatenough to withstand a paltry temptation of this sort. How differentMartha West is! She will be a famous stand-by for us all."

  The evening came to an end. The girls went down to prayers.

  Betty was now a Speciality. She wore the beautiful little silver badgeshining in the folds of her black evening frock. But she did not enjoythe music in the chapel nor Mr. Fairfax's rendering of the eveningprayers as she had done when last she was there. Betty had a curiousfaculty, however, which she now exercised. Hers was a somewhat complexnature, and she could shut away unpleasant thoughts when she so desired.She was a Speciality. She might not have become one but for Fanny. Mrs.Haddo's influence, though unspoken, might have held her back. MargaretGrant might have kept her from doing what she herself would havescorned to do. But Fanny! Fanny had managed to bring out the worst inBetty; and the worst in a character like hers was very vigorous, verystrong, very determined while it was in the ascendant. Instead ofpraying to-night, she turned her thoughts to the various and delightfulthings which would now be hers in the school. She would be regarded onall hands with added respect. She would have the entree to theSpecialities' delightful sitting-room. She would be consulted by theother girls of the upper school, for every one consulted theSpecialities on all manner of subjects. People would cease to speak ofher as "that new girl Betty Vivian;" but they would say when they sawher approach, "Oh, she is one of the Specialities!" Her position in theschool to-night was assured. She was safe; and Fanny, with that swiftgesture, had indicated to her that she need not fear anything from herlips. Fanny would be silent. No one else knew what Fanny knew. And,after all, she had done no wrong, because her secret had nothingwhatever to do with the other members of the club. The wrong--the onewrong--which she felt she had committed was in promising to love eachmember as though she were her sister, especially as she had to includeFanny Crawford in that number. But she would be kind to all, and perhapslove might come--she was not sure. Fanny would be kind to her, ofcourse. In a sort of way they must be friends in the future. Oh, yes, itwas all right.

  She was startled when Olive Repton touched her. She rose from her kneeswith a hot blush on her face. She had forgotten chapel, she had notheard the words of the benediction. The girls streamed out, and went atonce to their respective bedrooms.

  Betty was glad to find her sisters asleep. After the exciting events ofthat evening, even Dan and Beersheba had lost their charm. So weary wasshe at that moment that she dropped her head on her pillow and fellsound asleep.