Betty Vivian: A Story of Haddo Court School Page 8

  CHAPTER VIII

  A NEW MEMBER

  The picnic was a great success. The day was splendid. The sun shone in asky which was almost cloudless. The motor-cars were all in primecondition. There were no accidents of any sort. The girls laughed andchatted, and enjoyed life to the utmost; and the Vivian girls wereamongst the merriest in those large and varied groups.

  The twins invariably followed in Betty's footsteps, and Betty possessedthat curious mixture of temperament which threw her into the depths ofanguish one moment and sent her spirits flying like a rocket skyward thenext. Betty's spirits were tending skyward on this happy day. She wasalso making friends in the school, and was delighted to walk withMargaret and Susie and Olive. Fanny did not trouble her at all; butMartha West chatted with her for a whole long hour, and, as Martha knewScotland, a very strong link was immediately established between thegirls.

  A thoroughly happy picnic--a perfect one--is usually lived throughwithout adventure. There are no _contretemps_, no unhappy moments, nojealousies, no heart-burnings. These are the sort of picnics which cometo us very rarely in life, but they do come now and then. In one sense,however, they are uninteresting, for they have no history--there islittle or nothing to say about them. Other picnics are to follow in thisstory which ended differently, which led to tangled knots and bitterheart-burnings. But the first picnics from Haddo Court in which BettyVivian took part was, in a way, something like that first morning whenshe joined the other girls in whispering her prayers in the beautifulchapel.

  The picnic came and went, and in course of time the day arrived whenBetty was to be the honored guest of the Specialities. On the morning ofthat day Fanny made another effort to induce Betty to renounce the ideaof becoming a Speciality. She had spent a sleepless night thinking overthe matter, and by the morning had made up her mind what to do.

  Betty was making friends rapidly in the school. But the twins, althoughthey were quite popular, still clung very much to each other; andFanny's idea was to get at Betty through her sisters. She knew quitewell that often, during recess, Sylvia and Hester rushed upstairs, forwhat purpose she could not ascertain, the existence of the Vivians'attic being unknown to her. There, however, day by day, Sylvia and Hettyfed Dickie on raw meat, and watched the monstrous spider getting largerand more ferocious-looking.

  "He'd be the sort," said Sylvia, opening her eyes very wide and fixingthem on her sister, "to do mischief to _some one_ if _some one_ were notvery careful."

  "Oh, don't, silly Sylvia!" said Hetty with some annoyance. "You knowMrs. Haddo would not like you to talk like that. Now let's examine ourcaterpillars."

  "There isn't much to see at the present moment," remarked Sylvia, "forthey're every one of them in the chrysalis stage."

  The girls, having spent about five minutes in the Vivians' attics, nowran downstairs, and went out, as was their custom, by a side-door whichopened into one of the gardens. It was here that Fanny pounced on them.She came quickly forward, trying to look as pleasant as she could.

  "Well, twins," she said, "and how goes the world with you?"

  "Oh, all right!" replied Sylvia. "We can't stay to talk now; can we,Het? We've got to meet a friend of ours in the lower garden--oldBirchall. By the way, do you know old Birchall, Fan?"

  "Doddering old creature! of course I know him," replied Fanny.

  "He isn't doddering," said Sylvia; "he has a great deal more sense thanmost of us. I wish I had half his knowledge of worms, and spiders, andants, and goldfish, and--and--flies of every sort. Why, there isn't athing he doesn't know about them. I call him one of the most delightfulold men I ever met."

  "Oh," said Hetty, "you shouldn't say that, Sylvia! Birchall is nice, buthe isn't a patch upon Donald Macfarlane."

  "If you want to see Birchall, I will walk with you," said Fanny. "Youcan't object to my doing that, can you?"

  "We mean to run," said Hetty.

  "Oh no, you don't!" said Fanny. Here she took Hetty's hand, pulled itviolently through her arm. "You've got to talk to me, both of you. Ihave something important I want to say."

  Sylvia laughed.

  "Why do you laugh, you naughty, rude little girl?"

  "Oh, please forgive me, Fanny; but it does sound so silly for you to saythat you have something important to talk over with us, for of course weknow perfectly well that you have nothing of the sort."

  "Then you are wrong, that's all; and I sha'n't waste time arguing withyou."

  "That's all right," said Hetty. "We may be off to Birchall now, mayn'twe, Fanny?"

  "No, you mayn't. You must take a message from me to Betty."

  "I thought so," remarked Sylvia.

  Fanny had great difficulty in controlling her temper. After a minute shesaid, speaking quietly, "I don't permit myself to lower myself byarguing with children like you two. But I have an important message togive your sister, and if you won't give it you clearly understand thatyou will rue it to the last days of your lives--yes, to the last day ofyour lives."

  Sylvia began to dance. Hetty tried to tug her hand away from Fanny'sarm.

  "Come, children, you can do it or not, just as you please. Tell Bettythat if she is wise, and does not wish to get into a most serious anddisgraceful scrape, she will not attend the meeting of some girls inMargaret Grant's room this evening."

  "Let's try if we know it exactly right," said Sylvia. "Betty will getinto a serious scrape if she goes to Margaret Grant's room to-night?What a pity! For, you see, Fan, she is going."

  "Do listen to me, Sylvia. You have more sense in your little head thanyou imagine. Persuade Betty not to go. Believe me, I am only acting forher best interests."

  "We'll give her the message all right," said Hester. "But as topersuading Betty when Betty's mind is made up, I'd like to know who canpersuade her to change it then."

  "But you are her sisters; she will do what you wish."

  "But we _don't_ wish her not to go. We'd much rather she went. Whyshouldn't she have a bit of fun? Some one told us--I forget now who itwas--that there are always splendid chocolates at those funnybedroom-parties. I only wish we were asked!"

  "I tell you that your sister will get into a scrape!" repeated Fanny.

  "You tell us so indeed," said Sylvia, "and it's most frightfullyannoying of you; for we sha'n't have a minute to talk to Birchall, andhe promised to have four different kinds of worms ready for us to lookat this morning. Oh dear, dear! mayn't we go? Fanny, if you are so fondof Betty, why don't you speak to her yourself?"

  "I have spoken, and she won't listen to me."

  "There! wasn't I right?" said Sylvia. "Oh Fanny, do you think she'd mindwhat we said--and coming from you, too? If she didn't listen to youdirect, she certainly won't listen to you crookedwise--that's notBetty."

  "I was thinking," said Fanny, "that you might persuade her--that is, ifyou are very, very clever, just from yourselves--not to go. You needn'tmention my name at all; and if you really manage this, I can tell youI'll do a wonderful lot for you. I'll get father to send me curiousspiders and other creatures, all the way from India, for you. He can ifhe likes. I will write to him by the very next mail."

  "Bribes! bribes!" cried Sylvia. "No, Fan, we can't be bribed. Good-bye,Fan. We'll give the message, but she'll go all the same."

  With a sudden spring, for which Fanny was not prepared, Hester loosenedher hand from Fanny's arm. The next minute she had caught Sylvia's hand,and the two were speeding away in the direction of the lower garden andthe fascinating company of old Birchall.

  Fanny could have stamped her foot with rage.

  The Specialities always met at eight o'clock in the evening. They wereexpected to wear their pretty evening-dress, and look as much likegrown-up young ladies as possible. In a great house like Haddo Courtthere must be all sorts of rooms, some much bigger than others. Thus,where every room was nice and comfortable, there were a few quitecharming. The Vivians had one of the largest rooms, but Margaret Granthad the most beautiful. She had been for long years now in the sc
hool,and was therefore accorded many privileges. She had come to Haddo Courtas a very little girl, and had worked her way steadily from the lowerschool to the upper. Her people were exceedingly well-off, and herbeautiful room--half bedroom, half sitting-room--was furnished mostlyout of her own pocket-money. She took great pride in its arrangements,and on this special evening it looked more attractive than usual. Therewere great vases of late roses and early chrysanthemums on the differentwhatnots and small tables. A very cheerful fire blazed in the grate,for it was getting cold enough now to enjoy a fire in the evenings, andMargaret's supper was all that was tasteful and elegant.

  Betty had received Fanny Crawford's message, and Betty's eyes hadsparkled with suppressed fun when her sisters had delivered it to her.She had made no comment of any sort, but had asked the girls, beforethey got into bed, to help her to fasten on her very prettiest frock.She had not worn this frock before, and the simple, soft, white muslinsuited her young face and figure as nothing else could have done. Theblack ribbon which tied back her thick hair, and was worn in memory ofdear Aunt Frances, was also becoming to her; and the twin girls' eyessparkled with rapture as they looked at their darling.

  "Good-night, Bet!" said Sylvia.

  "Have a splendid time, Bet!" whispered Hester.

  Then Sylvia said, "I am glad you are going!"

  "But of course I am going," said Betty. "Good-night, chickabiddies;good-night. I won't wake you when I come back. Sleep well!" Betty leftthe room.

  In the corridor outside she met Olive Repton, who said, "Oh, there youare, Betty! Now let's come. We'll be two of the first; but that's allthe better, seeing that you are a new member."

  "It sounds so mysterious--a sort of freemasonry," remarked Betty,laughing as she spoke. "I never did think that exciting things of thissort happened at school."

  "They don't at most schools," replied Olive. "But, then, there is onlyone Haddo Court in the world."

  "Shall I have to take an awful vow; shall I have to write my name inblood in a queer sort of book, or anything of that sort?" asked Betty.

  "No, no! You are talking nonsense now."

  By this time they had reached Margaret's room, and Margaret was waitingfor them. Betty gave a cry of rapture when she saw the flowers, and,going from one glass bowl to the other, she buried her face in thedelicious perfume.

  By-and-by the rest of the Specialities appeared--the Bertrams (who weregreatly excited at the thought of Betty joining), Susie Rushworth, and,last to enter, Fanny Crawford.

  Fanny had taken great pains with her dress, and she looked her best onthis occasion. She gave one quick glance at Betty. Then she went up toher and said, "Welcome, Betty!" and held out her hand.

  Betty was not prepared for this most friendly greeting. She scarcelytouched Fanny's hand, however, and by so doing put herself slightly inthe wrong in the presence of the girls, who were watching her; whileFanny, far cleverer in these matters, put herself in the right.

  "Now, then, we must all have supper," said Margaret. "After that we'llexplain the rules to Betty, and she can decide whether she will join usor not. Then we can be as jolly as we please. It is our custom, youknow, girls, to be extra jolly when a new member joins theSpecialities."

  "I'm game for all the fun in the world," said Betty. Her curious, eager,beautiful eyes were fixed on Margaret's face; and Margaret again feltthat strange sense of being wonderfully drawn to her, and yet at thesame time of being annoyed. What did Fanny's conduct mean? But one girl,however much she may wish to do so, cannot quite spoil the fun of sixothers. Margaret, therefore, was prepared to be as amiable and merry andgay as possible.

  Was there ever a more delicious supper? Did ever cake taste quite sonice? Were chocolate creams and Turkish delight ever quite so good? Andwas not Margaret's lemonade even more admirable than her delicate cupsof cocoa? And were not the dried fruits which were presently handedround quite wonderful in flavor? And, above all things, were not thesandwiches which Margaret had provided as a sort of surprise (for as arule they had no sandwiches at these gatherings) the greatest success ofall?

  The merry supper came to an end, and the girls now clustered in a widecircle round the fire; and Margaret, as president, took the book ofrules and began to read aloud.

  "There are," she said, opening the book, which was bound beautifully inwhite vellum, "certain rules which each member receives a copy of, andwhich she takes to heart and obeys. If she deliberately breaks anysingle one of these rules, and such a lapse of principle is discovered,she is expected to withdraw from the Specialities. This club was firstset on foot by a girl who has long left the school, and who was verymuch loved when she was here. Up to the present it has been a success,although its numbers have varied according to the tone of the girls whobelong to the upper school. No girl belonging to the lower school hasever yet been asked to join. We have had at one time in the SpecialityClub as many as one dozen members. At present we are six; although wehope that if you, Betty, decide to join us, we shall have seven members.That will be very nice," continued Margaret, smiling and looking acrossthe room at Betty, whose eyes were fixed on her face, "for seven is themystic, the perfect number. Now, I will begin to read the rules aloud toyou. If you decide to think matters over, we will ask you to come to ournext gathering this day week, when you will receive the badge ofmembership, and a copy of the rules would be made by me and sent to youto your room.

  "Now I will begin by telling you that the great object of our club is toencourage the higher thought. Its object is to discourage and, ifpossible, put a stop to low, small, mean, foolish, uncharitablethoughts. Its object is to set kindness before each member as the bestthing in life. You can judge for yourself, Betty, that we aim high.Yes, what were you going to say?"

  "I was thinking," said Betty, whose eyes were now very wide open indeed,while her cheeks grew paler than ever with some concealed emotion, "thatthe girl who first thought of this club must have sat on a Scotch moorone day, with the purple heather all round her, and that to her it wasvouchsafed to hear the fairies speak when they rang the little purplebells of the heather."

  "That may have been the case, dear," said Margaret in her kindest tone."Now, I will read you the rules. They are quite short and to the point:

  "'RULE I.--Each girl who is a member of the Specialities gives perfect confidence to her fellow-members, keeps no secret to herself which those members ought to know, is ready to consider each member as though she were her own sister, to help her in time of trouble, and to rejoice with her in periods of joy.'

  "That is Rule I., and I need not say, Betty, that it is a very importantrule."

  Betty's eyes were now lowered, so that only her very black lashes wereseen as they rested against her pale cheeks.

  "Rule II. is this:

  "'RULE II.--That the Specialities read each day, for one quarter of an hour, a book of great thoughts.'

  "The books are generally selected at the beginning of term, and eachmember is expected to read the same amount and from the same book. Thisterm, for instance, we occupy one quarter of an hour daily in readingJeremy Taylor's 'Holy Living.' It is not very long, but there's a vastamount of thought in it. If we feel puzzled about anything in thiswonderful book we discuss it with each other at the next meeting of theSpecialities, and if, after such a discussion, the whole matter does notseem quite clear, we ask Mr. Fairfax to help us. He is most kind,although of course he is not in the secret of our club.

  "Rule III. is quite different. It is this:

  "'RULE III.--Each day we give ourselves up, every one of us, to real, genuine fun--to having what may be called a jolly time.'

  "We never miss this part of the Speciality life. We get our fun eitherby chatting gaily to each other, or by enjoying the society of afavorite schoolfellow.

  "Rule IV. does not come into every day life; nevertheless it isimportant:

  "'RULE IV.--We meet once a week in one of our bedrooms; but four times during the term we all
subscribe together, and get up as big a party as ever we can of girls who are not Specialities. These girls have supper with us, and afterwards we have round games or music or anything that gives us pleasure.'

  "Rule V. is this:

  "'RULE V.--That whoever else we are cross with, we are always very careful to show respect to our teachers, and, if possible, to love them. We also try to shut our eyes to their faults, even if we see them.'

  "Rule VI. is perhaps the most difficult of all to follow completely. Itis the old, old rule, Betty Vivian, of forgetting ourselves and livingfor others. It is a rule that makes the secret of happiness. It isimpossible to keep it in its fullness in this world; but our aim is tohave a good try for it, and I think, on the whole, we succeed.

  "Now, these are the six rules. When you read them over, you will seethat they are comprehensive, that they mean a vast lot. They are, everyone of them, rules which tend to discipline--the sort of discipline thatwill help us when we leave the school and enter into the big school ofthe world. Betty, do you feel inclined to join the club or not?"

  "I don't know," replied Betty. "It is impossible to answer yourquestion on the spur of the moment. But I should greatly like to see acopy of the rules."

  "I will have them copied and sent to your bedroom, Betty. Then if youdecide to join, you will be admitted formally this day week, and willreceive the badge of the Specialities--a little true-lovers' knot madeof silver--which you will wear when the Specialities give theirentertainments, and which will remind you that we are bound together inone sisterhood of love for our fellow-creatures."

  Betty got up somewhat nervously. "I must think a great deal; and if Imay come to whichever room the Specialities are to meet in this dayweek, I will let you know what I have decided."

  "Very well, dear," said Margaret, shutting the book and completelyaltering her tone. "That is all, I think to-night. Now, you must sitdown and enjoy yourself. Which girl would you like to sit close to? Weare going to have some round games, and they are quite amusing."

  "I should like to sit close to you, Margaret, if I may."

  "You certainly may, Betty; and there is a seat near mine, just by thatlarge bowl of white chrysanthemums."

  Betty took the seat; and now all the girls began to chat, each of themtalking lovingly and kindly to the other. There was a tone about theirconversation which was as different from the way they spoke in theirordinary life as though they were girls in a nunnery who had made solemnvows to forsake the world. Even Fanny's face looked wonderfully kind andsoftened. She did not even glance at Betty; but Betty looked at her onceor twice, and was astonished at the expression that Fanny wore.

  "Just one minute, girls, before we begin our fun," said Margaret."Martha West is most anxious to join the Specialities. Betty, of course,has no vote, as she is not yet a member. But the rest of us know Marthawell, and I think we would all like her to join. Those who are opposedto her, will they keep down their hands? Those who wish for her as amember, will they hold them up?"

  All hands were held up on this occasion, and Fanny held hers thestraightest and highest of all.

  "Three cheers for Martha West!" said Susie Rushworth.

  "It will be splendid to have Martha!" said both the Bertrams; whileOlive, always gay, spirited, and full of fun, laughed from sheerdelight.

  The usual formula was then gone through, and Fanny Crawford was deputedto take a note to Martha inviting her to be present at the next meeting.

  "Now, we shall have about half an hour for different sorts of fun," saidMargaret. "By the way, Betty," she continued, "sometimes our meetingsare rather solemn affairs; we want to discuss the book we are reading,or something has happened that we wish to talk over. On the other hand,there are times when we have nothing but fun and frolic. We're not a bitsolemn on these occasions; we loosen all the tension, so to speak, andenjoy ourselves to the utmost."

  "And there are times, also," said Olive, "when we are just as busy asbees planning out our next entertainment. Oh Margaret, we can't have onethis day week because of Betty and Martha. But don't you think we mighthave one this day three weeks? And don't you think it might be a verygrand affair? And supposing Betty becomes a member--which, of course,you will, Betty, for you couldn't disappoint us now--supposing we haveit in Betty's palatial mansion of a bedroom! We can ask no end of girlsto that. Oh, won't it be fun?"

  "If you ask my sisters, I don't mind at all--that is, _if_ I am amember," said Betty.

  "Of course we'll ask the dear twins," said Margaret. She took Betty'shand as she spoke and squeezed it with sudden affection.

  Betty pressed a little nearer to her. It was worth even giving up theScotch moors, and the society of Donald and Jean, and the dogs and thehorse, to have such a friend as Margaret Grant.

  But now the fun began in earnest, and very good fun it was; for everygirl had a considerable sense of humor, so much so that their games werecarried on with great spirit. Their laughter was so merry as to be quiteinfectious; and no one was more amazed than Betty herself when theordeal of this first visit to the Specialities was over and she waswalking quickly downstairs, with Olive by her side, on her way to thechapel.

  How beautifully Mr. Fairfax read the evening prayers that night! Howlovely it was to listen to his melodious voice and to look at hisearnest, intelligent face! How sweet, how wonderful, was the soft, softmusic which Mrs. Haddo herself played on the organ!

  "Oh yes," thought Betty, "one could be good here, and with the sort ofhelp that Margaret talks about; and high thoughts are nice thoughts,they seem to be what I might call close to the angels. Nevertheless----"

  A cloud seemed to fall on the little girl's spirit. She thought ofFanny, and, raising her eyes at the moment, observed that Fanny's eyeswere fixed on her. Fanny's eyes were full of queer warning, even ofmenace; and Betty suddenly experienced a revulsion of all those noblefeelings which had animated her a short time ago. Were there two FannyCrawfords? Or could she possibly look as she looked now, and also as shehad done when Margaret Grant read the rules of the Speciality Clubaloud?