The Little School-Mothers Read online

place, and you shall use my beautifulside-saddle; of course, my habit won't fit you, you are such a roundpodge of a girl, but you can wear any old skirt. Shan't I make thatpony fly! I'll give him beans! Oh, yes; I mean to have him."

  "But, after all," said Jane, "that depends upon whether Ralph choosesyou as his school-mother or not."

  "You leave that to me," said Harriet.

  "I am sure he won't choose you," said Jane. "He will choose Robina; heloves her now like anything."

  "He will choose me," said Harriet. "I have a plan in my head, and he'scertain to."

  "But he hated you to-day," said Jane. "If you really meant to win hisheart, you shouldn't have been so horridly cross to Curly Pate, and youshouldn't have slapped him on the face."

  "I know," said Harriet, in a contrite voice; "my passion got the betterof me, but you may be certain I will be on my guard on Saturday. Andlook here, Jane: you have not the remotest chance on your own account ofwinning the prize, but if you help me to get it I won't forget you inthe matter of rides, and I will try and get Father and Mother to inviteyou over to our place very often during the holidays. You will likethat, won't you, Jane?"

  "Love it," said Jane, who, however, was by no means certain on thatpoint, for, although Harriet had great power over her, she was a littleafraid of her.

  "Well, you shall come very often these holidays, and perhaps Mothermight be coaxed to take you to the seaside with us; but everythingdepends on whether you help me to be school-mother to that boy. Youwill have to do your very best on Sunday. You'll have to talk to himabout me, and tell him all the wonderful things that I will do for himwhen I have him to look after, and you will have--whatever you do--tofrighten him about the others, and most especially frighten him aboutRobina. Now, I think that is all. I shan't bother about him, you maybe sure, until Saturday. I think I know my way at last how to spiteRobina, horrid thing! She is just mad to get that pony. I know lifewill be quite happy again if I can get it from her. Oh, she is sure ofit--and Mrs Burton is so sure she'll win, that she is not even going tobe given a day to look after Ralph! Very unfair, I call it."

  Jane said nothing, but that night when she lay down in her little bed inthe third form dormitory, her thoughts kept her awake. She did not muchlike the task she had undertaken. Harriet certainly was a tyrannicalfriend, and Harriet was growing less good each minute. Now thatnaughtiness was coming so terribly to the fore, poor little Jane felt inher heart of hearts that she did not enjoy it. It was all very well toburst out laughing during lessons and to play a practical joke onanother girl, and to hide behind doors and spring out upon a frightenedservant or a still more timid schoolfellow, and it was delicious to makeapple-pie beds and to set booby traps and all those sort of things, butthis sort of naughtiness, somehow, was different.

  Jane had been impressed by Mrs Burton's words:--"You must be unselfish,and forbearing, and thoughtful for others, and all these attributes willbe good for your character, and will help you to be true womenby-and-by." Above all, Jane was struck with what Mrs Burton had saidabout these things being better than beauty, or riches, or talent, forthese things were the best of all, and would stay with a girl and wouldhelp her through her life, and--and--help her after death. Jane wasvery frightened of death. The thought of it came to her sometimes inthe middle of the night, but she always pushed it out of sight. Now,however, Mrs Burton spoke of something which would help her even afterthat had taken place. She shivered in her little bed. She did not atall like the task which was put upon her.

  Meanwhile, things went apparently well in the school. Robina was asbright as ever on the next morning, and just as clever over her lessons,and just as apparently indifferent to her fellow-pupils. She had to allappearance forgotten the words she said to Harriet on the previousnight. She talked cheerfully to Harriet. Harriet was forced to replyin the same tone. Afterwards the girls played in the garden, as theyhad done on the day before; but Harriet and Jane did not meet as theyhad previously arranged in the paddock. It was not necessary to meet,they both felt, for something had occurred since then, and their coursewas in a measure plain. Curly Pate was with them, too, and so were theother little children. The only one who was absent was Frederica; sheand Ralph were not to be seen.

  Late that night Frederica came up to the dormitory, and went to bed asusual. All the others clustered round her.

  "Well--well," they said, "could you manage? Aren't you dead tired?What sort is he, really? Oh, do say if you think you have any chance ofgetting the pony!"

  "I can say nothing--it wouldn't be fair," said Frederica. "Mrs Burtondoesn't wish any one of the girls on her trial to help the others bysaying things. I have had a good day, I think, and am tired, and shouldlike to go to sleep. Patience, you are to go to Ralph's nursery atseven o'clock to-morrow morning."

  The next day was Thursday, and Thursday was Patience Chetwold's day. Itpassed very much as Wednesday had done, only that Jane looked rathermiserable, and Harriet took no notice of her at all. Friday was RoseAmberley's day, and on that day the girls heard--or fancied they heard--peals of laughter in the distance. They were all rather anxious, forRose was so remarkably nice, and had quite a way with little children.Before Robina came she had shared the honours with her elder sister,Constance, of being the babies' favourite. The girls began to sayamongst themselves that Rose would carry off the prize, and that, on thewhole, they would like her to have it, for she was so kind and nice, andso remarkably pretty.

  It was on the evening of Friday that Jane ran up to Harriet, pulled herby her arm, and said in a low tone:--

  "I want to walk with you in the paddock."

  "Now, what's up?" said Harriet crossly.

  "Come," said Jane.

  Jane's black eyes were shining, and her short black hair resembled a mopmore than ever, and her little round figure seemed rounder. There wasquite an agitation about Jane which made her roundness and queer shorthair and round black eyes look too comical for words; at least, this waswhat Harriet said, when she found herself with her friend in thepaddock. Harriet was such a contrast to Jane, and looked more lanky andmore pale than ever on this occasion.

  "Now--what is up?" she said. "You do look precisely like a fatChristmas goose just before he is going to be killed for Christmasdinner. What _is_ up with you now?"

  "Only that--I--I--mean--I don't want to be the school-mother."

  Harriet burst into a peal of laughter. "Isn't it a case of sourgrapes?" she said. "You just know you can't be the school-mother, soyou think you'll cover your defeat by saying that sort of thing."

  "I want to say more," whispered Jane. "I am frightened to do what youwant; I mean I am frightened to say what isn't true about the others--and, particularly, about Robina. I don't want to do it; I thought Iwould tell you."

  "I always knew you were a sneak," said Harriet, "but please yourself, ofcourse. It won't be very nice for you when I send you to Coventry."

  "What do you mean by sending to Coventry?" asked Jane.

  "You _are_ a silly! You are frightfully ugly, and you have no brains atall. Coventry means that I won't speak to you; and what's more, I'llget a lot more girls in the school not to speak to you. Perhaps youwon't enjoy that--but please yourself, I don't care."

  "Harriet, you _are_ cross! You know, you know quite well that I wouldplease you if I could. But--but I do want to be the sort of girl MrsBurton spoke about."

  "Oh, you are turning goody-goody!" said Harriet. "Then, indeed, I haveno further use of you. I am going to take up Vivian Amberley. She isquite a nice little thing--very different from you."

  Jane gave utterance to a very quick sigh. Vivian was perhaps the girlin the third form who had the weakest character. She was not like hertwo elder sisters: she could be very good with good girls and quitenaughty with girls who were not good. Jane had always known this fact,and had always been terribly afraid that Harriet would make use ofVivian, and turn her to her own purposes. In that case, of course,H
arriet would never speak to poor Jane again; and Jane did care for herand could be intensely jealous about her. So now she said:--

  "I know you are very clever, Harriet, and I suppose you do know best;only I wish that little voice inside of me wouldn't talk so loud. Itkeeps me awake at nights, and I get frightened; but if you really,really think--"

  "I think nothing!" said Harriet crossly. "Please yourself. Vivian willhelp me, if you won't. I will know what you have done by Mondaymorning. You can do exactly as you please; and now don't keep me, for Ihave got to finish