,juliet ,sutherland1 ,charles ,franks1 and the ,online ,distributed ,proofreading ,team4 ,,monitress ,,merle ,,by ,,angela ,,brazil ,author of ,a ,fortunate ,term ,the ,princess of the ,school c4 ,illustrated by ,treyer ,evans ,,dedicated ,,to ,,those ,,readers ,,who ,,asked ,,me ,,to ,,write ,,the ,,further ,,adventures ,,of ,,mavis ,,and ,,merle 99 99 99 99 99 ,,contents ,i4 ,a ,,last ,,bathe ,,ii4 ,a ,,school ,,ballot ,,iii4 ,,the ,,new ,,monitress ,,iv4 ,,chagmouth ,,folk ,v4 ,,miss ,,mitchell1 ,b4,a4 ,,vi4 ,,fishermaidens ,,vii4 ,,musical ,,stars ,,viii4 ,,yule-,,tide ,,ix4 ,,facing ,,the ,,footlights ,x4 ,,the ,,mumps ,,xi4 ,,bamberton ,,ferry ,,xii4 ,,fifth ,,form ,,justice ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,kittiwake ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,haunted ,,tree ,,xv4 ,,leave-,,takings ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,tadpole ,,club ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,fourth ,,of ,,july ,,xviii4 ,,love-,,in-,a-,,mist 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustrations ,,why ,,didn',t ',,ee ,,fasten ,,up ,,the ,,chain8 ,,we',,re ,,just ,,ready6 ,,you ,,can ,,come ,,in ,,if ,,you ,,like6 ,,mr4 ,,castleton ,,did ,,not ,,look ,,at ,,all ,,pleased ,,she ,,had ,,brought ,,her ,,wonderful ,,stradivarius ,,violin ,,he ,,kept ,,them ,,dawdling ,,the ,,fourth ,,of ,,july ,,parade 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,i ,a ,last ,bathe ,the warm1 mellow ,september sunshine was streaming over the irregular roofs and twisted chimneys of the little town of ,chagmouth1 and was glinting on the water in the harbour1 and sending gleaming1 straggling1 silver lines over the deep reflections of the shipping moored by the side of the jetty4 ,the rising tide1 lapping slowly and gently in from the ocean1 was floating the boats beached on the shingle1 and was gradually driving back the crowd of barefooted children who had ventured out in search of mussels1 and was sending them1 shrieking with mirth1 scampering up the seaweed-covered steps that led to the fish market4 ,on the crag-top above the town the corn had been cut1 and harvesters were busy laying the sheaves together in stooks4 ,the yellow fields shone in the afternoon light as if the hill were crowned with gold4 ,walking along the narrow cobbled path that led past the harbour and up on to the cliff1 ,mavis and ,merle looked at the scene around with that sense of rejoicing proprietorship with which we are wont to revisit the pet place of our adoption4 ,it was two whole months since they had been in ,chagmouth1 and as they both considered the little town to be the absolute hub of the universe it was really a great event to find themselves once more in its familiar streets4 ,they had spent the summer holidays with their father and mother in the north1 and had come back to ,durracombe just in time for the reopening of school4 ,on this first ,saturday after their return to ,devonshire they had motored with ,uncle ,david to his branch surgery at ,chagmouth1 and were looking forward to several hours of amusement while he visited his patients at the sanatorium4 ,readers who have followed the adventures of ,mavis and ,merle ,ramsay in ,a ,fortunate ,term will remember that the sisters1 on account of ,mavis's health1 had come to live with their great-uncle ,dr4 ,tremayne at ,durracombe1 where they attended school daily at ',the ,moorings4' ,dr4 ,ramsay1 their father1 had decided shortly to leave his practice at ,whinburn and go into partnership with ,dr4 ,tremayne1 but the removal to ,devonshire could not take place till nearly ,christmas1 so the girls were to spend another term in sole charge of ,uncle ,david1 ,aunt ,nellie1 and ,jessop the elderly housekeeper1 an arrangement which1 though they were sorry to be parted from their parents1 pleased them uncommonly well4 ,it was a favourite excursion of theirs to accompany their uncle on ,saturdays when he motored to visit patients at ,chagmouth4 ,on these occasions they would have lunch and tea with him at ,grimbal's ,farm1 where he had his surgery1 and would spend the intervening time on the seashore or wandering along the cliffs4 ,to-day1 tempted by the brilliant sunshine1 they had brought their bathing costumes1 towels1 and tea-basket1 and meant to secure the last dip of the holidays in case the weather should change and further mermaiding should prove impossible4 ,they chatted briskly as they climbed the path up the cliff4 ,too bad ,bevis has gone back to school6 ,i thought we should just have seen him before he went6 ,and ,tudor too6 ,i met ,babbie1 while you were inside ,carlyon's shop buying chocs1 and she told me ,tudor started yesterday1 and ,gwen went last ,tuesday to a boarding-school near ,london4 ,it was decided quite in a hurry because there happened to be a vacancy for her4 ,it's a very fashionable school where they take the girls out to theatres and concerts and all sorts of places4 ,gwen's fearfully thrilled to go4 ,they wanted to send her there before1 only they couldn't get her in4 ,somebody else has left unexpectedly though1 so there was a cubicle at liberty for her4 ,it will just suit ,gwen6 ,but she'll miss her riding4 ,she nearly lived on ,taffy's back as a rule4 ,won't it be very lonely for ,babbie all by herself with a governess8 ,will she come to school for ,french and dancing as usual8 ,she's coming to ',the ,moorings' altogether4 ,they're going to motor her over every day1 and fetch her back at four4 ,she's quite pleased about it4 ,she always liked ',the ,moorings' much better than ,gwen did4 ,and ',the ,moorings1' from all reports1 is going to be an utterly different school this term6 ,so ,i suppose6 ,hope it won't be too much changed1 that's all6 ,a new teacher1 hot from a ,high ,school1 means a new broom that will sweep very clean4 ,it strikes me those nice do-as-you-please lessons with ,miss ,fanny will be dreams of the past1 and we shall have to set our brains to work and swat6 ,ugh6 ,it's not a particularly delirious prospect6 ,mavis laughed4 ,don't wrinkle your forehead into quite so many kinks6 ,you look about forty6 she objected4 ,it mayn't turn out as hard as you expect4 ,anyhow1 don't let us spoil the last ,saturday of the holidays with thinking about it4 ,i want to enjoy this afternoon thoroughly4 ,i feel as if ,i'd been away from ,chagmouth for years and years4 ,isn't it priceless to see it again8 ,have a chocolate6 ,or would you rather take a piece of toffee8 ,the two girls had been mounting steadily as they talked1 and were now walking along a narrow track which led along the top of the cliffs4 ,below them lay the gorgeous-hued crags of the rugged coast and a great expanse of sea1 silver at the horizon1 blue at mid-distance1 and deep metallic green where it touched the shore4 ,innumerable sea-birds wheeled and screamed below1 and the incoming tide lapped with little white waves over the reefs of rocks1 and submerged the pools where gobies were darting about1 and sea-anemones were stretching out crimson or green tentacles1 and scurrying crabs were hiding among masses of brown oar-weed4 ,above and beyond was a network of brambles1 where ripe blackberries hung in such tempting clusters that it was hardly in human nature to resist them1 and ,merle1 with purple-stained fingers1 loitered and lingered to enjoy the feast4 ,if you're not quick the tide will have turned and it won't be half so nice to bathe6 urged ,mavis impatiently4 ,do hurry up now1 and you can absolutely gorge on blackberries as we come back1 if you want to4 ,i'll promise to wait for you then4 ,right-o6 ,i'm coming6 ,though ,i must just get that one big beauty6 ,there6 ,i won't eat a single one more till ,i've had my dip4 ,we must be close to the cove now4 ,i'll run if you like6 ,the bathing-place for which the girls were bound was a sandy creek among the rocks4 ,a hundred years ago it had been a favourite spot for smugglers to land contraband goods1 and a series of steps cut in the cliff testified to its former use4 ,nowadays it was commonly deserted1 and in the early part of the summer1 when ,mavis and ,merle had been wont to visit it1 they had had it all to themselves4 ,they had gone there so often and found it untenanted that they had come to regard it as their private property1 and1 in consequence1 they were most unreasonably annoyed1 when climbing down the steps1 to hear sounds of laughter rising up from below4 ,who's in our cove8 demanded ,merle sharply1 somewhat as ,father ,bruin asked the immortal question1 ,who's sleeping on my bed8 ,all the world1 ,i should say6 replied the aggrieved voice of ,mavis1 who was in front and had first view of the scene beneath4 ,the place is an absolute 'seaside resort4' ,never saw so many people in my life before6 ,where do they all come from8 ,the little cove1 their cove1 which in ,june had been so delightfully secluded and retired1 was undoubtedly invaded by quite a number of visitors4 ,children were paddling or scampering along the sands1 wet heads were bobbing in and out of the water1 every rocky crevice was in use as a dressing-room1 picnic parties were taking tea on the rocks1 and a circle of boys and girls were playing a noisy game at the brink of the waves4 ,very ruefully ,mavis and ,merle descended to swell the throng4 ,it was not at all the sort of bathe which they had anticipated1 and1 had there been another available spot within reach1 they would have utterly disdained it4 ,shall we go on to ,yellow ,head8 ventured ,merle hesitatingly4 ,there isn't time4 ,the tide would be out before we got there1 and it's a perfect tangle of oar-weed unless the water's high4 ,never mind6 ,there'll be elbow-room in the sea at any rate4 ,there's a corner here where we can undress4 ,come along6 ,o-o-h6 ,there's some one else inside6 ,illustration3 ,,we',,re ,,just ,,ready6 ,,you ,,can ,,come ,,in ,,if ,,you ,,like6 ,we're just ready6 ,you can come in if you like6 proclaimed a voice1 as two girls in navy bathing costumes and rubber caps issued from behind a rock1 and running swiftly down the sand plunged into the water4 ,availing themselves of the opportunity ,mavis and ,merle took temporary possession of the naiads' dressing-room1 and in the course of a few minutes more were revelling in a swim4 ,the red rubber caps of the girls who preceded them were plainly to be seen some distance from the shore1 where their owners were apparently having a race towards a rock that jutted from the waves4 ,oh1 they mustn't go out there6 ,there's an awful current6 ,bevis warned us about it6 gasped ,mavis1 swimming securely with one foot on the ground4 ,can't we stop them8 ,shout1 ,merle6 ,hello1 there6 ,ahoy6 ,come back6 yelled ,merle1 who possessed stronger lungs than her sister4 ,they don't hear me6 ,coo-oo-ee6 ,that's done it1 thank goodness6 ,come--back--you're--going--to--get--int o--a--current6 ,the two red caps1 warned in time of their danger1 turned and swam into safer waters4 ,they did not venture so far again from the shore1 but frolicked with some companions1 trying to make wheels and to perform various other feats of agility1 which were generally failures and ended in a splash4 ,they were so long about it that ,mavis and ,merle went from the water first and had time to dress quite leisurely before the others1 shaking out wet fair hair1 followed to the crevice among the rocks4 ,the ,ramsays took their picnic basket1 and1 climbing a short way up the steps1 settled themselves upon a grassy platform which afforded a good view of the cove below4 ,they liked this vantage-ground better than the sands1 and began to spread out the cups and saucers and parcels of cakes which ,jessop had packed for them1 congratulating themselves upon having a spot at least fairly apart4 ,but they were not destined to spend that afternoon in solitary state4 ,they had scarcely opened their basket when three heads came bobbing up the steps1 shamelessly invaded their platform1 and also began to unpack tea-cups4 ,merle1 who did not like other people to trespass upon her rights1 frowned and turned her back upon them1 and probably each little party would have taken its meal separately had not an unforeseen and utterly untoward accident happened4 ,mavis knocked their thermos flask with her elbow and sent it spinning over the cliff4 ,here was a pretty business6 ,their tea was gone1 and the flask1 if they found it1 would be utterly smashed4 ,it's not worth climbing down to pick it up6 lamented ,mavis contritely4 ,i'm so sorry1 ,merle6 ,it was horribly clumsy of me6 ,do have some of ours6 suggested one of the strangers sympathetically4 ,we've heaps6 ,two flasks2 and that's more than we shall drink ourselves4 ,you might just as well6 ,i say1 it was awfully decent of you to call to us not to go on to those rocks6 put in another4 ,we didn't know about the current4 ,the third girl made no remark1 but she smiled invitingly and held out one of their flasks4 ,so it came about that ,mavis and ,merle moved nearer and joined the others1 so that they formed one party4 ,for a few minutes they sat in polite silence1 taking in the items of their neighbours' appearance4 ,when the ,ramsays compared notes afterwards they decided that they had never before seen three such pretty girls4 ,the two who had worn the red bathing caps were evidently sisters1 for they had the same clear-cut features1 fair complexions1 cupid mouths1 and beautiful dark-fringed eyes4 ,their companion1 whose brown hair was drying in the breeze1 was a complete contrast1 with her warm brunette colouring and quick vivacious manner1 like an orchid between two roses1 as ,mavis described her later4 ,it was she who spoke first--quite a conventional inquiry but decidedly to the point4 ,are you staying in ,chagmouth8 she asked4 ,we've only come over for the day from ,durracombe1 answered ,merle4 ,the three strangers looked immediately interested4 ,durracombe6 ,why1 we're going to start school there next week6 ,never at ',the ,moorings'6 gasped ,merle excitedly4 ,that's the place6 ,do you go there too8 ,oh6 ,i say6 ,do tell us all about it6 ,we've been just crazy to know what it's like4 ,you two look sports6 ,what are your names8 ,are the rest of the school jolly1 and is ,miss ,pollard nice8 ,with such a common interest as ',the ,moorings' to talk about1 the ice was completely broken1 and the five girls were soon chatting in friendly fashion4 ,mavis and ,merle1 having given a few details about themselves and how they often motored over to ,chagmouth with ,dr4 ,tremayne1 drew in turn some information from their new acquaintances4 ,the two fair-haired girls1 aged respectively fourteen and thirteen1 were ,beata and ,romola ,castleton1 and their father1 an artist1 had lately removed from ,porthkeverne in ,cornwall1 and had taken a house at ,chagmouth4 ,their friend ,fay ,macleod1 a year older than ,beata1 was an ,american1 whose father had come to ,europe in search of health1 and being attracted to ,chagmouth by his love of sketching1 had settled there temporarily for a rest-cure1 and was enjoying the quiet and beauty of the quaint place and its surrounding scenery4 ,i suppose you'll all be weekly boarders8 ventured ,mavis1 when ,fay had finished her communications4 ,no1 we're to be day-girls4 ,six of us from ,chagmouth are joining in a car and motoring every morning and being fetched back at four--ourselves1 ,nan and ,lizzie ,colville1 and ,tattie ,carew4 ,it will be rather a squash to cram six of us into ,vicary's car6 ,we've named it 'the sardine-tin' already4 ,i hope nobody else will want to join us6 ,babbie ,williams is to be a day-girl this term4 ,she lives over there at ,the ,warren4 ,we haven't room for her4 ,she's going in their own car4 ,that's good news for the sardines6 ,i was thinking some of us would have to ride on the footboard or the luggage-carrier4 ,is ,babbie fair1 with bobbed hair8 ,then ,i've seen her in church4 ,seven of us from ,chagmouth6 ,we ought to make quite a clique in the school6 ,oh1 we don't want any cliques1 said ,merle quickly4 ,we had enough of that sort of thing when ,opal was there4 ,miss ,pollard told mother that the new mistress1 ,miss ,mitchell1 is going to reorganise everything1 and bring it up to date1 so ,i expect we shall find a great many changes when we start again4 ,have you been at school before8 ,romola and ,i went to ,the ,gables at ,porthkeverne1 replied ,beata4 ,we loved it1 and we were dreadfully sorry to leave4 ,fay1 of course1 has been at school in ,america4 ,and we used to go to a big ,high school in the north until we came to ,durracombe4 ',the ,moorings' seemed a tiny place at first1 and then we grew to love it4 ,we adore ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny4 ,i hope you'll like them too6 ,i'm so glad we've met you1 because we'll know you when you arrive at school1 and we can show you round4 ,i'm afraid we shall have to be going now1 because ,uncle ,david will be back from the sanatorium and waiting for us4 ,thanks most immensely for the tea4 ,we'll look out for you on ,tuesday4 ,good-bye6 ,as ,mavis and ,merle walked back along the cliffs to ,chagmouth their tongues wagged fast in discussion of their new acquaintances4 ,mavis was charmed with ,beata and ,romola1 and ,merle had utterly lost her heart to ,fay4 ,i feel as if ,i could like her6 she declared4 ,she's a sport1 and really we want somebody to wake us up a little at ',the ,moorings4' ,i believe this term is going to be jolly4 ,my spirits are rising and ,i see fun ahead4 ,i only wish ,daddy could go and live at ,chagmouth and we could go to school every day in 'the sardine-tin4' ,they'll have the time of their lives1 the luckers6 ,don't ,i envy them1 just6 ,i don't think ,i'd like to be packed quite so tight1 thanks6 objected ,mavis4 ,on the whole1 ,i much prefer going backwards and forwards to ,chagmouth in ,uncle ,david's car4 ,merle6 ,do you know it's after five6 ,we must simply scoot--oh1 ,i daresay ,i did promise you might eat blackberries1 but you haven't time now4 ,you shouldn't have stayed so long at the cove if you wanted a blackberry feed6 ,if you don't hurry up ,i shall run off and leave you and go home with ,uncle ,david by myself6 ,there6 ,oh1 you're coming6 ,good6 ,i thought you'd hardly care to spend the night upon the cliffs with the sea-gulls6 ,,chapter ,,ii ,a ,school ,ballot ,mavis and ,merle started for school on ,tuesday morning confident of finding many changes4 ,hitherto ',the ,moorings' had been a modest establishment where about twenty-four children had been educated by ,miss ,pollard and her sister ,miss ,fanny1 who were the daughters of the late ,vicar of the parish4 ,they were neither of them particularly learned or up to date1 but they had a happy knack with girls1 and had been especially successful in the care of delicate pupils4 ,the remarkably mild climate of ,durracombe made the place peculiarly suitable for those who had been born in ,india or other hot countries1 and so many more boarders had been entered for this term that the school was practically doubled4 ,recognising the fact that this sudden enlargement in numbers ought also to mean a march forward in other ways1 the sisters were wise enough to seize their golden opportunity and completely reorganise their methods4 ,they were fortunate in being able to get hold of the house next to their own1 and1 turning that into a hostel for boarders1 they devoted the whole of ',the ,moorings' to classrooms4 ,they engaged a thoroughly competent and reliable mistress1 with a university degree and ,high ,school experience1 and gave her carte blanche to revise the curriculum and institute what innovations she thought fit4 ,they allowed her to choose her own assistant mistress1 and made fresh arrangements for visiting teachers1 reserving for themselves only a very few of the classes1 and concentrating most of their energies on the management of the hostel4 ,these new plans gave great satisfaction to both parents and pupils4 ,it will be rather nice to have somebody modern at the head of things1 so long as ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny aren't entirely shelved1 declared ,merle4 ,they're perfect dears6 ,we couldn't do without them1 agreed ,mavis4 ,but they're not clever6 ,um--,i don't know6 ,it depends what you call clever6 ,they mayn't be ,b4,a4's and all the rest of it1 but they're well read1 and they can sketch and sing and play and do a hundred things that a great many graduates can't4 ,i call them 'cultured1' that's the right name for them4 ,they're such absolute and perfect ladies4 ,it's a style you really don't meet every day4 ,and they're so pretty with their pink cheeks and their silver hair1 like the sweet old-fashioned pictures of eighteenth-century beauties in powder and patches4 ,i love to look at them1 and to listen to the gentle refined way they talk--,i think they're adorable6 ,so they are--but you want something more in a school4 ,i hope the fresh teacher will be a regular sport1 and that she'll use slang sometimes1 and play hockey4 ,that's my ideal of a head mistress4 ,miss ,mitchell1 the new peg upon which so much was now to depend at ',the ,moorings1' might not have been blamed for regarding ,tuesday morning as somewhat of an ordeal4 ,if she was nervous1 however1 she managed to conceal her feelings1 and bore the introduction to her prospective pupils with cheerful calm4 ,forty-six girls1 taking mental stock of her1 decided instantly that she was 'the right sort4' ,she was tall1 in her middle twenties1 had a fresh complexion1 light brown hair1 a brisk decisive manner1 and a pleasant twinkle in her hazel eyes4 ,she was evidently not in the least afraid of her audience1 a fact which at once gave her the right handle4 ,she faced their united stare smilingly4 ,i'm very pleased to meet you all6 she began4 ,i hope we shall work together splendidly and have an extremely happy term4 ,as ,miss ,pollard has just told you1 there have been so many changes at ',the ,moorings' that it is practically a new school4 ,it's a tremendous opportunity to be able to make a fresh start like this4 ,we can make our own traditions and our own rules4 ,some of you have been at the school before and some have been at other schools1 but ,i want you all to forget past traditions and unite together to make ',the ,moorings' the biggest success that can possibly be4 ,we're all going to love it and to be very loyal to it4 ,we hope to do well with our work1 and well with our games4 ,i must explain to you later about all the various societies which we mean to start1 but ,i want to tell you that though there is plenty of work in front of you there's also plenty of fun1 and that if every girl makes up her mind to do her very best all round we shall get on grandly4 ,now ,i am going to read out the lists of the various forms1 and then you can march away in turn to your own classrooms4 ,in making her arrangements for the reorganisation of the school ,miss ,mitchell had decided to have no ,sixth form as yet4 ,the girls were all under seventeen1 and she did not consider any of them sufficiently advanced to be placed in so high a position4 ,the ,fifth was at present to be the top form1 and consisted of eleven girls1 all of whom she intended should work their uttermost and fit themselves for the honour of becoming the ,sixth a year later4 ,mavis and ,merle1 both of whom were included in this elect eleven1 walked demurely away to their new classroom4 ,five of their old companions were with them1 ,iva ,westwood1 ,nesta ,pitman1 ,aubrey ,simpson1 ,muriel ,burnitt1 and ,edith ,carey1 and the remaining four consisted of ,beata ,castleton1 ,fay ,macleod1 and two strangers1 ,sybil ,vernon and ,kitty ,trefyre4 ,romola ,castleton had been placed in the ,fourth1 together with ,maude ,carey1 ,babbie ,williams1 ,nan ,colville1 ,tattie ,carew1 and several other new girls4 ,the ,fifth1 as the top form1 was to be mainly ,miss ,mitchell's2 ,miss ,barnes1 the fresh assistant mistress1 was to take the ,fourth2 and the teaching of the three lower forms would be shared by ,miss ,hopkins1 ,mademoiselle1 and ,miss ,fanny ,pollard4 ,lessons1 on a first morning1 are usually more or less haphazard1 but at any rate a beginning was made1 the pupils were entered on their class registers1 their capacities were tested1 and they began in some slight degree to know their teachers4 ,before the school separated at #ab4cj for dinner ,miss ,pollard had an announcement to make4 ,miss ,mitchell and ,i have decided that for the general good of the school it will be wise to appoint four monitresses4 ,two of these must be boarders and will be chosen by us1 but the other two may be elected by yourselves4 ,we will have a ballot this afternoon4 ,you may nominate any girls you like by writing their names upon slips of paper and handing them in to me before #b4cj4 ,all candidates1 however1 must be over the age of fifteen and must have spent at least two previous terms at ',the ,moorings4' ,the voting will take place in the big schoolroom immediately after four o'clock4 ,mavis and ,merle1 walking home to lunch at ,bridge ,house1 discussed the project eagerly as they went4 ,good for ,miss ,pollard6 ,or ,i expect it's really ,miss ,mitchell who suggested it6 ,i call it a ripping idea4 ,it's just exactly what's wanted4 ,the monitresses will lead the games and all the various societies4 ,run the school1 in fact4 ,what sport6 rejoiced ,merle1 with shining eyes4 ,the old ',moorings' will really wake up at last4 ,only four monitresses1 and two of them are to be boarders and chosen by the powers that be6 mused ,mavis4 ,that means ,iva and ,nesta1 if ,i know anything of ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny6 ,now the question is who are to be the other two lucky ones8 ,it ought to be somebody who could lead6 flushed ,merle4 ,somebody really good at games and able to organise all that rabble of kids4 ,some one who's been accustomed to a big school and knows what ought to be done4 ,not girls who've spent all their lives in a tiny school like this4 ,they've no standards4 ,i've often told them that6 ,they've simply no idea of how things used to swing at the ,whinburn ,high6 ,i wish ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,mitchell would have done all the choosing1 said ,mavis anxiously4 ,i think myself it's a mistake to put it to the vote4 ,probably somebody quite unsuitable will be elected4 ,the juniors will plump for the girl they like best1 without caring whether she knows anything about games or not4 ,there's ,aubrey ,simpson6 ,oh6 ,they can't choose 'the jackdaw'6 interrupted ,merle4 ,they can choose her if they like4 ,she's over fifteen and perfectly eligible4 ,edith ,carey is rather a favourite1 ,i believe4 ,that silly goose6 ,good-night6 ,well1 there's ,muriel ,burnitt at any rate4 ,she's been a long time at ',the ,moorings4' ,all the worse for that1 though she's better than ,edith or ,aubrey4 ,i shall vote for her myself1 and for you4 ,and ,i'm going to vote for you1 and for ,muriel1 because1 as you say1 she's better than the others4 ,i sincerely hope you'll win4 ,i hope we both shall4 ,i'll nominate you if you'll nominate me6 ,rather a family affair1 isn't it8 ,i think ,i'll ask first and see if anybody else is going to give in our names4 ,perhaps ,iva or ,nesta may4 ,it would be much nicer than seeming to poke ourselves forward4 ,if we don't hustle a little we'll never get there6 ,that's my opinion6 ,you're too good for this wicked world1 ,mavis6 ,i've often told you so6 declared ,merle1 running into the house and putting down her books with a slam4 ,angel girls are all very well at home1 but school is a scrimmage and it's those who fight who come up on top6 ,don't laugh6 ,oh1 ,i enjoy fighting6 ,i tell you ,i want most desperately and tremendously to be made a monitress1 and if ,i'm not chosen1 well--it will be the disappointment of my life6 ,i'm not joking6 ,i mean it really and truly4 ,i've set my heart upon it4 ,mavis1 who had a very fine sense of the fitness of things1 and who did not think sisters should nominate one another1 returned early to school that afternoon and hunted up ,iva ,westwood4 ,she found her very enthusiastic about the election4 ,we've never had anything of the sort before at ',the ,moorings1' purred ,iva4 ,we're beginning to wake up here1 aren't we8 ,i'm going to give in your name as a candidate1 ,mavis6 ,i'm just writing it now4 ,thanks6 ,won't you put ,merle too8 ,oh1 ,i will if you like4 7,iva's voice was not too enthusiastic47 ,i suppose it doesn't matter how many we nominate4 ,somehow ,i never thought of ,merle4 ,she's a splendid leader1 and ,a#a at games4 ,you should have seen her at ,whinburn ,high6 ,oh1 ,i daresay6 ,well1 to please you ,i'll put her name on my list4 ,it can do no harm at any rate4 ,thanks ever so6 ,old ,muriel's canvassing like anything downstairs among the kids6 ,is canvassing allowed8 ,well1 it hasn't been forbidden4 ,nesta and ,i are too proud to go and beg for votes1 but ,mu doesn't care in the least2 rather enjoys it1 in fact4 ,she's sitting in the playroom1 with ,florrie ,leach and ,betty ,marshall on her knee1 'doing the popular1' and giving away whole packets of sweets4 ,if ,merle really wants--hello6 here's ,merle herself6 ,mavis turned quickly1 for her younger sister1 looking flushed and excited1 had burst suddenly into the room and was speaking eagerly4 ,mavis6 ,have you a shilling in your pocket8 ,i left my purse at home6 ,do lend it to me6 ,what for8 ,i want to tear out and buy some sweets4 ,oh yes1 ,i've time4 ,i shall simply sprint4 ,hand it over1 that's a saintly girl6 ,thanks immensely6 ,merle departed like a whirlwind1 slamming the door after her4 ,iva ,westwood pulled an expressive grimace and laughed4 ,so she's trying the popular trick too6 ,well1 sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't4 ,i think ,edith ,carey has a good chance myself4 ,the kids are rather fond of her4 ,have you written your nominations yet1 ,mavis8 ,then come along1 and we'll drop them inside the box4 ,as the first bell rang at #b4be and the girls began to assemble in the big schoolroom1 ,muriel ,burnitt walked in followed by a perfect comet's tail of juniors1 some of whom were hanging on to her arms4 ,each was sucking a peppermint bull's-eye1 and each wore a piece of pink ribbon pinned on to her dress4 ,muriel's favours6 they explained1 giggling loudly4 ,we're all of us going to vote for her4 ,isn't it fun8 ,mavis glanced round for ,merle1 hoping her expedition to the sweet-shop would not have made her late1 and to her relief saw her sitting on the opposite side of the room1 in company with ,beata and ,romola ,castleton1 ,fay ,macleod1 and a number of other new girls whose acquaintance she had evidently just made4 ,they were passing round chocolates1 and seemingly enjoying themselves4 ,merle waved a hand gaily at her sister1 beckoning her to join the group1 but at that moment ,miss ,mitchell entered the room1 and all seated themselves on the nearest available benches while the roll-call was taken4 ,we will meet here at four o'clock for the election1 said the mistress1 as she closed the register and dismissed the various forms to their classrooms4 ,the first day of a new term always seems intolerably long1 and with such an interesting event as a ballot before them most of the girls felt the hour and a half to drag1 and turned many surreptitious glances towards wrist watches4 ,merle in especial1 who hated ,french translation1 groaned as she looked up words in the dictionary1 and made several stupid mistakes1 because her thoughts were focussed on the election instead of on the matter in hand4 ,once she yawned openly1 and drew down a reproof from ,mademoiselle1 whereupon she heaved a submissive sigh1 controlled her boredom1 and went on wearily transferring the flowery sentiments of ,fnelon into the ,english tongue4 ,at precisely five minutes to four the big bell clanged out a warning1 dictionaries were shut1 exercise-books handed in1 pencil-boxes replaced in desks1 and the class filed downstairs to the big schoolroom4 ,miss ,pollard was not there3 she was busy in the hostel2 and ,miss ,fanny1 looking rather flustered and nervous1 had evidently given over the conduct of the meeting to ,miss ,mitchell1 and was present merely as a spectator4 ,the new mistress seemed perfectly at home and ready for the occasion4 ,she passed round pieces of paper1 inquired whether everybody had a pencil1 then made her announcements4 ,as ,miss ,pollard told you this morning1 you are here to elect two monitresses4 ,two from among the boarders have already been chosen by us1 these are ,iva ,westwood and ,nesta ,pitman1 but the remaining two are to be balloted for from among the list of candidates4 ,as perhaps some of you don't understand a ballot1 ,i will tell you just what to do4 ,i have written on the blackboard the names of those girls who have been nominated3 ,muriel ,burnitt4 ,aubrey ,simpson4 ,edith ,carey4 ,mavis ,ramsay4 ,merle ,ramsay4 ,what ,i want you to do is to write on your piece of paper the names of the two candidates for whom you wish to vote1 then fold your paper and hand it in4 ,you must not add your own name to it1 and you have no need to tell anybody how you voted4 ,the whole principle of a ballot is that it is done in secret4 ,are you ready8 ,then please begin4 ,the little ceremony was soon over1 the girls scribbled rapidly1 folded their papers1 and passed them along the benches to ,nesta and ,iva1 who collected them and gave them to ,miss ,mitchell4 ,it will take a short time to count the votes1 explained the mistress4 ,those girls who wish to go home can do so1 but any who like to wait and hear the result can stay4 ,miss ,mitchell and ,miss ,fanny retired to the study and the meeting broke up4 ,most of the day-girls put on their hats and coats in readiness to go home1 but hung about the hall until the names should be announced4 ,the contingent from ,chagmouth1 whose car was stationed outside in the road1 and whose driver was waxing impatient1 were obliged to depart without the exciting news4 ,merle went as far as the gate to watch them pack into their 'sardine-tin4' ,four sat behind1 and two in front with the chauffeur1 all quite radiant and thoroughly enjoying themselves4 ,good-bye6 ,i hope you'll win6 said ,beata1 waving a hand to ,merle with difficulty1 for she was tightly sandwiched between ,fay and ,tattie4 ,we did our best for you and ,mavis4 ,i didn't know any of those others4 ,romola1 have you got the books8 ,that's all right4 ,i was afraid we'd left the satchel4 ,yes1 7to the chauffeur7 we're quite ready now1 thanks6 ,ta-ta1 ,merle6 ,good luck to you6 ,we're off6 ,merle1 looking after the retreating car1 was joined by ,aubrey ,simpson1 rather injured1 and disconsolate4 ,i didn't know all these new girls were to have votes1 she grumbled4 ,how can they choose a monitress when they don't know anybody6 ,it's rather humbug1 isn't it8 ,they know me perked ,merle4 ,did you canvass them8 ,oh1 how mean6 ,why mean8 ,you could have done it yourself4 ,muriel was canvassing among the juniors as hard as she could go4 ,i might have canvassed among the new boarders6 ,why didn't ,i think of it8 wailed ,aubrey4 ,well1 really1 it's your own stupid fault6 ,don't blame me6 snapped ,merle4 ,iva and ,nesta said they didn't mean to ask for votes4 ,well1 they'd no need to4 ,they were both jolly certain that ,miss ,pollard would make them monitresses4 ,it's easy to talk loftily when you're sure of your innings4 ,did ,mavis canvass8 ,no--but then1 of course1 ,mavis wouldn't6 ,why not8 ,oh--because she's ,mavis6 ,i can't see her doing it somehow4 ,what a long time ,miss ,mitchell and ,miss ,fanny are over their counting6 ,i wish they'd hurry up4 ,i want to go home to tea4 ,the girls had not much longer1 however1 to wait4 ,in the course of a few minutes the new mistress entered the hall and read out the important result4 ,the polling is as follows1 she announced4 ,muriel ,burnitt 4 4 4 #bg ,mavis ,ramsay 4 4 4 #bj ,merle ,ramsay 4 4 4 #ai ,edith ,carey 4 4 4 #ad ,aubrey ,simpson 4 4 4 #ab ,the two monitresses elected1 therefore1 are ,muriel ,burnitt and ,mavis ,ramsay4 ,some of the girls raised a cheer1 others took no notice2 ,miss ,mitchell1 who seemed in a hurry1 vanished back into the study4 ,the boarders1 hearing their tea-bell1 made for the hostel4 ,congrats1 ,mavis6 said ,iva1 as she walked away arm-in-arm with ,nesta4 ,i'm glad the lot has fallen on you4 ,muriel was pretty sure of a walk-over1 but it was a toss-up who was to be the fourth4 ,i don't mind telling you ,i voted for you myself4 ,and so did ,nesta1 ,i'm sure4 ,it was a ballot1 and ,i'm not going to let out whom ,i voted for6 declared ,nesta4 ,some people can't keep their own secrets6 ,all the same1 ,i'm glad it's you1 ,mavis4 ,i wouldn't have had ,aubrey a monitress for worlds4 ,the ,ramsays walked home together along the ,high ,street to ,bridge ,house4 ,muriel ,burnitt1 escorted by ,florrie and ,viola ,leach and the three little ,andrews1 was on in front1 pluming herself upon her victory4 ,the ,careys had disappeared down the short cut to the ,vicarage4 ,mavis hardly dared to look at ,merle4 ,the latter kept her face turned away and blinked her eyes hard4 ,she had enough self-restraint not to weep openly in the ,high ,street4 ,when they reached their own door however1 she bolted through the surgery entrance and1 running into the garden1 hid herself in the summer-house1 whither ,mavis1 after a word to ,aunt ,nellie1 presently followed her to offer what consolation she could4 ,it's not that ,i'm jealous of you6 sobbed ,merle stormily4 ,i wanted us both to win6 ,what does ,muriel know about a decent game of hockey1 or how to conduct a society1 or run a school magazine8 ,it's idiotic that she should be chosen4 ,neither she nor ,iva nor ,nesta has ever been at a big school4 ,a precious bungle they'll make of their meetings4 ,i know you'll be there--but you're so gentle you'll never stand up against them1 and they'll have everything their own silly way4 ',the ,moorings' won't be very much changed if it's just to be run upon the same old lines4 ,i shan't bother to try and help4 ,i might have done so much if they'd elected me1 but what's the use now8 ,i'm frightfully and frantically disappointed4 ,if ,miss ,mitchell had had any sense she'd have waited a fortnight till she got to know the girls1 and then have chosen the monitresses herself4 ,if it's ,miss ,fanny's fault1 ,i'm not friends with her any more6 ,tea-time1 did you say8 ,i suppose ,i shall have to come in then1 though ,i really don't want any4 ,ugh6 ,i hate everything6 ,tea that day was a dreary affair4 ,uncle ,david was out1 ,aunt ,nellie had a headache so was unusually quiet1 and ,merle1 with red eyes1 sat silent and brooding4 ,mavis tried desperately to make a little conversation1 but it was impossible to maintain a monologue1 and she soon dropped the futile attempt4 ,merle1 after eating half a piece of bread and butter and declining a chocolate biscuit1 begged suddenly to be excused1 and with two big unruly tears splashing down her cheeks fled from the room4 ,poor child6 ,i'm afraid she's terribly disappointed1 commented ,aunt ,nellie sympathetically4 ,it seems a pity she wasn't chosen4 ,i suppose she would have made a splendid monitress4 ,it's half the battle to be keen about anything4 ,mavis agreed1 passed the cake1 finished her tea1 picked up the dropped stitches in ,aunt ,nellie's piece of knitting1 carried a message to the cook1 then went out into the garden4 ,she wanted to be alone for a little while4 ,there was a retired corner among the bushes by the wall overlooking the river4 ,she had placed a box here for a seat1 and called it her hermitage4 ,even ,merle had not so far discovered it4 ,it was a retreat where she could withdraw from everybody1 and be absolutely uninterrupted and by herself4 ,there was something about which she wished to think in quiet4 ,the idea had been pressing upon her1 clamouring in her brain ever since ,miss ,mitchell's announcement1 but she must consider it carefully before she acted upon it4 ,sitting in her green nook1 watching the golden light sparkling upon the river below1 she faced her problem3 ,merle would really make a far better monitress than ,i should4 ,oughtn't ,i to give the post up to her8 ,it was a struggle1 and a very difficult one1 for ,mavis1 quiet though she was1 had her ambitions1 and it would be hard to yield place to her younger sister4 ,it is only those who are accustomed to practise self- control who have the strength for an emergency4 ,she longed for the opportunity of helping the school1 and to stand aside voluntarily and give the work up to another seemed a big sacrifice4 ,it's got to be1 though6 sighed ,mavis4 ,i'll go down and see ,miss ,fanny about it at once4 ,i expect ,i can make her understand4 ,dodging ,merle1 who was disconsolately doing some gardening1 she walked back to ',the ,moorings' and went to the hostel4 ,miss ,fanny1 busy among the new boarders1 received her with astonishment4 ,what is it1 ,mavis8 ,i can only spare you five minutes4 ,you want to speak to me about the monitress-ship8 ,my dear child1 ,miss ,mitchell will explain everything to you to-morrow1 and tell you exactly what you have to do4 ,there's no need to trouble about it now4 ,it isn't that1 please1 ,miss ,fanny6 blushed ,mavis4 ,the fact of the matter is that ,i think ,merle ought to have been chosen instead of me4 ,i was only one mark ahead of her4 ,she'd make a far better monitress than ,i should4 ,may ,i resign and let her have the post instead8 ,this was coming to the point with a vengeance4 ,miss ,fanny knitted her eyebrows and pursed up her mouth into a button4 ,i rather expected ,merle to be elected1 she admitted cautiously4 ,she'd be splendid6 urged ,mavis1 pursuing her advantage4 ,she's a born leader4 ,she's able to organise things and to keep order1 and she's good at games4 ,she'd throw herself heart and soul into it1 and work tremendously at all the new schemes4 ,she'd start clubs among the juniors as well as the seniors1 and coach them in hockey1 and do her level best6 ,i'll guarantee she would6 ,and what about yourself8 ,can't you do any of these things8 questioned ,miss ,fanny4 ,not so well as ,merle6 ,i'm shyer1 and ,i daren't speak out1 and ,i'm not much good at games4 ,and oh6 ,miss ,fanny1 there's another side of the question4 ,i know ,merle so well4 ,if she's made monitress she'll be heart and soul for the school and an enormous help1 but--she's a queer girl1 and if she has no special place here or anything to concentrate her energy on1 she may give trouble4 ,that is certainly no reason for placing her in a post of authority1 frowned ,miss ,fanny4 ,no--but she's a girl who's always for or against1 and it's so very important she should be on the right side4 ,i believe this would be the making of her4 ,she'd try for the sake of others when she wouldn't make any effort for herself4 ,i believe you're right1 conceded ,miss ,fanny thoughtfully4 ,miss ,mitchell would certainly be most relieved to have a monitress who was capable of organising the juniors at games4 ,she was wondering how she was going to manage4 ,do ,i understand1 then1 that you wish to resign in favour of ,merle8 ,please6 ,i'll help her all ,i can in the background4 ,very well1 ,mavis4 ,i'll accept your resignation and announce the matter in school to-morrow4 ,now ,i must go1 for ,i have a hundred things to do4 ,tell ,merle to come five minutes earlier in the morning and ,i'll talk to her in the study4 ,on the whole1 ,i think the arrangement will be all for the best4 ,it was a very radiant1 triumphant ,mavis who ran home to the old garden1 found ,merle among the flowerbeds1 and told her the glorious news4 ,sis6 ,you can't mean it6 ,is it true8 ,oh1 ,i don't like to take it6 ,it's too good of you6 ,don't you really mind8 ,it's all the world to me4 ,i've been hoping to be made monitress ever since ,miss ,pollard spoke about reorganising the school4 ,won't ,i have the time of my life6 ,monitress ,merle6 ,it sounds nice1 doesn't it8 ,i must go and tell ,jessop and ,aunt ,nellie6 ,how astonished everybody will be in school to-morrow4 ,fay and ,beata will be pleased4 ,they were tremendously keen on my winning the ballot4 ,i'm so glad about it ,i want to turn a somersault or do something mad4 ,come and dance with me1 you old darling6 ,what a trump you are6 ,you're sure you don't mind8 ,not a bit1 said ,mavis1 swallowing a little lump in her throat4 ,of course ,i'll be ready to help you with anything whenever you want me4 ,there'll be plenty of hard work just at first1 no doubt4 ,you'll soon be up to your eyes in starting clubs and societies4 ,keep a corner for me on the school magazine if you found one4 ,that's all ,i bargain for4 ,i always liked the ,literary ,society at ,whinburn ,high4 ,my hearty congratulations to you1 and every good wish for the success of everything you undertake --,miss ,monitress ,merle6 ,,chapter ,,iii ,the ,new ,monitress ,the announcement of ,mavis's resignation and the consequent promotion of ,merle to the post of monitress was received at school with varying degrees of surprise4 ,some of the girls regretted it1 others thought that in the circumstances it was a wise decision4 ,on the whole1 ,i'm glad1 admitted ,iva in private to ,nesta4 ,i love ,mavis1 but she's too fine stuff for the job4 ,it's like trying to cut sacking with your most delicate pair of scissors4 ,now ,merle will slash away and won't mind anything4 ,she's not afraid of those juniors1 and really some of them need a tight hand1 the young wretches4 ,it would half kill ,mavis to have to battle with them4 ,merle enjoys fighting4 ,she'll get it1 then1 laughed ,nesta4 ,there'll be plenty of scope for it in the school1 and ,i daresay ,i shall have a scrimmage or two with her myself4 ,certainly ,muriel will6 ,don't look shocked4 ,we'll do our squabbles in private if we have any4 ,to the rest of the world1 of course1 the four monitresses will seem absolutely at one about everything4 ,we won't give ourselves away6 ,in a school where hitherto there has been no strict standard of discipline1 and which has suddenly doubled its numbers1 it is rather a difficult matter to decide the absolute limits of authority4 ,miss ,mitchell1 new herself1 gave the monitresses some general rules and directions but left them to make what she called 'their own by-laws4' ,work as much as you can through committees1 and have an occasional general meeting to voice popular opinion1 she counselled4 ,always keep your position as leaders1 but don't degenerate into an oligarchy4 ,listen to just grievances1 and try and bring everybody into harmony4 ,the tone of the school will depend very largely upon you four4 ,remember it's a responsibility as well as an honour to have such a post of trust4 ,by the wish of both ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,mitchell1 it was arranged that ,iva and ,nesta1 who were boarders1 should busy themselves mostly with the affairs of the hostel1 and that ,muriel and ,merle should look after those things which specially concerned the day-girls4 ,there were1 of course1 various societies in which they could all unite1 but the interests of both were to be equally balanced4 ,in order that the girls should have time to inaugurate the numerous projects that loomed on the horizon1 the last hour of the coming ,thursday afternoon was set apart for the purpose1 and a general meeting was to be held in the schoolroom4 ,i shall leave you to manage it entirely yourselves1 said ,miss ,mitchell4 ,found your own clubs1 make your own arrangements1 and elect your own committees and officers4 ,you can come and tell me about it afterwards4 ,merle1 rejoicing over the liberty thus given1 found ,iva1 ,nesta1 and ,muriel a trifle nervous and diffident4 ,the fact of the matter is1 admitted ,iva ruefully1 we none of us know how to conduct a public meeting4 ,what do you do8 ,i've a vague idea that there ought to be a chairman and a secretary1 but what else8 ,rather weak of us1 isn't it8 ,it seems so humiliating to go and tell ,miss ,mitchell we can't carry on6 ,she'll think us queer monitresses4 ,merle1 can you give any light8 ,we used to have heaps of public meetings at ,whinburn ,high1 and ,i think ,i know the ropes4 ,i can coach you all up beforehand4 ,i should say we'd better find out what girls are most likely to be of help1 and arrange for them to be proposed as members of committees4 ,there's ,mavis1 of course4 ,beata and ,romola ,castleton have been at school before1 and so has ,fay ,macleod4 ,kitty ,trefyre looks as if she might be useful4 ,i shall propose that you take the chair1 said ,iva4 ,oughtn't that to be a question of age8 interrupted ,muriel quickly4 ,it's a question of who is competent to do it4 ,merle's the only one of us who knows how1 returned ,nesta1 looking ,muriel squarely in the face4 ,oh1 all right6 7rather sulkily74 ,we shall want a secretary1 and you're a quick writer1 suggested ,merle1 with more tact than she generally possessed4 ,it was evident to ,merle from the first that the greatest factor of trouble in connection with her new post would lie with ,muriel ,burnitt4 ,muriel was a little older than herself1 she was clever1 and she had a sharp tongue4 ,she had been educated solely at ',the ,moorings1' and she very much resented any allusions by ,merle to former doings at the ,whinburn ,high school4 ,iva and ,nesta were more broad-minded1 and were quite ready to take the benefit of ,merle's past experiences1 but as their work lay largely at the hostel they were not so likely to clash4 ,even ,muriel1 however1 recognised the necessity of receiving instruction on the subject of a public meeting1 and allowed herself to be duly coached for the duties of the occasion4 ,all the school felt quite excited when three o'clock on ,thursday afternoon arrived1 and they were left to themselves in the large classroom4 ,big girls1 little girls1 new girls1 and old girls sat on the forms in giggling anticipation1 chattering like swallows on the eve of migration1 and determined to have a good time and enjoy themselves4 ,you're the eldest6 ,open the ball6 said ,iva1 pushing ,nesta forward4 ,but ,nesta had turned shy4 ,she had never been in such a position before1 and1 flushing scarlet1 she urged her utter inability to cope with the matter4 ,i can't6 ,you do it--or ,muriel6 she whispered in an agonized voice4 ,but ,muriel1 in spite of her ambition1 was also afflicted with stage-fright and passed on the honour4 ,iva1 making a supreme effort1 called to the girls for silence1 but they were too much out of hand to listen to her and only went on talking4 ,merle1 following some wise advice administered by ,mavis1 had allowed the other three to have first innings1 but as none seemed capable of controlling the meeting she now stepped to the front and1 making a megaphone of a roll of foolscap1 yelled1 ,order6 with all the force of her lungs4 ,the effect was instantaneous4 ,there was an immediate dead hush1 and all eyes were turned in her direction4 ,we're here this afternoon on business1 and our first matter is to elect a chairwoman1 she proclaimed4 ,will somebody kindly nominate one4 ,i beg to propose ,merle1 piped ,iva4 ,and ,i beg to second her1 fluttered ,nesta1 taking courage4 ,the clapping and stamping that followed witnessed the entire approval of the meeting4 ,merle was unanimously elected to the chair1 and having thus received the symbol of authority proceeded to wield it4 ,she was not in the least bashful1 and was quite ready to cope with anything that lay before her4 ,she held up a hand for silence and addressed her audience4 ,i've told you we're here on business1 and ,i want to explain4 ,as it affects everybody1 perhaps you'll kindly listen without talking4 ,will those three girls on the back bench move out here8 ,thanks6 ,now you all know the school has started on a new era1 and we hope it's going to forge ahead4 ,in the past we haven't done very much in the way of societies4 ,perhaps that's all the better1 because it gives us the chance to make a clean start now1 without any back traditions to hamper us4 ,what ,i propose is this3 ,we'll go slow at first until we get into the swing of things1 and then later on we can blossom out as much as we like4 ,i suggest that we should get up three societies3 ,a ,games ,club4 ,a ,literary ,club4 ,an ,entertainment ,club4 ,the ,games ,club will try and work up a decent hockey team1 and when our play is worth anything1 we'll see if we can't arrange a match with some other school4 ,the ,literary ,club will run a magazine1 to which you'll all be welcome to send contributions2 and the ,entertainment ,club will concentrate on getting up theatricals or something of that sort for the end of the term4 ,does this meet your views8 ,rather6 ,a#a4 ,go ahead6 shouted several voices4 ,well1 our first business is to appoint a president and a secretary for each4 ,i'm going to write a few likely names upon the blackboard1 and then you can make your choice4 ,i ought to add that the boarders have already started a ,recreation ,club of their own1 and have made ,nesta ,pitman president and ,aubrey ,simpson secretary4 ,this has nothing to do with the day-girls1 but ,i just mention it1 thinking you'd like to know about it4 ,we haven't time for a ballot1 so if you'll propose candidates we'll take the voting by a show of hands4 ,an interesting and exciting ten minutes followed1 in which the merits and demerits of various nominations were discussed1 and the following girls were finally elected to office3 ,,games ,,club ,president4 ,merle ,ramsay4 ,secretary4 ,kitty ,trefyre4 ,committee4 ,muriel ,burnitt4 ,aubrey ,simpson4 ,beata ,castleton4 ,tattie ,carew4 ,edith ,carey4 ,peggie ,morrison4 ,,literary ,,club ,president4 ,muriel ,burnitt4 ,secretary and ,editress of ,magazine4 ,mavis ,ramsay4 ,committee4 ,iva ,westwood4 ,maude ,carey4 ,merle ,ramsay4 ,fay ,macleod4 ,nesta ,pitman4 ,peggie ,morrison4 ,,entertainments ,,club ,president4 ,iva ,westwood4 ,secretary4 ,nesta ,pitman4 ,committee4 ,muriel ,burnitt4 ,aubrey ,simpson4 ,mavis ,ramsay4 ,sybil ,vernon4 ,merle ,ramsay4 ,kitty ,trefyre4 ,it was just when the successful candidates were receiving congratulations that ,beata ,castleton stood up4 ,as this is an open meeting may ,i make a suggestion8 she asked4 ,certainly1 replied ,merle from the chair4 ,well1 ,i should like to suggest a ',nature ,study ,club4' ,there doesn't seem to be anything of that sort in the school1 is there8 ,we have a museum somewhere about the place1 ,i believe1 admitted ,merle4 ,it's all put away in boxes1 said ,edith4 ,then why can't we bring it out and arrange it and add to it8 ,and can't we start a record1 year by year1 of when we find the first specimens of certain wild flowers1 hear the first notes of certain birds1 and see migratory birds8 ,it would be ever so interesting4 ,what a splendid idea6 ,i'd like to second that6 exclaimed ,mavis1 jumping up in great enthusiasm4 ,the general feeling was in favour of the proposition1 and the ,nature ,study ,club was duly inaugurated1 with ,beata for president and ,fay ,macleod for secretary1 and a committee consisting mostly of the particular little set of girls who motored daily from ,chagmouth4 ,by four o'clock the whole of the business was concluded1 the societies were established1 and a very hopeful start had been made4 ,among the many activities of that important afternoon one point seemed to stand out firmly and clearly--,merle above all the other monitresses had shown herself capable of taking the lead4 ,where ,iva1 ,nesta1 and ,muriel had failed to control the school she had restored order1 conducted the meeting admirably1 and exhibited considerable powers of organisation4 ,she had undoubtedly justified her position1 and had won the respect of most of her comrades4 ,did ,i do all right8 she asked ,mavis anxiously1 as they walked home4 ,splendiferously6 ,i was bursting with pride6 ,i couldn't have done it myself1 ,merle6 ,when ,i saw all that rackety crew talking and ragging1 ,i thought it was hopeless and that we should have to fetch ,miss ,mitchell4 ,some of those juniors had just made up their minds to give trouble4 ,you tackled them marvellously4 ,i wasn't going to give in to them6 declared ,merle4 ,i meant to stop their ragging if ,i had to go round and box all their ears4 ,well6 ,they know now they have to behave themselves or ,i'll know the reason why6 ,but oh1 ,mavis6 ,i don't think ,muriel will ever forgive me for being chairwoman4 ,why not8 ,she never wanted me to be a monitress6 ,nonsense6 ,it's the truth4 ,well1 she missed her own opportunity1 so she can't blame you for taking it this afternoon4 ,she's against me all the same4 ,iva and ,nesta are quite nice1 but there are going to be squalls with ,muriel4 ,you'll take my part8 ,of course ,i shall1 through thick and thin4 ,you can always count on your own sister4 ,that's something to go upon at any rate4 ,i shall need support4 ,i don't believe it's going to be an easy business4 ',uneasy lies the head that wears a crown1' quoted ,mavis laughingly4 ,exactly4 ,i wanted tremendously to be monitress1 but ,i didn't realise all ,i was in for4 ,i see many breezes in front4 ,you'll weather them all1 don't fear6 ,after such a splendid start ,i've every confidence in you4 ,it's only a question now of keeping it up and going ahead4 ,merle was not mistaken in her estimation of the difficulties that lay before her4 ,a certain section of the juniors1 led by ,winnie ,osborne and ,joyce ,colman1 the firebrands of the ,third form1 offered great resistance to the authority of the monitresses1 and put every possible obstacle in their way4 ,to keep these unruly youngsters in order meant a constant clashing of wills1 and needed much courage and determination4 ,some of the new girls also were inclined to rebel and to air their own views4 ,sybil ,vernon1 in particular1 was a thorn in the flesh4 ,she had been at boarding-school before1 and on the strength of her previous experience she offered advice upon any and every occasion4 ,she was very aggrieved that she had not been eligible for election to office herself4 ,i know so much more about it than most of you6 she would explain airily4 ,if ,miss ,pollard had only chosen me as a monitress ,i could have organised everything exactly like it used to be done at ,the ,limes4 ,sybil was a curious girl1 fair1 with a fat babyish face1 and a vast idea of her own importance4 ,she was very proud of her family1 and never for a moment forgot1 or allowed anybody else to forget1 that she belonged to the ,vernons of ,renshaw ,court1 and that ,sir ,richard ,vernon was her second cousin4 ,she expected a great deal more attention than the school was willing to accord to her1 and was invariably offended or aggrieved or annoyed about something4 ,the girls did not take her very seriously1 and laughed at what they called her 'jim-jams1' which had the effect of making her first very indignant and finally reducing her to floods of tears4 ,though ,sybil might be annoying there was really not much harm in her1 and her criticisms were very easily combated4 ,a different girl altogether1 however1 was ,kitty ,trefyre4 ,she also had been at another school1 and set forth standards of conduct which were dissimilar from those at ',the ,moorings4' ,she was cautious in airing these1 and wisely so1 for most of them caused the monitresses to lift their eyebrows in amazement1 whereupon she would instantly retract her remarks and declare she was only 'ragging4' ,how much she really meant ,merle never knew1 but the latter did not trust her4 ,there's a sneaky look about her eyes1 she commented to ,mavis4 ,sybil lunges out and finds open fault1 but ,kitty hits in the dark4 ,i hope she's not going to spoil ,iva6 ,oh1 don't say that6 ,they're chums already1 and ,iva is rather a chameleon6 ,she takes the colour of her character from her friends4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,chagmouth ,folk ,as this book partly concerns the doings of the group of girls who came daily from ,chagmouth to ,durracombe1 we will follow them as they motored back on their ten miles' journey from school4 ,squashed together in 'the sardine-tin1' as they irreverently nicknamed the highly respectable car driven by ,mr4 ,vicary1 who owned the garage close to the mill1 they held high jinks and talked at least thirteen to the dozen4 ,there was so much to discuss4 ,the school was new to all of them1 and naturally they wished to criticise its methods1 its teachers1 its girls1 and its prospects of fun during the ensuing term4 ,i like ,miss ,mitchell6 ,yes1 she's jolly1 though ,i fancy she could be stern4 ,oh1 ,i shouldn't like to face her in the study1 of course4 ,miss ,fanny is a dear6 ,and so is ,miss ,pollard4 ,what d'you think of the monitresses8 ,merle is ,a#a6 ,yes1 ,i'm taken with ,mavis and ,merle6 ,partly because they seem to belong to ,chagmouth4 ,they come over nearly every ,saturday with ,dr4 ,tremayne4 ,good6 ,then we shall see something of them4 ,hello6 ,what's this car trying to pass us8 ,babbie ,williams6 ,i'd forgotten for the moment she lives at ,chagmouth too4 ,it was ,babbie1 driving in solitary state1 who flew by in the big motor1 which turned up the side road that led to ,the ,warren4 ,she gave a friendly nod as she passed1 and the six 'sardines' smiled in return4 ,it's a case of 'we are seven' from ,chagmouth1 commented ,fay4 ,if we include ,mavis and ,merle that would make nine4 ,i guess we'll get up a set of nature study rambles on ,saturday afternoons and all go out together4 ,we'd have some real frolics6 ,rather6 ,i'm your girl6 ,romola and ,i are ready for any fun that's going4 ,that's to say if there's going to be time for any fun4 ,but with all the pile of lessons ,miss ,mitchell has given us we shall be busy1 with our noses at the grindstone4 ,it always takes both of us hours to do our prep6 ,the car meanwhile1 with ,mr4 ,vicary at the driving-wheel1 had run across the moor and down the steep hill1 and was jolting over the cobble-stones of the narrow main street of ,chagmouth4 ,it stopped outside the ,post ,office1 for the principal reason that if it went any farther it would be impossible for it to turn round1 and the girls1 dismounting1 took their satchels or piles of books1 said good-bye to one another1 and scattered to their respective homes4 ,beata and ,romola crossed the bridge that spanned the brook1 skirted the harbour1 climbed a flight of steps cut in the solid rock1 and reached a house which stood on the top of a high crag overlooking the sea4 ,it was an ideal spot for an artist to live1 and it was chiefly for its glorious view that ,mr4 ,castleton had chosen it4 ,he was intensely sensitive to his surroundings1 and preferred a picturesque cottage1 however inconvenient1 to the comforts of an unaesthetic1 bow- windowed1 modern1 red-brick1 suburban residence4 ,romance before everything6 he declared4 ,it's impossible to paint unless you're in the right atmosphere4 ,english scenery is getting spoilt and vulgarised to such a degree that there'll soon be none of it left to sketch4 ,where are the beautiful villages of thirty years ago8 ,gone--most of them6 ,the thatched roofs replaced by corrugated iron1 and the hedges clipped close to please the motorists4 ,i defy anybody to make a successful picture out of a clipped hedge6 ,even the gnarled apple trees are being cut down and replaced by market gardeners' 'choice saplings4' ,picturesque ,england will soon be a thing of the past6 ,i consider ,chagmouth one of the last strongholds for an artist1 and ,i'm going to live here as long as it remains unspoilt4 ,there's enough work to keep me busy for several years at any rate4 ,it is part of an artist's business to move about from place to place in quest of fresh subjects4 ,mr4 ,castleton had spent some years at ,porthkeverne1 and having1 from a professional point of view1 exhausted that neighbourhood1 he had transferred himself and his family to a new horizon4 ,he had a genius for discovering his right niche1 and he had been fortunate enough to light upon exactly the place that appealed to him4 ,it would not have suited everybody4 ,it was a long low house1 made of three fishermen's cottages thrown into one1 built so close to the edge of the cliff that it seemed like a sea-bird's nest1 with windows overlooking the channel and the harbour1 and a strip of stony garden behind4 ,inside1 the accommodation was somewhat cramped1 but the rooms1 if small1 were quaint1 with an old-fashioned air about the panelled parlour and raftered dining- room that suggested bygone days of smugglers and privateers4 ,below1 in a nook of the cliff1 stood an old sail-shed1 which ,mr4 ,castleton had turned into his studio4 ,the big new skylight had only just been fitted into the roof1 and the stove which was to heat it during the winter was still at ,durracombe station waiting for the carrier to fetch it1 but canvases were already hung round the walls1 the throne was erected and the big easel placed in position1 and an old fisherman1 with weather-beaten countenance and picturesque stained jersey1 sat every morning for his portrait4 ,those of our readers who have met the ,castletons before in ,the ,head ,girl at the ,gables1 will remember that they were a very large family4 ,morland1 the eldest1 had been at the war1 had won the ,d4,c4,m41 and was now learning engineering2 ,claudia was studying singing in ,london2 ,madox had been sent for his first term at boarding-school2 and the four little ones1 ,constable1 ,lilith1 ,perugia1 and ,gabriel1 were still in the nursery4 ,there was only one gap4 ,landry1 poor ,landry1 who had never been like other boys1 had passed over the divide and joined the beautiful mother whom in features he had so strongly resembled4 ,a painting of him1 as a little child in her arms1 hung on the studio wall4 ,in some respects it was the most brilliant portrait which ,mr4 ,castleton had ever achieved4 ,he always showed it to visitors as a specimen of his best work4 ,at the time this story begins1 ,beata and ,romola were fourteen and thirteen years of age4 ,they thoroughly maintained the family reputation for good looks4 ,there was a certain resemblance between them1 and yet a difference4 ,beata's eyes were clear grey1 with dark lines round the iris1 and her hair was the exact shade of one of her father's best ,english gold picture frames4 ,she was a clever1 capable girl1 with a great love for music1 and was beginning to play the violin rather well4 ,she got on quite tolerably with her stepmother1 and was fond of the little half-brothers and sisters1 though the warmest corner of her heart was reserved for ,madox1 who was the baby of the elder portion of the family4 ,romola1 blue-eyed and ethereal1 with long amber hair like a ,saxon princess1 was her father's favourite model whenever he wished to depict scenes of olden times4 ,she figured as ',guinevere' in a series of illustrations to the ,morte d',arthur1 as ',elaine' her portrait had been exhibited in the ,academy1 as ',the ,lady of ,shalott' she had appeared in a coloured frontispiece of ,the ,art ,review1 she inspired a most successful poster of ',cinderella1' and was the original of a series of fairy drawings in a children's annual4 ,she was not so clever or go-ahead as ,beata1 and was rather dreamy and romantic in temperament1 with a gift towards painting and poetry1 and a disinclination to do anything very definite4 ,she left most of the problems of life to ,beata1 and seldom troubled to make decisions for herself4 ,she was rather a pet with ,violet1 her young stepmother1 who1 while preferring her to her sister1 found her the less useful of the two4 ,you go1 ,beata1 you're so quick6 ,violet would say1 when she wanted an errand done1 and for the same reason gave the charge of the children to the one who was the more capable of assuming the responsibility4 ,it was not that ,romola consciously shirked home duties1 but she would any time rather pose for an hour on the throne in the studio than take temporary command of the nursery4 ,beata1 on the contrary1 hated sitting still1 and considered there was no greater penance than to be commandeered by her father as a model4 ,her energetic temperament liked to find its expression in outdoor activities4 ,she had set to work upon the neglected garden1 and was busy trying to make flower-beds1 and she looked forward keenly to the forthcoming hockey season at school4 ,the daily drive to ,durracombe and back was pure delight1 and formed her greatest compensation for leaving ,porthkeverne and ,the ,gables4 ,the ,haven1 as the house occupied by the ,castletons was called1 had been changed into its present form by an old retired sea-captain1 and there was much about it that suggested a nautical atmosphere4 ,the panelled walls of the parlour might have been taken from a ship's cabin1 the dining-room contained convenient lockers1 there was a small observatory upstairs built to accommodate a big telescope1 and the figure-head of a vessel adorned the garden4 ,young ,mrs4 ,castleton1 whose tastes inclined towards up-to-date comforts1 often grumbled at its inconveniences1 but on the whole the family liked it4 ,they would not have exchanged it for a suburban villa for worlds4 ,just on the opposite side of the harbour1 with the jetty and the broad strip of green water in between1 was the furnished house rented at present by the ,macleods4 ,it stood in the more aristocratic portion of ,chagmouth1 apart from the town and the fishing1 in company with one or two other newly-built residences4 ,it was charmingly pretty and artistic1 in a perfectly modern fashion1 and had been designed by a famous architect4 ,its owner1 a retired naval officer1 had gone abroad for a year1 and had let the place in his absence1 rejoicing to have secured a careful tenant4 ,he might certainly congratulate himself upon leaving his house in such good hands4 ,mr4 ,macleod was an ,american gentleman1 who1 owing to a nervous breakdown1 was travelling in ,europe1 and happening in the course of the summer to wander to ,chagmouth1 he had fallen in love with the quaint old town and had decided to spend the winter there4 ,the factor which largely influenced this decision was the presence of ,mr4 ,castleton4 ,mr4 ,macleod was an enthusiastic amateur painter1 and the prospect of being able to take lessons from so good an artist was sufficient to chain him to ,chagmouth4 ,his wife encouraged the idea4 ,george is just miserable if he's nothing to do1 she explained to her friends4 ,the doctor told me not to let him read too much or take up any special mental hobby1 but sketching strikes the happy medium4 ,he thoroughly enjoys pottering about in ,mr4 ,castleton's studio1 or making drawings down on the quay4 ,it's not arduous work and yet it keeps him occupied4 ,i like the house1 and ,fay can go to school near1 so ,i expect we're fixed here until next spring at any rate4 ,if ,i get too bored ,i shall run over to ,paris and see my sister1 but really ,i haven't been well lately myself1 and it will do me good to take a thorough rest for a while4 ,fay1 who had formed an enthusiastic friendship with ,beata and ,romola1 was as pleased with ,chagmouth as her parents4 ,from the windows of ,bella ,vista she could look across the harbour to ,the ,haven1 and had already arranged a code of signals by which she might communicate with her chums4 ,she was a bright1 amusing girl1 rather grown-up for her age1 and the constant companion of her father and mother4 ,fay runs the house6 ,mrs4 ,macleod would declare sometimes2 but she was immensely proud of her young daughter1 and unwilling to thwart her in any of the projects which she might care to take up4 ,these1 indeed1 were many4 ,fay dabbled in numerous hobbies1 and her demands varied from photographic materials to special sandals for toe dancing4 ,she thoroughly enjoyed life1 and the freshness of her enthusiasm provided her parents with a perpetual interest4 ,to those friends who urged boarding-school her mother was ready with the reply3 ,why must we be parted from her8 ,she's her father's best tonic6 ,she keeps him young and makes him laugh4 ,she's getting her education and living her home life at the same time1 and that seems to me ideal4 ,we shall probably have to spare her later on to be married1 so we may as well make the most of her now while we've got her4 ,it's the chief tragedy of parents that the children grow up and go away4 ,we'll enjoy our nest while we have our one chick here4 ,when the young ones are fledged1 the old birds stop singing4 ,illustration3 ,,mr4 ,,castleton ,,did ,,not ,,look ,,at ,,all ,,pleased ,of the other girls who shared the car to ,durracombe1 ,tattie ,carew1 whose parents were in ,india had come to live with her aunt ,miss ,grant1 in the ivy-covered house at the top of the hill1 while ,nan and ,lizzie ,colville were the daughters of the newly-appointed vicar4 ,all six1 therefore1 were fresh comers to the neighbourhood1 and as yet had neither explored the whole of its beauties nor learnt to understand its traditions4 ,in both of these respects ,mavis and ,merle1 though non-residents1 had the advantage of them4 ,their friendship with ,bevis ,talland1 the boy who1 once the village foundling1 had turned out to be heir to the ,chagmouth estate1 had given them an intimate acquaintance with the life of the place4 ,bevis had shown them the haunts of the birds1 and the best places for wild flowers1 had told them the local legends and the histories of the various worthies of the parish4 ,the little town indeed seemed strangely empty without him1 but at present he was away at school1 and later would be going to college1 though eventually1 when he came of age1 he would probably take up his residence in the old family home4 ,the ,warren1 where ,tallands had lived for so many generations1 had been let on a lease to ,mr4 ,glyn ,williams1 and the lawyers who managed the property had decided that this arrangement should be continued during ,bevis's minority2 heavy death duties and land-taxes would cripple the estate for some years1 and it was not worth while running a house for the sake of a schoolboy who could pass only his holidays there4 ,mr4 ,glyn ,williams meanwhile had bought ,bodoran ,hall near ,port ,sennen1 and would have leisure to make all the many structural alterations which he wished before he was obliged to leave ,the ,warren4 ,through ,bevis's foster-mother1 ,mrs4 ,penruddock of ,grimbal's ,farm1 where ,dr4 ,tremayne had his branch surgery at ,chagmouth1 ,mavis and ,merle were also kept very much in touch with the tone of the place and knew most of the little happenings that occurred4 ,they were friendly with many of the village people1 almost all of whom were their uncle's patients at one time or another1 and the ,saturday expedition over the moor from ,durracombe was to them the central attraction of the whole week4 ,on the first ,saturday afternoon of the new term1 by special invitation1 they called at ,the ,haven1 and made the acquaintance of at least a portion of the ,castleton family4 ,beata was practising her violin1 but she laid it aside at once4 ,i'll finish my half-hour afterwards4 ,it will do quite as well this evening4 ,it's too fine a day to stay stuffing inside the house4 ,do you care to come into the garden8 ,we can step out through this window4 ,these are the babies1 ,constable1 ,lilith1 ,perugia1 and ,gabriel4 ,i was keeping an eye on them while ,i practised1 to see they weren't in any mischief4 ,violet has a headache and is lying down4 ,she's our stepmother1 you know4 ,we don't let the little ones call her ,violet though6 ,come here1 ,perugia1 and shake hands6 ,she's rather a pet1 isn't she8 ,the younger ,castletons1 from curly-headed ,constable1 known familiarly as ',cooney1' to lovely three-year-old ,baby ,gabriel1 were beautiful children1 and looked particularly picturesque in holland play-overalls embroidered with saxe-blue4 ,mr4 ,castleton1 who valued artistic effect before everything1 found ,constable one of his most useful models1 and though the boy was now seven and a half1 he was generally dressed in a ,kate ,greenaway smock and his crop of golden curls was still uncut4 ,don't touch him6 his father would protest1 whenever the question of ,constable's hair arose in the family2 as he is he's worth an income to me6 ,he always gets into exhibitions and he generally sells4 ,he's just what the average ,british patron wants to buy4 ,the public can't always understand my allegorical pictures1 but they know a pretty child when they see one4 ,he'll be spoilt for the studio if he loses his curls1 and ,i want to sketch him as a singing angel1 and as a water-baby1 and for some of my ,hans ,andersen illustrations4 ,it's too bad to ruin his artistic value just when ,i've trained him to pose properly4 ,it will be years before ,gabriel learns to sit as still--if he ever does4 ,the little fellow had charmingly attractive manners1 and came forward willingly to talk to visitors4 ,he and ,perugia were the talkative ones2 ,lilith1 a flaxen-haired fairy of six1 was very shy1 and the baby was busy with his own affairs and refused to be interrupted4 ,romola is sitting for ,father1 explained ,beata4 ,i expect he'd let her go now though1 if you'd care to come for a walk with us4 ,bother6 ,what shall ,i do with the little ones8 ,i can't leave them to ,violet when she's lying down4 ,bring them with you1 suggested ,mavis1 who was making friends with ,perugia4 ,should you mind8 ,i'll tell you what6 ,i'll borrow the donkey from the farm1 then they can ride in turns and won't get tired4 ,mrs4 ,donnithorne is very good-natured about lending it4 ,constable1 you run and ask her1 while we go to fetch ,romola4 ,do you care to come to the studio8 ,mavis and ,merle were only too delighted to have the opportunity of taking a peep into ,mr4 ,castleton's den1 so followed ,beata to the old sail-room down a flight of steps cut in the cliff side4 ,they remembered the place1 for ,job ,helyar used to plait osiers there1 and they had come once to buy a basket from him4 ,in its former days it had been nothing but a rough shed4 ,they hardly recognised it now it was turned into a studio4 ,beata went boldly in1 and introduced her visitors4 ,her father was painting a study of ,romola for incorporation in a large historical picture4 ,she was standing on the throne1 in a beautiful scarlet mediaeval costume1 with her long fair hair unbound and flowing like an amber waterfall down her back4 ,mr4 ,castleton did not look at all pleased at being interrupted in his work1 but he glanced at his watch and nodded a reluctant permission to ,romola to relieve her pose4 ,she came down from the platform1 stretching her tired arms4 ,i'm supposed to be holding up a casket1 and it's a horrid position to keep1 she explained4 ,may ,i go now1 ,dad8 ,we want ,mavis and ,merle to take us for a walk4 ,i shan't be three seconds changing out of this costume4 ,you think the study is like me1 ,mavis8 ,show them the sketch for the picture1 ,dad6 ,now you see where my place will be in it--just there4 ,the little page-boy is ,constable1 and ,violet sat for the queen4 ,while ,romola slipped off her mediaeval robe and plaited her long hair1 ,beata escorted the visitors back to the garden4 ,she fetched a pair of field-glasses1 took a survey through them1 then declared3 ,i can see ,fay at her window1 and ,tattie sitting on the bank above her aunt's tennis-court4 ,i'll signal to them both1 and they'll meet us by the bridge4 ,we'll call at the ,vicarage and pick up ,nan and ,lizzie1 then we shall be quite a jolly party4 ,oh1 here's ,constable with ,billy4 ,i'm so glad ,mrs4 ,donnithorne will lend him to us4 ,are we all ready8 ,then come along6 ,the six picturesque ,castletons were already well known in the streets of ,chagmouth1 and many eyes were turned to look at them as they passed along1 with ,perugia and ,gabriel riding the donkey together1 ,romola holding them both on1 and ,lilith leading ,billy by the bridle4 ,kindly comments came from cottage doorways4 ,stick on tight1 ma dear6 ,don't 'ee walk behind or her'll kick6 ,mind her don't run away with ee6 ,don't they ride pretty1 bless 'em6 ,at the bridge by the harbour the party was reinforced by ,fay and ,tattie1 and farther on they were joined by the ,colvilles1 so that they were twelve strong as they left the town1 and a particularly merry crew4 ,at the beginning of the first hill1 however1 the donkey stopped dead4 ,several hands seized its bridle and tried to urge it forward1 while ,mavis and ,merle pushed it in the rear1 but not all their efforts could induce it to stir an inch4 ,romola6 ,what utter idiots we are6 exclaimed ,beata4 ,of course we've forgotten the peppermints6 ,bother6 ,so we have6 ,we must go back for some1 that's all6 ,the 'donk' won't go without peppermints6 ,he simply loves them6 explained ,beata tragically4 ,we always take a big packet of them with us to give him4 ,he expects them6 ,he's turning his head round to look for them6 ,bless his heart1 he shall have them then6 cooed ,merle1 patting the dusty coat of their steed4 ,his auntie will go and get some for him herself if he'll wait like a good boy4 ,is he particular what kind he gets8 ,he likes those big brown humbugs6 ,right-o6 ,i'll run to ,denham's shop and buy some4 ,it's not far4 ,wait for me1 won't you8 ,wait6 echoed ,beata4 ,there'll be no question of going on4 ,nothing but humbugs will make him move his four feet4 ,we'll camp here till you come back4 ,merle performed her errand quickly1 returning with two packets of sweets1 one for ,billy and the other for the rest of the party4 ,the donkey1 after consuming several peppermints1 condescended to move on1 and the procession started once more4 ,they had not gone far1 however1 before a mishap occurred3 in lieu of saddle a cushion had been tied on to ,billy's back1 the strap had loosened1 the cushion suddenly slipped1 and ,perugia and ,gabriel descended into the road4 ,romola managed to break their fall1 but they were both terrified1 and refused to mount again1 so ,constable took a turn instead1 holding the bridle himself1 while ,lilith1 with all the ,castleton instinct for artistic effect1 gathered posies of wild flowers and wove them into a wreath for the donkey's neck4 ,the small people could not walk fast1 and the steed stopped so often to demand refreshments1 that the expedition was very leisurely and they did not proceed far4 ,they had only reached the point above the lighthouse when ,mavis1 with an eye on her wrist watch1 declared it was time to turn back4 ,we'll go with you another time1 when we haven't to trail all this crew along6 sighed ,beata1 as she bade good-bye to her friends4 ,children are a nuisance if you want to get on quickly4 ,i'd have left them in the garden if ,i could6 ,come and see us again at ,the ,haven1 won't you8 ,i wish ,claudia and ,morland were at home and we'd have some music4 ,well1 ,i shall see you next week1 ,i suppose4 ,i'm to have my first violin lesson on ,monday4 ,i don't know whether ,i'm glad or not4 ,i expect ,i shall be terrified of ,mr4 ,barlow4 ,i learnt from a lady before4 ,how ,i'm going to practise and do all the home lessons ,miss ,mitchell sets us ,i can't imagine6 ,i think ,i shall strike like the 'donk' and refuse to stir unless they give me peppermints6 ,,chapter ,v ,miss ,mitchell1 ,b4,a4 ,naturally at present the most prominent person at ',the ,moorings' was ,miss ,mitchell4 ,hers was a task which required a combination of a number of very high qualities4 ,it needed force of character and tact1 initiative and patience1 energy and experience4 ,to reorganise an old school is a far more difficult matter than to start an entirely new one1 especially when those responsible for the former rgime have not absolutely retired4 ,to a certain extent the ,misses ,pollard had given their teacher a free hand1 but she realised that at first it would be wise to go slowly and not make the changes too drastic4 ,she did not yet know what stuff she had to work upon1 the characters or capacities of her pupils1 or their readiness to adopt her ideas4 ,while leading the school1 she wished it to be self-developing1 that is to say1 she thought it better to give the girls a few general directions1 and allow them to run their own societies1 than to arrange all such matters for them4 ,never mind if they make a few mistakes1 she said to ,miss ,fanny1 who held up her hands in horror at some of the names chosen to serve on committees4 ,if a secretary proves inefficient1 the others will very soon call her a 'slacker1' and she will have to reform or resign4 ,it will be a question of public opinion4 ,a girl may shirk her lessons in school and her classmates don't much care1 but if she shirks the work she has undertaken to do for a society they will be very indignant4 ,these clubs are an elementary object-lesson in community life1 and will teach that each individual must do something for the general good4 ,the girls must 'feel their feet' before they can run2 they'll probably have difficulties but they'll learn by experience1 and in the meantime they'll be shaping their own traditions4 ,ye-es2 ,i suppose you're right1 dubiously agreed ,miss ,fanny1 whose ideal of management was to trust everything in the hands of a few girls whom she knew best and discourage any signs of individuality on the part of the others4 ,as regards the work of the various forms ,miss ,mitchell1 helped by her assistant mistress ,miss ,barnes1 made many innovations4 ,she introduced new subjects and fresh modes of teaching1 and fixed a very high standard of efficiency4 ,she expected great concentration1 and exacted hard work1 especially in the matter of home preparation1 but she was an exceedingly interesting teacher and put much enthusiasm into her lessons4 ,she had a theory that no subject was really absorbed unless it was vividly realised by the pupils4 ,imagination is half the value of education was her favourite saying4 ,a child may reel off a string of facts1 but unless it can apply them they are undigested mental food and of no use4 ,what ,i want to do is to find out how far each girl understands what she has learnt4 ,mere parrot repetition is quite valueless in my opinion1 and most public examinations are little better4 ,miss ,mitchell's method of testing the knowledge of her pupils was undoubtedly modern4 ,she would teach them certain episodes of history1 explaining particularly the characters of the various personages and the motives for their actions1 then1 instead of a verbal or written catechism on the lesson1 she would make the girls act the scene1 using their own words1 and trying as far as possible to reproduce the atmosphere of the period4 ,free criticism was allowed afterwards1 and any anachronisms1 such as tea in the times of ,queen ,elizabeth1 or tobacco during the ,wars of the ,roses1 were carefully pointed out4 ,most of the girls liked this new method immensely4 ,it encouraged their dramatic instincts1 and resembled impromptu theatricals4 ,it was a point of honour to throw themselves thoroughly into the parts1 and they would often prepare themselves at home by reading up various points in histories or encyclopaedias4 ,this was exactly what ,miss ,mitchell aimed at4 ,they're educating themselves6 she explained to ,miss ,fanny4 ,they'll never forget these facts that they have taken the trouble to find out4 ,once a girl has realised the outlook of ,mary ,queen of ,scots or ,elizabeth1 and has learnt to impersonate her without glaring mistakes1 she has the keynote to the history of the times4 ,when she has spoken to ',darnley1' ',black ,both-well1' ',rizzio1' ',john ,knox1' or to ',bacon1' ',raleigh1' ',essex1' and ',sidney1' she has turned mere names into real personages1 and will be no more likely to confuse them than to mix up her friends4 ,by supplying her own dialogue she shows exactly how much she knows of the character1 and ,i am able to judge how far the lesson has been assimilated4 ,fifteen years hence ,i venture to think ,scottish ,mary or ,queen ,elizabeth will still be vivid remembrances to her2 but would she be able to tell the date of the battle of ,pinkie8 ,and would it be of very vital importance whether she did or not8 ,in my opinion to grasp the main motives of history and to follow the evolution of the ,british nation is far more necessary than memorising dates4 ,of course1 a few must be insisted on1 or there would be no means of relative comparison1 but these few1 accurately learnt1 are better than a number repeated glibly without any particular conception of their importance4 ,in the teaching of geography ,miss ,mitchell also put her theories into action4 ,as taught in many schools she thought it was a wearisome subject4 ,you don't want to knock into a child's head the names of the capes and bays of ,africa or the population of ,canada1 but you want to give it some conception of the different countries on the face of ,god's earth4 ,instead of making it learn the exports of ,italy1 show it pictures of the orange groves and of gathering the olives1 and it will name you the exports for itself4 ,geography ought to be as interesting as a game4 ,and so indeed she contrived to make it4 ,she had brought a magic lantern to school with her1 and used it for most of her lessons1 arranging thick curtains to darken the windows4 ,she had a selection of good slides showing many different countries1 and when her pupils were somewhat accustomed to these she would test their knowledge by exhibiting one and asking them where it was1 whether in a hot or cold country1 what kind of people lived in such a place1 what fruits1 flowers1 and animals would be found there1 and for what reasons ,british traders went to it4 ,if the girls made mistakes she would show them again the particular slides relating to the place1 explaining where they had been wrong1 and taking them1 by means of the eye1 on a short foreign tour4 ,imagine you're there and you'll feel quite travellers6 she would say4 ,now on this slide you notice a little pathway up the hill among some trees4 ,if you could walk up that path what would you be likely to find8 ,what language would the people1 whom you met1 speak8 ,and how would they be dressed8 ,geography on these lines became very attractive1 and1 as in the case of the history lessons1 the girls eagerly looked out all kinds of points in books of reference so as to come to class armed with information about the birds1 flowers1 or native customs of some particular country4 ,by visualising the place1 imagining themselves to be there1 and relating all they saw1 they created such vivid mental pictures that they could almost believe they had spent the hour really in ,africa or ,south ,america1 as the case might be4 ,you'd know what clothes to take with you to ,india or ,canada at any rate1 said ,miss ,mitchell1 and what sort of a life you must be prepared to live there4 ,before the term is over ,i think you'll realise what ,british women are doing all over the globe4 ,climatic conditions have an immense effect upon people and ought to be properly understood4 ,the knowledge of these is the foundation of the brotherhood of races4 ,it was not only in history and geography that ,miss ,mitchell made innovations4 ,french also was to be on a different method4 ,it had always been a successful subject at ',the ,moorings1' though it had developed along old-fashioned lines4 ,mademoiselle ,chavasse1 however1 had left1 and the new ,mademoiselle came from a very up-to-date ,school of ,languages in ,london4 ,she taught largely by the oral system1 making her pupils repeat words and build them into sentences1 like babies learning to talk4 ,she used ,english as little as possible1 trying to make them catch ideas in ,french without the medium of translation4 ,thus1 in a beginners' class she would hold up a book and say1 le livre1 then placing it on the table or under the table would extend her sentence to show the use of the prepositions4 ,the girls soon began to grasp the method1 and learnt to reply in ,french to simple questions asked them1 and were given by degrees a larger vocabulary and encouraged to try to express themselves1 however imperfectly1 in the foreign tongue4 ,she also instituted ,french games1 and set the whole school singing1 ,qui passe ce chemin si tard8 or ,sur le pont d',avignon1 while several of the ,fifth form who could write letters in ,french were put into correspondence with schoolgirls in ,france4 ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny1 who had gasped a little at some of the drastic changes1 were pleased with the improvement in the teaching of ,french1 and still more so with the innovations with regard to music4 ,this had been a very special subject at ,st4 ,cyprian's ,college1 where ,miss ,mitchell had been educated1 and she was anxious to introduce some of the leading features4 ,her theory was that most girls learn to play the piano1 a few practise the violin1 but hardly any are taught to understand and appreciate music1 apart from their own often unskilful performances4 ,she arranged1 therefore1 to hold a weekly class at which a short lecture would be given on the works of some famous composers1 with musical illustrations4 ,a few of the selections could be played by the pupils themselves or by ,miss ,fanny1 and others could be rendered by a gramophone4 ,the main object was to make the girls familiar with the best compositions and cultivate their musical taste4 ,constant listening is the only way to learn appreciation1 said ,miss ,mitchell4 ,you form a taste for literature by reading the best authors1 not by trying to write poetry yourself6 ,learning an instrument is a good training1 but certainly only a part of music--to understand it and criticise it is quite another matter4 ,so all the school1 including even the little girls1 met to listen to the masterpieces of ,beethoven1 ,chopin1 or ,schubert1 and were encouraged to note particular points and to discuss them intelligently4 ,at the end of the term1 said ,miss ,mitchell1 we'll have a concert1 just among ourselves1 and then ,i hope some of you will surprise me4 ,you must all practise hard1 because it will be a great honour to be asked to play on that particular afternoon4 ,in revising the curriculum of ',the ,moorings' upon these very modern lines1 ,miss ,mitchell did not neglect the athletic side4 ,the school did not yet possess a gymnasium1 but there were classes for drill and calisthenics1 and games were compulsory4 ,a good thing too6 commented ,merle4 ,some of the girls are fearful slackers6 ,they've never been accustomed to stir themselves4 ,maude ,carey hardly knows how to run4 ,i believe she thinks it's unladylike6 ,and ,nesta would shirk if she could4 ,those kids need a fearful amount of coaching4 ,i shall have my work cut out with them4 ,merle1 owing to her enthusiasm for sports1 had been chosen as ,games ,captain1 and was doing her best to cultivate a proper enthusiasm for hockey in the school4 ,in this matter she had the full co-operation of the new mistress4 ,merle liked ,miss ,mitchell1 whose cheery1 breezy1 practical ways particularly appealed to her4 ,merle was not given to violent affections1 especially for teachers1 so this attraction was almost a matter of first love4 ,she1 who had never minded blame at school1 found herself caring tremendously for praise in class4 ,it raised the standard of her work enormously4 ,she could do very well if she tried4 ,she had always poked fun at girls who took much trouble over home lessons1 and had been accustomed to leave her own till the last possible moment4 ,it was certainly a new phase to find her getting out her books immediately after tea1 or practising for half an hour before breakfast4 ,she was ready to do anything to win notice from ,miss ,mitchell1 and was decidedly jealous that ,iva and ,nesta1 being boarders1 were able to see more of her1 and thus establish a greater intimacy4 ,merle always wanted to 'go one better' than the other monitresses4 ,the status of all four was exactly equal1 and so far there was no head girl at ',the ,moorings4' ,merle had indeed taken a most prominent part at the general meeting of the school1 but though she might be the unacknowledged leader1 that gave her no increased authority4 ,sometimes her excess of zeal led to ructions4 ,miss ,mitchell had strongly urged the necessity of improving the games1 and particularly of training the juniors to play hockey properly4 ,merle seized upon them at every opportunity and made them practise4 ,one afternoon1 as everybody filed out at four o'clock1 she captured her recruits and began some instruction4 ,but unfortunately it happened that ,winnie and ,joyce1 who were her aptest pupils1 were wanted by ,nesta for schemes of her own1 and she came and called them in4 ,can't spare them now6 objected ,merle briefly4 ,sorry6 ,but they'll have to come6 ,not if their ,games ,captain wants them6 ,i'm their hostel monitress6 ,miss ,mitchell asked me to see to the hockey6 ,then you must get day-girls to stay for your practice4 ,i've instructions to see that all the boarders come straight back to the hostel after school6 ,merle gave way with a very bad grace4 ,she felt that ,nesta was interfering out of sheer officiousness4 ,what a jack-in-office6 she grumbled under her breath4 ,i believe those boarders may do anything they like until tea-time4 ,nesta needn't plume herself upon being prime favourite with ,miss ,mitchell4 ,she may whisk ,joyce and ,winnie off now and spoil our practice1 but ,i'll be even with her in some other way6 ,in talking about the various school institutions1 ,miss ,mitchell mentioned one day that there ought to be a general record of the various societies and their officers1 and the work which they had undertaken to do4 ,it should be kept in the study so as to be available any time for reference1 she said4 ,it would be a far simpler method than having to ask the secretaries for particulars4 ,this gave ,merle an idea4 ,she said nothing to her fellow-monitresses1 but she at once began to compile the list which ,miss ,mitchell wanted4 ,she was determined to do it beautifully4 ,her handwriting was not remarkably good1 so she decided to type it4 ,there was a little typewriter in ,uncle ,david's consulting-room1 which he allowed her to use1 and though she was so far from being an adept at it that it actually took her longer than using pen and ink1 she thought the result would justify the trouble4 ,she meant to stitch the sheets together and fasten them inside a cardboard cover1 decorated with an artistic design4 ,she set to work upon it with much energy and enthusiasm4 ,she was leaving school one afternoon when ,muriel ,burnitt ran up to her4 ,by the by1 ,merle6 ,can you give me the names of the committee of the ,nature ,club8 ,i can't just remember them all4 ,what d'you want them for8 asked ,merle suspiciously4 ,oh1 to write out for ,miss ,mitchell6 ,she was asking for a list the other day4 ,fay ,macleod is secretary of the ,nature ,club4 ,she'd be able to tell you exactly1 temporised ,merle4 ,so she would6 ,i'll ask her to-morrow4 ,merle went home with her head in a whirl4 ,it was quite evident that ,muriel had hit upon exactly the same idea as herself1 and intended to present ,miss ,mitchell with a full record of the societies4 ,only1 hers will probably be written in an exercise-book and not be half as nice as mine6 ,she mustn't forestall me1 though6 ,however artistic my list is1 it will fall very flat if ,muriel gives hers in first4 ,i've got to finish it somehow to-night and take it to school to-morrow morning4 ,that's certain6 ,when ,merle made up her mind about anything1 nothing could move her4 ,directly she got home she set to work upon the book-back1 and toiled away at it1 utterly ignoring her preparation4 ,in vain ,mavis urged the claims of ,latin verbs and ,shakespeare recitation4 ,i shan't stop till ,i've finished this6 declared ,merle stubbornly4 ,not if ,i sit up all night over it4 ,bother the old ',merchant of ,venice' and beastly ,latin verbs6 ,i'll glance through them at breakfast-time and trust to luck4 ,surely ,miss ,mitchell will understand when she knows how busy ,i've been over this6 ,i shall give it to her before nine o'clock4 ,can't ,i help you8 ,i've finished my prep4 ,no1 thanks6 ,i want it to be entirely my own work4 ,merle was not so clever at drawing as ,mavis1 but she contrived to turn out a very pretty cover all the same4 ,she illuminated ',the ,moorings' in large letters upon it1 and painted a picture of a boat moored to a jetty below1 as being an appropriate design4 ,she stitched the typed sheets1 fastened the whole together1 and tied it with a piece of saxe-blue ribbon 7saxe was emphatically ,miss ,mitchell's pet colour71 then she printed upon the back of it1 ',with much love from your affectionate pupil ,merle ,ramsay4' ,she sat up over it long after ,mavis and ,aunt ,nellie had gone to bed1 and1 indeed1 finished it hurriedly under the eyes of ,jessop1 who was waiting to turn out the gas4 ,can't ,i just look over my ,latin8 implored ,merle4 ,not a word6 declared the old servant4 ,put those books away1 ,miss ,merle1 and go upstairs4 ,we'll be having you with brain-fever at this rate6 ,i don't approve of all these home lessons4 ,why can't they teach you what they want to in school1 ,i should like to know8 ,that's what teachers are paid for1 isn't it8 ,i've no patience with this continual writing in the evenings4 ,a nice bit of sewing would be more to my mind4 ,you've not done more than an inch of that crochet pattern ,i taught you4 ,being monitress is all very well1 ,i daresay1 but ,i'm not going to let you sit up till midnight1 my dearie1 over your books4 ,not if ,i have to go myself to ,miss ,pollard1 and tell her my mind about it4 ,merle had meant to wake up a little earlier and run through her preparation1 but she was sleepier than usual next morning1 and had to be roused by ,mavis4 ,she opened her eyes most unwillingly4 ,i never heard ,jessop bring the hot water4 ,it can't be half-past seven6 ,oh1 bother6 ,i'd give all the world to be left quiet in bed6 ,go away6 ,all right6 ,stop in bed1 and let ,muriel give her list to ,miss ,mitchell6 said ,mavis4 ,whereupon ,merle groaned1 sat up1 and began to pull on her stockings4 ,guess ,i'll take the wind out of ,muriel's sails6 she murmured4 ,the list was beautifully wrapped up in a sheet of new tissue-paper1 and ,merle carried it proudly to school4 ,miss ,mitchell was generally in the study from about #h4de till #i o'clock1 so there would be nice time to present it before call-over4 ,on this particular morning1 however1 as fate would have it1 the study was unoccupied4 ,merle peeped in many times1 went to the hostel1 asked the boarders if they had seen ,miss ,mitchell1 but was utterly unable to find her4 ,she seemed to have mysteriously disappeared1 and only walked in1 from no one knew where1 just in time to take the register4 ,the ,fifth form marched away to its classroom1 and ,merle's offering1 for the present1 was obliged to be consigned to the recesses of her desk4 ,latin was the first lesson1 and as far as she was concerned it was a dismal failure4 ,miss ,mitchell looked surprised at her ghastly mistakes1 and one or two of the girls glanced at each other4 ,merle was hot and flustered at the close of the hour1 and closed her books with relief4 ,she hoped to manage a little better in ',the ,merchant of ,venice1' which was at least an ,english subject4 ,the girls were supposed to learn the notes1 and were questioned upon them and upon the meaning of the passages1 and she trusted to native wit and successful guessing to supply her answers4 ,the teacher1 however1 very soon grasped the fact that ,merle knew nothing about the lesson1 asked her to recite1 and found that she broke down at the end of three lines4 ,you're absolutely unprepared6 said ,miss ,mitchell scathingly4 ,a nice example for a monitress to set to the rest of the form6 ,come to the study at eleven1 and report yourself6 ,i'm astonished at you1 ,merle6 ,a very depressed and humiliated monitress entered the study at 'interval' to receive her scolding4 ,i can't understand you6 ,you have been doing so well4 ,why have you suddenly slacked off8 asked her inquisitor1 who believed in getting to the bottom of things if a girl shirked her work4 ,merle1 who was too much upset even to mention her reason1 and who had left the offering inside her desk1 said nothing1 and only looked unutterably miserable4 ,matters1 therefore1 were at rather a deadlock1 when there was a tap at the door and ,mavis entered bearing the precious parcel4 ,miss ,mitchell1 please6 ,in case ,merle won't tell1 ,i've brought this4 ,she sat up fearfully late last night doing it for you1 and that's why she didn't do her prep4 ,please excuse me for coming in6 and ,mavis bolted in much confusion4 ,miss ,mitchell unwrapped the parcel and looked critically at its contents4 ,it's very kind of you to have made this for me1 ,merle1 she said1 in a gentler voice4 ,i only wish it hadn't been at the expense of your preparation4 ,i like the monitresses to do all they can for the school1 but they must remember their own work comes first1 and that they have to set an example to the rest4 ,don't let a thing like this happen again6 ,i thought you would have had more discretion4 ,the list could have waited a day or two4 ,i was not in such a hurry for it as all that4 ,it was kindly meant1 but a little excess of zeal1 wasn't it8 ,thank you for it all the same6 ,there6 ,i'll put it on my desk so that it will be always ready if ,i want to refer to it4 ,now run along1 or you won't have time to eat your lunch before the bell rings4 ,merle1 hurrying to the dressing-room1 inwardly congratulated herself4 ,i got jolly well out of a bad business6 she thought4 ,miss ,mitchell wasn't very cross after all1 and she liked the list6 ,i've got mine in before ,muriel's anyway1 and it's going to stay on her desk1 so she'll always have something of mine right under her eyes4 ,she fingered that saxe-blue ribbon rather lovingly6 ,it exactly matches her sports coat6 ,i'll make her a calendar for ,christmas and put the same kind of ribbon to hang it up by4 ,but ,i don't mean to tell a single soul1 in case ,muriel goes and does the same6 ,miss ,mitchell is my property1 not hers6 ,,chapter ,,vi ,fishermaidens ,several ,saturdays turned out wet1 and it was not until the middle of ,october that ,mavis and ,merle were again able to motor with ,dr4 ,tremayne to ,chagmouth4 ,they had made arrangements for a nature ramble1 so1 after an early lunch at ,grimbal's ,farm1 they went to the trysting-place by the harbour to meet the other members of the club4 ,beata and ,romola turned up alone to-day1 unencumbered by younger brothers and sisters or the donkey4 ,they had brought businesslike baskets with them1 and were armed with note-books to record specimens1 some apples and nuts1 and a couple of log-lines4 ,we might be able to get some fishing6 they explained eagerly4 ,father went out yesterday in old ,mr4 ,davis's boat1 and he brought home the most lovely mackerel4 ,wouldn't it be a surprise if we could get some for ourselves8 ,i don't see why we shouldn't6 ,the idea appealed to the others4 ,fish were undoubtedly a division of zoology and ought to be included in their nature study4 ,specimens would be no less scientifically interesting from the fact that they could be eaten afterwards4 ,fay instantly rushed into ,helyar's ,general ,store to buy a log-line of her own2 ,mavis and ,merle1 after cautiously ascertaining the cost1 invested in one between them1 while ,tattle1 ,nan1 and ,lizzie contented themselves with purchasing a few fishhooks and a ball of fine string4 ,i suppose we ought really to take some bait with us1 remarked ,romola casually4 ,there isn't time1 though1 to go and dig for lob-worms4 ,what's to be done about it8 ,oh1 we'll use limpets or anything else we can get1 decreed ,beata4 ,we'll find something along the rocks1 you'll see4 ,mavis1 where are we going8 ,you know all the best walks4 ,we elect you leader this afternoon4 ,it's beautiful along the cliffs towards ,st ,morval's ,head4 ,there's a path most of the way1 and we can scramble where there isn't4 ,i wouldn't have dared to take the children1 but ,i vote we venture it4 ,anywhere you like so long as we don't waste any more time2 ,i'm just crazy to start6 agreed ,fay4 ,so they went by a narrow alley and up steep flights of steps to the hill above the town1 and took the track that led along the edge of the cliffs towards ,st4 ,morval's ,head4 ,it was a glorious autumn afternoon1 and1 though the bracken was brown and withered1 there were specimens of wild flowers to be picked and written down in the note-books4 ,summer seemed to have lingered1 and had left poppies1 honeysuckle1 foxgloves1 and other blossoms that were certainly out of season4 ,tattie1 who was keen on entomology1 recorded a red admiral1 a clouded yellow butterfly1 and a gamma moth1 though she did not consider them worth chasing and catching for her collection4 ,flocks of goldfinches and long-tailed tits were flitting about1 and they spied some black-caps and pipits1 and even a buzzard falcon poised in the air high above the cliffs4 ,here quite a little excitement occurred1 for several sea-gulls attacked the buzzard and with loud cries tried to drive it away1 following it as it soared higher and higher into the heavens1 and finally routing it altogether and sending it off in the direction of ,port ,sennen4 ,the path along which the girls had been walking was the merest track through the bracken4 ,so far there had been either a low wall or a hedge as a protection at the edge of the cliff1 but now these outposts of civilisation vanished and they were at the very brink of the crags4 ,tattie1 whose head was not of the strongest1 turned giddy and refused to go farther2 indeed1 she was so overcome that she sank on the ground and buried her face in her hands4 ,i daren't look down6 she shuddered4 ,i know ,i shall fall if ,i do4 ,oh6 ,i wish ,i'd never come6 ,how am ,i going to get back8 ,there's only about a hundred yards like this1 urged ,mavis4 ,after that the path is all right again4 ,take my arm4 ,no1 no6 ,i daren't6 ,i can't go either backwards or forwards4 ,i feel as if ,i should faint6 sobbed ,tattie1 waxing quite hysterical4 ,here was a dilemma6 ,she must certainly be made to move one way or the other4 ,with great difficulty ,fay and ,beata between them got her back to the path along which they had come1 where she collapsed under the shelter of the wall1 and sat down to recover4 ,i'll be all right now1 she said1 wiping her eyes4 ,i can go home alone4 ,don't let me keep any of you4 ,we'll come with you1 said ,lizzie ,colville4 ,nan and ,i don't like walking so near the edge either4 ,i wouldn't cross that place for worlds4 ,so it was arranged that the ,ramsays and the ,castletons and ,fay should go on to ,st4 ,morval's ,head1 while the rest of the company turned back4 ,it's a pity1 but it's no good taking people who turn giddy1 commented ,mavis4 ,if they can't manage that piece of cliff1 how would they scramble down into the cove8 ,they haven't got tennis shoes on for one thing1 remarked ,merle1 and boots are horribly slippery4 ,you ought to have rubber soles for these rocks4 ,it just makes all the difference4 ,mavis and ,i always wear them at ,chagmouth4 ,so do we4 ,we learnt that at ,porthkeverne4 ,we're used to scrambling4 ,as for ,fay she's a real fairy4 ,i believe she could fly if you gave her a push over the edge to start her off4 ,don't try1 thanks1 or ,i might turn into a mermaid instead of a fairy or a bird6 ,i often think1 though1 ,i'd like a private aeroplane of my own4 ,they're things that are bound to come sooner or later4 ,i only hope ,i shan't be too old to use one when they do4 ,what a view it is here6 ,the difficult piece of cliff had led them round a corner1 and they were now facing a magnificent sweep of coast-line4 ,below them1 fixed to a buoy that floated on the water1 a bell was ringing incessantly1 its clanging sound floating over the sea like the knell of a mermaid's funeral4 ,it's to warn the vessels off the rocks1 explained ,mavis4 ,they can hear it in a fog when they can't see quite where they are4 ,merle and ,i always call it ',the ,inchcape ,bell4' ,oh1 you know the story8 ',the worthy abbot of ,aberbrothock ,had fixed that bell on the ,inchcape rock4 ,on a buoy in the storm it floated and swung1 ,and over the waves its warning rung4' ,then the pirate1 ,sir ,ralph the ,rover1 goes and cuts it off1 just out of spite1 and sails away4 ,years afterwards his ship comes back to ,scotland1 and there's a thick fog1 and he's wrecked on the very ,inchcape rock from which he stole the warning bell4 ',sir ,ralph the ,rover tore his hair2 ,he cursed himself in his wild despair4 ,the waves poured in on every side1 ,and the vessel sank beneath the tide4' ,serve him right too6 ,it was a sneaking rag to play6 commented ,merle4 ,the bell makes me think of an old hermitage1 said ,romola4 ,i expect to see a monk walking along1 telling his beads4 ,who was ,st4 ,morval8 ,didn't he have a little chapel on the cliffs here8 ,romola always thinks of the ,middle ,ages1 laughed ,beata4 ,that's because she poses so much for ,dad's pictures4 ,it sounds like a church bell under the sea to me4 ,when we lived at ,porthkeverne we were close to the lost land of ,lyonesse1 and there was a lovely story about a mermaid4 ,they said she used to come and sit on a broad flat stone outside the church and listen to the singing2 and the priest heard of it1 so one day he came out and talked to her1 and asked her if she wouldn't like to be baptized1 and she said she'd think about it4 ,so she swam away2 but she came back again and again1 and it was decided that she was to be baptized on ,easter ,sunday4 ,but on ,good ,friday there was a terrible storm1 and the waves came up and swallowed the whole of the village1 so that when the poor mermaid arrived she found the church sunk under the sea1 and the priest and all the people drowned4 ,there was nobody to baptize her1 and there never has been since1 and she swims about the water weeping and singing any little bits of the service that she can remember4 ,the fishermen said if anybody was at sea and heard her it was bad luck1 and a sign he would certainly be drowned before long4 ,i love the quaint old legends6 said ,mavis4 ,i shall always think of your mermaid now1 when ,i hear the bell4 ,this is our way down to the cove4 ,it's a most frightful scramble4 ,can you manage it8 ,the girls went first over grass and gorse1 then climbed down a tiny track so narrow and slippery they were obliged to sit and slide1 and finally1 with some difficulty1 scrambled on to the grim rugged rocks beneath4 ,they were on a kind of platform1 covered with seaweed and little pools1 and with deep swirling water below4 ,beata decided it would be a good place to fish1 so they got out their log-lines4 ,the first and most manifest thing to do was to find bait4 ,there were plenty of limpets on the rocks1 and with penknives they managed to dislodge some of them4 ,it was only when a limpet was caught napping that it was possible to secure him3 once he sat down tight and excluded the air from his shell1 no amount of pulling could move him4 ,the victims thus gathered were sacrificed by ,beata and ,merle1 who acted as high priestesses1 and chopped them up1 and placed them upon the hooks1 for neither ,mavis nor ,romola would touch them1 and even ,fay was not particularly keen upon this part of the fishing operations4 ,they were ready at last1 and cast their lines4 ,merle1 unfortunately1 through lack of experience1 had not unreeled hers far enough1 and the heavy weight sank deeply in the water and jerked the whole thing out of her hands into the sea4 ,oh1 what a shame6 ,and we've only just paid two and sixpence for it6 ,what an utter idiot ,i was6 ,i never thought it would pull like that4 ,see1 it's floating about down there6 ,i'll get it for you if ,i can1 said ,beata4 ,with some manoeuvring she managed to fling her own line over it and drag it slowly in1 losing it several times but rescuing it in the end4 ,after that mishap ,merle was wiser1 and threw with more discretion4 ,fay also tried her luck1 and the girls sat waiting for bites4 ,but alas6 none came4 ,there were several false alarms1 but the lines when hauled in held nothing more exciting than hunks of seaweed4 ,it was really most disappointing4 ,i'm afraid they don't like the bait1 said ,beata at last4 ,if we could find a few lob-worms now1 it might tempt them4 ,they're evidently rather dainty4 ,and ,i expect we don't know much about it6 said ,mavis4 ,well1 people have to learn some time1 ,i suppose4 ,you can't tumble to fishing by instinct6 ,it was decided to go farther along and try to find lob-worms4 ,the difficulty was to scramble down the rocks on to the sand4 ,from above it looked quite easy and possible1 but at close quarters the crags were very precipitous4 ,at one point1 however1 they determined to venture4 ,they sat on the edge of the sloping rock1 let go1 and then simply slid down1 hanging on to pieces of ivy and tufts of grass4 ,the cove1 when they thus reached it1 was worth the trouble of getting there4 ,sand-gobies were darting about in the pools1 and came swimming up to fight for the pieces of limpet which the girls dropped in for them4 ,they found a few lobworms and re-baited their hooks and cast their lines afresh1 but met with no better success than before4 ,i'm fed up with fishing6 announced ,romola at last4 ,let's go home6 ,she had voiced the general opinion of the party4 ,all immediately began to wind up their lines4 ,the tide's coming in fast1 and we're close to the blow-hole1 said ,mavis4 ,it seems a pity not to stop and watch it4 ,the blow-hole was a curious natural phenomenon4 ,the sea1 pouring into a narrow gully1 forced air and water to spurt through an opening at certain intervals4 ,first a low groaning noise was heard1 which waxed louder and louder until--so ,beata declared--it resembled the snoring of ,father ,neptune4 ,then suddenly a shower of spray spurted from the aperture1 the sunshine lighting it with all the prismatic colours of the rainbow4 ,for a few seconds it played like a fountain1 then died down as the wave receded4 ,the girls were so interested in watching it that they quite forgot the sea behind them4 ,while their backs were turned to it1 the great strong tide was lapping and swelling in1 moving higher and higher up the rocks1 and covering the pools1 and creeping into the cove1 and changing the sand and seaweed into a lake4 ,when ,mavis happened to look round she found her basket floating4 ,she started up with a cry4 ,the one accessible spot where they had climbed down now had a deep pool under it4 ,we must wade6 gasped ,beata1 and hurriedly pulling off her shoes and stockings she plunged as pioneer into the water4 ,she soon realised it was too dangerous a venture4 ,the slimy seaweed underneath caused her to slip1 and the strong swirl of the tide nearly swept her from her feet4 ,with difficulty she splashed back again4 ,we might swim it6 she suggested4 ,but what about our clothes8 ,mavis shook her head4 ,we can't cross there till the tide goes down4 ,are we going to be drowned8 asked ,romola1 in a tremulous little voice4 ,certainly not6--,mavis sounded quite calm and sensible--we're safe enough here1 but we're in a jolly nasty fix4 ,we can sit above high-water mark1 but it means staying till the tide goes down and that won't be for hours1 and then it will be dark and how can we see to scramble up the cliffs8 ,i suppose we've got to wait till morning6 groaned ,fay4 ,this is some adventure at any rate6 ,rather more than most of us bargained for6 agreed ,beata4 ,i wouldn't care a nickel1 only ,mother'll be in such a state of mind when ,i don't turn up6 ,and ,uncle ,david will be waiting to go home in the car4 ,i wonder what he'll do8 ,they'll have the fright of their lives6 ,and we shall have the colds of ours6 shivered poor ,romola4 ,october isn't exactly the month you'd choose for camping out4 ,i wish we'd brought some more biscuits with us4 ,i'm hungry6 ,don't talk of biscuits or eating6 ,i'm just ravenous4 ,five very disconsolate girls found a sheltered corner under the cliff and squatted down to watch the sunset4 ,there was a glorious effect of gold and orange and great purple clouds tipped with crimson1 but they were none of them quite in the mood to appreciate the beauties of nature1 and would much have preferred the sight of a tea-table4 ,it was beginning to grow very cold4 ,they buttoned their sports coats about their throats1 and huddled close together for warmth4 ,the sun sank into the sea like a great fiery ball1 and the darkness crept on4 ,presently the moon rose1 shining over the sea in a broad spreading pathway of silver1 that looked like a gleaming fairy track across the water to the far horizon1 where a distant lighthouse glinted at intervals like a fiery eye4 ,the waiting seemed interminable4 ,romola1 who felt the cold most1 had a little private weep4 ,i've always been crazy on stories of shipwrecks and desert islands1 said ,fay1 but when you go through it yourself somehow it seems to take the edge off the romance4 ,i don't want any more to be a ,robinson ,crusoe girl6 ,i'd rather stay warm with pussie by the fire4 ,if we'd had a box of matches with us we might have lighted a fire6 sighed ,beata4 ,why didn't we bring some8 ,why didn't we look at the tide and get home in decent time8 ,it's no good crying over spilt milk6 grunted ,merle rather crossly4 ,after that they all subsided into silence for a while4 ,there was no sound except the monotonous lap of the waves4 ,the sea-gulls and cormorants had flown past at sunset and gone to roost4 ,the absolute quiet1 and the dark shadows1 and the silver light of the moon gave such an eerie atmosphere to the scene that presently ,fay could stand it no longer4 ,i guess ,i'll stir up the spooks6 she remarked1 and scrambling to her feet she made a trumpet of her hands and called out a loud ,coo-o-ee4 ,to the immense astonishment of everybody an answering shout came from somewhere across the water4 ,instantly all sprang up and woke the echoes with their loudest possible lung-power4 ,before long came a splash of oars1 and a boat1 with a lantern fastened to its bow1 entered the cove4 ,it advanced cautiously to the rocks1 and a tall boyish figure sprang out and held it steady1 while some one in a fisherman's jersey stretched out a strong hand to help the girls to enter4 ,only when they were safely seated and the moonlight shone on their faces did ,mavis recognise their rescuers4 ,mr4 ,penruddock--and surely not ,bevis6 she exclaimed4 ,he enjoyed her amazement4 ,i've got the week-end4 ,there's been 'flu' at school1 so they've sent some of us off while ,matron fumigates the rooms4 ,i thought ,i'd find you at the farm4 ,there was a pretty to-do when it grew dark and you didn't turn up4 ,the ,doctor went to the ,vicarage to ask if you were there1 and they said you'd gone along the rocks fishing4 ,so we took the boat and came to look for you4 ,i say1 you were in a jolly old mess1 weren't you8 ,rather cold for sleeping out8 ,if we'd known you were coming over we wouldn't have started4 ,i didn't know myself till the last minute4 ,i'll bike over to ,durracombe to-morrow afternoon if ,i may8 ,i haven't seen you and ,merle for ages4 ,you've given ,chagmouth people an excitement6 ,i should think half the town's waiting on the quay for you6 ,we'd rather a business to find you4 ,but 'all's well that ends well1' isn't it8 ,,chapter ,,vii ,musical ,stars ,mavis and ,merle had not seen ,bevis since last ,july1 so they had an immense amount to talk about when he came over to ,bridge ,house on the following afternoon4 ,they had to tell him all their adventures during the summer holidays and about the changes at ',the ,moorings1' and he also had much to relate about his own school and his future plans4 ,though he was now squire of ,chagmouth1 he took his new honours very quietly and made no fuss about them4 ,it's something to feel ,i'm back at the old ,coll4 and can go on to ,cambridge1 he acknowledged in reply to the girls' questions4 ,the lawyers are very decent to me and give me pretty well all ,i want4 ,in the spring ,i'm going to have a yacht of my own6 ,they've promised me that4 ,i'll take you both out for a sail in it4 ,oh1 do6 ,we shall just live for ,easter6 rejoiced the girls4 ,i wish it was holidays all the time6 added ,merle4 ,what fun we'd have in your yacht6 ,such a wish1 however1 could certainly not be realised4 ,bevis was due back at ,shelton ,college1 and ',the ,moorings' claimed both ,mavis and ,merle4 ,school might not be as exciting as yachting1 but it had its interests4 ,there was the ,magazine1 of which ,mavis was editress1 and to which many spicy items were contributed2 there was the ,entertainments ,club1 which was getting up a piece to act at the end of the term4 ,in connection with this society1 alack6 a tremendous squabble ensued4 ,it had fallen almost entirely into the hands of the boarders1 and they seemed determined to keep all its privileges to themselves4 ,they fixed upon a play1 shared the cast among them1 and held rehearsals in the evenings4 ,mavis1 ,merle1 and ,muriel1 the only day-girls on the ,committee1 were furious4 ,where do we come in8 demanded ,merle4 ,it's too cool to settle everything without consulting us6 ,we're as much on the ,committee as you are6 ,it's completely out of order6 ,oh1 what does it matter8 said ,nesta1 with aggravating easiness4 ,we can't bother to be always holding meetings4 ,we wanted to set to work at once and rehearse1 and there weren't enough parts to include day-girls4 ,can't you act audience for once8 ,you seem very anxious to show off6 ,it's the pot calling the kettle black then1 if we do6 retorted ,muriel4 ,what about yourselves1 ,i should like to know8 ,the worst of it was that ,miss ,mitchell seemed to take the side of the boarders4 ,i can't have you day-girls coming in the evenings to rehearse6 she decided4 ,no1 ,i can't allow you to stay at four o'clock either1 because the boarders must get their walk before tea4 ,it would upset all our arrangements4 ,perhaps we may put some of you in a tableau1 because that really wouldn't need much preparation4 ,a tableau6 ,the day-girls felt much insulted6 ,miss ,mitchell1 who had seen them act in the history class1 ought not thus to scout their talents4 ,merle took the matter particularly to heart because of her adoration for the new mistress4 ,she was furiously jealous of the boarders1 who could sit at meal-times at the same table as her idol1 and could indulge in private chats with her during the evenings4 ,miss ,mitchell was perfectly well aware of ,merle's infatuation1 but did not encourage it too deeply4 ,she meant to be quite impartial1 and to have no favourites4 ,moreover1 she was very modern and unsentimental1 and disliked what she called 'schoolgirl gush4' ,she had been the subject of violent admirations before1 and knew how soon they were apt to cool down4 ,she was perfectly nice to ,merle1 but a little off-hand1 and never showed her any preference4 ,this line of treatment rather aggravated ,merle's symptoms instead of curbing the tendency4 ,i'll make her like me6 she said to herself stubbornly4 ,the siege laid to the teacher's heart progressed slowly1 partly because ,merle's tactics were noticed by the others and became somewhat of a joke4 ,merle had placed a daily buttonhole of flowers upon the teacher's desk1 but1 led by ,muriel1 the ,fifth form rallied1 and one morning each of them appeared with a kindred posy and deposited her offering4 ,miss ,mitchell turned quite pink at the sight of the eleven floral trophies4 ,she was not absolutely sure how far it was meant for a 'rag4' ,this looks like a nature study competition6 she remarked4 ,i'm sure it's very kind of you all to bring me flowers1 but unless it's my birthday or some special occasion ,i'm afraid ,i really don't know what to do with them4 ,you can put them all in water at eleven1 ,nesta1 but you mustn't waste time now fetching vases4 ,merle1 of course1 never presented any flowers again4 ,she brought a book to school one day that she had heard ,miss ,mitchell express a wish to look at1 and1 after lingering about in the classroom1 plucked up courage to interrupt her idol1 who was correcting exercises1 and offer the loan of it4 ,the mistress1 with her finger held to mark her place1 looked up and shook her head4 ,i've really no time for reading1 thanks6 ,at present my days are full from morning till night4 ,as direct means failed ,merle turned to indirect4 ,she wrote anonymous poems and popped them in the letter-box1 hoping1 however1 that her writing might be recognised4 ,whether ,miss ,mitchell read them or not is uncertain2 she made no mention at any rate of their receipt1 and probably dropped them in the waste-paper basket4 ,merle would have been far more grieved over these repulses had there not been a counter interest at home4 ,at the beginning of ,november ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,ramsay left the north altogether and came to settle at ,durracombe4 ,naturally there were great changes at ,bridge ,house4 ,jessop--the invaluable ,jessop1 who had been so many years in ,dr4 ,tremayne's service--was leaving to take charge of a widower brother1 and a young parlour-maid was coming in her place4 ,several rooms were cleared to make way for ,dr4 ,ramsay's possessions1 and a large motor van arrived bearing some of his furniture from ,whinburn4 ,mrs4 ,ramsay was to have a little upstairs drawing-room of her own1 in which to deposit her special treasures1 and her husband was to turn the gun-room into his study4 ,the delight and excitement of welcoming her father and mother made ,merle temporarily dethrone ,miss ,mitchell in her heart4 ,it was such fun to help to arrange all the things from home1 and see how nice they looked in their new surroundings4 ,then ,dr4 ,ramsay had brought his car1 and of course ,merle wanted to help to clean it and to go out with her father in it and coax him to allow her to drive4 ,everybody felt that it was ideal to have ,mrs4 ,ramsay at ,bridge ,house4 ,she took the place of a daughter to ,aunt ,nellie1 who was somewhat of an invalid1 and would nurse her and manage the housekeeping for her instead of ,jessop4 ,she had always loved her native county of ,devon1 and rejoiced to return there instead of living in the north4 ,i shall grow young again here6 she declared4 ,i'm going to try to find time to do some sketching4 ,i've hardly touched my paintbox for years4 ,mavis and ,i must go out together and find subjects4 ,while ,i drive ,daddy about in the car6 decreed ,merle4 ,i've told him ,i'm going to be his chauffeur as soon as ,i leave school4 ,he didn't jump at the offer6 ,wasn't it ungrateful of him8 ,he doesn't deserve to have a daughter6 ,oh1 well1 yes1 ,i did run the car into the hedge yesterday1 but there was no damage done1 after all4 ,dr4 ,tremayne thoroughly welcomed ,dr4 ,ramsay as his partner4 ,the calls of the practice had lately been growing too much for him1 and he was glad to be able to share the numerous visits1 so the arrangement of joining households was a satisfaction to all concerned4 ,jessop wept when it came to the time of her departure4 ,i've been here thirty-two years come ,christmas6 she said4 ,i know it's the best for everybody1 but ,i do feel it4 ,i'm fond of my brother1 and willing to look after him and the shop1 but ,i'll miss the patients here6 ,i've known many of them since they were born4 ,at my age it's hard to make a change and settle down afresh4 ,we'll motor over very often and see you1 ,jessop1 and tell you all the news1 consoled ,mavis4 ,i'll always be glad to welcome you and ,miss ,merle whenever you come4 ,let me know beforehand if you can1 and ,i'll make you crumpets for your tea4 ,you always like my crumpets6 ,nobody else in the world knows how to make them properly1 ,merle assured her4 ,those heavy things with holes in them that they sell in the shops simply aren't fit to be called by the same name6 ,with ,mother in the background to consult about matters of difficulty school seemed much easier1 though not altogether without thorns4 ,last summer term ,merle had considered herself the chosen chum of ,iva ,westwood1 but now ,iva had completely fallen into the arms of ,kitty ,trefyre4 ,as they were both boarders and in the same dormitory1 it was perhaps only natural they should be friends1 yet it is never nice to be dropped1 and ,merle thought hard things of ,iva4 ,if she could have kept her feelings locked in her own breast it would not have mattered so much1 but she was a true daughter of ,jupiter1 and1 when provoked1 could not refrain from shooting her arrows of bitter words4 ,they quarrelled about the silliest trifles3 the loan of an indiarubber1 the loss of a pencil1 or some slight differences of opinion1 over which they would argue hotly4 ,it was a pity1 for at bottom ,iva was a nice girl1 and was merely passing through a phase from which she would probably soon have recovered if ,merle would only have let her alone4 ,on her side she might very well have contended that it is hard to be pinned to a single chum1 and that she was perfectly at liberty to make fresh friends if she wished without of necessity giving offence to the old ones by so doing4 ,merle's so jealous6 she complained4 ,why should she care8 ,i'm sure ,i don't mind her walking about the school arm-in-arm with ,beata ,castleton6 ,that1 however1 was exactly the point4 ,merle wanted ,iva to mind1 and was extremely annoyed because the incident left her unruffled4 ,one afternoon1 in the musical appreciation class1 the two had partly patched up past squabbles1 and1 for a wonder1 were sitting side by side4 ,the subject was ',handel1' and for one of the illustrations ,miss ,mitchell called upon ,merle to play the celebrated ',largo4' ,she went through her performance quite creditably1 took her music1 and turned from the piano4 ,then she saw that during her absence ,kitty had commandeered her seat next to ,iva4 ,for a moment ,merle stood with a look of the blankest consternation1 not knowing where to go1 till ,mavis beckoned and made a place for her1 into which she thankfully slipped1 squeezing her sister's hand surreptitiously1 and feeling there was no friend in all the world so staunch as ,mavis4 ,if you wouldn't worry so over everybody1 you'd get on better1 dear6 advised the latter4 ,i can't help caring6 ,i wasn't born calm4 ,it all matters so very much to me6 ,what's the use of anything unless you care8 ,you'd better swop me for a nice1 little1 tame1 harmless sister guaranteed never to squabble even if people pull her hair1 and always content to sit in the background everywhere6 ,she'd be very uninteresting6 laughed ,mavis1 bestowing a kiss upon ,merle's apple cheek4 ,i think ,i prefer to keep you1 thanks6 ,thunderstorms and all8 ,so long as they clear the air1 certainly6 ,but we expect to have sunshine afterwards1 please6 ,miss ,mitchell intended to wind up her course of lessons on musical appreciation with a concert among the pupils1 and certain of them had been bidden to play or sing4 ,naturally those on whom the choice fell went through agonies in the matter of practising4 ,after hearing so much about great composers and the proper interpretation of their works1 it seemed almost a liberty for schoolgirls to venture to give their rendering1 and all felt that their performances would be subjected to decided criticism4 ,it's the audience that will make me nervous6 fluttered ,merle4 ,if ,i could play my piece when ,i'm alone and in the right mood and get a gramophone record taken of it that could be put on at the concert1 ,i shouldn't mind4 ,it would be rather fun sitting in a corner and listening to my own playing4 ,something like seeing my own ghost1 wouldn't it8 ,mavis1 ,merle1 ,muriel1 and ,edith were all down for piano solos1 ,beata was to bring her violin1 and ,nesta1 ,iva1 and ,kitty were to sing4 ,they would all do their best1 but none had reached a very high level in the matter of attainment4 ,miss ,mitchell1 with memories of the splendid talent mustered at ,st4 ,cyprian's ,college in her own schooldays1 felt that the concert would be a most modest affair4 ,i wish we could get one or two good performers to come and help us6 she suggested4 ,durracombe isn't at all a musical place1 admitted ,miss ,fanny4 ,there really isn't anybody whom we could ask4 ,mrs4 ,carey used to play1 but she's out of practice and ,i'm sure she wouldn't venture before a roomful of schoolgirls4 ,it would be rather an ordeal1 ,i own4 ,about ten days before the event was to take place ,muriel ,burnitt had a tea-party at her own home to which she invited ,miss ,fanny1 ,miss ,mitchell1 and the elder boarders1 asked them to bring their music1 and went through all the programme of the little concert4 ,it1 in fact1 answered the purpose of a dress rehearsal4 ,mavis and ,merle had not been included in the invitation and they were very much hurt4 ,muriel asked ,beata1 only she couldn't come4 ,i know because ,romola told me so4 ,she even asked ,babbie ,williams6 ,illustration3 ,,she ,,had ,,brought ,,her ,,wonderful ,,stradivarius ,,violin ,it's most mean of her to miss us out6 ,when we're playing solos1 too6 ,the boarders talked tremendously about the pleasant evening they had had1 and how very much they had enjoyed themselves4 ,muriel's aunt will be staying with her next week1 and she's going to persuade her to sing at the concert6 said ,iva4 ,she has a beautiful voice1 and it will give things such a lift4 ,miss ,mitchell is as pleased as ,punch about it1 and says that's just what we want4 ,we ought to have one or two musical stars to make it go4 ,muriel1 who felt she had scored by securing a singer1 took up a rather lofty attitude and made herself so objectionable that ,merle raved in private1 and even gentle ,mavis was ruffled4 ,they poured out their grievances at home4 ,what's the date of the concert8 asked ,mrs4 ,ramsay4 ,the #agth8 ,well1 ,i have an idea6 ,no6 ,i don't mean to tell you now in case my scheme doesn't come off4 ,what is it1 ,mummie8 ,i'm curious4 ,that's my secret6 ,take my advice and don't worry any more about ,muriel4 ,things will probably turn out even in the end4 ,in spite of coaxing ,mother refused to explain herself further1 and it was only when a few days had gone by1 and they had almost forgotten the incident1 that one morning she opened a letter1 read it1 and clapped her hands in triumph4 ,i've some lovely news for you6 ,cousin ,sheila is coming to stay with us on the #afth1 and she's actually bringing her friend ,mildred ,lancaster1 the famous violinist6 ,you know they both went to ,st4 ,cyprian's and were in the same form with ,miss ,mitchell4 ,she'll be so pleased to meet them again6 ,cousin ,sheila says ,miss ,lancaster promises to play at your school concert4 ,isn't that an honour8 ,it will be something for you to tell ,miss ,mitchell1 won't it8 ,we'll ask her and ,miss ,fanny and some of the girls to tea while our visitors are here6 ,this was indeed a delightful surprise4 ,the name of ,mildred ,lancaster was one to conjure with in musical circles4 ,she had just completed a most successful tour in ,australia and ,america1 and had won great applause4 ,she was booked to give a recital in ,exeter on the #aeth1 so that she would be in the neighbourhood and able easily to come on to ,durracombe4 ,she made her headquarters at ,kirkton1 so ,mrs4 ,ramsay explained1 but travelled much about the country playing at concerts4 ,she was to be married in the spring to her old friend1 ,rodney ,somerville1 to whom she had been engaged for some years1 but she did not intend to give up her music1 and hoped still to make frequent public appearances4 ,they're to have a flat in town1 read ,mother from ,cousin ,sheila's letter4 ,i'm so glad it's settled that way1 because ,i want ,mildred to be happy1 yet it would be a wicked shame if she flung her talent to the winds1 as some girls do when they marry4 ,she'll have her own little home and yet go on with her career4 ,i call it ideal6 ,mavis and ,merle danced off to school simply brimming over with their news4 ,it certainly had the desired effect4 ,miss ,mitchell was very much thrilled at the prospect of meeting her old friends1 and highly appreciated the privilege of a violin solo at the concert4 ,the girls were1 of course1 most excited1 except the performers1 who nearly had hysterics at the prospect of playing before so great a musical star4 ,i shall leave my violin at home6 wailed ,beata4 ,nonsense6 ,you'll find nobody more kind and encouraging than ,miss ,lancaster1 said ,miss ,mitchell4 ,it isn't the great artists who find fault--they understand the difficulties only too well--it's the carping critics who can't perform themselves and yet think they know all about it6 ,do your best and no one will expect you to do any more6 ,it was a great day for ,mavis and ,merle when their visitors arrived4 ,they were fond of ,cousin ,sheila and welcomed her on her own account4 ,with her companion they readily fell in love4 ,mildred ,lancaster was a most charming personality1 and although she had been so fted on concert platforms1 she was absolutely simple and unaffected in private life4 ,she had brought her wonderful ,stradivarius violin1 upon which she always played1 and she took it out of its case and allowed the girls to admire its graceful curves1 and its fine old varnish4 ,it's my mascot6 she said4 ,i've had it all my life1 and if anything were to happen to it ,i believe ,i'd give up music6 ,it's been a great traveller1 and always stays in my berth on sea voyages4 ,to say that the ,ramsays were proud to escort ,miss ,lancaster and her ,stradivarius to ',the ,moorings' hardly describes their elation4 ,a few parents and friends had been asked1 so that with the school there was quite a large audience4 ,it was arranged to take the girls' part of the programme first1 and the visitors' solos afterwards1 a proceeding for which the young performers were devoutly thankful4 ,they got through their pieces very creditably1 especially ,beata1 who won warm praise from ,miss ,lancaster4 ,that child's artistic and will make a musician if she goes on with it4 ,she puts herself into her playing4 ,they're rather a remarkable family4 ,her sister is studying singing in ,london1 purred ,miss ,pollard1 pleased to have one of her pupils thus noticed4 ,the treat of the afternoon was when ,mildred ,lancaster began to play1 and her entire mastery of her instrument was a revelation to most of the girls4 ,they had never before had the opportunity of listening to such glorious music4 ,the gramophone will sound like a ghost after this1 however good the records6 declared ,iva4 ,i wish ,i could hear her again4 ,miss ,fanny's bringing fourteen of you to tea to-morrow--hasn't she told you yet8 exulted ,merle4 ,muriel had also been included in the invitation in spite of her previous discourtesy4 ,it hurt you to be left out1 so don't inflict the same feeling on anybody else6 urged ,mrs4 ,ramsay when her younger daughter demurred4 ,two blacks never make a white6 ,the best way of 'getting even' with people is to do them a kindness4 ,that stops the whole thing and sets it into a different groove4 ,ask ,muriel if her aunt will come too4 ,she sings beautifully1 and perhaps she will bring her music4 ,the ,ramsays' ',musical ,at ,home' was remembered for a long time by those girls who were present at it4 ,mother was a clever hostess1 and she managed to put all her guests at ease and raise that magic atmosphere of enjoyment which only certain people seem able to create4 ,the drawing-room looked charming with late flowers in its vases and a blazing log fire4 ,miss ,mitchell1 having snatched a private chat with her two old school friends1 was radiant4 ,jessop1 who had heard full details of the occasion1 had insisted on coming over to bake the cakes1 and hovered in the background like a beneficent deity1 sending in fresh batches of hot crumpets4 ,there were chocolates in little silver bonbonnires and even crackers1 though it was not yet ,christmas4 ,aunt ,nellie was there and enjoyed the music1 and ,dr4 ,tremayne and ,dr4 ,ramsay joined them before the performance was over4 ,wasn't it a triumph8 ,i think we know how to give a party6 rejoiced ,merle in private afterwards4 ,yes1 when ,mother pulls the strings6 agreed ,mavis4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,yule-tide ,the end of the term was1 to use ,merle's expression1 'a little thin4' ,miss ,mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it1 and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared4 ,she suggested1 indeed1 that the day-girls might get up some tableaux1 but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped4 ,tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses1 sniffed ,muriel4 ,it really isn't worth our while bothering over them1 agreed ,merle4 ,they were decidedly disappointed to have no chance to exhibit their own dramatic talents1 but they were 'sporting' enough to give a hearty clap to the boarders' performance1 a really magnanimous attitude on the part of ,mavis1 who had lent a pale pink silk dress to ,nesta1 and watched candle grease dropping down the front of it as that heroine pretended to investigate a smuggler's cellar with a light4 ,never mind6 ,we'll have some acting of our own in the hols1 she whispered to ,merle1 who sat next to her4 ,rather6 ,and it will beat this simply into fits1 though of course ,i shan't tell them so4 ,the holidays this ,christmas were to compensate for every disagreeable thing that had happened in the course of the term4 ,first and foremost1 and this ought to be written in big letters like a poster heading1 ,,bevis ,,was ,,coming ,,to ,,stay4 ,mrs4 ,ramsay had invited him for a three weeks' visit to ,bridge ,house1 and he was to arrive on ,december #bcrd4 ,he had always been a great favourite with ,dr4 ,tremayne1 who thought that the boy's position was rather a lonely one1 and that on this first ,christmas in particular1 after the solution of the mystery of his birth1 he would feel the lack of any family of his own and would be glad to be welcomed by friends4 ,naturally1 to ,mavis and ,merle this was the event of greatest importance1 but there was to be another pleasant happening as well4 ,cousin ,clive was also coming to spend the holidays4 ,he was ,dr4 ,tremayne's grandson and his home was in ,london4 ,the girls had never seen him1 as he had not paid a visit to ,durracombe during the last year1 and they were very curious to know what he was like4 ,any misgivings which they may have cherished vanished instantly1 however1 at the first sight of ,clive4 ,he was a very big boy of twelve1 as tall as ,merle1 with merry grey eyes that looked capable of fun4 ,he was1 of course1 full of the affairs of his own preparatory school1 but as he found they were ready to listen to his accounts of football matches or dormitory 'rags' he took them into his masculine confidence and extended the hand of friendship4 ,he showed a particular fancy for ,merle1 whose robuster constitution allowed her to tear about with him and indulge in some rather hoydenish performances4 ,you're a thorough tomboy6 said ,mother1 having called her younger daughter down from the coach-house roof1 whither she had climbed in company with her cousin4 ,well1 you see1 ,mummie dear1 ,i have to amuse ,clive6 was always ,merle's excuse4 ,if ,i didn't keep him quiet he'd kick up no end of a racket and disturb ,aunt ,nellie4 ,it's really very kind of me6 ,there's a large spice of enjoyment mixed with the philanthropy6 twinkled ,mother4 ,well1 that's the right spirit4 ,we ought to enjoy our own good deeds6 laughed ,merle4 ,as ,aunt ,nellie was really a consideration in regard to noise1 the young people had taken over the harness room as a temporary boudoir during the holidays4 ,they carried down some basket chairs1 tacked a few coloured pictures from annuals on its bare walls1 and made it look quite pretty4 ,tom lighted them a blazing fire every day1 and tended it during their absence with the care of a vestal virgin1 so they were extremely cosy and jolly there4 ,the joiner's bench and the glue-pot gave facilities for any hobbies they wished to carry on2 they could make as much noise as they liked1 and walk in and out with dirty boots1 unreproved4 ,to ,bevis this visit was elysium4 ,all his experiences of young people had been confined to school1 and he had never before spent such a holiday4 ,it's grand to be in a home like this6 he said1 once1 to ,mavis4 ,i can't help thinking1 sometimes1 how different life would have been to me if my mother had lived4 ,it's hard not to have even the slightest remembrance of her4 ,suppose she had been here now and living at ',the ,warren'6 ,you'll go there yourself some day4 ,perhaps4 ,it'll be rather a forlorn business though1 being in that big house with only a pack of servants4 ,i believe ,i'll take a voyage round the world in a yacht4 ,the fact is ,i can't quite see my future4 ,i'm going to ,cambridge1 but after that things are vague4 ,i always had dreams of a profession1 but the lawyers say ,i ought to settle down on the estate4 ,what's a fellow to do8 ,i wouldn't worry your head about it yet4 ,there'll be plenty of time to think things over while you're at ,college1 counselled ,mavis4 ,enjoy your holidays at any rate4 ,no mistake about that4 ,i'm having the luck of my life6 ,it was only to ,mavis's sympathetic ear that ,bevis poured out these confidences4 ,with ,merle he was on different terms4 ,he called her ',soeurette' 7little sister7 and was always ready for some joke with her4 ,she and ,clive together led him a lively time1 as well as keeping him busy helping them to make boxes1 build a boat1 and several other joinering enterprises4 ,it does ,bevis all the good in the world to be teased6 declared ,merle4 ,he certainly gets it1 then6 laughed ,mavis4 ,one special grievance had ,merle4 ,bevis had devoted some of his spare time at ,shelton ,college to taking motoring lessons1 for he hoped to buy a car some day1 and he could now drive so well that ,dr4 ,ramsay trusted him at the steering-wheel4 ,it's too bad6 declared that indignant damsel4 ,just because ,mother's nervous and thinks ,i'm going to run her into the ditch6 ,wait till ,i've had my course of motoring lessons6 ,i'll take the shine out of ,bevis6 ,see if ,i don't6 ,you shall try my motor bike1 if you like1 ,soeurette6 consoled ,bevis4 ,that's to say1 if they'll allow you4 ,don't1 for goodness' sake1 ask anybody1 but just take it out on the quiet and ,i'll guarantee to ride it4 ,let's do it this very afternoon6 returned ,merle1 somewhat pacified4 ,on the whole the weather had proved exceedingly wet1 so with the exceptions of a few runs in the car with the hood up1 they had not ventured very far away1 and had mostly taken walks in the neighbourhood4 ,bevis naturally wished to explore the ,durracombe district1 and they had not been to ,chagmouth since his arrival1 and knew nothing of what was going on there4 ,one drizzling morning1 however1 when they were all sitting in the harness room1 they heard a clatter of hoofs and then a shout in the stable yard1 and looking out of the window saw ,tudor ,williams on his little horse1 ,armorelle4 ,the girls ran out at once4 ,i say6 ,how d'you do8 said ,tudor4 ,isn't your man about anywhere to take this horse8 ,tom's in the greenhouse1 ,i'll fetch him6 and ,merle darted across the dripping yard4 ,have you come to see ,uncle8 asked ,mavis1 stroking ,armorelle's satin nose4 ,no1 ,i've a message from the ,mater for you and ,merle4 ,oh1 here's your groom6 ,yes1 just give her a wipe down1 please 7as ,tom led ,armorelle away to the stable71 she's too fat and gets easily hot6 ,ugh6 ,it's rather a horrid day4 ,the ,mater wanted to send me in the car1 but ,i said ,i'd rather ride4 ,won't you come into the house8 asked ,mavis4 ,or into our den8 invited ,merle4 ,we've made the harness room into a snuggery4 ,by ,jove6 ,not a bad idea1 that6 ,yes1 take me there4 ,i'm too splashed to be fit for the drawing-room4 ,i say1 this is no end6 ,what a decent fire you've got6 ,you know ,bevis8 ,and this is our ,cousin ,clive1 said ,mavis1 performing the introductions4 ,tudor nodded1 flung himself into a basket chair and looked round the room with some amusement4 ,it's like you two6 he vouchsafed4 ,i should never have thought of taking over the harness room6 ',pon my word1 it's cosy6 ,you won't want to turn out when ,i tell you what ,i've come for6 ,turn out where8 ,well1 it's a long story4 ,you see there are some new people come to live in ,chagmouth--an artist with a family about a yard long4 ,of course1 the ,mater goes and calls and gushes and comes back talking about beauty and talent and all the rest of it4 ,she's an eye to business though1 has the ,mater6 ,mr4 ,colville had asked her to get up a concert in aid of something or other1 ,i don't know what it's for6 ,the new ,vicar's as bad as the old one for wanting money1 and the ,mater's perpetually raising the wind for the parish with entertainments4 ,she's worked all her local stars rather hard1 so you can imagine she pounced upon anybody new1 and got them to promise about half the programme4 ,she came back purring4 ,there was the other half of the programme1 though1 to be fixed up4 ,the ,girl ,guides had learnt a dialogue1 so she said they might as well act it1 and she had the posters printed and sent the school children round selling tickets4 ,well8 said ,mavis1 as ,tudor paused for breath4 ,i'm coming to the point fast enough6 ,it seems the principal characters in the dialogue are three sisters1 and yesterday one of them developed measles6 ,the other two are contact cases and1 of course1 they're not allowed on the boards4 ,you can't act ',hamlet' without the ,prince of ,denmark and ,ophelia and ,polonius6 ,it's the same business here4 ,the dialogue has collapsed like a pricked balloon6 ,have they no understudies8 ,never heard of such things1 and say it would take them six weeks to train any one else in the parts1 besides which the others say they wouldn't dream of doing it without ,gertie and ,florrie or whatever their names are4 ,the ,mater sprinted round the village trying to fill up her empty programme but all her stars were huffy because they hadn't been asked before1 and they said they had colds or they wanted to go to their grandmothers' funerals1 or some such excuse4 ,back comes the ,mater almost in tears and says she really doesn't know whatever she's going to do about it1 and there never was such a fiasco1 etc4 ,then ,babbie suggested ',send for ,mavis and ,merle1 they'll help you out4' ,mother jumped to it like a drowning man at a rope4 ,so ,i trotted off immediately after breakfast to ask if you'll come to the rescue4 ,o-o-h6 ,but when is the concert8 ,to-night at #g prompt4 ,great ,scott6 ,we can't6 ,yes1 you can6 ,any of those impromptu things you give will simply delight people4 ,they've paid their shillings and their sixpences to see some acting and they don't mind what it's like so long as it makes them laugh and they get their money's worth4 ,the ,mater'll send the car over for you after lunch and she'll put you up for the night--you1 ,talland1 too1 and you1 nodding to ,clive4 ,be sporting1 all of you1 and come6 ,could we possibly get through the thing we did last night8 hesitated ,mavis1 looking at the others4 ,let's try1 decided ,merle4 ,it's all gag1 ,tudor1 and if we get stage fright and can't go on we shall just have to walk off1 that's how it is4 ,you won't do that6 ,i say1 you know1 it's most awfully kind of you6 ,the ,mater will be so relieved4 ,she'd have written a note but there was some other hitch about the refreshments and she was interviewing the schoolmaster4 ,shall we send the car at three8 ,then ,i'd better hurry home now and set the ,mater's mind at rest4 ,wait1 ,tudor6 ,we haven't asked ,mother yet4 ,oh1 didn't ,i tell you8 ,i met ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,ramsay in your car and stopped them1 and they both said ',go1 by all means4' ,well1 we've let ourselves in for something6 exclaimed ,mavis as ,tudor rode away on ,armorelle4 ,it was your fault1 ,merle6 ,no1 it wasn't1 it was yours6 ,i think it will be rather fun6 ,cheer up1 ,bevis6 ,don't look such a scared owl6 ,here's old ,clive absolutely peacocking at the idea4 ,if ,i'm to be ,isabella8 grinned ,clive4 ,of course1 if ,i'm ,augustus6 ,merle--you can't6 ,who says ,i can't8 ,the joke of it will be that nobody'll know4 ,clive and ,i are the same height and really rather alike1 and if we change clothes they'll all think he's ,augustus and ,i'm ,isabella4 ,will anybody recognise me as ,uncle ,cashbags8 groaned ,bevis4 ,not your nearest and dearest4 ,be as gruff as you can1 and limp as you did last night4 ,we're not going to let you off6 ,don't you think it6 ,why1 we couldn't possibly do the piece without you6 ,the young people1 ostensibly for the entertainment of their elders1 but largely for the amusement of themselves1 had been acting in the evenings to an audience of ,aunt ,nellie1 ,uncle ,david1 and ,father and ,mother4 ,their last performance had really been so successful that they felt they might venture to give it in so great an emergency4 ,they began at once to pack their various properties4 ,rather a score to be asked to appear on a public platform6 ,i wish ,miss ,mitchell could be there to see us6 triumphed ,merle4 ,the joke is that ,i don't believe ,chagmouth people will recognise any of us1 said ,mavis1 hunting for a pair of spectacles she had mislaid4 ,i'm going to bargain that our names aren't announced beforehand4 ,right-o6 ,the audience can imagine we're a ,london ,company on tour in the provinces1 or anything else they like4 ,they'll think far more of us if they don't know who we are till afterwards4 ,tudor mustn't give us away6 ,,chapter ,,ix ,facing the ,footlights ,the big five-seater car came punctually at three and conveyed the young people and all their belongings to ,the ,warren1 where their arrival caused much satisfaction4 ,you've saved us from a most awkward predicament1 declared ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams4 ,i hardly know how to thank you4 ,wasn't it clever of ,babbie to think of it8 ,we've never forgotten how you did a scene here once6 said ,tudor4 ,couldn't do it myself to save my life6 ,and ,gwen says the same4 ,oh1 here she is6 ,i was looking for you1 ,gwen6 ,here are the ,ramsays1 and ,talland4 ,the ,gwen who advanced to shake hands was so different from their old acquaintance that the girls felt they scarcely would have recognised her4 ,she did her hair in a new fashion1 and was wonderfully grown-up1 and even more patronising than formerly4 ,she said a languid ,how d'you do1 then left ,babbie to entertain them1 which the latter did with enthusiasm1 for she was fond of ,mavis and ,merle4 ,i expect you're thinking of all the improvements you'll make here when you come of age8 said ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams1 trying to be pleasant to ,bevis over the tea-cups4 ,it's a nice place1 and will really look very well when it's been redecorated4 ,you'll have to do it up for your bride1 won't you8 ,at which joke ,bevis blushed crimson and dropped his cake on the carpet1 to his own confusion and the delight of the fox-terrier ,jim1 who thought it was done for his especial benefit1 and promptly swallowed the piece1 icing and all4 ,i don't want to hurry you to turn out1 protested ,bevis shyly4 ,oh1 we shall have ,bodoran ,hall ready by that time4 ,we were there last week looking at the new building4 ,the workmen are really beginning to get on with it at last4 ,you'll have to build fresh stables here1 ,talland1 if you mean to do any decent hunting1 advised ,tudor airily4 ,if ,i were you ,i'd get those lawyers to start them at once1 then they'd be ready when you want them4 ,i suppose you will hunt8 ,i'm not sure yet what ,i mean to do1 replied ,bevis guardedly4 ,he did not like so much catechism about his future plans4 ,in the old days of his poverty he had never admired the ,glyn ,williams' ideals of life1 and he had no wish to mould himself upon their standards4 ,the sporting landlord1 with a horizon bounded by the local meet or a county ball1 was a type that did not appeal to him1 and he saw no reason why he should be forced by a spurious public opinion into lines that were uncongenial4 ,though on the surface he and ,tudor were friends1 at bottom the old antagonism existed as in the days when they had quarrelled on the cliffs near ,blackthorn ,bower4 ,it was only to please ,mavis and ,merle that he had accepted this invitation to ,the ,warren1 where he found himself in the peculiar position of being patronised in his own house4 ,with ,bevis rather gloomy and restrained1 ,tudor slightly aggressive1 and ,gwen too fashionable to trouble to entertain her old friends1 matters were not as exhilarating as they might have been1 and everybody seemed relieved when it was time to walk down to the ,institute4 ,i suppose ,i shall have to go6 yawned ,gwen4 ,these village concerts of ,mother's are such a nuisance6 ,why can't the people get up their own instead of always expecting her to bother with them6 ,i don't want to hear ,miss ,smith and ,miss ,brown and ,miss ,robinson6 ,it bores me stiff4 ,not very polite of her when we are going to act6 whispered ,merle to ,mavis as they put on their hats4 ,it certainly isn't6 ,but ,gwen's always like this4 ,i vote we try not to mind1 returned ,mavis heroically4 ,the entertainment was to be given in the local ,institute1 which was fitted with a platform and curtain1 but otherwise held no great facilities for theatricals4 ,a large and very unruly crowd of young people were outside waiting for admission1 and through these our party had to push their way to a side entrance4 ,at the back of the platform great confusion raged4 ,the whole of the ,castleton family seemed to be trying to dress one another among a rich jumble of costumes1 while ,mr4 ,castleton1 altering the poses in his tableaux at the eleventh hour1 kept sending messengers home to his studio for articles which he had forgotten4 ,the pantry's the only place for the ,ladies' ,dressing-,room1 and it's full of tea-cups6 said ,beata1 kneeling on the floor to button ,lilith into a mediaeval robe that reached to her toes4 ,tea-cups or no tea-cups1 ,i'll have to use it6 said ,merle4 ,come with us1 ,romola1 and mount guard over the door while we change4 ,i'm not going to have all the parish popping in4 ,how sublime you look6 ,very hot and uncomfortable6 sighed ,romola4 ,i'd put on the blue costume and then ,dad suddenly altered the whole tableau and made me get into this instead4 ,wasn't it tiresome of him8 ,now he's fussing about and ,i know we shall be late6 ,we always are6 ,so shall we be if we don't hurry up4 ,have you got the right bag1 ,mavis8 ,oh1 here are some of ,bevis's things6 ,i must rush out and give them to him before we begin4 ,dressing in a pantry full of tea-cups1 by the aid of candles and a hand- mirror1 was not at all an easy performance1 but the girls did their best for one another and were pleased with the result4 ,as soon as they were ready they went to help ,bevis and ,clive1 who needed much assistance1 and were beginning to suffer from stage-fright4 ,i was a silly owl to let myself in for it6 groaned the former4 ,i expect ,i'll forget every word ,i ought to say and disgrace myself6 ,you'll do nothing of the sort6 declared ,merle firmly4 ,if you could act it last night you can act it to-night1 so don't be ridiculous4 ,you've just got to--there6 ,all right1 ,soeurette6 ,don't get baity6 ,i won't let you down if ,i can help it6 ,the audience by this time had been admitted1 and had surged into the room and struggled for seats1 slightly restrained by the boy scouts1 who were acting as stewards1 and who vigorously turned out the rank and file if they invaded the reserved benches4 ,the noise was tremendous1 everybody was talking1 and rough lads at the back were indulging in whistling and an occasional cat-call4 ,the tickets have gone well1 at any rate1 said ,nan ,colville1 who was helping in one of the tableaux4 ,it's something to have the room full1 ,dad says6 ,but just listen to them6 ,aren't they rowdy8 ,if everybody's ready we really must begin6 declared the ,vicar1 making a hurried visit behind the scenes4 ,i don't think they'll wait any longer4 ,furious stamping from the audience endorsed his words1 so ,mr4 ,castleton1 who had contemplated yet another alteration1 was obliged to be content and allow the curtain to go up4 ,the scene was 'the first meeting of ,dante and ,beatrice1' and was a charming presentment of mediaeval ,italy4 ,constable1 robed in pale green velvet with a ,florentine cap on his picturesque curls1 made a very glorified representation of the youthful poet1 while ,lilith1 in the traditional red dress described in the ,vita ,nuova1 looked ethereal enough to inspire a lifelong devotion and whole volumes of poems4 ,the rest of the ,castleton family1 and a few friends1 were grouped as relations and nobles1 in some of the richest dresses of the studio1 and made a very brave show1 evoking much applause4 ,it was years since the villagers had seen ',living ,pictures1' and this was superior to anything of the sort given before4 ,without the ,castletons the entertainment would have been almost non-existent4 ,they provided the greater half of the programme4 ,they were so accustomed to posing as models that they took most graceful positions in the tableaux1 and preserved their postures admirably without moving so much as a finger4 ,they included ,babbie in a scene from ,the ,vicar of ,wakefield1 and she made a dear little ',sophia' in muslin dress and mob cap1 hugely to her mother's satisfaction4 ,morland1 who was at home for ,christmas1 gave two piano solos1 and though his beautiful artistic playing was much above the heads of most of the audience1 there were some who were musical enough to enjoy it4 ,everybody appreciated ,claudia's songs4 ,her voice was of a rare quality1 and even the rough lads at the back of the room stopped 'ragging' and listened in silence4 ,it was very highly trained singing1 but held that divine throb of passion which uses art as the instrument of nature1 and united the correctness of a musician with the spontaneous carolling of a bird4 ,with youth and so pretty a face added to her talent it was no wonder that ,claudia had an ovation4 ,i'm not supposed to sing anywhere in public till ,i've finished with the college1 she announced behind the scenes4 ,signor ,arezzo would be simply furious if he knew4 ,he's a terrible ,turk about it4 ,i don't see how he's going to get to hear about it though6 ,i shan't tell him myself1 you may be sure4 ,fay1 who had considerable skill at elocution1 gave a most amusing recitation1 to which ,morland played a very soft and subdued accompaniment on the piano1 and for the encore that followed she repeated some quaint poems of ,american child-life1 which were such a success that the ,vicar mentally voted her a discovery1 and decided to ask her to help the programme on future occasions4 ,it was now the turn of our party from ,durracombe1 who were trying to keep up one another's spirits behind the scenes4 ,the audience1 owing to long sitting still1 was growing a little obstreperous4 ,the chairman had to keep constantly ringing a bell and reminding people to be quiet4 ,the noise at the back waxed so violent that his voice could hardly be heard1 and the occupants of the front seats had to turn round and shout1 ',order6' ',you'll be turned out6' before the delinquents preserved a decent hush4 ,the little piece evolved by ,mavis and ,merle was entitled3 ,a ,rich ,relation4 ,the first scene disclosed ,mrs4 ,hardup1 a widow lady1 lamenting her lack of means1 and regretting that her son1 ,augustus1 should have engaged himself to ,isabella1 a charming but utterly impecunious damsel4 ,she cheered up1 however1 when the young people came in bearing a letter2 for it was from ,uncle ,cashbags1 their rich relation1 announcing that he was coming that very day to have lunch with them4 ,mavis1 as the diplomatic widow1 with grey hair and tortoise-shell-rimmed spectacles1 looked at least fifty1 and preserved her disguise admirably4 ,as for ,merle1 not a soul in the audience would have recognised her as ,augustus4 ,she wore ,clive's ,eton suit and overcoat1 had a brown wig and a moustache1 and affected a deep-toned fashionable drawl4 ,clive1 arrayed in some of ,mrs4 ,ramsay's garments1 with a hat and veil and a fur1 looked a thorough member of the smart set and acted the most modern of modern damsels4 ,he entered1 affectionately leaning on the arm of ,augustus1 and almost embarrassed that youth by his attentions4 ,bevis1 as ,uncle ,cashbags1 with white hair1 long beard1 false eyebrows1 and a gouty foot1 came limping on to the stage1 and was received with effusion by the widow and ,augustus1 and especially by ,isabella1 who was a minx1 and set herself to captivate the old gentleman4 ,in vain the luckless ,augustus tried to ingratiate himself with his rich relation2 he was unfortunate enough to tumble over the gouty leg and make several other most exasperating mistakes1 which ended in ,uncle ,cashbags wrathfully repudiating him as his heir1 and announcing his intention of marrying ,isabella himself1 finally hobbling away with the fair and faithless damsel clinging fondly to his arm and blowing a good-bye kiss to her former fianc4 ,mischievous ,clive was in his element1 and played the part with such tremendous zeal that the audience1 who had not yet grasped his youth and his sex1 watched his manoeuvres breathlessly1 and several old ladies looked quite scandalised and disapproving4 ,it was only when called before the curtain that1 at a whisper from ,mavis1 he pulled off hat and veil1 revealing his unmistakably boyish head1 whereupon a great shout of laughter arose from the benches and a perfect storm of applause4 ,it has been capital6 ,capital6 said ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams4 ,one of the best entertainments we've ever had at the ,institute6 ,didn't ,babbie look sweet as ',sophia'8 ,we must have some more tableaux another time4 ,gwen1 you ought to have been in too6 ,the ,castletons were splendid6 ,such a number of nice young people here6 ,we ought to have a little dance4 ,they must all come up to ,the ,warren to-morrow evening1 and we'll clear the drawing-room4 ,i'll telephone to ,dr4 ,tremayne and say ,i'm keeping you four till ,friday4 ,your dresses8 ,oh1 we'll send over for them4 ,i'm sure your ,mother won't mind your staying6 ,there was no possibility of refusal1 for ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams had quite settled the matter1 and invited the ,castletons and the ,macleods and the ,colvilles and several other people on the spot4 ,the ,ramsays1 who had made plans of their own for the following evening1 felt a little caught1 especially as ,bevis looked glum and reproachful4 ,how could you8 he said to ,mavis in an agonized whisper4 ,how could ,i help it8 ,we were shot sitting1 murmured ,merle4 ,cheer up1 ,bevis6 ,a dance is a dance1 anyway4 ,i hope ,i haven't spoilt ,clive's ,etons for him6 ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams really meant to be very kind and to give the young people pleasure1 and if ,bevis did not entirely appreciate her hospitality it was no doubt his own fault4 ,the fact was that the snubs which he had received as ,bevis ,hunter still rankled1 and though as ,bevis ,talland he was on a very different footing1 he found it difficult entirely to forget all that had gone before4 ,i was exactly the same as ,i am now1 but no one would notice me till ,i came into the estate--except you and ,merle6 he said once rather bitterly to ,mavis4 ,i sometimes feel their friendship is hardly worth having6 ,it's the way of the world1 and you have to take people just as they are1 she replied4 ,it's no use keeping up ill-feeling1 ,bevis4 ,if they hold out the olive branch1 it's more gracious to accept it1 isn't it8 ,oh1 ,i'll behave myself6 ,but all the same1 ,i discriminate between my old friends and my new acquaintances2 ,i'd rather not call them by the name of friends6 ,there were great preparations next day at ,the ,warren4 ,the furniture was carried out of the drawing-room1 the parquet floor was polished1 and ,chinese lanterns were hung up in the conservatory1 and the cook was busy preparing light refreshments4 ,it was a pretty house for a dance1 and looked very gay and festive with its ,christmas decorations of holly and ivy1 and its blazing fire of logs in the hall4 ,mavis's and ,merle's party dresses duly arrived1 and they made careful toilets1 coming downstairs shyly1 to feel a little in the shade by the side of ,gwen the magnificent1 who1 alack6 was trying to copy the up-to-date manners of some of her new school friends1 with rather unhappy results4 ,perhaps kind little ,babbie noticed the ,ramsays' embarrassment1 for she went to them at once to give them their programmes4 ,how nice you look6 she said4 ,isn't it always a horrid time1 just when every one is arriving8 ,it's ever so much nicer when the first dance has started6 ,there were a great many people present whom ,mavis and ,merle did not know4 ,some of these were introduced by ,tudor1 and asked for dances1 and very soon the sisters were separated and gliding over the polished floor with partners4 ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams1 having welcomed the young guests1 retired to a sofa for a chat with some other dowagers1 and left them to fill up their programmes as they liked4 ,there were far more ladies present than gentlemen1 so it was a case of girls dancing with one another4 ,merle readily whisked away with ,tattie1 or ,nan1 or ,lizzie1 but shy ,mavis1 after the first two-step1 stood in a corner unnoticed4 ,gwen was enjoying herself very much with the pick of the partners1 ,beata and ,romola floated by together1 and ,clive was carefully performing his steps in company with a much amused married lady4 ,mavis acted wallflower for several dances1 feeling considerably out of it1 till ,bevis's voice sounded suddenly in her ear4 ,why1 here you are6 ,i've been looking for you everywhere6 ,how many dances can you give me8 ,i've kept my programme as free as ,i could till ,i found you4 ,i thought the pixies must have spirited you away6 ,what did you say8 ,i ought to ask ,gwen8 ,it isn't necessary in the least4 ,you know ,i'm a duffer at it1 and ,i should probably tread on her toes and she'd hate me for evermore4 ,may ,i have these four8 ,give half to ,merle6 ,soeurette's perfectly happy with the kids6 ,if you won't let me have them ,i won't dance at all4 ,i'll hide in the conservatory1 or run away into the garden4 ,you promised to be my teacher6 ,so ,i will1 but ,i feel ,i mustn't monopolise you4 ,oh1 dear6 ,well1 if you've written them down ,i suppose it will have to be6 ,may ,i have the pleasure1 ,miss ,ramsay8 twinkled ,bevis1 offering his arm4 ,thanks very much6 ,you may6 laughed ,mavis4 ,i'm always glad when ,i get my own way6 chuckled ,bevis1 as they started a valse4 ,three of the dances which ,bevis had appropriated on ,mavis's programme came in succession1 and as their steps went well together they thoroughly enjoyed themselves4 ,at the close of the third they were walking into the hall to get lemonade when ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams smilingly stopped them4 ,i want to introduce you to some fresh partners4 ,there are plenty of people anxious to know you6 she said to ,bevis archly4 ,then1 tapping ,mavis with her fan1 she continued1 laughing1 ,naughty girl6 ,you mustn't keep him all to yourself6 ,i really can't6 allow it6 ,poor ,mavis blushed magenta1 and stood aside while her hostess whisked the unwilling ,bevis away and remorselessly fixed up the rest of his programme for him4 ,she did not attempt to find a partner for ,mavis1 who was too overwhelmed with confusion to care to dance even with ,lizzie ,colville1 and who backed towards the piano and began to turn over the music4 ,inwardly ,mavis was raging1 though she had sufficient pride to preserve an outward calm4 ,if there's anything here you know ,i'd be grateful if you could play it and give me a rest1 my hands are so stiff1 said ,mrs4 ,colville1 who had volunteered to act as pianist for the evening4 ,i'll try with pleasure6 answered ,mavis1 taking her place4 ,she was glad to have an excuse for not dancing4 ,she only wished she could have run away from ,the ,warren and gone straight home and poured out her troubles to her mother4 ,the ,glyn ,williams had cut ,bevis in the old days and poured scorn on the ,ramsays for knowing him1 and it seemed too bad that their present hospitality to him should still be a subject for blame4 ,mavis's pride kept her at the piano all the rest of the evening4 ,she was a good reader1 and assured ,mrs4 ,colville that she liked playing4 ,she shook her head when ,bevis came for his fourth dance4 ,please get another partner6 ,i'm busy here6 ,mrs4 ,glyn ,williams will find you somebody6 ,whereupon ,bevis1 muttering very uncomplimentary remarks about his hostess under his breath1 deliberately passed by several eligible wallflowers1 chose out the youngest child in the room1 and led her off in a valse4 ,merle1 who was still an absolute schoolgirl and revelled in anything in the nature of a party1 enjoyed her evening supremely4 ,mavis was very glad when it was all over and she was quiet in bed4 ,some new element seemed to have entered to-night into her old happy world and to have rubbed the bloom off her innocent friendship with ,bevis4 ,it was so jolly in the old days when we hunted for primroses and had picnics in ,blackthorn ,bower6 she thought4 ,it's not ourselves who have changed1 but other people who won't allow us to be the same4 ,why couldn't things go on as they were8 ,if this is society ,i don't like it6 ,oh1 dear6 ,i wish we could always stay exactly as we are and never grow up at all6 ,,chapter ,x ,the ,mumps ,when the ,christmas holidays were over1 a very important decision was arrived at with regard to ,clive4 ,for many reasons his parents considered his preparatory school too strenuous for him1 and1 as he had considerably outgrown his strength1 it was arranged to allow him to miss the spring term and to stay at ,durracombe until ,easter4 ,he was to go every morning to the ,vicarage for private lessons from ,mr4 ,carey1 and he was to be out of doors as much as possible1 drink plenty of milk1 and try1 as his grandfather expressed it1 to 'put on flesh4' ,master ,clive himself was only too well content to have what he justly considered a continuation of his holidays4 ,he did not mean to be too clever over his lessons at the ,vicarage1 and1 indeed1 he planned to make a little work go a long way4 ,being out of doors as much as possible suited him exactly4 ,he strutted about ,durracombe1 with a rolling naval walk1 making friends with everybody1 and telling them he had quite determined to go to sea and become an ,admiral4 ,he went out motoring with his grandfather or ,dr4 ,ramsay1 and he spent a considerable portion of time with ,tom1 the old gardener1 who was long-suffering in many ways1 though roused to wrath by any injury to his young bedding-out plants4 ,mrs4 ,ramsay 'mothered' ,clive1 feeling it was some return for the kindness which ,uncle ,david had shown to her own girls4 ,she grew fond of the young scapegrace and covered his escapades as far as possible1 so as not to alarm nervous ,aunt ,nellie1 who would have been much perturbed at some of her grandson's reckless performances4 ,there was no harm about ,clive2 he was simply a young1 restless1 fast- growing boy1 who constantly wanted fresh outlets for his energies4 ,he loved to tease his cousins1 but met his match in ,merle1 who generally turned the tables and carried the war into the enemy's camp4 ,when they were not sparring or playing jokes upon one another1 the two were firm allies4 ,merle had always wished for a brother1 and lively ,clive was a companion after her own heart4 ,mrs4 ,ramsay1 indeed1 complained that her younger daughter was becoming an utter tomboy1 but she was glad for the two to be together1 as she could trust ,merle not to allow her cousin to go too far1 and to keep him from endangering either his own limbs or the safety and comfort of other people4 ,the ,spring term had advanced only a few weeks when a most untoward thing happened4 ,merle got mumps6 ,how she picked them up nobody knew1 but1 as mother said1 in a doctor's house you may always be prepared to catch anything1 and it was a marvel the children had had so few complaints4 ,merle was not really very ill1 but her face and neck were swollen and painful1 and1 worst of all1 she was considered in a highly infectious condition and was carefully isolated in a top bedroom4 ,neither ,mavis nor ,clive had had mumps1 and it was hoped they might escape1 though as they had been with ,merle the germs might still be incubating4 ,mavis was1 of course1 not allowed to go to ',the ,moorings1' and ,clive was debarred from his lessons at ,the ,vicarage1 and they had to preserve a species of quarantine1 equally trying to them both1 for at ,dr4 ,tremayne's suggestion ,mavis turned temporary governess to ,clive and coached him in several subjects in which he was deficient4 ,the young rascal1 highly aggrieved at this unexpected tuition1 took liberties with his gentle cousin which he would not have dared to take with ,mr4 ,carey1 and extracted as much fun as possible from his studies4 ,mavis was quite sure he made mistakes on purpose1 and pretended to be stupid in order to reduce the standard of what was required1 but the main object was to keep him quiet and out of mischief1 and her teaching served that end at any rate4 ,i wouldn't be a mistress in a boys' preparatory school if they offered me a thousand a year6 she told ,mother4 ,i'd rather clean doorsteps1 or sew buttons on shirts at a farthing a dozen1 or sell watercress1 or wash dishes in a restaurant6 ,nonsense6 ,it's not so bad as all that1 surely6 laughed ,mrs4 ,ramsay4 ,if you knew how the little wretch rags me6 ,i only wish it was ,merle who had to teach him and that ,i had the mumps instead4 ,it must be nice and quite comfortable by the fire upstairs6 ,merle1 however1 did not at all appreciate the privilege of being ill and confined to one room4 ,she was not so fond of indoor amusements as her sister1 and soon tired of reading and drawing and games of patience4 ,her great grievance was that she was left so much alone4 ,mrs4 ,ramsay had to attend to ,aunt ,nellie1 to answer the telephone1 and to interview patients who came while the doctors were out and to take their messages1 as well as to do the housekeeping1 so she was kept constantly busy and had not much time to sit upstairs with ,merle4 ,dr4 ,tremayne and her father paid her flying visits1 but these were too short to content her4 ,what's five minutes out of a long day8 she asked4 ,it's too bad6 ,when ,mavis used to have bronchitis we all almost lived in her bedroom4 ,nobody makes the least fuss about me6 ,you don't even look decently sorry or very sympathetic6 ,you come smiling in as if mumps were a sort of joke4 ,it isn't a smiling matter to me1 ,i can tell you4 ,i'm fed up with them6 ,poor old lady6 ,it's a shame to laugh at your big face6 ,shall ,i cry instead8 said ,father4 ,it wouldn't seem quite so heartless6 retorted his indignant patient4 ,next day ,merle received a letter1 which was pushed under the door4 ,it was all in rhyme1 and as it was in ,dr4 ,ramsay's handwriting she concluded that her father must have sat up late the night before courting the muse of poetry4 ,his verses ran as follows3 ,,merle ,,with ,,mumps ,when ,merle was suffering from the mumps ,she felt most down and in the dumps2 ,her friends1 to cheer her up the while1 ,laughed at her face to make her smile4 ,but eyeing with reproach her folk ,she told them 'twas a sorry joke4 ,hard-hearted wretches1 so she cried1 ,to jeer while here upstairs ,i bide6 ,having no bad intent to tease her1 ,but wishing only just to please her1 ,her family then ceased their jeers ,and showed their sympathy in tears4 ,her mother1 who her pillow set1 ,dropped tears and made the room quite wet1 ,and gurgled forth1 ,alack-a-day1 ,that here upstairs with mumps you stay6 ,her uncle just outside the door ,sobbed till his chest was hoarse and sore1 ,and1 swallowing in his throat some lumps1 ,he mourned1 ,my ,niece has got the mumps ,the maids who came her plight to see ,splashed tears in cups of milk or tea2 ,the room it grew so very damp ,her limbs began to feel the cramp4 ,her father to her chamber crept1 ,and lifted up his voice and wept2 ,with kerchief of capacious size ,he stood and groaned and mopped his eyes4 ,so big the tears that from him fell ,they were enough to make a well1 ,and1 standing in a pool of water1 ,he sighed1 ,alack6 my mumpsy daughter6 ,stop6 ,stop6 cried ,merle1 ,o don't be sad6 ,these waterworks will drive me mad6 ,good gracious1 how ,i wish you'd smile ,instead of weeping all the while6 ,cheer up1 for goodness' sake1 ,i pray1 ,and treat me in your usual way4 ,no more ,i'll call you hearts of leather1 ,in spite of mumps we'll laugh together6 ,perhaps the family thought they had not done enough to relieve the tedium of ,merle's banishment2 at any rate they set to work and made great efforts to amuse her4 ,mavis sketched her portrait1 adding wings and a halo1 and printed underneath ,saint ,merle suffering her ,martyrdom4 ,mother clicked away on the typewriter1 and deposited a document in her daughter's room1 which claimed to be3 ,extract from ,the ,durracombe and ,devon ,times ,,society ,,gossip ,it is with sincere regret that we record the indisposition of that leader of our local social life1 ,miss ,merle ,ramsay4 ,well known for her dramatic talent1 she lately acted the part of principal boy at an important performance held in ,chagmouth1 the ,metropolis of the ,west4 ,her audience1 which included some of the most celebrated critics and press representatives of the neighbourhood1 was unanimous in acknowledging her spirited conception of what was certainly a difficult and delicate role1 which1 in less skilled hands than hers1 might have degenerated into buffoonery or sheer melodrama4 ,she was greatly to be congratulated on her achievement1 and it is hoped this is not the last time she will appear on the boards and give ,devon audiences the opportunity of enjoying her rare humour4 ,it may be noted that1 in addition to her powers of dramatic representation1 ,miss ,ramsay has no mean record in the world of sport4 ,her athletic proclivities are marked1 and she has the distinguished honour of being president of the ,games ,club at that great west country centre of education ',the ,moorings4' ,among her many activities ,miss ,ramsay numbers a facility in music and an affection for horticulture2 she has travelled much in the immediate neighbourhood of ,durracombe1 and her favourite hobby is motoring4 ,miss ,ramsay1 who through the nature of her indisposition was unable to afford our press representative a personal interview1 sent messages of thanks for the local sympathy expressed for her condition4 ,it is a matter of much gratification to me to know that ,i am missed1 were her words2 ,i trust soon to be back at work and to be able to fulfil my many engagements4 ,at the request of the local ,entertainments ,committee we are asked to state that1 owing to the absence of their most prominent member1 no further performances will be given for the present4 ,we wish ,miss ,ramsay a speedy return to health4 ,merle laughed very much over these literary effusions1 and they certainly had the effect of cheering her up4 ,what she pined for chiefly1 however1 was company4 ,she had a very sociable disposition and hated to be alone4 ,she particularly missed ,clive1 who had grown to be her best playfellow4 ,she begged for the dog or the cat to share her solitude1 but that was strictly forbidden on the ground that they might be germ-carriers and convey the mumps to others4 ,one day she was sitting at her table trying to amuse herself with an everlasting game of patience1 when she suddenly heard peculiar noises on the roof above4 ,there was a scraping and bumping1 as if an eagle or some other enormous bird had alighted there4 ,the sounds continued till at last there was a thump on the skylight and ,clive's mischievous face appeared grinning down at her4 ,immensely thrilled she lifted the window1 and he crawled farther along and thrust his head through4 ,hello1 old girl6 ,how are you getting on8 ,i say6 ,you do look rather a sight6 ,i wanted to have a squint at you6 ,are you going to have your photo taken8 ,don't be a young beast6 ,how did you get up here8 ,they're repainting the house next door1 so ,i took ,french leave and borrowed the tall ladder4 ,i've had rather a business clambering about till ,i found your window4 ,i say1 does your face hurt8 ,not much now1 but it did at first4 ,you look like the picture of the fat woman at a fair6 ,wait till you get it yourself1 and then ,i'll jeer4 ,i'm awfully sorry for you6 ,look here1 ,i've brought you some toffee4 ,can you catch it if ,i throw it down8 ,i've finished that boat we were making4 ,tom helped me4 ,mavis is hemming some sails2 then ,i'm going to try it on the reservoir4 ,i wish you could come with me6 ,so do ,i1 said the patient dolefully4 ,but that's out of the question4 ,don't you think you ought to be going back8 ,suppose somebody takes away the ladder6 ,i'd drop down into your room then4 ,and catch the mumps8 ,shouldn't much care if it meant missing my lessons6 ,i can hear somebody coming upstairs6 ,i'll be off then4 ,ta-ta6 ,you're not exactly beautiful1 but on the whole you don't look so bad as ,i expected4 ,you needn't tell anybody ,i came6 ,bye-bye6 ,on the #adth of ,february ,merle was still a prisoner4 ,she had almost forgotten there was such a saint as ,st4 ,valentine1 so it came as a great surprise to find certain mysterious parcels brought up on her breakfast tray4 ,there were flowers and a packet of chocolates1 and a new game of solitaire1 and an amusing little mascot dog with a movable head4 ,it was almost like having a birthday4 ,on the top of the parcels was an envelope addressed in a disguised handwriting4 ,it contained a sheet of pink paper bearing the picture of a heart pierced by an arrow1 while ,cupid drew his bow in the distance4 ,underneath was written3 ,sweet ,merle1 of ,durracombe the belle1 ,accept this heart that loves you well3 ,a heart most tender1 kind1 and true1 ,that lives and beats for only you6 ',twere cruel in this faithful heart ,to plant and fix so big a dart1 ,so heal its wound ,i beg and pray1 ,and be my ,,valentine to-day6 ,the sender1 as is usual in valentines1 remained anonymous1 and ,merle could only guess at the authorship1 though she had strong suspicions of ,daddy and taxed him with it4 ,st4 ,valentine never lets out secrets6 he twinkled4 ,he's a most discreet old gentleman4 ,people don't make as much use of him as formerly4 ,very foolish of them1 for he came in extremely handy4 ,it's a pity to let good old customs drop4 ,a ,st4 ,valentine revival society might be rather a good idea4 ,by the by1 that heart isn't anatomically correct6 ,it looks more like a specimen from a butcher's shop than the human variety6 ,don't be horrid6 laughed ,merle4 ,you can't expect ,cupid to know the difference6 ,he's sent me some nice things4 ,aren't there any more saints in the calendar who bring presents8 ,what's the next red-letter day8 ,nothing till ,shrove ,tuesday1 my dear1 and by that time1 ,i hope1 you'll be downstairs again1 and eating your pancakes with the rest of the family4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,bamberton ,ferry ,miss ,pollard was extremely nervous on the subject of the mumps4 ,she insisted upon waiting until long after the usual period of disinfection before she would allow ,mavis and ,merle to return to ',the ,moorings4' ,one can't be too careful6 she fluttered4 ,i know in a doctor's house they are apt sometimes to take these things too lightly4 ,it's far better not to run any risks4 ,as ,merle had a medical certificate of complete recovery1 and neither ,mavis nor ,clive had developed the complaint1 there was now no reason for keeping the girls away from school1 and one ,monday morning they were received back into the fold4 ,they had lost a considerable amount of ground in regard to their lessons1 and had to work hard to try to make up for the weeks that were missed4 ,at hockey1 too1 ,merle found her teams were slack4 ,it needed much urging to persuade them to play a really sporting game4 ,i daren't fix a match yet with any other school1 she assured them4 ,we should only be beaten hollow1 and it's no use playing if we have no chance to win4 ,you must all buck up and get more into the swing of things4 ,perhaps next season we shall be a stronger team4 ,if we never play matches we shall never improve1 objected ,sybil1 who was anxious to accept the challenge of the ,beverton ,county ,school4 ,we've got the credit of ',the ,moorings' to think about6 snapped ,merle4 ,you wouldn't like them to go home crowing they'd absolutely wiped us off the face of the earth8 ,i've had a little experience in matches and ,i know what ,i'm talking about4 ,it would be downright silly to give ourselves away4 ,sybil was rather a thorn in ,merle's side4 ,she had come from another boarding-school1 and on the strength of this experience thought she had the right to become at once a leader at ',the ,moorings4' ,she was very disgusted not to be in any position of authority1 and consoled herself by continual criticism of the monitresses1 particularly ,merle1 with whom she was always sparring4 ,she was a curious character1 all precept but not much practice4 ,she loved to give good advice and to lay down the law1 and was rather priggish in bringing out moral maxims for the benefit of others4 ,she had a tremendous sense of her own importance and what was due to her1 and was very ready to consider herself overlooked1 or neglected1 or misunderstood4 ,look here6 said ,merle bluntly one day4 ,why1 ,i ask1 why should people be expected to make such a fuss over you8 ,i don't wonder you're neglected6 ,i'd neglect you myself6 ,and serve you jolly well right too6 ,whereupon ,sybil dissolved into tears1 and confided to her nearest friend that so long as ,merle ,ramsay was monitress she was afraid she would never be happy at ',the ,moorings4' ,poor ,sybil had her good points4 ,she was generous in her own way1 and rather affectionate1 but nature had not endowed her with tact1 and she would go blundering on1 never seeing that she was making mistakes4 ,her very chums soon tired of her and discreetly left her to some one else4 ,i sometimes think she's a little bit dotty6 opined ,nesta4 ,nonsense6 ,she's as sane as you or ,i4 ,it's all swank6 ,i've no particular patience with her6 said ,merle4 ,one particularly aggravating feature of ,sybil was the way she traded upon rather delicate health4 ,there was really nothing much the matter with her1 but she sometimes had slight attacks of faintness1 which1 the girls declared1 always came on when she thought she could be a subject of interest4 ,she liked to extract sympathy from ,miss ,mitchell1 or to arouse ,miss ,pollard's anxiety4 ,moreover1 it was often a very good excuse for slacking off in her preparation or her practising4 ,one afternoon ,merle1 coming back to school1 met ,miss ,mitchell by the gate4 ,i was just looking for you6 said the teacher4 ,i've arranged an extra hockey practice at three1 instead of ,english language4 ,will you tell the others8 ,this was excellent news4 ,the ,fifth hated the ,english ,language class1 which consisted mostly of learning strings of horrible derivations1 and to have it cut out for once in favour of hockey was quite an event4 ,merle walked up the drive smirking with satisfaction4 ,by the porch she found ,sybil1 with an ,english language book in one hand1 half-heartedly helping ,miss ,fanny1 who was nailing up creepers4 ,she looked very sorry for herself4 ,i wish you'd hold the ladder1 ,merle6 she sighed1 eager to thrust her duties on to a substitute4 ,i don't feel quite well this afternoon4 ,i get such a faintness4 ,aren't these derivations too awful for anything8 she added sotto voce4 ,i don't believe ,i know one of them4 ,buck up6 whispered ,merle with scant sympathy4 ,it's all very well to say 'buck up'6 ,you don't know what it is to feel faint4 ,you're as strong as a horse4 ,i'm really not fit to stand about6 ,shall ,i ask ,miss ,fanny to let you go in and lie down8 ,i wish you would6 ,i don't like to ask her myself2 it seems making such a fuss4 ,merle proffered the request1 with which ,miss ,fanny1 rather astonished1 complied4 ,certainly1 ,sybil1 if you really are ill6 ,shall ,i give you a dose of sal volatile8 ,no1 thanks6 ,i shall be all right if ,i can just rest on my bed1 answered the plaintive voice4 ,i daresay you'll soon feel better4 ,it's a pity you'll miss the hockey practice1 said ,merle4 ,what hockey practice8 ,miss ,mitchell has just told me to tell everybody4 ,we're to play instead of having ,english language this afternoon4 ,sybil's face was a study4 ,but ,miss ,fanny's eyes were fixed upon her with such a questioning look that she was obliged to preserve her air of faintness and continue to pose as an invalid4 ,there was nothing for it but to go and lie down4 ,as she turned1 however1 she managed to whisper to ,merle3 ,you're the meanest thing on the face of this earth6 ,why couldn't you tell me sooner about the hockey8 ,your own fault entirely6 chuckled ,merle4 ,you nailed me straight away to do your job for you4 ,hope you'll enjoy yourself6 ,yes1 ,miss ,fanny6 ,i'm coming to hold the ladder6 ,i was only opening the door for ,sybil1 she still-feels rather faint6 ,it was about a week after this episode that ,miss ,mitchell1 who was keen on nature study1 took the ,fifth form for a botanical ramble4 ,they started punctually at two o'clock1 so as to be back as soon as possible after four1 on account of ,beata ,castleton and ,fay ,macleod1 who must not keep ,vicary's car waiting4 ,they went off ready for business1 all taking note- books and pencils1 some carrying tin cases1 and some armed with boards with which to press their specimens on the spot4 ,their exodus was rather characteristic1 for ,aubrey was chatting sixteen to the dozen1 ,iva was trying to scoot ahead so as to walk alone with ,kitty ,trefyre1 ,muriel was squabbling with ,merle as to which should appropriate ,miss ,mitchell1 and ,sybil was1 as usual1 seeking for sympathy4 ,i couldn't find my boots6 ,i had to put on my shoes instead1 and the heels are worn down and they're not comfortable1 and ,i shall very likely twist my ankle6 she complained4 ,what would you have done8 ,ought ,i to have gone to ,miss ,pollard and asked her about my boots8 ,and kept everybody waiting8 ,you are the limit6 exclaimed ,merle impatiently4 ,no1 ,i'm not going to hold your case for you while you tie your hair ribbon4 ,you always want to dump your things on to other people4 ,you might carry the camera1 at any rate6 wailed ,sybil4 ,why should ,i8 ,you insisted on bringing it1 though ,i told you it would be a nuisance4 ,it's for your benefit6 ,i'm going to take a group of the whole party4 ,right-o6 ,but don't expect to get the credit and make us carry the camera6 ,you like to do your good deeds so cheaply6 ,really1 ,merle6 ,i'm only telling you a few home truths4 ,no1 ,mavis6 ,i shan't let you load yourself with ,sybil's property6 ,you've got quite enough of your own to lug along6 ,there was keen competition among the girls as to who could find most specimens4 ,they rooted about in hedgerows1 climbed banks1 and made excursions into fields4 ,durracombe was not quite so good a neighbourhood for flowers as ,chagmouth2 still1 they found a fair variety1 and were able to chronicle early blooms of such specimens as the greater stitchwort1 the ground ivy1 and the golden saxifrage4 ,it was a fresh ,march day1 with a wind blowing scudding white clouds across a pale blue sky4 ,rooks were beginning to build1 green foliage showed on the elder trees1 and the elms were flowering4 ,we shall all be pixie-led if we gather the white stitchwort6 said ,mavis4 ,they're the pixies' flowers1 so ,mrs4 ,penruddock told me6 ,it's a very old ,devonshire superstition4 ,is that so8 ,i never heard it before1 said ,miss ,mitchell4 ,i know ever so many of the flowers are supposed to belong to the fairies in various parts of the country4 ,foxgloves are really 'the good folks' gloves1' and they're called fairies' petticoats in ,cheshire1 and fairies' hats in ,ireland4 ,wild flax is always fairy flax1 and harebells are fairy bells4 ,our old nurse used to call funguses pixie stools1 said ,edith ,carey1 and the hollow ones were pixies' baths4 ,she wouldn't let us pick elder1 ,i can't remember why4 ,that's a very old superstition4 ,the 'elder mother' is supposed to live inside the tree1 and to be very angry indeed if any harm is done to it4 ,in the good old days1 people used to ask her permission before they dared to cut down an elder4 ,they knelt on bended knees and prayed3 ,lady ,elder6 ,lady ,elder6 ,give me some of thy wood4 ,there's a story about a man who hadn't the politeness to perform this little ceremony4 ,he made a cradle for his baby out of the elder tree4 ,but the sprite was offended1 and she used to come and pull the baby out of the cradle by its legs1 and pinch it and make it cry1 so that it was quite impossible to leave the poor little thing in the elder cradle1 and they had to weave one of basket-work for it instead4 ,tell us some more fairy lore about the plants6 begged the girls4 ,well1 the ,st4 ,john's wort is called 'the fairies' horse4' ,if you pick it after sunset a fairy horse will rise from the ground and carry you about all night1 leaving you in the morning wherever you may chance to be at sunrise4 ,you know if you keep fern-seed in your pockets you'll have the chance of seeing the pixies4 ,the moonwort is supposed to be a very supernatural plant1 and to have the power of opening locks if you place a leaf of it in the keyhole4 ,no1 ,i've never tried to burgle with it6 ,i've never found any moonwort4 ,it's an exceedingly rare plant now1 and it's not been my luck to come across any4 ,if you're troubled with warts1 you ought to go at sunrise to an ash tree1 stick a pin into the bark1 and say3 ,ashen tree6 ,ashen tree6 ,i pray thee buy these warts of me6 ,then the ash tree would cure you1 that's to say1 if you'd repeated the charm properly6 ,i suppose it was always wise to leave a loophole in case the cure didn't come off6 laughed ,mavis4 ,they had been walking by a footpath across the meadows1 and found themselves in the little village of ,bamberton1 a small place with picturesque cottages close to a river4 ,miss ,mitchell1 who was an enthusiast upon architecture1 marched her party off to view the church1 much to the disgust of several of them4 ,don't want to see mouldy old churches6 ,i'd rather be out of doors6 grumbled ,merle4 ,and there are actually sweet violets growing in a field on the opposite side of the river1 said ,edith1 who knew the neighbourhood4 ,oh1 are there8 ,do let's get some4 ,it'll be too late by the time we've been all round the monuments and read the inscriptions and the rest of it6 ,how long will ,miss ,mitchell stay in the church8 ,a good twenty minutes1 ,i daresay4 ,you can't get her away when she starts talking about architecture4 ,dad took her round our church one day1 and ,i thought she'd never go4 ,tea was getting cold1 but she went on asking questions about windows and pillars and things6 ,then why shouldn't we slip out and run and get the violets while she's inside the church with the others8 ,it was a naughty thing for a monitress to propose1 but even ,sybil1 who happened to overhear1 did not wax moral for the occasion4 ,i'll come with you6 she said eagerly4 ,i'm not at all fond of going round churches1 and looking at monuments4 ,it always makes me wonder if ,i'm going to die young6 ,when ,miss ,mitchell took us to ,templeton ,church and read us the epitaphs1 ,i cried afterwards6 ,there was one about a girl exactly my age4 ',sweet flower1 nipped off in early bloom1' it said1 or something of the sort4 ,don't be so sentimental6 snapped ,merle4 ,but come with us if you like4 ,yes1 you too1 ,beata6 ,but for goodness' sake don't tell any one else or they'll all want to come1 and if the whole lot try to scoot1 it will put a stopper on the thing4 ,we'll wait till the others are inside and then just slide off4 ,mum's the word1 though6 ,it was quite easy to loiter among the tombstones pretending to read the inscriptions1 but the moment ,miss ,mitchell and her audience had safely passed through the porch and opened the big nail-studded door1 the four confederates turned and fled4 ,edith knew a short cut1 and took them between rows of graves1 regardless of ,sybil's protesting shudders1 to a tiny stile that led down an alley to the riverside4 ,here there was a tumbledown wharf1 and an old ferryboat which worked on a chain4 ,years ago a ferryman had had charge of it1 but there was so little traffic that it was no longer worth his while1 so the boat had been left for passengers to use as they liked4 ,it was lying now at the edge of the wharf4 ,the girls1 following ,edith1 stepped in1 and began to wind the boat across the river by pulling the chain4 ,it was rather an amusing means of progression1 and they enjoyed their ',dover- ,calais crossing1' as they called it4 ,arrived at the opposite bank1 ,edith scrambled out4 ,tie the boat up1 somebody6 she called1 and set off running over the meadow to the hedge where the violets grew4 ,somebody is an exceedingly vague term1 and generally means nobody4 ,merle and ,beata went scampering after ,edith1 and ,sybil1 who was last1 flung the boat chain hastily round a post and followed her friends4 ,the violets were lovely1 sweet-scented and blue and modest and everything that orthodox violets ought to be4 ,the girls gathered delicious1 fragrant little bunches1 and felt that they were scoring tremendously over those unfortunates who were receiving information about architecture inside the church4 ,we mustn't stay too long6 sighed ,edith4 ,it's a pity1 but ,i'm afraid we really ought to go now4 ,they'll be looking for us if we don't4 ,so they walked back across the meadow to the bank4 ,here a most unpleasant surprise greeted them4 ,the boat1 into which they had meant to step and ferry themselves back1 had drifted into the middle of the river4 ,good gracious6 ,didn't you tie it up8 exclaimed ,edith1 aghast4 ,of course ,i did1 but-well1 ,i suppose ,i didn't tie it tight enough4 ,i never thought it would float away1 confessed ,sybil4 ,the boat1 though still working on the chain which spanned the river1 was quite inaccessible from either side4 ,the girls were in an extremely awkward position4 ,nobody knew where they had gone1 and unless it occurred to some of their party to come and seek them by the wharf1 or unless some chance passer-by happened to notice their plight1 they might wait for a long time without rescue4 ,what are we to do8 fumed ,beata4 ,if we're not back at four the 'sardine-tin' will be waiting for me1 and ,mr4 ,vicary will be so cross6 ,the last time we were late he went and complained to ,father and said he'd have to charge us extra for wasting his time4 ,there was an awful row1 and ,violet scolded ,romola and me1 although it was really ,tattie's fault4 ,can we get to ,durracombe on this side of the river8 suggested ,sybil4 ,edith shook her head4 ,we could2 but there isn't a bridge till you get to ,parlingford1 and that's five miles round4 ,i think we'd better stay here4 ,i could slay that wretched boat for playing us such a trick6 said ,merle4 ,meantime ,miss ,mitchell and the rest of the girls had finished their survey of the various monuments1 and1 catching sight of the church clock1 realised how late it was1 and that they must start back at once4 ,of course the four truants were missed1 and a hasty search was made for them1 in the chancel1 and behind the organ1 and outside among the tombstones4 ,they're not anywhere here6 reported the scouts4 ,then they must have walked on1 said ,miss ,mitchell4 ,beata knew she had to be back by four o'clock4 ,i expect we shall catch them up on the road4 ,come along6 ,illustration3 ,,why ,,didn',t ',,ee ,,fasten ,,up ,,the ,,chain ,so the party set off at full speed1 all unwitting that four disconsolate maidens were marooned on the farther side of the river1 waiting for some faerie boat to ferry them across4 ,for a long time no knight-errant arrived for their relief1 but at last1 as chance would have it1 an urchin came down on to the wharf1 with a string and a bent pin1 intent on fishing4 ,he was at least a link with the outer world1 and they yelled hopefully to him across the water4 ,he stopped and stared1 then took to his heels and ran1 but whether in terror or to fetch help they were uncertain4 ,after what seemed a weary while1 however1 he returned1 escorted by his father1 who evidently understood the situation1 for he shouted something which the girls could not catch1 then went away4 ,has he left us to our fate8 asked ,merle indignantly4 ,gone to get somebody else1 perhaps6 ventured ,edith more hopefully4 ,she proved correct1 for after another eternity of time an old man hobbled on to the wharf1 unlocked a boat-house1 and slowly took out a punt1 by means of which he reached the ferry-boat1 climbed in1 and worked it across the river to the farther bank4 ,why didn't 'ee fasten up the chain8 he asked2 but as he was almost stone-deaf he did not understand either their excuses or professions of gratitude1 and simply motioned to them to enter4 ,arriving back on the wharf the girls1 after subscribing a shilling amongst them to reward their rescuer1 hurried up to the churchyard1 where1 of course1 there was no sign of their party1 then started as fast as they could to walk along the high road4 ,they had gone perhaps half a mile when they heard a warning hoot behind them1 and1 looking round1 what should ,merle see but the little ,deemster car with ,dr4 ,tremayne at the driving-wheel4 ,she shouted wildly and stopped him4 ,oh1 ,uncle ,david6 ,are you going back to ,durracombe8 ,could you possibly take ,beata at any rate6 ,her car will be waiting for her at school4 ,we'd be everlastingly grateful6 ,i'll try and cram you all in if you like1 smiled ,dr4 ,tremayne4 ,open the dickey1 ,merle6 ,it was a decided squash4 ,edith and ,sybil sat in front1 and ,merle and ,beata managed to get together into the little dickey seat behind1 where they each held one another in and clutched the hood for support4 ,i have to pay a visit1 but ,i'll run you back first1 said ,uncle ,david1 setting off at a pace that made ,merle and ,beata cling for their lives as they whisked round corners4 ,they arrived at ',the ,moorings' exactly as the town-hall clock was chiming the quarter after four4 ,mr4 ,vicary1 his face a study of patience1 was standing by the side of the 'sardine-tin1' which was already packed for transit1 and whose occupants set up a joyful screech of welcome4 ,of course1 if ,dr4 ,tremayne motored you back with ,merle it's all right1 though you ought to have asked me first1 said ,miss ,mitchell1 to whom ,sybil gave a much edited explanation1 omitting the ferry-boat incident altogether1 and suppressing the violets4 ,so the four culprits1 who had expected trouble1 got off a great deal better than they deserved4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,fifth ,form ,justice ,easter was coming--,easter with its birds and flowers and hope of summer4 ,already there were hints of plans for the holidays1 though these had not yet absolutely crystallised into shape4 ,the mere mention of one of them had been enough to send ,merle dancing round the house1 but1 as she had overheard by accident1 and was strictly pledged not to reveal the secret to ,clive1 for the present she restrained her ecstasies and kept her lips sealed4 ,meantime there was plenty to be done at school4 ,the term-end examinations were due1 and ,miss ,mitchell1 who had been rather disappointed with ,christmas results1 was urging everybody to make heroic efforts4 ,mavis and ,merle had missed much on account of the mumps1 and when they attempted some revision they were absolutely appalled at the amount that had to be made up4 ,they did their most creditable best1 and toiled over text-books till heads ached4 ,on the evening before the first examination they were sitting in ,dr4 ,ramsay's study giving a farewell grind to several rather rusty subjects1 when ,clive walked in4 ,hello1 kid6 ,you're not allowed in here6 ,we're working6 warned ,merle4 ,her young cousin grinned4 ,i know6 ,and you've got to stop it4 ,i've been sent to tell you to shut those books up at once6 ,did ,mother say so8 ,she did4 ,she says you've done enough1 and you'll only muddle yourselves if you go on any longer4 ,we shan't pass6 sighed ,mavis4 ,yes1 you will6 ,listen to the ,oracle and he'll give you a tip or two4 ,a little bird told him1 look up ,keltic words in the ,english language1 and the life and works of ,william ,cowper1 and the products of ,java and ,borneo6 ,merle giggled4 ,how clever you are all of a sudden6 ,what do you know about our exam subjects8 ,clive winked solemnly1 first with one eye and then with another4 ,perhaps ,i'm in communication with the occult6 he remarked4 ,don't people go to clairvoyants and crystal-gazers and astrologers when they want to get tips about the future8 ,i'm your wizard to-night4 ,all right4 ,tell us our fortunes4 ,clive reached over for the pack of ,patience cards that ,merle had left on the table1 and shuffled them elaborately4 ,the wizard is now ready to wizz4 ,i may mention that my fee is only a guinea4 ,you mustn't laugh or it might break the spell4 ,will you please to choose a card1 look at it1 and put it back in the pack4 ,o ,fate6 wangle me a decent fortune6 chuckled ,merle1 selecting at random4 ,it was the six of spades1 and her cousin shook his head gravely4 ,that's a bad omen1 but wait a bit6 ,stick it back in the pack and we'll see where it comes4 ,oh1 this is better now-a dark woman is going to bring you trouble1 but a fair man will come to the rescue and help you out4 ,you're going amongst a number of people1 but the general result will be fortunate4 ,i see a number of diamonds1 which means that prizes are in store for you4 ,we don't have prizes at ,easter6 ,is that all8 ,all that the cards tell me1 but ,i'll do a little crystal-gazing if you like6 and ,clive seized a glass paperweight1 and1 staring intently at it1 pretended to throw himself into a state of abstraction4 ,i see an examination-room6 he declared4 ,i see rows of desks1 and girls writing at them4 ,there are lists of questions4 ,i am peeping over their shoulders1 and they are puzzling about the products of ,java and ,borneo1 and the life and works of ,william ,cowper1 and the ,keltic words in the ,english language4 ,you and ,mavis are scribbling ahead for all you're worth4 ,a very pretty picture1 ,i'm sure6 ,can't you tell us some more8 ,alas6 ,the crystal has grown milky4 ,and it's your bedtime6 said ,mavis4 ,i expect you were on your way upstairs when you came in here4 ,confess6 ,there's no hurry4 ,i'll stay and tell yours too if you like4 ,no1 thanks4 ,this will do for both of us4 ,is ,mother in the drawing-room8 ,come along1 ,merle1 we won't work any more to-night4 ,oh1 ,i must just look up what was it8--the products of ,java and ,borneo1 and ,william ,cowper1 and ,keltic words4 ,there's luck in them6 ,just for five minutes6 ,get off to bed1 you kid1 and leave me to work4 ,rather reluctantly ,mavis fell in with her sister's humour and reopened her text-books4 ,clive's only fooling6 she remonstrated4 ,i know2 and so am ,i6 ,here we are--,keltic words in use in the ,english language4 ,you can squint over my shoulder if you like4 ,the five minutes lengthened out till ,mrs4 ,ramsay came herself and put a finish to the preparation4 ,it's silly to overdo it4 ,you'll only have headaches to-morrow and be able to remember nothing4 ,come along to the drawing-room and sing to ,father4 ,yes1 ,mummie darling1 ,i'm just strapping up my books4 ,there1 ,i'll leave them here on the hall-table4 ,i promise you ,i won't take them upstairs4 ,hello6 ,here's my jersey6 ,i was hunting for it everywhere after tea and couldn't find it4 ,it feels wet6 ,how funny6 ,has anybody been out in it8 ,give it to ,alice and ask her to put it by the kitchen fire to dry4 ,father wants to hear that ,devon folksong you're learning4 ,it will do you good to have a little music after such hard brain-work4 ,merle marched into school next morning joking about her fortune4 ,she told the girls what the oracle had said1 and how she had ground up those particular bits of information4 ,i'm sporting enough to give you the tip6 she laughed4 ,clive was only making fun and ragging us6 qualified ,mavis4 ,he's a silly boy4 ,there was no time for any more last looks1 however4 ,the bell was ringing for call-over1 and all books must be put away4 ,in the ,fifth form room a clean sheet of blotting-paper was laid upon every desk1 and the inkwells had been newly filled4 ,miss ,mitchell dealt round typewritten sheets of questions1 and the agony began4 ,the ,english ,language and ,literature paper was not nearly so bad as ,mavis and ,merle had expected1 and curiously enough there were questions both on ,william ,cowper and on ,keltic words4 ,it was such a coincidence that ,merle could not help looking at ,mavis and smiling4 ,they were both well prepared1 and wrote away at full speed1 almost enjoying themselves1 and worked steadily till ,miss ,mitchell said1 ,pens down4 ,after eleven o'clock came the examination on the text-book geography1 which had this term--owing to ,miss ,pollard's influence --supplemented the lantern lectures on that subject4 ,when she saw the first question1 ,describe the products of ,java and ,borneo1 ,merle gave such an audible chuckle that many eyes were cast in her direction1 and ,miss ,mitchell glared a warning4 ,again ,mavis and ,merle found themselves well prepared1 and scribbled continuously till the bell rang4 ,how did you get on8 said ,merle to ,muriel1 as they walked downstairs from their classroom4 ,i say6 ,wasn't it funny about my fortune8 ,why1 we had the exact questions6 ,i never heard of anything so queer in my life6 ,very queer6 answered ,muriel1 with restraint in her voice4 ,she was looking at ,iva1 who shrugged her shoulders significantly4 ,some people have all the luck6 remarked ,sybil4 ,well1 it was lucky1 for it was pure guessing of ,clive's4 ,how did he know what exams you were going to have8 ,oh1 he's heard us talking about them1 of course4 ,i wish ,i had a cousin who could guess the questions beforehand4 ,we'd all get ,honours on those lines4 ,when ,mavis and ,merle returned to school after lunch1 they each found a little note laid upon their desks marked ',urgent4' ,you are requested to attend a most important meeting to be held in the boarders' sitting-room at the hostel immediately after four4 ,there was no signature1 but the writing was ,iva's4 ,the ,ramsays were much mystified4 ,as day-girls they had nothing to do with the hostel1 and could only go there by special invitation4 ,when afternoon school was over they asked some of the boarders the meaning of the missive4 ,nobody would explain4 ,you'll find out when you get there1 was ,nesta's cryptic reply4 ,puzzled1 and considerably distressed at a certain offensive attitude exhibited by ,sybil and others1 ,mavis and ,merle walked across the garden to the hostel4 ,iva had cleared all the younger girls out of the boarders' sitting-room1 and was waiting in company with ,nesta1 ,muriel1 ,aubrey1 ,edith1 and ,kitty4 ,as soon as the ,ramsays and ,sybil came in1 she closed the door4 ,i've called a general meeting of the ,fifth1 she said1 because there's something we all feel we ought to go into4 ,would you like to elect some one into the chair8 ,i beg to propose yourself1 piped ,aubrey4 ,and ,i beg to second1 said ,nesta4 ,iva settled herself and looked somewhat embarrassed1 as if not knowing quite how to begin4 ,she fidgeted for a moment with her pencil1 and cleared her throat4 ,we're all here1 she said at last1 except ,fay and ,beata1 who couldn't stay4 ,what we've met for is to ask ,mavis and ,merle to explain how it was they got to know some of the examination questions beforehand4 ,it seems to us queer1 to say the least of it6 ,the ,ramsays1 overwhelmed with amazement at such a palpable insinuation1 turned wrathfully red4 ,why1 we've told you6 ,clive guessed6 gasped ,merle4 ,bunkum6 ,how could he8 ,very convenient guessing1 ,i'm sure6 ,it's no use telling us such utter fibs6 ,they're not fibs6 ,how dare you say so6 flamed ,merle4 ,it's the absolute truth6 endorsed ,mavis4 ,do you stick to that8 ,of course we do4 ,then ,i shall have to call on ,sybil to tell us something she saw yesterday4 ,sybil1 who was red1 nervous1 and even more uncomfortable than ,iva1 rose from her seat to make her accusation4 ,i was in the garden yesterday after school1 and ,i saw ,merle come back1 hurry among the bushes1 and climb in at the study window4 ,i waited1 and presently she came out again and scooted off as if she didn't want to meet anybody4 ,o--o--oh6 ,you didn't see me6 ,i wasn't there6 ,was ,i1 ,mavis8 ,most certainly not4 ,you were at home all the time4 ,i can prove that6 ,i think the thing proves itself6 said ,iva4 ,first of all1 you're seen by a witness entering the study1 where1 no doubt1 the exam papers were spread out on the table1 and then you come to school primed with the questions4 ,there isn't a shadow of doubt4 ,wait a minute6 said ,mavis1 rising with a very white face4 ,to begin with1 you've got to prove that it was ,merle4 ,one witness isn't enough4 ,catie and ,peggie saw her down the drive4 ,they told me so4 ,what time was it8 ,about five o'clock4 ,she was practising at home then4 ,i can bring witnesses to prove that4 ,besides1 if she had really seen the questions1 do you think she'd have been silly enough to tell them to you before the exam8 ,the girls looked puzzled at that1 but ,nesta murmured that ,merle was silly enough for anything4 ,as she's one of the monitresses1 we thought we ought to give her a chance to clear herself before we told ,miss ,mitchell1 said ,iva4 ,she can clear herself and she will4 ,it's not fair to condemn her like this4 ,you must give her time to bring her own witnesses4 ,i ask you all1 is it like ,merle to do such a thing8 ,well1 no1 it certainly isn't like either of you4 ,that's what's surprised us so much4 ,you feel you can't be sure of anybody1 added ,aubrey4 ,the boarders' tea-gong1 sounding at that moment1 brought the meeting to an unsatisfactory conclusion4 ,the ,ramsays hurried home1 bubbling over with indignation1 to pour their woes into ,mother's sympathetic ear1 and were highly put out to find the drawing-room full of callers1 and to be expected to hand tea-cups and make pleasant conversation instead of retailing their grievances4 ,they beat a retreat as soon as they possibly could1 and1 for fear of being asked to play or sing for the benefit of visitors1 deemed it wise to escape into the garden4 ,we'll sit in the summer-house1 only ,i must have my jersey1 declared ,merle1 catching up the garment in question from its peg in the hall1 and pulling it on4 ,i want some place where ,i can explode4 ,this is just the beastliest thing that's ever happened to me in all my life4 ,i can't understand it6 puzzled ,mavis1 with her forehead in wrinkles4 ,merle was stumping along the path with her hands in the pockets of her jersey4 ,why should they accuse me1 of all people in the world1 of climbing in through the study window8 ,sybil must have been dreaming4 ,she's an idiot of a girl4 ,she'd imagine anything from a ghost to a burglar4 ,what are we going to do about it8 ,i wish to goodness they would tell ,miss ,mitchell6 ,i'd rather she knew4 ,i've a jolly good mind to go and tell her myself4 ,then ,i should have first innings and she'd hear our side of it4 ,hello6 ,there's ,clive4 ,it was that lively young gentleman who came walking along the garden wall and took a flying leap on to the path1 just avoiding one of ,tom's best flower-beds4 ,there's a whole tribe of ladies in the drawing-room6 he volunteered4 ,i carried my tea into the summer-house6 ,you won't catch me 'doing the polite' if ,i can help it4 ,rather not6 ,have you bunked too8 ,i don't blame you4 ,you're looking down in the mouth1 both of you6 ,exams gone wrong this afternoon8 ,shall ,i tell your fortunes again8 ,your precious fortune has got us into a great deal of trouble1 answered ,merle4 ,how did you manage to guess those questions8 ,they were actually in our papers6 ,clive pulled his face into a variety of grimaces4 ,ah6 ,wouldn't you just like to know6 he retorted4 ,perhaps ,i keep a familiar spirit1 or perhaps ,i read things in the stars4 ,i prophesy you'll fail in all the rest of your exams6 ,there6 ,you young wretch6 cried ,merle1 chasing him down the path as he fled4 ,she took her hands from her pockets to catch hold of him1 and as she did so out flew a penknife on to the grass4 ,clive pounced upon it immediately and picked it up4 ,i've been looking for this everywhere6 he declared4 ,how did it get inside my pocket8 asked ,merle4 ,i never put it there6 ,clive6 exclaimed ,mavis1 with a sudden flash of intuition4 ,did you wear ,merle's jersey yesterday8 ,i remember she found it wet4 ,i verily believe you dressed up in her clothes and went to school4 ,for answer ,clive burst into fits of laughter4 ,oh1 it was topping6 he hinnied4 ,i stuck on her skirt and jersey and tam o' shanter and took in everybody4 ,i walked down the street1 and up the drive to the school door1 and prowled round the garden4 ,there was a window open1 so in ,i went and found exam questions all over the table4 ,i thought ,i'd rag you about them6 ,you atrocious imp6 ,look here6 ,you don't know what a scrape you've got us into4 ,you'll just have to own up and get us out of it again1 that's all6 ,irresponsible ,clive was full of thoughtless mischief1 and it was a long time before the girls could get him to see the serious side of his escapade1 and realise what an exceedingly grave charge had been brought against their honour4 ,in the end1 by dint of scolding1 entreaty1 coercion1 and even bribery1 they succeeded in persuading him to come along with them to ',the ,moorings1' where they asked for ,miss ,mitchell1 and told her the whole story4 ,i'm extremely glad to know1 she said1 looking hard at ,clive4 ,the fact is ,i was deceived myself4 ,he's very like you1 ,merle6 ,i happened to see him climbing out of the window1 and ,i certainly thought ,i recognised you4 ,i've felt upset all day about it4 ,i couldn't understand your doing such a thing4 ,will you explain to the boarders1 please6 ,i hate them to think me a sneak4 ,i'll make that all right4 ,and about those exam questions--,mavis and ,i wouldn't have dreamt of looking them up beforehand1 and ,i don't suppose we should have known them4 ,wouldn't it be fairer just to cross them off in our papers and not count them8 ,we'd much rather you did4 ,yes1 it's the only thing to be done4 ,clive1 much subdued1 blurted out a kind of apology before he left1 which ,miss ,mitchell accepted with dignity4 ,perhaps she did not think it good for him to forgive him too easily4 ,his evil prophecies about the exams were fortunately not fulfilled1 for his cousins1 though they did not score brilliant successes1 just managed to scrape through without any failures4 ,the ,fifth form1 when they heard the true facts of the story1 repented their hasty court of justice and made handsome amends4 ,it doesn't matter6 said ,merle4 ,you were quite right if you thought we'd been cheating4 ,i should pull anybody else up myself1 fast enough4 ,it must have been the acting we did at ,christmas that put the idea into ,clive's idiotic young head4 ,he was dressed up as a girl then1 and rather fancied himself4 ,he really is the limit4 ,we shall always be a little uncertain now which is you and which is your cousin6 laughed ,iva4 ,oh1 he won't do it again6 ,we've put him on his honour1 and ,i don't think he'd break his word4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,the ,kittiwake ,the great ,easter secret1 which ,merle had surprised and preserved with so much difficulty1 was out at last4 ,clive's father and mother were coming to ,devonshire for a holiday2 they had taken rooms at a farm in ,chagmouth1 and they had not only arranged for their own son to join them1 but they had also asked ,mavis and ,merle to be their visitors4 ,the girls thought that no invitation could have been more delightfully acceptable4 ,they adored ,chagmouth1 and the ,saturdays they managed to spend there were always red-letter days1 so the prospect of three whole weeks in this ,el ,dorado sent their spirits up to fizzing-over point4 ,bevis will be at ,grimbal's ,farm6 ,and ,tudor will be at home6 ,the ,castletons are expecting ,morland and ,claudia6 ,and1 of course1 ,fay will be there1 and ,tattie1 and the ,colvilles6 ,goody6 ,what a lovely tribe of us to go out picnics6 ,we'll have the time of our lives6 ,burswood ,farm1 where ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,percy ,tremayne had taken rooms1 was on the hillside above ,chagmouth4 ,it was a delightful spot1 with that airy feeling about it that comes from looking down upon your neighbours' chimneys4 ,i wouldn't live in ,chagmouth1 not if you paid me hundreds a year6 declared ,mrs4 ,treasure1 their landlady4 ,once ,i'm up here1 here ,i stay6 ,i've not been in the town for over six months4 ,i go on ,sundays to the little chapel close by1 and if ,i want shops we get out the gig and drive into ,kilvan or ,durracombe4 ,it isn't worth the climb back from ,chagmouth4 ,i carried ,william up when he was a baby1 and it nearly killed me4 ,i set him down in his cradle and ,i said3 ',there1 my boy6 ,i don't go down to ,chagmouth again till you can walk back yourself6' ,and ,i didn't6 ,he was three years old before ,i went--even to the post office4 ,how do ,i manage about stamps8 ,why1 the postman brings them for me and takes my letters4 ,the grocers' carts come round from ,kilvan1 and the butcher calls once a week1 and what can you want more8 ,i say when ,i've got a nice place like this to live in ,i'll stay here1 and not worry myself with climbing up and down hill4 ,though ,mavis and ,merle might not hold with ,mrs4 ,treasure's depreciation of ,chagmouth1 they thoroughly agreed with her eulogy of ,burswood4 ,there was a view of the sea from the farm1 and it had an old-fashioned garden with beehives and hedges of fuchsia and blue veronica1 and at the back there was a small fir wood1 with clumps of primroses and opening bluebells4 ,the girls christened it ',elfland4' ,you can almost see the fairies here1 said ,mavis4 ,why is it that some places feel so much more romantic than others8 ,because you're in the right mood1 ,i suppose4 ,this is almost as nice as ,blackthorn ,bower4 ,not quite4 ,nothing can ever come up to that6 ,when ,bevis gets ,the ,warren he's going to build up the ,bower again4 ,why doesn't he do it now8 ,the ,glyn ,williams would let him if he wanted4 ,it's his property4 ,he wouldn't care to ask them2 especially after what happened there between him and ,tudor4 ,they've forgotten that1 surely6 ,well1 ,i sympathise with ,bevis4 ,he doesn't care to interfere with anything until ,the ,warren is really his own4 ,i think he feels they'd laugh at the ,bower1 and so they would6 ,it's not in their line1 of course4 ,however much we may love old and familiar scenes1 there is always a novelty in something new1 and the bird's-eye aspect of ,chagmouth was attractive1 especially to those whose young limbs did not mind the climb4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,percy ,tremayne were most enthusiastic about their quarters4 ,they were charming people1 and ready to fall in with the young folk's plans and give them a thoroughly happy holiday4 ,they had brought a motor- bicycle and side-car1 and took some excursions round the neighbourhood1 going over often to ,durracombe to see ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,tremayne1 glad to have the opportunity of a private chat with them while their lively son was safely picnicking with ,mavis and ,merle4 ,picnics were the established order of the day4 ,the girls declared that ,society at ,chagmouth this ,easter began with a big ,s4 ,the ,castletons were a host in themselves4 ,they were all at home1 and all equally fascinating4 ,musical ,mavis attached herself to ,claudia with a great admiration1 and ,merle found a devoted knight in ten-year-old ,madox1 who clung to her with the persistency of a chestnut burr1 chiefly because she had the charity to answer his perpetual questions4 ,the interrogation mark1 as he was called by his own family1 was a typical ,castleton1 and most cherubic of countenance1 though his curls had been sheared in deference to school1 spoiling him1 so his father declared1 for artistic purposes4 ,he was a mixture of mischief and romance1 and ,merle1 who accepted his temporary allegiance1 never quite knew whether his embraces were marks of genuine affection or were designed for the chance of dropping pebbles down her back4 ,some delightful friends of the ,castletons were also spending a holiday in rooms at ,chagmouth--,miss ,lindsay1 an artist1 and ,lorraine ,forrester1 a chum of ,claudia's1 both of whom were sketching the quaint streets and the quay and the harbour with the wildest enthusiasm4 ,morland had also taken a sudden fancy for painting1 and insisted upon going out with them daily1 producing some quite pretty little impressionistic pictures1 with a touch of his father's style about them4 ,in ,morland the family talent ran high but never rose to genius4 ,his touch on the piano was perfect4 ,he scribbled poems in private4 ,his achievements1 however1 in either music1 art1 or poetry were insufficient to justify taking one of them for a vocation4 ,i'd rather make him a chimney-sweep6 declared ,mr4 ,castleton eloquently4 ,the public nowadays don't appreciate pictures6 ,they'll look at them in galleries1 especially when the admission is free1 but you can't get them to buy4 ,they hang their drawing-rooms with cheap prints instead of water- colours1 and go to the photographers instead of the portrait-painter4 ,if you can design something to advertise mustard or cocoa you may make a little money1 but not by pure art6 ,it's as dead as the ancient ,greeks4 ,this is a commercial age4 ,music's as bad4 ,your pianists are glad to take posts to play at the cinemas6 ,i wish ,claudia success2 but her training is the business of the college1 not mine1 and they'll have to bring her out4 ,i've nothing to do with it4 ,no2 ,morland must realise he's living in the twentieth century1 and has to earn his bread and butter4 ,art doesn't pay1 and that's the fact6 ,have it as a hobby if you wish1 but don't depend upon it6 ,so ,morland1 who1 like many young fellows of artistic calibre1 had a general affection for the muses but no very marked vocation for anything1 had been pitchforked into engineering1 and was making quite tolerable progress1 and would possibly support himself later on1 but always with the feeling that life was commonplace and unromantic1 and that a splendid vision had been somewhere just round the corner1 only unfortunately missed4 ,he allowed his artistic temperament to run loose during the holidays4 ,he would go up to ,bella ,vista and play for hours on the ,macleods' new grand piano1 improvising beautiful airs1 and sending ,fay into raptures4 ,why don't you write them down right away8 she demanded4 ,what's the use8 ,no one would publish them if ,i did4 ,the publishers are fed up with young composers wanting a hearing4 ,i've made up my mind to be just an amateur--nothing more4 ,i'm not sure1 ventured ,mrs4 ,macleod1 whether you won't have the best of it4 ,after all1 'amateur' means 'lover1' and the art and the music that you pursue for pure pleasure will be more to you than what you might have had to produce for the sake of bread and butter4 ,why must our standard in these things always be the commercial one1 'does it pay8' ,the fact of making it pay often degrades it4 ,my theory is that a man can have his business1 and love his hobby just as he loves his wife1 without turning it into s4 d4 ,look at my husband6 ,in his own office there isn't any one in ,america knows more about motor fittings1 but once outside the office his heart and soul is in painting4 ,i believe he's a happier man for doing both6 ,do you really think so8 ,it cheers me up6 ,when ,i'm a full-blown engineer1 perhaps ,i'll make enough to buy a grand piano at any rate4 ,that's one way of looking at it4 ,it's awfully kind of you to let me come here and thump away on yours4 ,we enjoy having you1 so use it whenever you like4 ,it's always absolutely at your disposal4 ,morland was not the only one of the party who was amusing his leisure hours4 ,bevis also had hobbies4 ,he had taken up photography1 had turned an attic at ,grimbal's ,farm into a dark room1 and was trying many experiments4 ,moreover1 his lawyers had at last yielded to his urgent entreaties and had allowed him to buy a small sailing yacht4 ,she was not a racing craft1 or remarkably smart in any way1 but she was his own1 and the joy of possession was supreme4 ,he rechristened her ,the ,kittiwake1 painting in her new name with much satisfaction1 and he made trial trips in her along the coast as far as ,port ,sennen4 ,he was extremely anxious to take ,mavis and ,merle and ,clive with him1 but that was strictly prohibited by ,mrs4 ,tremayne1 who would not allow either her son or her visitors to venture4 ,it's too big a risk1 and ,i know what ,clive is6 ,young ,talland can swim like a fish if he upsets his yacht1 but you can't6 ,we can swim6 protested ,merle4 ,a little1 close by the shore1 ,i daresay1 but that's nothing if you're plunged into deep water4 ,i can't take the responsibility of letting you go4 ,never mind6 ,we'll make up a party one day and take a motor-boat with a proper experienced boatman4 ,young ,talland can join us then if he likes4 ,mavis and ,merle were disappointed almost to the point of tears4 ,they had duly admired ,the ,kittiwake in the harbour1 and they simply longed to go on board4 ,it seemed so particularly tempting when they had such a cordial invitation1 and so aggravating to be obliged to decline4 ,cousin ,nora's very nervous1 urged ,mavis in extenuation4 ,she'd be afraid of our being drowned if we went on a duck-pond4 ,bevis passed over the slur on his seamanship4 ,it's all right6 he answered quietly1 but there was a certain set obstinate look about his mouth which the girls knew well1 and which meant that he intended if possible to get his own way1 though he said nothing more at the time4 ,illustration3 ,,he ,,kept ,,them ,,dawdling ,it was perhaps as well for everybody's peace of mind that he should not take ,clive boating1 for the boy was venturesome and mischievous1 and rather out of hand except when his father was by4 ,he often made the girls' hair almost stand on end by his pranks at the verge of the cliffs1 and was sometimes the cause of considerable bad language among the sailors when he interfered with their nets or tar-pots down on the quay4 ,it was a relief to ,mavis and ,merle when ,mr4 ,tremayne took him out in the side-car1 and they knew that for some hours at least they need not be responsible for his behaviour4 ,they were both fond of botany1 and were enthusiastically making collections of wild flowers to press for their holiday task4 ,bevis was a good ally in this respect1 and would often call in at ,burswood ,farm with some uncommon specimen which he thought they had not yet found for themselves4 ,he had come on this errand one morning1 and was helping ,mavis to screw up her pressing boards1 when ,mrs4 ,tremayne happened to mention the scarcity of shells in the neighbourhood of ,chagmouth4 ,i've hardly found any6 she remarked4 ,and ,i'm so annoyed1 because it happens to be my particular hobby4 ,i'm collecting them4 ,i suppose the coast is too rocky and they get broken4 ,they're always very local things4 ,there's just one place ,i know where you might find some1 said ,bevis4 ,it's a particular patch of sand near ,gurgan ,point4 ,i saw some beauties there a while ago4 ,i'll show you where it is with pleasure if you like4 ,oh1 thanks6 ,that would be delightful1 beamed ,mrs4 ,tremayne4 ,the girls and ,i could go to-day if you can take us4 ,my husband and ,clive are out with the motor-bike1 so it's a splendid opportunity4 ,let me see6 ,the tide should be just right this afternoon1 agreed ,bevis cheerfully4 ,mavis and ,merle know the way to ,gurgan ,point4 ,if they'll take you there and down the path to the cove1 ,i'll come round in the yacht and meet you4 ,shall we say at three o'clock8 ,that would be exactly nice time after lunch4 ,very well1 ,i'll be there4 ,bevis went back to ,grimbal's ,farm chuckling to himself1 though he did not betray the cause of his amusement to anybody4 ,he hunted out a hamper and packed it with cups and saucers1 a methylated spirit-lamp1 and other picnic requisites4 ,on his way to the quay he stopped at the confectioner's and bought cakes and fancy biscuits4 ,he placed these comestibles inside the hamper1 and stowed it away in the locker of ,the ,kittiwake4 ,at two o'clock he was out of the harbour1 and was off in the direction of ,gurgan ,point4 ,mavis and ,merle and ,cousin ,nora1 bearing baskets in which to place shells1 had a pleasant walk along the cliffs1 and descended the path to the trysting-place4 ,they found ,bevis waiting for them in the cove4 ,he had moored ,the ,kittiwake to a buoy1 and now led the way over the sands to a sort of little peninsula that jutted out into the sea4 ,here he had beached his dinghy4 ,this is the shell-bank4 ,you'll find heaps of them here6 he said4 ,undoubtedly he had brought them to the right place4 ,there were shells in abundance1 and of many different kinds1 delicate pink ones1 tiny cowries1 twisted wentletraps1 scallops1 screw-shells1 and some like mother-of- pearl4 ,mrs4 ,tremayne was in raptures1 and went down on her knees to gather them4 ,there was such a tempting variety that it was difficult to stop1 and in the excitement of the quest the time simply fled4 ,i haven't brought my watch6 declared ,mrs4 ,tremayne once4 ,oh1 it's quite early yet6 ,bevis assured her4 ,i've lighted the spirit- lamp1 and ,i'm going to make you some tea4 ,he had carried the hamper on to the sands1 and was busy setting out his cups and saucers in a sheltered place behind some rocks1 'to be out of the wind1' as he carefully explained4 ,when his kettle boiled he filled the tea-pot1 and summoned his guests4 ,you've chosen a snug spot6 said ,mrs4 ,tremayne1 walking along with her eyes on the sands still looking for shells4 ,and ,merle1 who was watching a white line of advancing waves1 added3 ,lovely and snug1 only ,i hope we shan't get-- ,she meant to say 'surrounded1' but ,bevis pulled such a fearful face at her behind ,cousin ,nora's back that she stopped short and let him finish the sentence4 ,we shan't get shells while we're having tea1 of course6 ,you can look for some more afterwards if you haven't enough4 ,oh1 surely1 we have heaps and heaps6 ,and simply exquisite ones6 ,these tiny yellow babies are just perfect4 ,i like them better than the big grandfathers1 exulted ,mavis4 ,bevis made a polite but leisurely host4 ,he insisted on boiling some more water1 which was not really wanted1 but which took a long time1 and he spun out his own tea interminably4 ,it's so jolly here under the rocks6 he declared4 ,i like the dolce far niente--makes one think of lotus-eaters and all the rest of it4 ,shall ,i help you sort your shells8 ,you could wash them in the tea-cups4 ,it's no use carrying home surplus sand4 ,there's some water left in the kettle4 ,on one pretext or another he kept them dawdling under the rocks1 till ,mrs4 ,tremayne at last rose up and declared they really must be starting back for the cove4 ,we shall be having the tide coming in if we don't mind1 she said4 ,why6 ,look6 ,she might well exclaim1 for while they had been sitting with their backs to the sea the water had all the while been lapping slowly in and had changed their peninsula into an island4 ,they were entirely surrounded1 and quite a wide channel lay between themselves and the shore4 ,mrs4 ,tremayne looked much alarmed1 but ,bevis took the matter with the utmost calm4 ,it's all right6 ,i've the dinghy here1 and ,i can row you to the yacht4 ,i'd land you in the cove if ,i could1 but it really wouldn't be safe because of the rocks4 ,i'll sail you all back to ,chagmouth and run you into the harbour4 ,there was evidently nothing else to be done1 and though ,cousin ,nora might not enjoy the prospect of yachting1 she was obliged to accept ,bevis's offer4 ,it was quite a pleasant little excursion from ,gurgan ,point to the harbour2 the sea was luckily calm1 but there was sufficient breeze to enable ,the ,kittiwake to skim over the water like her sea-gull namesake4 ,the girls1 who by this time had grasped the depths of their friend's plot1 enjoyed the situation immensely4 ,they were actually having their coveted sail in the very company of the dear lady who had so expressly forbidden the jaunt1 and all without the slightest friction or trouble4 ,bevis1 indeed1 was posing as rescuer and accepting grateful thanks4 ,it's a lesson to us all to watch the tide and not sit talking with our backs to the sea6 said ,cousin ,nora virtuously4 ,it is indeed6 answered ,bevis1 so gravely that ,merle had to stuff her handkerchief into her mouth to stifle her chortles of mirth4 ,he brought them into the harbour1 and helped them to land on the steps of the jetty4 ,wasn't ,i clever8 he whispered1 as he handed ,mavis her basket of shells4 ,when ,i really make up my mind to get a thing1 ,i get it6 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,the ,haunted ,tree ,there were so many jolly friends staying at ,chagmouth at present that they made a most delightful circle4 ,generally they all managed to meet every day1 and the usual trysting-place was ,the ,haven1 partly because it was in so central a situation for everybody1 but chiefly because the kind-hearted1 unconventional ,castletons were ready at any and every time to welcome visitors1 and would allow friends to 'drop in' in true ,bohemian fashion1 quite regardless of whatever happened to be taking place in the household4 ,from the studio1 indeed1 they were excluded while ,mr4 ,castleton was at his easel1 but they were allowed to use it when he was not working1 and it proved admirable for either games1 theatricals1 or dancing4 ,with so many costumes in the cupboard it was easy to get up charades1 and they had much fun over acting4 ,perhaps the most successful was a small performance of ',the ,babes in the ,wood1' given by the ,castleton children1 with ,perugia and ,gabriel1 lovely in ,elizabethan costume1 as 'the babes' ,john and ,jane2 ,madox and ,constable as the two villains ',daggersdrawn' and ',triggertight1' who abandoned them in the wood2 and ,lilith as the beneficent fairy ',dewdrop1' who found them and whisked them away to bonny ,elfland4 ,the little ,castletons had natural dramatic instincts and were adepts at posing1 so their play was really very pretty4 ,madox1 in especial1 absolutely excelled himself as a robber and came out tremendously4 ,he bowed gallantly in response to the storm of applause1 and blew an airy kiss to ,merle1 who nearly collapsed with mirth4 ,she thought her ten-year-old admirer deserved something in return for so graceful an attention1 so she sent him a box of chocolates with a few verses written on a sheet of paper and placed inside4 ,,to ,,daggersdrawn ,you're a very handsome fellow1 ,so gallant and so gay2 ,and ,i really blush to tell you1 ,but you've stole my heart away4 ,when you took the part of ,daggersdrawn1 ,my bosom swelled with pride ,to hear your voice of thunder ,and see your manly stride4 ,you seized the nasty pistols up ,without a sign of fear1 ,and thrust and parried with your sword ,just like a ,cavalier4 ,as you've escaped the lonesome wood-- ,for so the story ends-- ,i send these chocs1 with best regards1 ,and beg we may be friends4 ,merle had no doubt the chocolates would be appreciated1 but she had not expected to receive back a poetical effusion from her small knight4 ,he evidently1 however1 had some slight gift for minstrelsy1 for one day there was a tremendous rap on the front-door knocker at ,burswood ,farm1 then a sound of running footsteps1 and inside the letter-box was a note addressed to ',miss ,merle ,ramsay1' in a rather wobbly and unformed hand4 ,at the top of the sheet of paper was painted a boat with brown sails on a blue sea1 and underneath was written3 ,you ask me1 dear1 will ,i be thine8 ,how can you such a question ask ,when1 'neath the robber's fearful mask1 ,i languish for thee1 lady mine6 ,thou art the lady that ,i love2 ,thou art the lady that ,i chose4 ,oh1 fly with me from friends and foes6 ,oh1 for the wings of a dove6 ,o sail with me to a southern sea1 ,to where an isle is fair and warm1 ,and the sea around it bright and calm3 ,o ,merle1 will you come with me8 ,but for the nasty pistols1 miss1 ,i have one ready to shoot me dead6 ,for already my heart is heavy as lead ,unless you favour my wish6 ,footnote3 ,these verses were really composed by a little boy4 ,it's rather silly but it's the best ,i can rite4 ,m ,c4 ,in the privacy of the parlour ,merle had a good laugh with ,mavis over what they termed her first love-letter4 ',oh1 for the wings of a dove6' quoted ,merle4 ,it's so ,biblical1 isn't it8 ,he's a dear1 all the same6 ,i love him better even than ,constable4 ,he's such a bright little chap4 ,don't tell ,clive1 or he'd tease ,madox to death about this4 ,it must be an absolute secret4 ,i can just picture the child sitting writing it with his sticky little fingers6 ,you mustn't let him know about ',sweet ,william1' or there'll be a free fight6 laughed ,mavis4 ,william was ,mrs4 ,treasure's little boy1 and also an ardent admirer of ,merle1 who gave him chocolates when she met him in the garden or the stackyard4 ,in spite of his mother's injunctions to ',behave and not trouble the visitors1' he would hang about the passages to present ,merle with handfuls of ferns and flowers grabbed at random from the hedgerows and of no botanical value whatever2 or sometimes the parlour window would be cautiously opened from the outside1 a pair of bright eyes would appear1 and a small grubby hand would push in a bird's egg or some other country trophy as an offering4 ,it was ,william who told ,merle about the 'headless horseman1' a phantom rider who was reported to gallop down the road after dusk1 and whom ,chagmouth mothers found useful as a bogey to frighten their children with4 ,he'll get you if you're out when it's dark6 said ,william1 with round awed eyes4 ,what would he do with you if he did8 asked ,merle4 ,but such a pitch of horror was beyond the limit of ,william's imagination1 and he could only reaffirm his original statement4 ,of course the girls and ,clive were very excited to learn that a real live ghost was supposed to haunt the neighbourhood4 ,they discussed it at the dinner-table over the jam-tart and cream4 ,we've certainly heard a sort of trotting sound when we've been in bed at night1 said ,mavis1 anxious to establish evidence4 ,we didn't think of getting up to look out of the window1 but ,i don't suppose we could have seen on to the road if we had4 ,yes2 ,i remember people used to believe in the 'headless horseman1' said ,mr4 ,tremayne1 who had known ,chagmouth very well as a boy4 ,there was a demon dog1 too1 that ran down ,tinkers' ,lane1 and an old lady who 'walked' by the well4 ,a delighted howl arose from the family at the mention of two more spooks4 ,o--o--h6 ,tell us about the demon dog6 implored ,clive4 ,it had eyes as big as saucers1 and they shone like fire4 ,it used to scuttle along the lane1 and no one ever waited to see where it went1 though there used to be a hole in a bank where ,i was told it had once disappeared4 ,was it really ever seen8 asked ,merle4 ,i believe all these phantoms were clever devices of the smugglers in the old days1 when it was very desirable to have the roads quiet at night in order to carry about contraband goods4 ,it would be quite easy to fake a demon dog4 ,you take a black retriever1 fasten two cardboard circles smeared with phosphorus round his eyes1 give him a kick1 and send him running down a dark road1 and every one who met him would have hysterics4 ,as for the headless horseman1 that's also a well-known smugglers' dodge --false shoulders can be made and fixed on a level with the top of your head1 and covered with a cloak1 so that the apparently headless man has eyes in the middle of his chest1 and can see to ride uncommonly well4 ,it was generally to somebody's interest to make up these ghosts and frighten people4 ,you take all the romance out of it6 pouted ,mavis4 ,in spite of ,mr4 ,tremayne's most reasonable explanations they clung to the supernatural side of the stories4 ,it was much more interesting to picture the demon dog as the property of his ,satanic ,majesty1 than to believe it an ordinary black retriever with circles of phosphorus round its eyes4 ,i vote we go and try and see it for ourselves6 suggested ,clive1 waxing bold one evening4 ,the girls agreed1 so just before bedtime they sallied forth in the direction of ,tinkers' ,lane1 a lonely stretch of road that led from the hillside towards the sea4 ,they were all three feeling half valiant and half scared1 and each had brought some species of protection4 ,mavis carried a prayer-book and a little ivory cross1 ,merle grasped a poker1 and ,clive was armed with the hatchet from the wood-pile4 ,so long as they were on the uplands and could see the stars they marched along tolerably bravely1 but presently ,tinkers' ,lane turned downhill1 and1 like most of its kind in ,devon1 ran between high fern-grown banks1 on the tops of which grew trees whose boughs almost met overhead and made an archway4 ,to plunge down here was like taking a dip into ,dante's ',inferno1' it looked so particularly dark and gloomy1 and such a suitable place for anything ghostly4 ,i wish we'd brought a lantern with us6 murmured ,mavis4 ,then we shouldn't see any spooks6 declared ,merle4 ,come along6 ,let's go as far as the old gate at any rate4 ,i dare you both to come6 ,who's afraid8 ,clive certainly was not going to show the white feather1 and ,mavis1 though rather nervy1 preferred to venture forward with the others than to remain by herself1 so it ended in their all going on1 arm-in-arm4 ,they had worked themselves to such a pitch of excitement that the whole atmosphere seemed charged with the supernatural4 ,there were mysterious groanings and rustlings in the hedge1 and the long branches of the trees moaned as they swayed4 ,it was so dark they were almost groping their way1 and could barely see the banks on either side4 ,suddenly1 through a rift in the trees came a faint gleam of starlight1 and oh6 horror of horrors6 ,what was that black dog-like object running rapidly towards them up the lane8 ,mavis1 whose over-sensitive nerves were strung up to the last point1 yelled with terror1 and clung screaming to ,merle1 who gave a shriek of agony herself as the phantom approached and leaped at them4 ,whatever's the matter8 cried a voice1 and a figure came hurrying forward and flashed an electric torch upon the scene4 ,in the circle of light thus formed the girls saw nothing more alarming than ,bevis and his spaniel ,fan1 who was jumping up affectionately at ,merle and licking her hands4 ,they drew long breaths and then laughed4 ,they thought you were ,old ,nick himself and his demon dog6 vouchsafed ,clive1 very brave now the alarm was over4 ,what are you all doing down ,tinkers' ,lane so late as this8 asked ,bevis4 ,we came out to see spooks6 ,you won't find anything worse than ,fan and myself6 ,better let us take you home4 ,oh1 ,i wish you would1 said ,mavis1 accepting the escort with alacrity4 ,i don't think ,i like this dark place4 ,i'm rather scared still4 ,i don't wonder people see bogeys here4 ,if you'd been riding1 ,bevis1 ,i should certainly have taken you for the headless horseman4 ,he rides here1 doesn't he8 ,i'll tackle him for you if we meet him1 never fear6 laughed ,bevis4 ,i'll tell him it isn't respectable to go about without a head1 and he must put it on again at once6 ,all the same1 though 7more gravely71 ,i think1 if ,i were you1 ,i wouldn't come down this lane in the dark all by yourselves4 ,we certainly shan't6 ,it's a good thing ,i didn't use the hatchet on poor ,fan1 said ,clive1 forbearing to mention that he had been huddling in the hedge1 much too paralysed to take such violent measures4 ,bless her6 ,she's an angel dog--not a demon6 murmured ,merle1 fondling the silky ears that pressed close to her dress4 ,but you gave your auntie rather a scare1 darling6 ,another time you mustn't bounce upon her in the dark6 ,you must be a good girlie1 and remember6 ,the adventurous trio were not at all sorry to be taken safely to their own gateway by ,bevis1 but all the same they felt a little disappointed that they had no real peep at phantom forms in the lane4 ,the girls did not intend to tell their experience to ,william1 but ,clive let it out1 so they had to give him the full account4 ,he looked at them with awe-struck admiration4 ,suppose it had really been the ghost and it had got you6 he ventured4 ,william took the supernatural side of life seriously4 ,it was no laughing matter to him4 ,on the very next day he came to ,merle with important news4 ,there's something queer in the wood above the house4 ,i was up there with ,connie1 and we both heard it6 ,of course ,merle had to go and investigate4 ,william escorted her at once to the spot4 ,there was a large elm just at the edge of the wood1 and certainly it was emitting very strange sounds4 ,at intervals a curious clicking whirr came from among the branches4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,treasure1 who had also been informed of the mysterious noises1 had hurried up from the farm with little ,connie4 ,they stood staring upwards in much perplexity4 ,could it be a bird8 suggested ,merle4 ,that's no bird6 ,it's something beyond that6 said ,mr4 ,treasure solemnly4 ,oh6 ,is it an omen8 ,my mother's been ill the last fortnight6 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,treasure in much distress4 ,maybe it's a warning of some kind or another6 opined the postman1 who had been passing and had joined the party4 ,whatever might occasion the noises1 they continued with great regularity4 ,the postman1 continuing his round1 spread news of the strange happening1 and soon quite a number of people came into the wood to listen for themselves4 ,no one was in the least able to account for the sounds1 and the general opinion was that the tree was haunted4 ,superstition ran rife1 and most of the neighbours considered it must be a portent4 ,poor ,mrs4 ,treasure began to be quite sure it had some intimate connection with her mother's illness4 ,several girls were weeping hysterically1 and one of them asked if the end of the world was coming4 ,meantime1 more and more people kept crowding into the wood1 and the idea spread that some disaster was imminent4 ,my ,john's out with the trawler6 wailed one woman4 ,i wish ,i'd not let him go6 ,as like as not he'll be wrecked6 ,you never know6 agreed a friend4 ,old ,grandfather ,treasure1 who had hobbled up from the stackyard1 quoted texts from ,scripture and began to improve the occasion4 ,his daughter-in- law1 with ,connie clasped in her arms1 sobbed convulsively4 ,into the midst of all this excitement suddenly strode ,bevis4 ,i heard about it down on the quay1 he said4 ,i came up at once4 ,i'll soon show you what it is6 ,he was buckling climbing-irons on to his legs while he spoke1 and with the aid of these he rapidly mounted the elm tree to where the boughs forked1 put his hand into a hollow1 and drew out a wooden box1 which he brought down with him4 ,it's nothing at all ghostly1 he explained4 ,the fact is ,i'm fearfully keen on photographing birds1 and ,i've just got a cinema camera4 ,there's a sparrow-hawk's nest in the next tree1 and ,i want to take pictures of it2 only ,i knew the clicking of the cinema business would scare them away probably for hours1 so ,i made a little mechanical contrivance that would go on clicking and let them get used to the noise1 so that they'd take no notice when ,i really went to work4 ,you can look at it if you want to4 ,it was such a simple explanation that those among the neighbours who had most loudly expressed superstitious fears looked rather foolish1 and the crowd began to melt away4 ,why didn't you tell us about it1 ,bevis8 asked ,merle in private4 ,well1 ,soeurette1 the fact is the birds are so shy that the fewer people who go and watch them the better for the success of a photograph4 ,i'm afraid this will have sent them off altogether4 ,annoying1 isn't it8 ,can't be helped1 though1 now4 ,it's a good dodge all the same1 and ,i shall try it again in some other tree when ,i can find a nest ,i want to take4 ,better luck next time1 ,i hope6 ,,chapter ,,xv ,leave-takings ,the precious delightful holidays at ,chagmouth seemed to be flying only too fast4 ,all the various young people were busy with their several hobbies1 but they liked to meet and compare notes about them1 and took a keen interest in one another's achievements4 ,bevis's bird-photography1 and especially his cinema camera1 was highly appreciated1 particularly by the younger members of the party1 who persistently tried to track him and follow him1 greatly to his embarrassment1 for their presence frightened the birds away and defeated the very object for which he had gone out4 ,mavis had struck up a friendship with ,miss ,lindsay and ,lorraine ,forrester1 and often went to see them at the studio which they had temporarily hired4 ,lorraine's principal branch of art was sculpture1 and she was modelling a bust of ,morland1 who came readily for sittings1 though he had refused point-blank to act model for his father4 ,the two were on terms of what ,lorraine called sensible friendship1 which ,mavis suspected might mean a good deal more some day1 if ,morland stopped merely drifting and put his shoulder in dead earnest to the wheel of life4 ,lorraine was much the stronger character of the two1 and could generally wind up ,morland's ambition while he was with her1 though it often came down again with a run as soon as her influence was removed4 ,whether or no her feelings went deeper than she would at present allow1 she was a loyal chum to him1 and almost the only person who could really persuade him to work4 ,to ,claudia also ,lorraine was a splendid friend4 ,the girls lived together at a ,students' ,hostel in ,london1 and shared all their jaunts and pleasures4 ,claudia held a scholarship at a college of music1 and was training for grand opera4 ,with her talent and lovely face she had good prospects before her1 but the ,castleton strain was strong in her1 as also in ,morland1 and it needed ,lorraine's insistent urging to make her realise that it does not do only to dream your ideals1 that you must toil at them with strong hands and earth-stained fingers1 and that on this physical plane no success can ever be achieved without hard work4 ,they'll both of them absolutely have to be towed through life6 thought ,mavis4 ,i could shake the whole family sometimes4 ,beata's the most practical1 but the others might have strayed out of a poetry book6 ,of course they're all perfectly charming and romantic1 but you want to frame them and glaze them and hang them in exhibitions1 not set them to do ordinary every-day things4 ,they don't fit somehow into the twentieth century4 ,lorraine stirs them up like yeast4 ,she'll be the making of ,morland if she elects to take on so big a job4 ,the ,ramsay girls were very much attracted by the ,macleods4 ,they liked ,fay and her father and mother1 whose experience of the world and sensible views appealed to them4 ,they often went to ,bella ,vista and enjoyed a chat1 or sat looking at ,american art magazines1 while ,morland1 who could not keep away from the grand piano1 sat improvising memories of ,debussy or compositions of his own4 ,mrs4 ,macleod was one of those delightful women who can appreciate other people's daughters as well as their own4 ,her adoration for ,fay did not hinder her from genuinely admiring ,mavis and ,merle and ,romola1 and the other young friends who flocked to her hospitable house4 ,she had a nice word for them all1 and was so sympathetic that they always wanted to tell her of their little achievements4 ,it was a most congenial atmosphere4 ,she's such a dear6 commented ,mavis4 ,now when ,fay and ,i went out painting together1 she praised my sketch1 although it was a daub compared with ,fay's6 ,once ,i was silly enough to show one of my efforts to ,mrs4 ,earnshaw2 she put on her pince-nez1 and looked at it most critically1 and said1' ,oh1 you must see ,opal's work6 ,she's done some really beautiful paintings at ,brackenfield6 ,they know how to teach there6' ,i felt so squashed6 ,mrs4 ,earnshaw is the limit6 agreed ,merle4 ,the last time ,i went to tea there-when you had a cold and couldn't go-she asked me to play the piano4 ,i'd brought my music1 but ,i didn't like to seem too anxious1 so ,i said ,i'd rather not4 ',oh1 never mind then6' she said1 'you play something1 darling6' 7to ,opal74 ,and then she whispered proudly to me1 ',opal plays magnificently since she's been to ,brackenfield6' ,i wanted to sing out ',cock-a-doodle-doo6' only ,i remembered my manners4 ,then a friend came in1 and she introduced us4 ',this is ,miss ,ramsay1' she said casually1 'and this 7with immense pride7 is our daughter ,opal6' ,i felt inclined to quote1 ',look on this picture and on that6' ,it was so evident which of us he was expected to take notice of6 ,i simply wasn't to be in it at all6 ,opal's more decent1 though1 since she's been at ,brackenfield4 ,there was room for improvement4 ,i shall never like her1 not if ,i know her to all eternity4 ,the glorious three weeks at ,chagmouth were over at last1 and there would be no more picnics on the beach1 or walks down primrose-decked lanes1 or rambles on the cliffs1 or merry parties at ,the ,haven or ,bella ,vista1 or expeditions in search of flowers or shells4 ,the girls were almost weeping when it came to saying good-bye to ,burswood ,farm1 and to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,treasure1 and ,william and little ,connie1 and ,ethel the small servant 7brought up from the village to wait on the visitors71 and ,charlie1 the boy who helped to milk the cows and weed the fields4 ,mavis and ,merle had been very busy concocting one of their wonderful rhyming effusions1 and wrote it in the ,visitors' ,book1 much to the delight of their landlady1 who appreciated such souvenirs4 ,who welcomed us to ,burswood ,farm ,amid the heart of ,devon's charm1 ,with skies so blue and seas so calm8 ',twas ,mrs4 ,treasure4 ,who was it chopped our logs of wood ,to make our fires so bright and good1 ,and brought from ,durracombe our food8 ',twas ,mr4 ,treasure4 ,who brought our luggage to the door ,and then went back to fetch some more1 ,and showed us cows and pigs galore8 ',twas ,charlie4 ,who made our boots and shoes to shine1 ,and brought us plates wherewith to dine1 ,and boiled our breakfast eggs by nine8 ',twas ,ethel4 ,who was it gave us ferns so green ,from hedges that we'd often seen1 ,and called the holiday a dream8 ',twas ,william4 ,who was it down the passage ran ,and shouted1 ',kiss me if you can6' ,and hid her face when we began8 ',twas ,connie4 ,who was it left with many a sigh1 ,as to the farm we said good-bye1 ,and wanted sheets wherein to cry8 ,we all6 ,the very best of things1 however1 must come some time to an end2 schools were reopening1 college terms recommencing1 ,mr4 ,tremayne's duties claimed him in ,london1 and1 most prosaic of all1 another batch of visitors was expected at ,burswood1 so that they could no longer have the rooms4 ,after tremendous leave-takings the jolly party separated1 ,dr4 ,ramsay fetching ,mavis and ,merle in the car1 while ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,tremayne took ,clive home with them1 for he was to try another term at his preparatory school4 ,it seemed quite quiet at ,bridge ,house without their lively young cousin1 though in some ways his absence was rather a relief4 ,after his many escapades at ,chagmouth the girls felt that discipline under a headmaster would be very wholesome for him4 ,they themselves were busy with the work of the coming term1 and not sorry to be free from his continual interruption of their preparation time4 ,there were other things besides lessons4 ,they meant to take up tennis very seriously1 and practise both on the school courts and at home4 ,miss ,mitchell was a tennis enthusiast and also ,miss ,barnes4 ,if we can only persuade ,miss ,hopkins and ,mademoiselle to do their duty we could have a match ',mistresses versus ,girls1' sighed ,merle4 ,it would be something new at ',the ,moorings1' and such an excitement for every one4 ,i wish they would6 ,if ,i were a boarder ,i'd simply make them6 ,what they want is somebody to keep them up to it4 ,day-girls are really very much hampered4 ,they haven't half a chance when they go home from school at four o'clock4 ,i really sometimes think ,i'd like to be a boarder1 just for the fun of it4 ,it is not very often we get what we want1 but on this occasion ,fortune waved a fairy wand and gave ,merle the luck she coveted4 ,it happened that the cook at ,bridge ,house developed a sore throat1 and ,dr4 ,ramsay1 having his suspicions1 had the drains examined and found them to be in an exceedingly wrong condition4 ,it was necessary to take them up at once1 and as the process would probably be unpleasant1 ,mrs4 ,ramsay arranged for the girls to stay at ',the ,moorings' until everything was once more in good sanitary condition4 ,you can't be too careful where young people are concerned1 was her motto4 ,mavis is so marvellously well now that we don't want to run any risks1 and ,merle1 too1 strong though she is1 will be better out of the way of drains4 ,we elders can take our chance4 ,to be temporarily transformed into boarders was a novel experience for the girls4 ,to ,merle it meant an opportunity for making a much more intimate acquaintance with her idol ,miss ,mitchell1 with whom she would now be at close quarters4 ,to sit at the same table with her for meals seemed an unspeakable privilege4 ,merle was at the age for enthusiastic hero-worship1 and in her eyes the popular mistress almost wore a halo4 ,that she bestowed no particular tokens of favour made the devotion none the less1 because it gave an added incentive for trying to win at least a glance or a smile4 ,though ,merle's schoolgirl affections centred in ,miss ,mitchell1 whose modern1 up-to-date1 twentieth-century methods and opinions entirely appealed to her1 ,mavis was glad to see something more of ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny4 ,she had loved ',the ,moorings' best as it was a year ago1 a little 'homey' school1 where the classes had been like working with a private governess4 ,she immensely admired the two sweet1 grey-haired sisters1 with their refined1 cultured atmosphere and beautiful1 courteous1 dignified manner4 ,they seemed the epitome of the nineteenth century1 and marked a different era1 a something very precious that was rapidly passing away4 ,if flowers are the symbols of our personalities she would have set them down as rosemary and lavender4 ,they had withdrawn almost entirely from teaching1 so that the day-girls now saw little of them1 but in the hostel they still reigned supreme1 and kept to their old custom of amusing the youngest boarders for half an hour before bedtime4 ,the elder ones1 owing to the large amount of preparation required under the new regime1 could very rarely find time now to come and join this pleasant circle1 which met in quite an informal manner in ,miss ,pollard's room4 ,to ,mavis it was a bigger attraction even than tennis1 and she would give up her turn at the courts1 or would hurry over her home-work1 in order to creep in among the juniors for that cosy half-hour4 ,have you written down any more ,devonshire folk-tales8 she asked once4 ,i do so love your stories of the neighbourhood4 ,it makes the pixies seem almost real when you tell about them6 ,they seemed real to the old people from whom ,i heard them years ago1 and who had learnt them from their grandfathers and great-grandfathers4 ,i loved them when ,i was a child4 ,yes2 they're written in my little manuscript book4 ,i put them carefully down for fear ,i might forget them4 ,read you one8 ,if the others would like it6 ,we haven't had a fairy tale for quite a long time1 have we1 ,doreen8 ,as the younger children plumped for a story1 ,miss ,pollard fetched her manuscript volume1 and hunted for something they had not yet heard4 ,she was a most excellent reader1 having that charm of voice and vividness of expression which makes a narrative live before its hearers4 ,it was as if some electric cord linked her with those who listened1 and restless little fidgets would sit quite quietly for as long as she chose to go on4 ,the tale which she selected to-night was3 ,,ginnifer',s ,,dowry ,in the days when good ,king ,arthur ruled all the west country from ,exeter to ,land's ,end1 a maiden named ,ginnifer lived with her father in a little1 round1 stone hut on the top of ,dartmoor4 ,they were poor1 but she was a good girl1 and she could spin1 and weave baskets1 and do many things about the house4 ,one day a young hunter knocked at the door and asked for hospitality1 and as there was much game to be had in the neighbourhood he remained for many weeks as a guest of the cottage1 going out every day fishing or fowling1 and sharing his captures with his hosts4 ,no doubt ,ginnifer's blue eyes and gentle glances were the main attraction1 and in a short time indeed the young folk became attached to one another4 ,it was only when ,ginnifer's father at length questioned the youth1 that he confessed to being the son of the great lord of the neighbourhood1 who lived in the big ,castle beside the river beyond the moor4 ,this was sad news for ,ginnifer1 for in those days a young noble might not wed with a poor girl1 and must marry a bride who could bring a rich dowry with her of jewels and ornaments and silver money4 ,so she quietly told her sweetheart to go back to his father1 and learn to forget her2 and he went away very sadly1 vowing he would get permission to return and marry her1 or else he would never wed anyone4 ,when he was gone1 ,ginnifer went out over the moor among the heather1 where she might fight her grief alone1 with only the birds and the flowers to see her weep4 ,she lay on the short moorland grass among the sweet bog-myrtle and asphodel1 until the sun was setting in a red ball over the hillside4 ,then1 all of a sudden1 she heard a rustling and a whispering like countless leaves blown by an autumn wind4 ,who is this8 said a voice4 ,who dares to lie in our pixie ring8 ,it's a mortal6 ,a mortal6 cried another4 ,ginnifer raised her head4 ,all the moor was alive with tiny pixies1 whose green garments were like moving fronds of fern4 ,they crowded eagerly round her4 ,it's ,ginnifer6 they said4 ,ginnifer who lives in the stone hut on the moor6 ,ginnifer who tended the plover with the broken wing1 and watered the harebells that were withering in the burning sun1 and who treads so lightly that the birds don't trouble to fly away from her4 ,we know her kindness and her gentle heart1 for the 'good folk' watch over the children of the earth1 and1 unseen1 we have followed her through all her simple life4 ,pretty ,ginnifer1 tell us your trouble4 ,the pixies cannot bear to see you weep4 ,they stroked her hair with their tiny fingers1 they bathed her eyes with dewdrops and wiped them with the petals of a wild rose4 ,at first ,ginnifer was frightened1 but the little folk were so kind that she took courage and told them her trouble4 ,they began to dance and jump about with delight1 and clapped their little hands4 ,is that all8 they shouted4 ,would he wed you if you were a great lady8 ,tell us what dowry his father would expect his bride to bring8 ,silks and jewels6 sobbed poor ,ginnifer1 and rich embroidered dresses1 and trinkets of gold1 and caskets of silver money6 ,and ,i have nothing at all6 ,the pixies laughed lustily1 throwing up their wee green caps into the air and catching them again for sheer joy4 ,ginnifer dear6 ,we'll find you your dowry6 ,quick6 ,let us set to work6 ,we must finish our task before daybreak4 ,by this time the moon had risen and had flooded the moor with light4 ,like a flight of busy buzzing bees the little people went flitting up and down4 ,they pulled the gossamer from the gorse bushes and wove it into the finest silk2 they caught the great brown moths and sheared their soft fur and spun it on the daintiest little spinning-wheels in the world2 and with skilful touches they wove together the harebells and the wild rose petals into the most wonderful of embroidered gowns4 ,the tears which ,ginnifer had shed in her sorrow lay shining among the grass1 and gathered up by magic fingers they turned into pearls and diamonds fit for a queen4 ,the gorse flowers became golden ornaments1 and the little smooth pebbles in the brook changed into pieces of silver money4 ,the pixies dressed ,ginnifer in the softest of the gossamer silk robes1 they clasped the golden bracelets round her arms and twisted diamonds into her hair4 ,now she is a fairy princess1 they said4 ,there is none lovelier in all ,elfland4 ,we must build her a palace worthy of her6 ,hither and thither they ran1 gathering up the dewdrops1 and piling them one above the other till the most wonderful ,castle rose up on the hillside3 as clear as glass1 it shone with all the colours of the rainbow1 and here they stored the silks and the beautiful ornaments and the caskets of silver money4 ,next morning ,ginnifer's lover came riding back to tell her that his father forbade the match1 but that he meant to marry her whether or no4 ,and lo and behold6 he found her at the door of a pixie palace1 and directly he set foot inside it1 it sank through the ground and carried them both with it into ,elfland4 ,and there they have lived ever since1 as happy as the pixies themselves1 though no one on earth saw them any more4 ,but sometimes when the late sickle moon shines over the moor1 travellers who have lost their way have been set in the right path by a lovely lady in gauzy green garments1 who sprang up1 as it seemed1 from nowhere1 and vanished away again into the mist1 and to this day the children1 hunting for bilberries on the hillside1 call the shining dewdrops ',ginnifer's tears4' ,have you ever seen any pixies yourself1 ,miss ,pollard8 asked ,doreen eagerly4 ,no2 but ,i've seen the dewdrops shining just like diamonds1 and ,i've seen the mist make wonderful pixie castles in the moonlight4 ,we can live in a fairy world of our own if we look at the right things4 ,it depends on your eyes4 ,those people who keep their childhood have the pixies all round them4 ,you have6 said ,mavis1 as ,miss ,pollard rose to say good-night to her circle of listeners4 ,you're like ,peter ,pan1 and never grow old6 ,i had such a happy childhood6 ,and it seemed so much the best part of life that ,i've always been reluctant to let the glamour go4 ,children ought to be brought up on fairy tales6 ,they're incipient poetry1 and should be woven into the web of our lives as a beautiful border1 before all the dark prose part follows4 ,if the shuttle only weaves matter-of- fact threads it spoils the pattern6 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,the ,tadpole ,club ,it was quite interesting to be a boarder at ',the ,moorings1' though it had its more sober side1 particularly for ,merle4 ,her trouble lay in the fact that though she was a school officer from #i ,a4,m4 to #d ,p4,m41 out of those hours her authority was non-existent4 ,iva and ,nesta were hostel monitresses1 and they had quite plainly and firmly given her to understand that they did not expect any interference4 ,they were perfectly within their rights1 and ,merle knew it1 but she chafed nevertheless4 ,the fact was that ,iva and ,nesta1 accustomed to the old traditions of ',the ,moorings1' when there were only about a dozen boarders1 were quite unable to cope with the new order of things1 and girls who had been to other schools took decided advantage of their slackness4 ,merle1 whose motto was 'once a monitress always a monitress1' could not see why she might reprove ,norma ,bradley in the playground1 but must allow that damsel ostentatiously to do exactly the same act in the recreation room under her very nose4 ,it's so bad for the kids6 she raged4 ,they know ,iva and ,nesta are weak and just pretend not to notice1 so as to have no fuss4 ,i'm sure ,miss ,mitchell can't know all that goes on or she'd make some different arrangement4 ,you feel in another element when you get into the hostel4 ,it's 'do as you like and don't bother me so long as you don't go too far and aren't found out4' ,it might be all very well in the old days last year1 but it's wrecking the show now4 ,i wouldn't have believed it if ,i didn't see it with my own eyes4 ,the chief offenders were three ,third form girls1 ,norma ,bradley1 ,biddy ,adams1 and ,daisy ,donovan1 who1 with those former firebrands ,winnie ,osborne and ,joyce ,colman1 had formed a kind of ,cabal1 whose object seemed to be to find out how far rules might be evaded4 ,they've more time than we have1 and they simply 'rag' about and 'play the giddy goat'6 complained ,merle to her sister4 ,they don't seem to have enough to do with their spare time1 commented ,mavis4 ,it's all very well to say they must have absolute recreation1 but both they and the babies turn it into a sort of bear-garden4 ,you were rather a terror yourself when you were that age6 ,i remember ,mother used to quote1 ',satan finds some mischief still for idle hands'4 ,was ,i8 ,and now ,i'm a monitress6 ,it makes all the difference when you're in authority1 and have some stake in the school4 ,this chance remark set ,merle thinking1 and she thought to some purpose4 ,her natural disposition was always to obtain results by blunt1 matter-of- fact methods4 ,in school her policy was1 ',come along with you now1 ,i'm not going to have any nonsense6' ,backed by her position1 her strong personality1 and her prowess at games it succeeded4 ,but here in the hostel1 if she wished to effect any improvements1 she must go about it another way4 ,the old fable of the wind and the sun would apply1 school breezes would be useless1 and she must switch on the love-radiator and try smiling4 ,i believe ,i was rather a terror at twelve1 she acknowledged to herself4 ,it's such a tiresome age2 you're no longer a pet lamb1 and yet you're not a senior4 ,you get all the snubs and none of the kisses4 ,i used to long to do a little bossing on my own1 instead of trailing like a comet's tail after the big girls4 ,what those kids want is a properly organised club4 ,they'd work the steam off in that4 ,i've a very good mind to draw up a scheme1 show it to ,miss ,mitchell1 and ask her if ,i may start it among the juniors4 ,if ,i have her leave1 then ,iva and ,nesta can't call it interfering4 ,it took ,merle a little trouble to evolve her idea1 but with a remembrance of ,girl ,guiding she decided on forming a company corresponding to the ,brownies1 the objects of which should be to train its members to win various school honours4 ,it was to have its own officers1 and its own committees1 and to concentrate upon cricket practice1 badminton1 and net- ball1 as well as ,first ,aid1 knot-tying1 and signalling4 ,feeling rather nervous and a little uncertain whether she would meet with approval or a rebuff1 she carried her scheme to ,miss ,mitchell's study4 ,the mistress listened quite composedly and thought for a moment or two4 ,you may try it1 ,merle1 if you can persuade the children to join1 she said at length4 ,you have my full sanction1 and you may tell them so4 ,we'll see how it succeeds4 ,it was something to have leave from headquarters4 ,merle hurried away and lost no time in collecting the junior boarders1 who came to her meeting out of sheer curiosity to see what she could possibly want with them4 ,for once blunt plain-spoken ,merle was silver-tongued1 and advocated her club with all the ingenuity of which she was capable4 ,a school is no good if it depends entirely on its elder girls1 she said artfully4 ,in a year or two they'll have left1 and it's the middle forms who'll be at the top4 ,if those middle forms will only begin and train themselves now1 they'll be champions by the time they reach the ,sixth1 and there'd be some sense in making fixtures for tennis and cricket4 ,it generally takes a school years before it begins to win matches4 ,why8 ,because it must train its champions1 of course4 ,you 7nodding at the ,cabal7 are the sort who ought to win cups and shields for ',the ,moorings' in another four years or so4 ,and it's your business to teach the younger ones4 ,i saw ,doreen and ,elsbeth playing cricket with ,joyce to-day in a way that absolutely made me shudder4 ,she should show them how to hold their bats1 and never allow leg-before-wicket even with the veriest kid4 ,it's no use letting them start bad habits1 is it8 ,my suggestion is that you form yourselves into a club2 let the elder ones be officers1 and give efficiency badges for certain things4 ,you've so much more time than we seniors have1 that you ought to get on like a house on fire4 ,you'd be laying the foundations of some very good work later on4 ,i should call you the ',pioneers1' because you'd be starting on a new venture to spread the fame of ',the ,moorings4' ,what d'you think about it8 ,the idea decidedly appealed to the juniors4 ,it was far more flattering to be told they were the coming strength of the school than that they were nuisances and in the way of the older girls4 ,moreover1 the notion of being officers was attractive to such temperaments as ,winnie's1 ,biddy's1 and ,daisy's4 ,they thought they should rather enjoy training the younger ones1 and giving their opinions at committee meetings4 ,it was so dull simply to form audiences while the seniors did the talking4 ,i vote we do6 said ,winnie1 looking at the rest of the ,cabal1 who nodded approvingly in reply4 ,very well4 ,you must organise your own committees1 but ,i think every now and then there should be an inspection to show how you're getting on4 ,you can choose any one you like for your commissioner4 ,a teacher if you want4 ,might as well have you as anybody6 murmured ,winnie4 ,you can decide that later4 ,what ,i advise you to do is to hold a committee among yourselves1 write down your officers and your rules and everything1 and then set to work4 ,the plan answered admirably1 from the mere fact that it gave the restless juniors something definite to do in their recreation time4 ,instead of tearing aimlessly about and getting into mischief1 they suddenly became the most busy little mortals1 and absolutely bristled with importance4 ,their committees were conducted with as much solemnity as the meetings of ,cabinet ministers to decide the fate of a nation4 ,they had taken the burden of the future success of the school upon their youthful shoulders1 and it gave them huge satisfaction to think that so much depended upon them4 ,they practised cricket quite diligently1 and made even the youngest observe the rules1 and they bandaged one another's arms and legs in well-meant efforts at ambulance work4 ,their ambition soared as high as a debating society1 where they evidently allowed full freedom of speech on popular topics1 for ,mavis1 by mistake getting hold of one of their secret notices1 found the subject for discussion was3 ,monnitresses4 ,are they a ,neccessary ,evil8 ,she showed it to ,merle with much amusement4 ,i should suggest1 ',need ,spelling copy the ,dictionary8' for their next debate6 she laughed4 ,i wish ,i could creep in1 ,merle1 and hear them slanging you four4 ,i expect they'll give you some hard hits4 ,how priceless they are6 ,with the exception of ,mavis the elder girls were not entirely in sympathy with the new movement4 ,they considered the ,pioneers exhibited signs of swollen head1 and nicknamed their society the ',tadpole ,club1' declaring its members to be still in that elementary stage of their development4 ,they made very merry at their expense1 and poked fun at ,merle for having evolved the idea4 ,have you arranged for the ,queen to come down and inspect them8 asked ,nesta sarcastically4 ,no one but royalty is good enough6 ,by the time they've worked their way up into the ,sixth the school will be so reformed it'll be a pattern for all ,england4 ,i think we seniors had better retire gracefully now and have done with it4 ,we don't seem of much account according to their notions4 ,one of them actually had the impudence to criticise my bowling yesterday6 ,yes2 and the little beggar was right too6 put in ,iva4 ,you'll have to buck up over cricket1 old sport6 ,it never was your strong point1 you know6 ,well1 ,i'm not going to be corrected by a kid of eleven at any rate6 fumed ,nesta4 ,though the seniors might be scornful1 indignant1 or otherwise hostile towards the ,tadpole ,club1 it certainly had the effect of increasing their own efforts and making them keep up their standards4 ,a craze came over the school for physical fitness and efficiency1 and the most persistent shirkers were forced by public opinion into exerting themselves4 ,miss ,mitchell said little1 but her hazel eyes saw everything that was going on4 ,her manner towards ,merle1 which had been rather off-hand1 gradually softened1 and though she showed her no special favour1 she gave her1 on one occasion1 a word of praise4 ,you've shown me that you possess certain powers of organisation1 and that you know how to use your influence1 she remarked4 ,and ,merle1 to whom ,miss ,mitchell's good opinion seemed almost the most important thing in the world1 went about as if she were treading on air1 and repeated the precious sentence to herself as proudly as if it were a patent of nobility4 ,she wouldn't notice me when ,i used to bring her flowers6 thought ,merle4 ,it's only when ,i've done something for the school that she really cares4 ,some day1 perhaps1 ,i'll make her like me for myself6 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,the ,fourth of ,july ,mavis and ,merle went home to ,bridge ,house feeling as if they had had a peep at the inner life of ',the ,moorings4' ,they had seen fresh aspects of ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny1 and though ,merle could not honestly assure herself that she knew ,miss ,mitchell any better than before1 she had at least the remembrance of a few words of approval4 ,i'm afraid she's one of those people whom you never do get to know very well6 ruminated ,merle4 ,you go a little way1 but never any further4 ,we see the school side of her1 and a quite jolly-all-round-to-everybody holiday afternoon side4 ,i wonder what she's like to her private friends1 and at home8 ,miss ,mitchell1 however1 was not at all disposed to make a confidante of any of her pupils1 particularly of a girl who was not yet sixteen1 and much preferred to preserve business-like relations and confine her conversation to school topics1 than to give any details of her private life4 ,she made it quite manifest that whoever wished to please her must do so on general and not individual grounds1 so ,merle accepted the inevitable1 and worked very hard in class and at preparation1 making a sudden burst of progress in her lessons that astonished herself even more than everybody else4 ,it meant a certain amount of heroism to stick steadily to her books on glorious summer evenings1 when even her own family tempted her to play tennis or go out in the car4 ,most of the other members of the ,fifth form showed a marked slacking off in their homework1 particularly the day-girls1 whose preparation was not regulated4 ,the ,castletons1 who had another wee baby brother at home1 declared they found so much to do on their return that it was impossible to spend long over their lessons4 ,violet's not very strong1 and she's often just about done in when we get back1 explained ,beata to ,mavis4 ,romola and ,i take the baby and put the kids to bed1 so as to give her a rest4 ,i can't tell that to ,miss ,mitchell as an excuse for not having touched my ,latin1 but it's the truth4 ,what else can ,i do8 ,we've only one maid1 and she's busy in the kitchen4 ,somebody has to look after the children6 ,and ,mavis1 who adored the new ,castleton baby1 and would have flung lessons to the winds to nurse it1 cordially agreed with her4 ,another girl whose work suffered in summer1 though for a different reason1 was ,fay4 ,her father was better in health1 but he still needed somebody to interest him and keep him amused1 and found no more lively companion than his own daughter4 ,he had taught her to row1 and wanted her to go out boating with him now the evenings were so long and light4 ,never mind your prep6 ,it's more important to help to get ,father well6 ,mrs4 ,macleod would say4 ,he looks forward so much to this rowing1 and the exercise is good for him4 ,we want a companionable daughter1 not a ,minerva1 and you may tell ,miss ,mitchell so with my compliments if she grumbles4 ,if we can't have any of your society when you get home1 you might as well be away at boarding-school4 ,i bargained with ,miss ,pollard that you weren't to be overworked4 ,fay was clever1 and a hasty run through her books usually served to make her pass muster in class4 ,she was a jolly and amusing girl1 and was generally the life and soul of the 'sardine' party4 ,she was great chums with the ,castletons1 though she sparred occasionally with ,tattie ,carew or with ,nan ,colville4 ,the latter gave general offence because she always insisted upon taking up more than her fair share of room in the crowded car4 ,she would wear her satchel1 and let its knobby corners press against her expostulating neighbour1 or she would spread out her elbows instead of keeping them by her side4 ,one day ,nan1 after a scrimmage on the way to school1 begged a lift back from ,babbie4 ,but we don't go down the hill to ,chagmouth1 objected ,babbie1 who had received instructions from her mother to allow the 'sardines' to use their own car1 and not to offer to motor any of them4 ,we turn off at the cross-roads to go to ,the ,warren4 ,i know4 ,but you always start first1 and you could leave me at the cross-roads1 and the others would pick me up as they passed4 ,be a sport1 ,babbie6 ,all right4 ,you can come if you like4 ,now it happened that ,fay overheard ,nan telling ,lizzie that she would wait at the cross-roads1 and further witnessed the magnificent start in the ,glyn ,williams' car4 ,too good for us to-day1 are you8 she murmured4 ,then ,i think you may just do without us altogether6 ,i've got a brain throb6 ,it'll serve you right1 ,miss ,nan ,colville6 ,fay went privately to ,mr4 ,vicary and asked him if he would mind driving them home that afternoon by ,brendon1 which was a slightly different route from their ordinary one4 ,i want to call for a parcel there1 she explained4 ,as it happens1 ,i have an errand ,i can do there too1 agreed ,mr4 ,vicary4 ,it won't take above five minutes or so longer1 ,i daresay4 ,that's all right then4 ,by the by1 ,miss ,colville won't be with us to-day4 ,miss ,williams is motoring her home4 ,yes2 ,i saw them set off4 ,fay took care that ,lizzie ,colville sat at the back of the car that afternoon and not in front with ,mr4 ,vicary4 ,she stifled her objections when they turned off in the direction of ,brendon4 ,i tell you ,mr4 ,vicary has to go on an errand and so have ,i1 so just shut up6 ,nan8 ,if she chooses to wait at the cross-roads it's her own fault4 ,she should have come with us4 ,the 'sardine-tin' entered ,chagmouth that afternoon from the direction of ,brendon1 and ,nan1 after sitting a long time by the roadside expecting its appearance1 gave it up and walked the rest of the way home1 very annoyed at the trick that had been played her4 ,you shouldn't have let them1 ,lizzie6 she scolded4 ,how could ,i help it8 ,fay wouldn't let me speak1 and ,mr4 ,vicary just flew on to ,brendon4 ,why didn't ,babbie take you into ,chagmouth8 ,she never even suggested it4 ,i don't know which is the meaner1 she or ,fay6 grumbled ,nan4 ,on the ,fourth of ,july1 ,fay went to school determined to have what she termed 'a real good time1' and to celebrate appropriately the great anniversary of ,american independence4 ,she armed herself with her national flag and a box of sugared popcorns1 a delicacy which was unknown at ,durracombe shops1 and had been specially sent for from ,london4 ,as she passed these round generously1 the 'sardines' fell in with her mood and vowed to stand by her at school1 and help to celebrate the honour and glory of the ,stars and ,stripes4 ,i didn't make much fuss of my own birthday1 but ,i'm wrought up over this6 declared ,fay4 ,it's a shame there isn't a public holiday4 ,i'd like to fire a cannon4 ,couldn't get any crackers at those wretched shops in ,chagmouth either4 ,d'you want crackers8 ,rather6 ,they had a lot of fireworks last ,november at ,hodges' in ,durracombe4 ,perhaps they'd have some left4 ,oh1 good bizz6 ,we'll stop in the ,high ,street and see1 before we go into school4 ,they were in excellent time1 so they called a halt at ,hodges' shop and dismissed the car4 ,the assistant1 after searching in various drawers and boxes1 produced a small supply of surplus fireworks1 which ,fay eagerly purchased1 being also provident enough to remember to buy a box of matches4 ,she pranced into school in the highest of spirits1 flaunting her flag1 and stuck it in a conspicuous place in the classroom1 where ,miss ,mitchell eyed it indeed with some astonishment1 but offered no remonstrance4 ,at eleven o'clock interval the fun began4 ,fay and her confederates retired to a secluded part of the garden and began to let off squibs and crackers1 the sound therefrom drawing an interested and excited little crowd1 who hopped about squealing at the explosions1 and were immensely thrilled at the audacity of such a performance on school premises4 ,they're great6 ,hold me down1 or ,i'll fly off in sparks6 ,fay1 you are the limit6 ,it's a brainy notion6 ,wow6 ,don't set me on fire6 ,goody6 ,here's ,miss ,fanny coming6 ,it was a decidedly wrathful ,miss ,fanny who descended upon them1 and promptly confiscated the few fireworks that were left4 ,most dangerous6 she remarked indignantly4 ,you might easily1 some of you1 have been burnt4 ,really1 ,fay1 ,i'm surprised4 ,a girl in the ,fifth form ought to know better4 ,go back all of you at once4 ,and don't let such a thing ever happen again6 ,the confederates had been lucky enough to have almost finished their display before ,miss ,fanny appeared on the scene1 so they bore the loss of the last three squibs with equanimity4 ,if ,miss ,fanny had only been an ,american she'd have helped to let them off herself instead of interfering6 protested ,fay4 ,i haven't worked my spirits off yet1 so ,i warn you6 ,we'll do something mad after dinner4 ,what8 ,i haven't quite fixed it up yet1 but ,i'll tell you later on4 ,the girls from ,chagmouth dined daily with the boarders in the hostel1 and were on very good terms with most of them4 ,fay could therefore be tolerably sure of a certain amount of support in any scheme she chose to evolve4 ,she thought things over during the ,french class1 a process of mental abstraction which brought the wrath of ,mademoiselle on to her head1 for she answered at random and made some really idiotic mistakes1 at which the other girls giggled4 ,you didn't shine this morning1 old sport6 whispered ,beata when the class was over4 ,i believe ,mademoiselle thought you were ragging her6 ,i wasn't doing anything of the sort4 ,can't you all realise it's the ,fourth of ,july8 ,you've mentioned that once or twice before6 ,well1 ,i'll mention it again4 ,of course ,i focus my mind on ,america1 not on ,france6 ,you can't expect me to go jabbering ,french when ,i think of the times my friends will be having to-day on the other side of the ,atlantic4 ,i've had rather a brain throb though4 ,we'll dress up after dinner in anything we can borrow1 and have a parade on the tennis lawn1 with prizes for best costumes4 ,who's to give the prizes8 ,i will4 ,i'll ask ,maude to buy me some packets of candy when she goes home1 and bring them to school this afternoon4 ,they'll do all right4 ,fay was discreet enough not to mention her project to ,iva or ,nesta1 in case1 being hostel monitresses1 they might have felt bound to offer conscientious objections4 ,members of the ,fourth and ,third forms1 however1 jumped at the idea of an impromptu fancy-dress parade1 and the moment they were released from the dining-room they tore off to array themselves4 ,it was already a quarter to two1 and school would begin again at #b4cj1 so there was no time to be lost if the thing was to be done at all4 ,i give every one a quarter of an hour to dress6 declared ,fay4 ,you've got to be on the lawn when the clock strikes two4 ,anybody who's late will be disqualified from the competition4 ,who's to judge8 asked ,kitty4 ,votes1 of course6 ,don't stand asking questions4 ,hurry up1 if you're going to be in it6 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,fourth ,,of ,,july ,,parade ,a quarter of an hour is very scant time in which to robe in fancy costume1 but most of the girls had decided during dinner what they meant to be4 ,romola flew to the kitchen and borrowed an apron from the cook1 tied a duster round her head1 seized up a pail and a carpet-sweeper1 and came as ',domestic ,service4' ,beata commandeered the boarders' bath-towels and appeared as an ,arab1 in robe and turban4 ,peggie1 with her dormitory eider-down for a train1 was a court lady4 ,catie draped a scarf over her hair and shoulders and1 holding a bedroom jug aloft on her head1 posed as ,rebecca at the well4 ,nan and ,tattie1 wrapt in identical blankets1 were ,tweedledum and ,tweedledee4 ,winnie1 with a painted moustache and a dressing-gown1 was a ,turk4 ,nita slipped on a night-dress and clutched a bedroom candlestick2 ,joyce rolled an enormous brown-paper cigar which she pretended to be puffing4 ,but perhaps the best of all was ,fay herself as the ,american eagle4 ,she borrowed two mackintoshes and fastened them to her shoulders1 securing the other ends to blackboard pointers which she held in each hand4 ,by extending her arms at full width she gave the impression of wings and flapped wildly round the lawn1 the illusion being furthered by a brown-paper head-dress with a long twist to resemble a beak4 ,when the day-girls returned after dinner they were electrified to find this extraordinary assemblage parading upon the lawn4 ,by this time both monitresses and mistresses had caught glimpses from the window and came hurrying out to see what was happening4 ,fortunately ,miss ,mitchell1 who arrived first on the scene1 took it in what the girls called 'a thoroughly sporting fashion4' ,she laughed1 and congratulated the wearers upon the excellence of their hasty costumes4 ,we must have another parade some day1 when we've more time to prepare for it1 she said4 ,perhaps ,i'll come in costume myself then4 ,the ,american eagle is simply immense6 ,i give ,fay my vote for first prize6 ,hands up all who agree6 ,but ,i'm giving the prize1 so ,i can't take it myself6 protested ,fay4 ,that doesn't matter at all if you've won it4 ,i think ,tweedledum and ,tweedledee should divide the second4 ,best divide the candy all round1 said ,fay1 receiving the packets from ,maude1 and sharing them among the competitors4 ,thanks awfully1 ,miss ,mitchell1 for coming to look at us4 ,i couldn't let the ,fourth of ,july go by without taking some notice of it6 ,it wouldn't have been loyal to ,america1 would it8 ,you've certainly stood up for the honour of the ,stars and ,stripes6 laughed ,miss ,mitchell4 ,now suppose you all go and take these things off again as fast as you can4 ,my watch is exactly right1 and the bell will ring in another five minutes4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,love-in-a-,mist ,the next event of any special importance in the ,ramsays' world was ,mavis's birthday4 ,she was seventeen now1 and was so much taller and stronger since she had come to live in ,devonshire that her mother declared their old friends in the north would hardly know her4 ,she was still more fragile-looking than ,merle1 but her attacks of bronchitis were luckily things of the past1 and she was rapidly outgrowing all her former delicacy4 ,many things which had been prohibited before were allowed her now1 and her father's present was a new bicycle and the permission to ride it4 ,her mother gave her a sketching easel and ,merle a camp-stool1 for painting was at present her favourite hobby1 and ,uncle ,david and ,aunt ,nellie were lavish in books and music4 ,from ,bevis arrived a wooden box containing a kittiwake1 which he had stuffed himself1 with wings outspread4 ,there was a hook in its back so that it could be suspended by a piece of thread from the ceiling to look as if it were flying4 ,in its beak ,bevis had placed a note4 ,i didn't shoot it1 he explained4 ,i know you hate to think of any one killing them4 ,i found it dead on the shore1 so thought you might just as well have it stuffed4 ,i'm so glad it wasn't shot on purpose1 poor dear thing6 said tender- hearted ,mavis4 ,aren't its feathers soft and lovely8 ,i shall hang it to the beam in our bedroom1 and it will always seem like a little bit of ,chagmouth when we wake in the mornings4 ,it looks just exactly as if it were alive4 ,how clever of ,bevis to stuff it so well4 ,at ',the ,moorings' the matter of most vital interest was the arrival of a large wooden hut1 which ,miss ,pollard had bought from the ,government1 and which was erected in a corner of the garden close to the house4 ,now that numbers had increased so much in the school extra accommodation was urgently needed1 and the new building would serve for a gymnasium1 and as a room for lectures and meetings4 ,the great matter for speculation was whether it would be finished in time for term-end festivities4 ,miss ,pollard1 urged on by ,miss ,mitchell1 contemplated inviting parents and friends to a formal ,speech ,day1 an affair upon which she had never ventured before4 ,unless the hut was ready it would be impossible to accommodate so many people1 so she hurried on the work and hoped for the best4 ,it was a great amusement to her pupils to watch the various parts being fitted together1 and to see the corrugated iron roof fastened on4 ,they rejoiced immensely when at last a flag floated from the top4 ,mr4 ,perkins says he can undertake to have all perfectly ready by the #beth4 ,i can send out my invitations now6 purred ,miss ,pollard4 ,before ,speech ,day1 however1 must come the inevitable examinations4 ,everybody felt they were much more wearing in ,july than at ,christmas or ,easter1 owing to the heat1 and also to the fact that they covered the work of the whole school year1 and not merely that of a single term4 ,mavis did her utmost but had to struggle with bad headaches1 and realised that she had not done herself justice4 ,merle slogged away grimly1 with ink-stained fingers and her hair tied tightly back because of the heat4 ,she had never really taken so much pains over an examination before1 and had never found herself so well prepared4 ,quite to her surprise her brains felt clear and collected1 and her mental car seemed to whizz along so fast it quite exceeded the speed limit4 ,no other girl in the form wrote so many sheets as she did or answered such a large proportion of the questions4 ,at the end of the week1 tired1 nervy1 and decidedly cross1 she nevertheless felt some satisfaction over the papers she had sent in4 ,every one in the ,fifth had little doubt about the results1 and public opinion was justified1 for ,merle came out top in almost every subject1 gaining an average of #ia per cent on the whole exam4 ,she had expected to do well1 but was quite staggered at this success1 for ,muriel1 ,iva1 and ,nesta1 her usual rivals1 were left far and away behind4 ,they were sporting enough to give her their congratulations4 ,it means first prize1 old thing6 ,won't we give you a clap as you march on to the platform6 said ,iva4 ,miss ,pollard was determined to do this1 her first ,speech ,day1 in style2 the chair was to be taken by a local magnate1 and the prizes distributed by a real live professor from ,oxford1 who was spending his vacation in the neighbourhood4 ,there was a tremendous business moving forms and chairs into the newly-erected hut1 and decorating the platform with pots of plants and ferns4 ,all the pupils were dressed in white and wore their best hair ribbons4 ,mavis was feeling sad and sentimental1 for it was her last term4 ,she was to leave ',the ,moorings' and concentrate her energies on music1 and on lessons in painting from ,mr4 ,castleton1 which would suit her far better than the strenuous work of the ,sixth form4 ,to the girls1 and especially the younger ones1 this first public function at school was not altogether unmixed bliss4 ,they were obliged to sit as quiet as rows of little angels1 packed tightly together on forms without backs1 and to listen to interminable speeches about subjects which they only half understood1 the main points of which seemed to be1 however1 that ,miss ,pollard and ,miss ,fanny and ,miss ,mitchell and all the teachers and all the pupils were much to be congratulated1 and everybody must remember that ',rome was not built in a day4' ,nor the hut either6 whispered ,winnie to her chum1 applying the proverb too literally4 ,i wish they'd seen it before the roof was on6 ',how the creatures talk6' quoted ,joyce1 from ,alice in ,wonderland4 ,i'm bored to tears6 ,the prize-giving part was more interesting4 ,as the names were called1 each winner in turn walked up to the platform1 received her book1 bowed more or less gracefully1 and retired4 ,the applause was a welcome relief to the rank and file1 who were tired of sitting at such exemplary attention4 ,it was over at last1 and the visitors went to be shown round the school and to be regaled with tea in the dining-room4 ,professor ,hartley1 in cap and gown1 had crossed the garden to the hostel1 and the pupils1 some of them suffering from pins and needles1 were free to disperse4 ,it was the breaking-up for the day-girls1 and to-morrow morning the boarders would be sent home4 ,just a word with you1 ,merle6 said ,miss ,mitchell1 calling the latter into the study by herself4 ,i want to tell you that ,i'm pleased with your work4 ,you've made an effort and shown me what you can do4 ,next term we shall have a ,sixth form1 and ,miss ,pollard agrees with me that it will be advisable to appoint a head girl4 ,that position will fall to you1 not only because you're top in the exams1 but because we think you have fitted yourself to take it4 ,a head girl is no use unless she can lead2 ,i've been watching you all the year1 and you've shown me lately that you understand what is expected4 ,the school is still in an elementary stage1 but it has improved immensely1 and next year ,i trust you to do your very best for it4 ,oh1 thank you1 ,miss ,mitchell6 gasped ,merle1 almost too overwhelmed for words4 ,to be thus chosen out and selected by her idol was a most happy ending to the term1 and offered golden opportunities in the coming ,september4 ,it meant more to her even than her prize4 ,she went at once to tell the good news to her sister4 ,i don't like to cackle too loudly1 because of ,muriel and ,nesta1 said ,mavis4 ,but ,i am proud of you6 ,it's been worth the grind1 hasn't it8 ,rather6 ,though ,i'm yearning for the holidays4 ,shall we go to ,chagmouth on ,saturday8 ,oh1 yes6 ,bevis breaks up to-morrow1 and ,i expect he'll be at ,grimbal's ,farm by then4 ,it's his last term at school as well as mine4 ,i wonder how he feels about leaving8 ,i promised1 too1 to call and see the ,castletons4 ,when the girls reached home1 there was a letter on the table for ,mavis in ,clive's handwriting4 ,they heard from the boy every now and then1 though he was not a particularly good correspondent4 ,this epistle1 which had apparently been penned on ,sunday1 was mostly a summary of cricket and anticipations of his holidays4 ,it ended3 ,your affec'ate coz1 ,,clive4 ,p4,s4--,meant to send you this snap before4 ,isn't it priceless8 ,the sting of a scorpion is in its tail4 ,mavis stooped down and picked up the little photo which had fallen from the envelope on to the floor4 ,clive had used his ,brownie camera at ,chagmouth and had promised to post them the results1 but had forgotten4 ,this solitary print represented ,bevis--there was no mistaking ,bevis--but ,mavis bent over it with puzzled eyes1 for clasped tightly in his arms with her head laid upon his shoulder was a girl4 ,merle1 who snatched the photo away to look at it1 decided her identity at once4 ,why1 it's ,romola6 ,that's the artistic blue dress that ,violet made for her6 ,so it is6 ,where's her plait1 though8 ,hidden behind her1 ,i suppose4 ,i say6 ,they're coming it rather strong1 aren't they8 ,yes4 ,i shouldn't have thought that of ,bevis6 ,no more should ,i6 7,merle was looking annoyed47 ,i'd no idea he could be so silly4 ,i shall rag him about this1 you bet6 ,i wouldn't6 7,mavis's voice was very quiet47 ,romola is so pretty6 ,perhaps he likes her6 ,well1 it's the first ,i've seen of it4 ,he's a sly-boots if he does4 ,somehow it doesn't seem to fit in with ,bevis4 ,i'm cross with him4 ,when did ,clive take this amazing snap8 ,i wonder he didn't send it on to us before4 ,i think it's not worth keeping1 if you ask me6 and ,merle1 tearing the photo into bits1 tossed it into the waste-paper basket4 ,bevis is our friend--not the ,castletons'6 she added1 stumping away most decidedly cross1 and if he's going in for rubbish like this with ,romola1 he shan't call me ,soeurette again6 ,he needn't think it4 ,i'll not be a sister to ,romola6 ,i declare ,i won't6 ,the sneak6 ,but these latter sentiments were muttered to herself1 and she took good care that ,mavis should not overhear them4 ,on ,saturday morning ,merle had a bilious headache1 took some breakfast in bed1 and announced that she should spend the day lying in the garden4 ,mavis also began to make excuses for not going to ,chagmouth1 but ,dr4 ,tremayne pinched her cheek1 declared she looked pale1 and that the drive would do her good4 ,i can't be left without either of my nice little companions6 he complained4 ,i've got used to having you with me4 ,besides1 ,bevis is coming back to-day6 ,i daresay we shall see him next week some time1 remarked ,mavis demurely4 ,there's no violent hurry about it4 ,why1 no2 only-- ,nonsense1 ,mavis6 ,go with your uncle6 broke in ,mrs4 ,ramsay4 ,this is the first time ,i ever remember you wanting to stay away from your beloved ,chagmouth4 ,what's the matter with you to-day8 ,don't be silly6 ,put on your hat and do as you're wanted4 ,i think these exams have thoroughly tired out both of you4 ,you'll feel better after a little air in the car4 ,mother's decisions were always final1 so ,mavis raised no more objections1 particularly as ,uncle ,david was looking the least trifle hurt1 and he was such a dear that she wouldn't disappoint him for worlds4 ,he had several visits to pay that morning at houses on the way1 so it was later than usual when they arrived at ,grimbal's ,farm4 ,fortunately there were few patients waiting1 and when these were disposed of1 ,mrs4 ,penruddock brought in lunch4 ,bevis not come yet8 inquired ,uncle ,david as he lifted the dish-cover4 ,no1 indeed1 ,doctor1 and ,i'm anxious about him6 ,his yacht's been at ,port ,sennen1 having some repairs done1 and he arranged to go there straight from school early this morning1 and sail her round to ,chagmouth4 ,well6 ,the lad can handle a yacht all right4 ,it isn't that6 ,bevis knows as much about sailing as most folks4 ,but there's a nasty sea fog come on1 and just as it happens the clapper is gone out of the bell by ,st4 ,morval's ,head4 ,bevis is always a terrible one for hugging the coast1 and ,i'm afraid if he doesn't hear the bell he won't quite know where he is in the fog1 and he may be on the rocks before he knows they're there4 ,i'd have told him it was gone1 but there was no time4 ,i only got his letter this morning4 ,who'd have expected a fog like this either8 ,mrs4 ,penruddock's apple face looked quite miserable1 but sounds of thumping at the back door drew her away from the parlour1 and stopped any further confidences4 ,mavis ate her lunch thoughtfully4 ,is a fog worse on the sea than on land8 she asked at last4 ,it is1 if you can't tell where you're going4 ,who's been fooling with the bell at ,st4 ,morval's1 ,i wonder8 ,if the clapper has fallen out1 they should have had it put in again at once4 ,but that's just the way with them4 ,it's nobody's business1 and everybody puts it on to somebody else until there's an accident4 ,i've no patience with them6 ,when the meal was over1 ,mavis went out to take a peep at the sea1 or rather where the sea ought to be1 for there was nothing to look at but a white wall of mist1 long wreaths of which were blowing inland and trailing like ghosts into the town4 ,she came hurrying back very quickly to ,grimbal's ,farm1 and sought the kitchen4 ,mrs4 ,penruddock1 please1 may ,i borrow your big dinner-bell8 she asked4 ,why1 yes1 my dear6 ,but whatever do you want that for8 ,i'm going to take it to ,st4 ,morval's ,head and ring it6 ,bless you6 ,not a bad idea either6 ,there'd be no harm done anyhow4 ,i'd go with you if ,i'd the time4 ,mind your way along that slippery cliff4 ,pity your sister's not here to-day6 ,i shall be all right1 thanks6 ,the fog isn't so bad on land4 ,it's quite easy to see where one's going4 ,grasping the big brass dinner-bell1 ,mavis set forth1 and going by a path above the farm1 got out on to the cliffs4 ,she knew the way very well1 for she had often been before1 and had not the slightest fear of getting lost1 even if the mist should grow thicker4 ,she walked briskly along1 the track in front of her looking quite plain for several yards1 though the sea below was completely hidden4 ,she recognised many familiar points en route1 the bank where the spleenwort grew1 the ruined shed1 a supposed relic of smuggling days1 the barbed-wire fence1 the group of elder trees1 and the blackberry bank4 ,when she came to the slanting gorse bushes which overhung the path1 she knew she had reached the beginning of ,st4 ,morval's ,head1 and that she must be just about over the spot where the buoy was floating with its clapperless bell4 ,it's the story of the ,inchcape rock all over again1 she muttered1 and sitting down on the bracken she began ringing4 ,it was monotonous work and tiring too4 ,it made her arm ache1 and she had to use her left hand for a while instead4 ,she went on persistently1 however1 for who knew what little yacht might be venturing near the treacherous rocks below4 ,it was an extraordinarily lonely feeling to be there on the cliff by herself1 with the white mist round her1 as if she were in the midst of the clouds4 ,she would have been chilly only the exercise kept her warm4 ,she was obliged to rest every now and then1 but not for long4 ,she did not mean to give in for some time yet4 ,she kept repeating over and over to herself3 ',the worthy ,abbot of ,aberbrothock ,had placed that bell on the ,inchcape rock4 ,on a buoy in the storm it floated and swung1 ,and over the waves its warning rung4' ,the occupation grew so monotonous that she began to feel as if she had been on the cliff for weeks4 ,after what seemed an absolute slice out of eternity1 there came a ,hello6 on the path behind her4 ,she stopped ringing and jumped to her feet4 ,bevis6 ,it's never you6 ,mavis6 ,did you do all this for me8 ,you trump6 ,did you hear my bell1 then1 on the sea8 ,of course ,i did1 and it gave me my right reckoning4 ,i hardly knew where ,i was4 ,i might have been on the rocks without4 ,mrs4 ,penruddock told me about it1 and ,i came at once to fetch you back4 ,i wonder you didn't go to tell ,romola you were safe6 ,romola6 ,why on earth should ,i tell ,romola8 ,mavis did not reply all at once4 ,only because ,i thought you seemed particularly interested in her6 she said at last4 ,bevis looked frankly puzzled1 then his face cleared and he drew a small photo from his pocket4 ,did ,clive send you one of these8 ,he did6 ,well1 don't you know who the girl is8 ,can't you see it's ,clive8 ,clive1 dressed up in ,romola's togs6 ,those are hardly ,romola's boots1 are they8 ,we nearly died with laughing over it4 ,he looked too killing for words4 ,it was ,madox who took the snap with ,clive's camera4 ,mavis1 examining the photo by the light of these explanations1 had little difficulty in recognising her boy cousin4 ,bevis was roaring with laughter at the joke1 then he suddenly grew serious4 ,mavis6 he said in dead earnest4 ,you never thought ,i'd go making such a silly ass of myself with little ,romola8 ,that's not in my line at all6 ,it was ,mavis who did the blushing4 ,look here6 ,we may as well have this out between us4 ,if there's ever to be a mistress at ,the ,warren--and ,i hope there will some day--,i know whom ,i'd choose6 ,why1 it's ,mavis1 the one who was good to me when ,i'd hardly a friend in the world or a name to call myself by1 who didn't despise me for being a nobody1 and wasn't ashamed to walk with me through the village1 and who's kept me off more rocks than she's any idea of1 besides what she's done for me to-day6 ,if ,i asked her some day to think it over1 do you fancy she might answer 'yes'8