the school stood on the side of a hill, which faced downward to the sea. its aspect was south, and it was sheltered from the east and west winds by a thick plantation of young trees, which looked green and fresh in the spring, and were beginning already to afford a delightful shade in hot weather.
a fashionable watering-place called eastcliff was situated about a mile from mulberry court, the old-fashioned house, with the old-world gardens, where the schoolgirls lived. there were about fifty of them in all, and they had to confess that although mulberry court was undoubtedly school, yet those who lived in the house and played in the gardens, and had merry games and races on the seashore, enjoyed a specially good time which they would be glad to think of by and by.
the period at which this story begins was the middle of the summer term. there were no half-term holidays at the court, but somehow the influence of holiday time had already got into the air. the young girls had tired themselves out with play, and the older ones lay about in hammocks, or strolled in twos or[pg 2] threes up and down the wide gravel walk which separated the house from the gardens.
the ages of these fifty girls ranged from seventeen to five, but from seventeen down to five on this special hot summer's evening one topic of conversation might have been heard on every tongue.
what would the new girl be like? was she rich or poor, handsome or ugly, tall or short, dark or fair? why did she come in the middle of the term, and why did mrs. freeman, and miss delicia, and miss patience make such a fuss about her?
other new girls had arrived, and only the faintest rumors had got out about them beforehand.
a couple of maids had been seen carrying a new trunk upstairs, or old piper had been discovered crawling down the avenue with his shaky cab, and shakier horse, and then the new girl had appeared at tea-time and been formally introduced, and if she were shy had got over it as best she could, and had soon discovered her place in class, and there was an end of the matter.
but this new girl was not following out any of the old precedents.
she was coming at mid-term, which in itself was rather exceptional.
mrs. freeman and miss patience had driven away in a very smart carriage with a pair of horses to meet her.
miss delicia was fussing in and out of the house, and picking fresh strawberries, and nodding to the girls she happened to meet with a kind of suppressed delight.
what could it all mean? it really was most exciting.
the smaller girls chatted volubly about the matter, and little violet temple, aged ten, and of course one of the small girls, so far forgot herself as to run up to[pg 3] dorothy collingwood, clasp her hand affectionately round the tall girl's arm, and whisper in her impetuous, eager way:
"i'm almost certain, dolly, that she's to sleep in a room by herself, for i saw the blue room being got ready. i peeped in as we were going down to dinner, and i noticed such jolly new furniture—pale blue, and all to match. oh, what is it, olive? now you've pinched my arm."
"run back to your companions this minute, miss," said olive moore. "you're getting to be a perfect tittle-tattle, violet. there, i'm not angry, child, but you must learn not to talk about everything you see."
violet frowned all over her fair, small face, but olive moore, a sixth-form girl, was too powerful an individual to be lightly disregarded. she shrugged her shoulders therefore, and walked sulkily away.
"why did you speak so sharply to her, olive?" exclaimed dorothy. "after all, her curiosity is but natural—i must even own that i share it myself."
"so do i, dorothy, if it comes to that, but violet must be made to know her place. she is one of those little encroachers without respect of persons, who can become absolute nuisances if they are encouraged. but there, we have said enough about her. ruth and janet are going to sit in 'the lookout' for a little; they want to discuss the subject of the fancy fair. shall we come and join them?"
dorothy turned with her companion; they walked along the wide gravel sweep, then entered a narrow path which wound gradually up-hill. they soon reached a rural tower, which was called by the girls "the lookout," mounted some steep steps, and found[pg 4] themselves standing on a little platform, where two other girls were waiting to receive them.
ruth bury was short and dark, but janet may, her companion, was extremely slim and fair. she would have been a pretty girl but for the somewhat disagreeable expression of her face.
"here you are," exclaimed the two pairs of lips eagerly.
"sit down, dorothy," cried ruth, "we have kept your favorite armchair vacant for you. now, then, to discuss the fancy fair in all its bearings. is it not kind of mrs. freeman to consent to our having it? she says it is quite an unusual thing for girls like us to do, but in the cause of that poor little baby, and because we wish the fancy fair to be our break-up treat, she consents. the only stipulation she makes is that we arrange the whole programme without troubling her."
"yes," continued janet, "she met me half an hour ago, and told me to let you know, dorothy, and you, olive, and any other girls who happen to be specially interested, that we are to form our programme, and then ask her to give us an audience. she will look herself into all our plans, and tell us which can and cannot be carried into effect. the only other thing she stipulates is that we do not neglect our studies, and that we leave room in the happy day's proceedings for the distribution of the prizes."
while janet was speaking, dorothy, who had refused to seat herself in the armchair assigned to her, and whose clear, bright blue eyes were roving eagerly all over the beautiful summer landscape, exclaimed in an eager voice:
"after all, what does the fancy fair signify—i[pg 5] mean—oh, don't be shocked, girls—i mean, what does it signify compared to a real living present interest? while we are discussing what is to take place in six weeks' time, mrs. freeman and miss patience are driving up the avenue with somebody else. girls, the new inmate of mulberry court has begun to put in an appearance on the scene."
"oh, let me look; do let me look!" cried ruth, while olive and janet both pressed eagerly forward.
from where they stood they obtained a very distinct although somewhat bird's-eye view of the winding avenue and quickly approaching carriage. mrs. freeman's tall and familiar figure was too well known to be worthy, in that supreme moment, of even a passing comment. miss patience looked as angular and as like herself as ever; but a girl, who sat facing the two ladies—a girl who wore a large shady hat, and whose light dress and gay ribbons fluttered in the summer breeze—upon this girl the eyes of the four watchers in the "lookout" tower were fixed with devouring curiosity.
"well, i never!" exclaimed dorothy, after a pause. "i don't suppose mrs. freeman will allow that style of wardrobe long. see, girls, do see, how her long blue ribbons stream in the breeze; and her hat! it is absolutely covered with roses—i'm convinced they are roses. oh, what would i not give for an opera glass to enable me to take a nearer view. whoever that young person is, she intends to take the shine out of us. why, she is dressed as if she had just come from a garden party."
"i don't believe she's a new schoolgirl at all," cried ruth; "she's just a visitor come to stay for a day or two with mrs. freeman. no schoolgirl that ever[pg 6] breathed would dare to present such a young lady, grown-up appearance. there, girls, don't let's waste any more time over her; let's turn our attention to the much more important matter of the fancy fair."
notwithstanding these various criticisms, the carriage with its occupants calmly pursued its way, and was presently lost to view in the courtyard at the side of the house.
"now, do let us be sensible," said janet, turning to her companions. "we have seen all that there is to be seen. however hard we guess we cannot solve the mystery. either a new companion is coming among us, who, i have no doubt, will be as commonplace as commonplace can be, or mrs. freeman is receiving a young lady visitor. supper will decide the point, and as that is not half an hour away i suppose we can exist for the present without worrying our brains any further."
"dear janey, you always were the soul of sense," remarked dorothy, in a somewhat languid voice. "for my part i pity those poor little mites, violet and the rest of them. i know they are just as curious with regard to the issue of events as we are, and yet i can see them at this moment, with my mental vision, being driven like sheep into the fold. they'll be in bed, poor mites, when we are satisfying our curiosity."
"you have a perfect mania for those children, dorothy," exclaimed olive. "i call it an impertinence on their parts to worry themselves about sixth-form girls. what's the matter, janet? why that contraction of your angel brow?"
"i want us to utilize our opportunities," said janet. "we have a few minutes all to ourselves to discuss the[pg 7] fancy fair, and we fritter it away on that tiresome new girl."
"well, let's settle to business now," said ruth; "i'm sure i'm more than willing. who has got a pencil and paper?"
dorothy pulled an envelope out of her pocket. olive searched into the recesses of hers to hunt up a lead pencil, and janet continued to speak in her tranquil, round tones.
"the first thing to do is to appoint a committee," she began.
"o janey," exclaimed two of the other girls in a breath, "a committee does sound so absurdly formal."
"never mind, it is the correct thing to do. in a matter of this kind we are nothing if we are not businesslike. now, who is coming to interrupt us?"
steps—several steps—were heard clattering up the stone stairs of the little tower, and two or three girls of the middle school, with roughly tossed heads and excited faces, burst upon the seclusion of the four sixth-form girls.
"o dolly," they exclaimed, running up to their favorite, "she has come—we have seen her! she is very tall, and—and——"
"do let me speak, marion," exclaimed little violet temple, coloring all over her round face in her excitement and interest. "you know i got the first glimpse of her. i did, you know i did. i was hiding under the laurel arch, and i saw her quite close. it's awfully unfair of anyone else to tell, isn't it, dolly?"
"of course it is, violet," replied miss collingwood in her good-natured way. "but what a naughty imp you were to hide under the laurel arch. the wonder[pg 8] is you did not get right in the way of the horses' hoofs."
"much i cared for that when i had a chance of seeing her," remarked violet. "i did get a splendid peep. she's awfully tall, and she was splendidly dressed; and o dolly! o ruthie! o janey! she's just lovely!"
"i wish you'd go away, child!" said janet in a decidedly cross tone. "what are all you small girls doing out and about at this hour? surely it's time for you to be in bed. what can miss marshall be about not to have fetched you before now?"
"cross-patch!" murmured violet, turning her back on janet. "come, marion; come, pauline, we won't tell her any more. we'll tell you, dolly, of course, but we won't tell janet. come, marion, let's go."
the children disappeared in as frantic haste to be off as they were a few minutes ago to arrive.
"now, let's go on," said janet, in her calm tones. "let us try and settle something before the supper bell rings. we must have a committee, that goes without saying. suppose we four girls form it."
"what about evelyn?" inquired dorothy.
when she said this a quick change flitted over janet's face. she bit her lips, and, after a very brief pause, said in a voice of would-be indifference:
"i don't suppose that evelyn percival is to rule the school. she is away at present, and we can't wait on her will and pleasure. let's form our committee, and do without her."
"it's a distinct insult," began dolly. "i disapprove—i disapprove."
"and so do i"—"and i"—cried both ruth and olive.
[pg 9]
"well," said janet, "if you insist on spoiling everything, girls, you must. you know what evelyn is."
"only the head girl of the school," remarked dolly in a soft tone. "but of course a person of not the smallest consequence. well, janet, what next?"
"as i was saying," began janet——
a loud booming sound filled the air.
ruth clapped her hands.
"hurrah! hurrah! supper!" she cried. "your committee must keep, janet. now for the satisfaction of rampant, raging curiosity. dolly, will you race me to the house?"
