Book I Chapter 9 The Little School-Mothers by L. T. Meade
A Visit to the Fair
Almost immediately after early dinner, two waggonettes came up to the door, and the girls of the sixth form and the girls of the third form, with their governesses and Mrs Burton herself, started off for a long and happy day in some distant woods. They were to visit the ruins of Chudleigh Castle and go up to the top of Peter’s Tower—a celebrated place in the neighbourhood—and afterwards they were to have tea on the grass; and, best of all, they need not return home until the moon came up.
The moonlight drive home would be the most fascinating part of the whole expedition. For days and days this picnic to Chudleigh Castle had been talked about; and Harriet, with the others, had enjoyed it in anticipation. Now, she had to stand by, gloomily holding Ralph’s hand, while the carriages were packed with radiant, happy girls, and, what was still harder, she had to listen to their gay shouts, and, in particular, to their badinage at her expense.
“I hope you’ll enjoy yourself, Harriet,” said Rose Amberley.
“I hope you and Ralph will have fun, my dear,” said Agnes Winter, one of the sixth form girls, whom it was a great honour to know, and whom Harriet secretly adored. Even her own special chum, Jane, was looking flushed and pleased—disgustingly flushed and pleased, thought Harriet. And there was that little weak Vivian giggling in the silly way she always did, and casting covert glances at her, and, of course, laughing at her in her sleeve. And there was that odious Robina, not looking at her at all, but calmly taking her seat, and making others laugh whenever she spoke to them. Oh, it was all distracting, and for the time being so angry was Harriet that even the prospective pony lost its charm.
At last the waggonettes started on their journey. The sound of their wheels ceased to be heard. Stillness followed commotion; gay laughter was succeeded by—in Harriet’s opinion—a sort of void. Again Ralph tugged her arm.
“Now,” he said, “now it’s gipsies, isn’t it?”
“It’s nothing of the kind, you horrid, little troublesome thing,” said Harriet. “I am not going to take you to see the gipsies to-day—no, nor any day, for the present. Oh, stop that blubbering, or I’ll smack you.”
“You did once before,” said Ralph steadily, and he looked her full in the face, tears arrested in his eyes, and his own colour coming and going.
Harriet immediately saw that she had gone too far. She altered her tone.
“Please forgive me, Ralph,” she said. “I know I am cross; I wanted so very much to go to that picnic, and I can’t because of you.”
“I don’t understand,” said Ralph. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“Yes,” said Harriet crossly; “that’s not the question. You are considered a baby, and you must be treated as one.”
“I aren’t a baby!” said Ralph, in great indignation. “Father said I am a real manly boy.”
“Well, prove yourself one,” said Harriet. “Don’t cry when I speak a little sharply, and don’t worry me about the gipsies. I will take you to see them when I can, because I promised to take you; but you’re not to remind me of them, for if you do I’ll be very angry.”
“I won’t ever, ever speak of them again,” said Ralph, gulping down a sob.
“Well, that’s all right,” said Harriet. She moved restlessly across the lawn. Curly Pate and the other small children were tumbling about on the grass. Ralph looked longingly at Curly Pate. Curly Pate clapped her pretty hands, and ran to meet him.
“I keen—oo king!” she said.
Harriet stood by restlessly. How contemptible it all was! Those silly little children, that tiresome Miss Ford, the empty house, the empty gardens, and the pleasure party far away—the pleasure party with some of its members laughing in their sleeves at her! Yes, she knew that fact quite well. That detestable little Jane was laughing. She saw the laughter hidden behind her smug face. And that horrid Vivian, she was all one giggle, and last, but not least, there was the detestable Robina—on this day of all days to laugh at Harriet seemed the final straw! She had had her great moment of victory; she had proved to Robina that she was the favourite—was the chosen one, was the beloved of the little boy about whom the school chose to make such a fuss. But oh, dear! there was reaction after triumph, and this reaction took place when Harriet found what were the duties imposed upon her by motherhood. She must take care of her little boy while the others went out a-pleasuring.
By this time, however, Ralph had forgotten all about her. He and Curly Pate had gone away to a little distance. Curly Pate was on her knees picking daisies, and Ralph was standing over her, after the fashion of kings when they choose to govern their queens and give directions.
“Longer stems, Curly; bigger flowers, Curly. Oh, you silly! not that one—that one with the red all round, it’s broader. Now, then—I’ll show you how to pick them.”
“Peese, king! peese!” replied the impatient queen.
Harriet was not interested in the small children, and just at that moment something occurred.
A girl from the neighbourhood, of the name of Pattie Pyke, was seen walking down the avenue. She was the doctor’s daughter, and was the only girl who was ever allowed to come to the school to take lessons. She joined the third form twice a week for German lessons, but was never with them during recreation. In consequence, she was scarcely counted at all in the school life. Harriet and she, however, had managed to take up a sort of acquaintanceship which never until this moment had developed into friendship. Pattie was a plain girl, large for her age, stoutly built, and with a face covered with freckles. She had small blue eyes and a snub nose. Her hair was somewhat inclined to be carroty, and she had white eyelashes and eyebrows. Notwithstanding this, she was a pleasant girl enough, and had plenty of ability.
“Hallo!” she said now, when she saw Harriet. “Why, I thought, of course, you’d be off to the picnic!”
“Well, I’m not, you see,” answered Harriet ungraciously; “I am here.”
Pattie drew nigh. The real desire of her life was to make friends with one of the school-girls. She was always imploring her father to send her to the school as a boarder, but hitherto he had been deaf to her entreaties.
“I was coming to the school with a note,” said Pattie; “Father told me to leave it. I did not think I’d meet one of you. I am surprised to see you.”
“Well, you need not be. You were not at school this morning, or you would know why I am here.”
“No, I had a cold, and Father thought I had best not go. He is so awfully particular, for fear of my giving anything to the rest of the girls. I am better now, but I must not be out long; my throat is rather sore.”
“You look quite well,” said Harriet.
“It’s only my throat that’s a little bad. Please, do tell me about this morning.”
“And the great triumph for me,” said Harriet. “Ralph, don’t go out of sight!”
She shrieked these words to Ralph, who immediately paused, turned, and looked at her, then came in her direction, holding Curly Pate’s hand.
“Do you see that child?” said Harriet.
“Yes—the little darling!” cried Pattie. “Little Ralph Durrant. Father raves about him; he says that he will be the richest man in England some day.”
“Oh, well,” said Harriet; “he is a very troublesome little boy now. But, nevertheless, I am pleased. His father has made a most ridiculous proposal. He said that Ralph was to choose one of us to be his school-mother—I can tell you it was thought a great honour—and he chose me.”
“You?” cried Pattie.
“Yes; are you surprised?”
“Oh, no!” answered Pattie; but she was, nevertheless.
“Well, I am the chosen one, and I can tell you I had my triumph. Those other girls, especially that new girl, Robina Starling, was sure that one of them would be cock-o’-the-walk; but not a bit of it—my little boy chose me.”
“That was nice for you,” said Pattie; “only I should not have thought you would have cared to be bothered by a child.”
“It’s not that,” said Harriet, lowering her voice; for, really, under the circumstances, any sympathiser was better than none. “A good deal depends on it. I will explain to you another time. Of course, there are drawbacks. I have the charge of that small person, and in consequence can’t enjoy myself at the picnic to-day.”
“Oh, what a pity!” said Pattie.
“It is, isn’t it?”
“And you are all alone this lovely, lovely day?”
“It is true,” said Harriet. “Well, I suppose I must take the rough with the smooth.”
“I tell you what,” cried Pattie, in some excitement. “Couldn’t you come home and have tea with me? It would be such fun! You might bring Ralph with you, you know. Of course, you would be allowed to come, and it is only a stone’s throw away.”
“I wish I could; I’d like it very much,” said Harriet.
“Do come,” said Pattie. “We’ll manage afterwards to go out and see the fair in the village.”
“Oh. I am sure I wouldn’t be allowed to take Ralph to the fair.”
“He need not come; indeed, we wouldn’t want him. We’d manage somehow to leave him behind; there are lots of people at home to look after him. Oh, do, do come. You need not say a word to anybody.”
Harriet thought for a minute. After all, Miss Ford had no control over her. Miss Ford had only the charge of the little children; there was no one’s leave to be asked. She was the school-mother of Ralph. Of course, it must never be told, for it was against the strict rules of the school that any girl should venture out of the grounds without leave. It is true that Harriet had gone in the spring cart to town last week; but, after all, she had got leave to do that, for she had run to the house to ask for it. “If Mrs Burton was at home, I know she would not mind,” said Harriet eagerly. “But I can’t ask her leave, as she isn’t here. If we go, we must be back quite early; we must be back before old Ford misses us. That’s the nuisance!”
“You can manage that,” said Pattie. “It’s early now. We’ll go straight home, and have tea. Then Mother or someone will look after that little Ralph of yours, and you and I will just run down to the fair, and see what is to be seen. Do, do come, Harriet! I should so love to have you!”
“All right,” said Harriet.
She looked around her. Miss Ford was nowhere in sight. So much the better. Ralph was called sharply back to her side. He came, Curly Pate trotting after him.
“I ont my king,” called the school baby.
“Then you will do without him,” said Harriet roughly. “Go back to your play, you little silly. Run back at once.”
Curly Pate burst into loud screams and yells, and Ralph, forgetting his allegiance to Harriet, flung his arms round her and comforted her valiantly.
In the midst of this scene, Miss Ford hurried up.
“What is the matter?” she asked.
“Ralph and Pattie and I are going away for a little by ourselves,” said Harriet. “Curly Pate wants to come with us; but we don’t want her.”
“Yes, I want her,” said Ralph.
“Why can’t the child go with you?” asked Miss Ford.
“No, she can’t,” said Harriet, looking very cross. “Very well, darling,” said Miss Ford, catching the child in her arms and kissing her. “I’ve got something so nice to show you.”
She carried the weeping baby away, and Ralph, with a great pain at his heart, followed Harriet. His school-mother! Oh, yes, she was that. But did he like her? He was not sure. She puzzled him extremely. She was not half as interesting as on that wonderful day when she had devoted herself to him, and told him stories about the gipsies.
As soon as ever Miss Ford had turned the corner, and had carried the weeping Curly Pate out of sight, Harriet turned to Pattie.
“Now we must be very quick,” she said. “If you don’t mind, we will run all the way.”
“Where is we going?” asked Ralph.
“We are going to have a jolly time,” replied Harriet. “Now, Ralph, you clearly understand; you are going to be put on your honour.”
“Yes,” said Ralph, looking important; “Father says that sometimes.”
”‘Your honour’ means this,” continued Harriet: “You will never tell anybody what we are doing.”
“Course not,” replied Ralph. “I aren’t a tell-tale.”
“He isn’t, either,” said Harriet, looking at Pattie. “He is quite a good little boy, when he chooses. Well, then, we are ready, and I hope, Pattie, you are prepared to give us a very good time.”
Pattie answered at once that she was. In her heart of hearts, however, she was doubtful. Her father and mother were poor. Dr Pyke’s practice was not a large one, and he found it difficult to make both ends meet. Then, there were numerous little Pykes at home—Pykes of all ages, from Pattie, whose years numbered twelve, to the baby, who was only three months old. It seemed to Pattie that the children swarmed everywhere. Still, she had a whole shilling stowed away in her purse in the corner of a drawer in her bedroom, that could be spent at the fair, and it was grand and delightful to bring a girl from Mrs Burton’s to tea with her, and she also felt sure that little Ralph would have a welcome.
When they reached the house, an ivy-covered house of old-fashioned make, which stood a little back from the village street, she found the hall door open.
“Now, then, Harriet, come in,” she said, and Harriet and Ralph entered.
An untidy-looking servant was crossing the hall.
“Anastasia,” said Pattie, “will you get tea in the drawing-room, please?”
Anastasia stared at her.
“Indeed, I can’t, miss. Your ma is out, and all the older children have gone to the park with Miss Fry,”—Miss Fry was the much overworked nursery governess—“and the missis told me,” continued Anastasia, “that I was to wash the handkerchiefs and things this afternoon. I have no time to bring tea into the drawing-room, and why should I do it? You always has it in the school-room.”
“I’d much rather have tea in the school-room, Pattie,” said Harriet.
“And so would I,” echoed Ralph.
“You must get your own tea, miss,” continued Anastasia, by no means abashed by the sight of Harriet in her ordinary school frock, and not particularly struck by the beauty of little Ralph.
“I am ever so sorry,” said Pattie, colouring high; “but this is rather an unfortunate day. One of our maids is out, and Mother’s away; and, in short—do you greatly mind waiting in the drawing-room while I get the tea?”
“I don’t much care about tea at all,” said Harriet, who was not a bit gracious, and who was rather disgusted with the appearance of Pattie Pyke’s home. “You needn’t bother, as far as I am concerned.”
“And I don’t want no tea,” said Ralph; “I aren’t a bit hungry.”
He looked pleadingly and sorrowfully at Pattie, as much as to say: “Please, please, don’t trouble.”
Poor Pattie, whose face was scarlet with mortification, insisted on providing a meal.
“You can’t come into the school-room,” she said a little crossly. “The boys do leave it in such a mess. There is the rabbit-hutch in one corner, and I know Jim and Davie were washing Smut there this afternoon. You must come into the drawing-room. I will manage to get you some tea. Don’t stare, Anastasia. Go at once, and see that the kettle is boiling.”
Pattie conducted her guests into a small, very hot drawing-room. She then left them, and, after about a quarter of an hour, reappeared with a tray containing very poor tea and some stale cake. Oh, how hot was that little room! It faced due south, and scarcely a breath of air came through the open bay window. Ralph felt very tired; he did not know why. He had had a trying morning. Those sums had worried him, and Harriet’s conduct had also worried him, although he was not aware of that fact at present.
When the tea had come to an end Harriet said quickly:
“Now, the fun is really going to begin; you and I will hurry off to the fair, Pattie. I can’t stay late, as your know, for I must smuggle Ralph back before Miss Ford misses him. You will stay quietly here, Ralph. You will be a good boy? I couldn’t take you to the fair, even if I wished it; for, in the first place, I haven’t any money.”
“But I have a shilling—a whole shilling,” said Pattie, feeling all of a sudden quite grand and important.
“I am very sorry,” continued Harriet, speaking in a firm voice; “but I shall be obliged to borrow my entrance money from you, Pattie. I will pay you next week, when my pocket-money comes in. There will be enough for us both to go in and also to have a turn on the merry-go-round—”
“And we must see the fat lady and the man with two heads,” said Pattie.
“But why mustn’t I see them, too?” asked Ralph, whose little face was scarlet now, and his voice quite choky with anger and disappointment.
“No, you mustn’t, Ralph,” said Harriet. “And now I will tell you why! I, your mother, don’t choose it. You have got to obey me, you know. I am a big girl, and you are a very little boy; you must stay here quietly, and wait for me. I will return for you before long. Now, be a good child, and don’t cry: it is very babyish to cry.”
Ralph stood quite still. The scarlet flush had faded from his face. After a minute, he said:
“Course it’s babyish, and I aren’t crying.”
“Then that is all right,” said Harriet. “Stay here till I fetch you. Come, Pattie.”
The two little girls left the room.