E. E. OHLSON Ex Libris C. K. 0DEN AT BRIGHTON E. E. OHLSON Illustrated by A. McWHOR THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LTD. London, Edinburgh, Paris, Melbourne Toronto, and New "York CONTENTS I. PIPPA EXPLAINS 5 II. THE PRIVATE VIEW 27 III. THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON .... 44 IV. THE FIRST DAY 62 V. LIFE AT SCHOOL 79 VI. UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 96 VII. THE CONCERT PARTY 115 VIII. THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY . . . .131 IX. ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 153 X. THE END OF THE HOLIDAY . . . .170 XI. As You LIKE IT 190 XII. Miss LAVENDER'S BIRTHDAY AND END OF TERM 209 iij 1824737 w/ilbn CHAPTER I PIPPA EXPLAINS MY name is Philippa after Uncle Philip ; as snuffy and disagreeable an old gentle- man as I ever met and they call me Pippa, for short. It sounds rather like the nasty parts of 6 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON an orange, but Father says it was the name of a girl in a poem written by a person called Browning, in the far, dim ages when Victoria was Queen. I am not very old myself, being a thought under fourteen, but then I'm a Girl Guide, and very intelligent, even for a Guide. Oh, and I may as well say at the beginning that this is a human document. I am writing it in tears and blood so to speak and I shall lock it up in my desk, where the family will find it after my death. Then they'll be sorry. They'll wish they had been nicer to me while I was yet alive. For, in the time before I went to school, they were not nice to me and that's the truth. All my efforts to please were unavailing. I did my good Guide deed every day for the benefit of other people, and what was the result ? Did my parents smile on me and reward me ? Did my brothers and sisters vie with each other in praise of my devotion ? They did not. They merely remarked, when they discovered what I had done for them, " Really, that child ought to be sent to school. She is growing unbearable." I remember the time when I thought to give PIPPA EXPLAINS 7 them all a treat for breakfast, and got up early to make an omelette. You might have thought I had got up early to commit a murder. Cook was not a bit polite to me when she got down and found out what I had been doing. I won't say the kitchen didn't get in a mess, but then, everybody knows that eggs are messy things. I meant them to go into the basin as I cracked them, of course, and in what way could it be said to be my fault when they all jumped away from me and spread themselves on the floor? I persevered until there wasn't an egg left, and any one with really nice feelings would have taken the will for the deed. But not my family oh, no ! I will not sully my pen by writing down their remarks. Then there was the time Aunt Florence came to stay, and I exerted myself to give her a good time. No one else seemed to mind if she enjoyed herself or not. I simply exhausted myself on her behalf, fetching and carrying, and matching her wool. Well, it didn't really match, but I thought it was near enough. Auntie seemed vexed about it, so I offered to go to the theatre with her that afternoon. She refused this well- meant proposal, and made the usual silly remark 8 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON about wondering why my parents didn't send me to school. " They can't afford it," I told her. " Oh, if that's all . . ." began Auntie, and her hand strayed towards her pocket. " Don't think of it," I said hastily. ' They wouldn't think of parting with me. I'm the apple of their eye." Aunt Florence looked so surprised at this that I was offended. But only for the time, because I'm a very sweet-tempered girl and love every- body. " I must try and do a good turn to Aunt Florrie," I thought. Very soon an oppor- tunity came. Running downstairs, bright and early, next morning, I noticed Auntie's shoes standing outside her door. They were the brown ones she had been walking in the day before, and needed cleaning. At once I carried them down to the scullery, which was empty. " I'll do her shoes for her, poor old dear," I said to myself, as I reached down the blacking- pot and put a large dollop of blacking on a shoe. Of course, it was thoughtless of me. I ought to have remembered to use the brown paste. But I think my good intentions might have been PIPPA EXPLAINS 9 taken into account when they talked about it afterwards. " Hallo ! Pippa h|en passing again," said Father, when they told him. He said that, among other things, a little later, when I tried to give him a pleasant sur- prise by washing out all his pipes. I made them look beautifully clean, and any man with a grateful nature would have thanked me. My father did not thank me. He used language which shocked me. I do think that elderly people ought to be more careful about what they say before the young. But, of all my good deeds, the best and the most unselfish was when I tried to give the whole family a lift by getting Muriel married to a millionaire. Muriel is my eldest sister. I have heard her called pretty, but I never saw any beauty in her myself. And she is quite old or, rather, middle-aged twenty-two on her next birth- day. I was beginning to be afraid that she would never go off, when Mr. Ephraim Woolley appeared on the scene. Yes, I know there was Charlie as well. There always had been Charlie ever since I could remember. Charlie was devoted to io PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Muriel, and I suspected that she liked him too. He was good-looking and not more than twenty-five, but as poor as a church mouse. Just painted pictures that nobody bought, and wanted to be engaged to Muriel. I happened to be on the window-seat, behind the curtains in the library, when he was talking to Daddy about it. Daddy took a very sensible view of the matter. " No, my dear boy," he said, quite kindly, " I can't give you my little girl just yet, while your prospects are so uncertain. But don't be dis- couraged. Work away, and if your picture gets into the Academy in the spring, and is sold, then I'll begin to think about the engagement." ' That's all I ask, sir," said Charlie, beam- ing at Father. And he went on talking about Muriel in a way that made me feel sick called her his Inspiration and his Star, and things of that kind. Daddy put up with him very patiently, but I was glad when they both went out and I could leave the window-seat with impunity. I went back to the schoolroom quite meekly, thinking over the course of events, and Miss Brentwood seized me and made me write out two irregular French verbs for being late for PIPPA EXPLAINS ii lessons. Miss Brentwood was my governess, poor thing. Once I did her a good turn but that's another story. The next day mother had an afternoon party, and I went in with Miss Brentwood, and made myself as agreeable and helpful as she would let me. She was rather stuffy, and wanted me to sit still and only speak when I was spoken to, but I didn't see the fun of that. Besides, I was rather behindhand with my good deeds. So I edged away from Miss Brentwood when she was talking to somebody else, and went round with a plate of cake. Nobody took any, but I ate several slices myself, and it was quite good. " And whose little maid are you ? " asked a stout old gentleman in goggles, when I offered him the cake. " Nobody's," I answered, as well as I could with my mouth full. " Whose little boy are you ? " He laughed in a spluttery sort of way, and tried to pinch my cheek, but I was too quick for him, and retreated to the table to finish the cake. At that moment Mummie came smiling up, looking as if she couldn't help being pleasant if she tried. " I must introduce you to my youngest 12 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON daughter, Mr. Woolley," she said. " Philippa, darling, come here and shake hands." Instantly I stopped eating, and shook hands with the old gentleman in my best society manner. I even let him pat my head. " Fond of cake ? " he inquired benevolently. " Not particularly," I answered. " I prefer chocolates, but it's so seldom that any one gives me any, that I have to put up with what I can get." ' He grinned. " I'll send you some," he promised. " A large box, addressed to you." " Oh, thank you. Be sure you put Philippa on it, or else Muriel will get it, and she and Nita would eat them all. They're horribly greedy." " Well, shall I send them some too ? " " Don't," I begged. " It would be a pity to skimp mine. They're too old for such things. Will the chocolates come to-morrow ? " " Certainly." " You're not a Boy Scout, are you ? " I asked. " Because, if you were, the chocs would do for your good deed, and that would be off your mind for the day." " I don't understand what you are talking about," he said. " What, exactly, is a Boy Scout ? " " And whose little maid are you ? " " Oh, just the same as a Girl Guide, only a boy, of course, so it's much jollier." " Well, well, I'm afraid I'm too old now, but I'll send the bon-bons to-morrow." I sighed. " You must be rich," I said. 13 i 4 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Just then Muriel came up, and he left off talking to me and seemed to forget me completely. I took a plate of sugary biscuits, and went round with it. Result, same as with the cake. I was beginning to feel sickish by the time every one had gone, and Mummie and the girls drew up round the fire to discuss their guests. I did not want to go upstairs to the schoolroom, so I sat down on the other side of the screen, and listened languidly. " Not a bad gathering on the whole," said Mummie. And Nita yawned, and said she was thankful it was over. " I'm sure I hope they all enjoyed them- selves," went on Mummie. " I did try to talk to every one. You might have been a little more gracious to Mr. Woolley, Muriel." " Why might I ? " asked Muriel. ' Well, you know, he's very rich " " Oh, yes, I've heard of his wealth. Charlie says he's a millionaire." " Poor old Charlie. He'll never be a million- aire/' observed Nita. ' Well, I should hope not," said Muriel, and shut her mouth with a snap. It occurred to me that the greedies downstairs might not have eaten quite all the ices, so I stole PIPPA EXPLAINS 15 out of the room and went to see. But I was too late ; not one was left. I went to find Miss Brentwood in a thoughtful frame of mind, for I felt something ought to be done, and that I was the person to do it. Fortunes were lying at our feet, but I knew that I was the only one of this family who would trouble to pick them up. A little encouragement would secure Mr. Woolley for Muriel, and, but for Charlie, she might have married him. Endless vistas of boxes of chocolates loomed before me. What could I do ? At last a bright idea dawned in my mind. Suppose I married Charlie myself, to keep him out of harm's way ? It was a great sacrifice on my part, for I had not the least desire to marry anybody ; and, of course, I was rather young for matrimony. But a dauntless and resolute Girl Guide will stick at nothing for the benefit of other people ; and I resolved to tackle Charlie at once. An opportunity came that very evening, when Mummie and the girls had gone to a concert and I was supposed to be doing my homework in the schoolroom. I say " supposed," for my thoughts were wandering far afield and my brain was busy concocting schemes on behalf of an unworthy set of relatives. 16 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON The front door bell rang, and, hanging over the staircase to see who it was, I heard Janet, our housemaid, tell Charlie that no one was at home. I flew down the stairs and rushed at Charlie and dragged him in. " I'm at home," I said, " and you're just the person I wanted to see. Come in at once. I've something most important to tell you." I got him into the dining-room and shut the door. " Now then, you imp of sin, what's the matter ? " he said. " Be quick, for I've got an engagement." " Not yet, but you will have in a minute," I answered, calmly ignoring his disgraceful mode of addressing me. " Listen to me, Charlie ; I know that you want to marry into this family " " Oh, you know that, do you ? " he said sneeringly. " And, pray, who told you ? " "I'm the most intelligent Guide in the Company, and don't require telling. How should you like to marry an intelligent Guide, Charlie ? " " I should hate it," he said rudely. But, for the sake of others, I was prepared to pass over his insolence. (4,361) PIPPA EXPLAINS 17 " It can't matter much to you, Charlie, whether you marry me or Muriel " " What ? " he shouted, without waiting for me to finish. " Don't get excited," I begged. " It would be a very great honour for you to wed one who is the head of her Company, and though I haven't the smallest inclination towards marriage, and I don't suppose they would even let me be engaged yet, still, for the sake of the rest of them ..." and I looked him steadily in the face. Charlie returned my stare in amazed silence. I thought that he was overcome with joy at the prospect before him, but, after a minute, he doubled up in an armchair and yelled with laughter. It is hard to have your strenuous efforts on behalf of humanity laughed at. " In what way," gurgled Charlie helplessly, when he was able to speak, " in what way, I should like to know, would your scheme benefit your family ? " " It would enable Muriel to marry Mr. Woolley in peace and comfort. You told me yourself, Charlie, that he was a millionaire." Charlie got out of the armchair and straight- ened himself. (4,361) 2 i8 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Now, look here, little one, you toddle up- stairs to bed, and try to mind your own business. Good-night," he said. But I wanted to be sure of my position. " Am I to consider myself engaged, Charlie ? ' wanted to know. " No," said he, and went out, and slammed the door. I thought he didn't seem quite pleased, but I had done my best for all parties, and went to sleep with a conscience at rest. I was down in the hall when the postman knocked next morning, for I thought Mr. Woolley's chocolates might come by post. But they didn't. A special messenger brought them later in the morning a lovely large box of melting beauties, addressed to me. I took them up to my room and, as I ate them slowly, I meditated schemes which should make the generous donor my brother-in-law. I remembered that Father had said that he would give his consent to Muriel's engagement to Charlie if his picture was accepted and sold ; and I could not help hoping that the Academy would send the thing back or, anyhow, that nobody would buy it. " That would be a calamity," said I, as I / thought that he was overcome with joy. crunched a delicious almond. " I must do what I can to prevent it." I did not eat all the chocolates, because there were so many of them, but Mummie remarked at lunch on my want of appetite. ' You look quite ill, Pippa, dear," she said anxiously. 19 20 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I felt quite ill, but squelched down my agony, as every valiant Girl Guide would in similar circumstances, and gave a sickly smile. " I am not up to the mark, Mummie," I said. " Need I do any lessons this afternoon ? " " Oh, no, darling. Ask Miss Brentwood to give you a holiday." I thanked her meekly, and sat silent while the others talked about what they were going to do that afternoon. " And we mustn't forget Charlie," said Mummie. " I promised to look in at the studio this afternoon, and see the great picture before it goes to the framer's." I pricked up my ears and wished that I felt more active. " I'll come with you, Mummie," said Muriel with a blush that made her look silly. " The picture is perfectly beautiful ; it will make him famous. Shall you come, Nita ? " " I'll see about it." " I think," I said faintly, " that I shall be quite well by four o'clock." ' Why, do you want to see the picture ? " said Mother, laughing. "I did not know that you cared for Art, Pippa." But she did not say that I was not to go. PIPPA EXPLAINS 21 So, at half-past three, as I felt considerably better, I thought I would get dressed and see if they would take me. But as I opened the wardrobe and dragged out my best coat and skirt, a sudden impulse seized me to cast it on the ground and get into my Guide's uniform. I felt, somehow, that that would be more appro- priate, for, though I could not think what I had better do, I had no doubt that the time had come for me to act. I found that Mummie and the girls had started without me, but I was rather glad of that, for they make a fuss about the uniform. They say they don't like to be seen out with it, and very often send me to change it. They cannot understand the finer feelings of a Guide. I determined to go on to the studio by myself. I knew well enough where it was, for I had often been there before, and I thought that if a good many people were present I could easily skulk about without attracting notice. I arrived breathless, having run all the way, and bounded up the stairs. I peeped in at the open door. It was as I had imagined. The room was crowded with people, who were all talking together and making a great noise. I 22 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON could not see my own family, but Mr. Woolley was there, chatting with Charlie up in a corner. A group of people stood by a large picture stuck up in the centre of the room. " Isn't it sweet ? " said one silly woman to another equally silly. " And exactly like dear Muriel." I stole a glance at the picture, and saw that she was quite wrong. The girl in the picture was sweetly pretty, and I mentioned before that Muriel was rather plain. I fixed my gaze on Charlie and Mr. Woolley. They seemed quite friendly, but, of course, I knew that they were deadly rivals, and their hearts must have been filled with thoughts of cold poison and moonlight stabs. However, I thought I would like to know what they were talking about, so I crept between the easels and curtains and screens until I was near enough to hear their conversation. " It's a splendid picture," Mr. Woolley was saying. " I intend to buy it, if I've money enough, and you must name your own price." I gasped in dismay. Here was a pretty kettle of fish. Charlie was blushing, and stammering, and mumbling like a fool ; and there was the deadly rival patting him on the back and telling PIPPA EXPLAINS 23 him that he was the " coming man." I nearly fainted, but the uniform I wore kept me together, as it always did when I had pulled the belt rather tight. Mr. Woolley must be saved from the conse- quences of his generosity. Naturally he could not know that in buying the picture he was simply throwing Muriel into Charlie's arms. He should be prevented from doing such a thing. But how ? At this moment the strong clasp-knife that Girl Guides always carry in case of emergency wriggled out of my pocket and fell on the floor. I picked it up with exultation, for now I knew how the situation was to be saved. Then I hid myself in a dark secluded corner, and bided my time. Crowds came and went, and other crowds came in, but Mother and the girls did not appear. Mr. Woolley was the last to go, and Charlie went with him downstairs. Before he went, he lifted the picture from the easel, and stood it on the ground with its face to the wall. The room was beginning to grow dark. Only the flickering flames of the fire lighted it up in an uncanny way. When I was alone I opened my trusty blade 24 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON and crawled to the picture with its face to the wall. Without waiting to turn it round, I thrust the knife through the canvas, and slit it from top to bottom. Guide knifes are very sharp, and I was having a pleasant time slash- ing about in all directions, when a noise on the stairs outside stayed my hand. I jumped up to confront Charlie, who was ushering in my mother and sisters. There was quite a tableau as I faced them in my good Guide uniform, strong and deter- mined. " Pippa," cried Mother in amazement, " what is the meaning of this ? " " I've done my duty," I said firmly. " I didn't mean to be caught, certainly, but as you've come in when you're not wanted, I will not hide from you that the picture that would prevent Muriel from becoming a millionairess is now no more." " What ? " they all shouted, and Charlie rushed to a canvas and picked it up and put it on an easel, and there was his old picture, as good as ever. Then he lifted up the canvas I had slashed and held it out, and it was nothing but just a new canvas with no paint on it at all. I had A noise on the stairs stayed my hand. made a mistake in the uncertain light and the agitation. I was so disappointed at my failure that I broke down and wept bitter tears. " I did want to bring a millionaire into the family," I sobbed, " and now everything's spoilt." " Don't cry, Pippa," said Charlie. " Noth- 25 26 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ing's spoilt but a canvas, and you can save up your pocket money and buy me another." " After this," said Mother darkly, " she shall go to school." I draw a veil over the scene that took place when we were home again. Nobody seemed to realize that I had acted entirely in the interests of other people. They did not listen to explana- tions. Miss Brentwood was leaving, as she was going to be married, and Mother and Aunt Florence said they would look out for a school where the discipline was good, and where I could go next term. The Royal Academy, which must be com- posed of senseless blocks, accepted Charlie's picture, and he and Muriel became engaged. Mr. Woolley did not seem to mind. Life is sometimes rather hard on a conscientious Guide. CHAPTER II THE PRIVATE VIEW IT was two days after Easter that Mother said to me very seriously, " You know, Pippa, you're getting a big girl now." I wondered what this meant, and pricked up my ears for the next sentence. " And I shouldn't like my little girl to grow up ignorant of everything a lady ought to know," went on mother. This was awful. I knew perfectly well that I was completely ignorant of everything a lady ought to know. I wasn't even sure what a lady was. So I said nothing. Mummie's tone changed to coaxing. " And you love the sea, don't you, darling ? " This was something I could answer, and I said, " Of course." " It will be such fun running down to the beach and having a swim every morning, and I do so want you to be happy " " Mummie," I said, " you may as well speak 27 28 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON out and say plainly what you mean. Have you bought me an ocean ? " " Well, Daddy and I have decided that you shall have a year or two at Brighton, and go to Blackthorne House," said Mummie with a gulp. " Of course, it's very expensive, but Aunt Florence has been most kind in helping us." " I knew it," I interposed. " Kind, indeed ? Perfidious hag ! " " Pippa ! " " So she is. And after all I've done for her. I suppose Blackthorne House is a school ? " " But such a nice school," said Mother, trying to gloss things over. " You'll love it. And there are forty girls : all such darlings." " As nice as me ? " " Much nicer. And you'll learn grammar, and hockey, and cricket, and tennis " " Any Guides ? " " I don't know. But you'll soon find out, and I'm sure Miss Lavender will let you play at anything you like." " Guiding isn't play ; it's high and holy." " So it is, dear one. And you'll promise me to be a good girl and not get into mischief, or play pranks, or do anything to upset poor Miss Lavender." THE PRIVATE VIEW 29 " It depends on what does upset her," I said, for, of course, I couldn't make promises in the dark. " Some people are upset so easily. But she's got a sweet name." " Hasn't she ? " said Mummie eagerly. " And she's a sweet creature. You'll love her directly you see her. And there's a younger sister, Miss Doreen." " How old ? " " Oh, quite young. But you mustn't ask ladies their age, Pippa." " Why not ? " " They don't like it, and it makes them tell untruths. Try and be polite and think of other people's feelings." That's all very well, but when have other people thought of my feelings, I should like to know ? Mother got out some photographs of Black- thorne House, and the garden, and playing fields, and the sea with some of the girls in it. It did look rather jolly, I must say, and, though it was not the life I should have chosen for myself, I resolved to make the best of it. The next day Mummie took me to the Army and Navy Stores and bought me quantities of things I really did not want. But she said they 30 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON were all on the list of school requisites and I must take them with me. " But I shall never wear that rotten old mackintosh," I remonstrated. " Why, I like getting wet." " The mackintosh is very important. You wouldn't be admitted without it, and all the girls have to carry one on their arm when they go walking, in case it should rain." " Poor brutes ! How putrid for them. We must get that little regulation altered with all speed." " Now, Pippa, you know you promised." "Have you thought about the tuck box, Mummie ? " " No, darling, not yet." ' Well, let's turn our attention to it now," I urged, for I had caught sight of some perfectly scrumptious tins of lobster ; and I don't think Mummie need have shown so niggardly a spirit when she gave the order for them, and some pots of jam and anchovy paste, and a few other things that would keep. " But you must eat a very little at a time, Pippa," she said, " and only when Miss Lavender says you may." " Oh, of course. I'll get a signed order for THE PRIVATE VIEW 31 every mouthful. A pound of those mixed chocolates wouldn't come amiss, Mummie dear ; and if you think they'd be a bit stale by the beginning of term, we could overcome that difficulty." Mummie bought the chocolates, and they were not a bit stale by the beginning of term. I arranged that they should not be. Those were gorgeous holidays, for, after the storm blew over, every one tried to be nice and kind to me. Even the servants said they would miss me. And Uncle Philip, when he came to dinner one evening, offered to run down to Brighton and take me out to tea. " Miss Lavender and I were great friends years ago," he said cheerfully. I thought less of Miss Lavender when I heard that. Could the two have been lovers in the dim past ages ? But when I looked at Uncle Philip I realized that, with a face like that, no woman could ever have loved him, even in his prime. Muriel and Nita kept giving me little presents, such as needle-books and pencil-cases and music-tidies. And once my brother Jack took me to a matinee ; but he said afterwards that it was for the last time, and he thought I could 32 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON not be quite right in my head. I had, of course, behaved perfectly. He could not know that when I went to the rescue of an old gentleman in the stalls, who was having a fit, I was doing my good Guide deed. They said afterwards that the old gentleman wasn't having a fit, but it looked like it, and how was I to know ? " Let's see," said Charlie, one day late in April, "when do you start for your Academy, Pippa ? " " First of May," I told him. ; 'Then you'll just get in the Private View, and if you're good you shall go, though you've not yet paid for the canvas." " It would show better taste on your part, Charles, not to allude to the past," I said, frowning at him. He laughed, and said the Private View would be on my last Saturday, and I should go to the Academy with Muriel and Nita, if Mummie would let me. " For you're not really a bad little kid, Pippa," he said in his condescending way. " But get the good deed over before you start." " I don't know that I care about going. Will there be ices ? " " No ; pictures." " THE PRIVATE VIEW 33 Oh ! And nothing to eat at all ? " " Of course ; we may have tea." " If I can rely on that, I'll think about it," I said with dignity. It isn't much fun trailing round at the back of Muriel and Charlie. They never see any- body but one another, and as for Nita, she simply melts away with the first acquaintance she meets. On that last Saturday in April I spent the morning in superintending the packing of my box for Brighton. It seemed foolish to take such enormous numbers of shoes, and only three tins of sardines, but Mummie insisted ; and though I removed the mackintosh twice when she wasn't looking, she always found it and put it back. We got all that finished by lunch time, and then they dressed me up for the Private View. I should naturally have gone in my uniform, but there was such an outcry when I suggested it, for the sake of peace I put on the silly buff frock and coat that they make me wear when they take me out. Well, we started in a taxi. Charlie fetched us. Mummie and Daddy were going to blow in later, and Mummie thought I had better wait (4,381) 34 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON and go with them ; but Daddy said No, if Charlie wanted to take me he could cope with me. I don't think my family always follow the good Guide rule of universal kindness. I spend half my life in forgiving them. I had been to the Royal Academy many times before, and it was not a bit changed. The counter where you bought your catalogue, and the counter where you left your umbrella (if you had one), and the turnstile where you showed your pass or, on ordinary days, paid your eighteenpence, were all just as usual. We could not see much of the pictures, for the rooms were full of people who hid them from sight. I suppose most of them were the anxious artists and their female aunts and mothers. It was as flabby a crowd as ever I saw, including an archbishop and two or three bishops. They all wore their gaiters and things, and nobody seemed to mind, while my good uniform had to hang in the wardrobe at home or lie on the floor, as the case might be. It did seem horribly unfair. We found Charlie's picture, and squeezed through the unmannerly mob that blocked it out. Muriel blushed with pleasure when she saw it, for she never believed me when I told THE PRIVATE VIEW 35 her the person represented wasn't in the least like her. There was a red blob in the corner, and standing in the front was its proud pur- chaser, gloating on its charms. " Well, I am glad to see you, Mr. Woolley, dear," I said, wringing his hand. He did not seem to know me until he saw I was with Charlie and Muriel, and then he smiled. " Oh, it's little Philippa. I remember now. We have met before/' ' Yes, and I often think of the lovely choco- lates you sent me. I did enjoy them." But he did not pay much attention, although I trusted that a hint would be sufficient. " Good show," he said to Charlie. " And very jolly for you to be hung on the line." I didn't agree with him, for the pictures hung over the heads of the mob were the only ones that had a chance of being looked at. And you couldn't tell by just looking at them what some of them were supposed to represent, and they would have looked quite as well upside down. There was one that I took to be a picture of mermaids gathering eggs and lash- ing their tails. On reference to the catalogue it turned out to be Gladys, Doris, and Phyllis, daughters of Albert Jones, Esquire, eating nuts. 36 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I turned round to express my disgust, and found that Charlie and Muriel had slipped away, which was just like them. I tried to find Nita, but, of course, she had vanished. I was feeling so lonely that I was on the point of asking the archbishop how much he paid for his gaiters and what exactly he wore underneath, when I caught sight of Mr. Woolley again and made for him at once. " May I come round with you until Mummie comes ? " I asked him politely. " It's so lonely all by myself. They made me come, and now they've deserted me." " Poor wee lassie," said Mr. Woolley. " Shall I hold its hand ? " " No, you shan't. Tell me, are you really very rich ? " " It depends," said Mr. Woolley with caution, " on what you call rich. Do you want to borrow a trifle ? " " I might want to, but they'd never let me. Did you know I was going to school on Monday ? " " Dear me ! How frightfully jolly. They will miss you." ' Yes, won't they ? Every day I do little deeds to help and please them." THE PRIVATE VIEW 37 " I'm sure you do. Do they seem helped and pleased ? " 11 If you knew much of my family you wouldn't ask such a silly question. They pleased with anything I do for them ! You ought to hear what they say to me sometimes, when I've been particularly helpful." " I can imagine it. You'll like being at school, won't you ? ' : " Humph ! I expect it'll be ups-and-downsy. I've got a new swimming dress, but I'm only to have a shilling a week for pocket money." " Well, that will be plenty, won't it ? Why, you'll never be able to spend such an income." " It will not be nearly enough. I shan't even try to make it do. Just think of the price of things. You can't buy much with a shilling." " No ? But, then, you won't want many extras in an establishment where all essentials are provided." " I can't tell how things will be until I get there, of course. But I'm dreadfully afraid there won't be enough to eat." " I don't think you need worry about that. It's the one aim of the modern girls' school to fatten the boarders. I've got a cousin myself with a waist a yard round." 38 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON "She must be a deformity," I said scorn- fully. " Not at all. She's a very pretty girl. Now shall we go " " Not yet," I said quickly. " I don't want to find the others. It's not nearly tea-time. Are you fond of archbishops ? " " Not particularly. Why ? " " There's one over there gaiters and all. Look at the nice-looking lady with him. He seems to be taking her towards the refreshment room, doesn't he ? " " But you said it wasn't tea-time," he ob- jected. " It's not quite. But an ice is always acceptable. A very understanding man, that archbishop. I wish I knew him." " In the matter of an ice, I'm as good as an archbishop," said Mr. Woolley. " Dear man," I cried, seizing his hand, " let's follow the gaiters." But the gaiters waddled off in another direc- tion after all, and we went down the stairs by ourselves. The first thing I saw in the vault-like gloom below was Nita sitting at a table with a young man. They had strawberry ices in front of THE PRIVATE VIEW 39 them, but they were talking so earnestly that the ices were fast melting and running to waste. I was just about to rush forward and ask who the young man was, and if I might eat the ices as they didn't want them, when Nita caught sight of me, and deliberately turned her back on her faithful little sister, pretending not to know her. I was so hurt that I should have thrown my catalogue at her if Mr. Woolley had not grasped me firmly by the elbow and towed me into the next room by main force. " Now then," he said, " strawberry, or vanilla, or mixed ? " " Oh, mixed, please. Did you see Nita ? Sitting in the next room with a person ? Did you know him ? " " Oh, I know him well enough. Good fellow, too." ' You seem to think everybody a good fellow," said I, taking the extreme top off the vanilla side. " Why, you saw points in Charlie." " Rather," said he. " I like Charlie." " How good you are. Not many men love their deadly rivals." " Deadly rival ? What nonsense ! I can't paint a bit." 40 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Oh, I wasn't thinking of painting. There are other things more important. Well, that's done." And I worked the spoon round and round the empty glass. " Could you eat another ? " asked Mr. Woolley. " I could," I replied. When we went back we found that Nita and her friend had disappeared, leaving their ices behind, running all over the place. A waitress was just clearing away the remains, and I could have wept over the waste of good food. In Room III. we found Mummie, and, with more haste than politeness, Mr. Woolley took me to her and left me there. He said he must run away as he had an engagement; but I didn't believe him. " Are you enjoying yourself, darling ? " asked Mummie. " I've had two ices," I said, " but they're over now. And I've seen an archbishop, but that was quite a small pleasure." ' Well now, let's come and look at the pictures." I went round with Mummie, but the crowd was denser than ever, and we did not see any pictures. But we met a great many people we / was so hurt, I should have thrown my catalogue at her. had to stop and talk to. One lady said that her dear little niece, Norah Britton, was at Blackthorne House, and she hoped we should 42 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON be great friends. I felt sure we shouldn't be if the dear little niece was anything like her aunt, but I only cast down my eyes and breathed feebly. When we came across Charlie and Muriel they were going to have tea, so I said nothing more about the ices, and they let me choose my own cakes. " I wonder where Nita is," said Mother. "I've seen her," I remarked, " but I can't tell you where she is. I wouldn't if I could." " What does the child mean ? " cried Mother, laughing. " Ah ! " I said darkly. " Pass the pastries, please." When we got home, and I was taking off my things in my room, the door opened, and Nita came in. She held a horrid little pencil-box in her hand. " I've bought you a small present, Pippa, dear," she said coaxingly. " A nice box to keep your pencils in." ' You've given me five already," I said gloomily. " This is the sixth. Am I to use them all at once, or one at a time ? " Of course, I saw through her. She meant me to understand that I was not to mention the THE PRIVATE VIEW 43 young man and the wasted ices ; but I was not going to oblige her for a sixpenny pencil-box. " Nita," I said firmly, " have you such a thing about you as half a crown ? " " Of course not. How should I get half a crown ? " ' Then it's a pity you deliberately wasted a good shilling ice." At that Nita got rather red, and in the end she reluctantly disgorged the half-crown. It will come in handy later on. On the afternoon of the following Monday I started for Brighton. CHAPTER III THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON T PUT my head out of the window as the train A ran into the station. "Where's the sea?" I said to Mother, who was with me. " Oh, not near the station," she said. I was disappointed. The prospect was dreary. A dirty old station, as ugly as Liverpool Street ; a crowd of ugly people getting in the way ; no sign of anything but squalor. " Let's go back," I said to Mother. And she replied, " Certainly not." We got into a taxi, and my luggage was put on the top. We drove off down a steep street, full of shops that all looked horrid, and we as nearly as possible ran over two people who got in the way. Then we bore off to the right, and saw a great many more shops. Passing along the top of a road that slanted downwards, I saw the sea at last. There it lay, at the end of the THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 45 road, sparkling and beaming, as blue as heaven. My spirits rose. " At least that's not squalid," I said to Mother. We began to go through roads with houses in them, such as people live in ; and at last we drew up in front of two large gates, on which was a board with painted letters. The letters spelt : " Blackthorne House School," so I knew that we had arrived. I ought to have felt nervous and trembled at the unknown destiny that was lying before me. But I didn't. Mummie seemed agitated, but I begged her to be calm, for, as I justly said, if we didn't like it we wouldn't stop. The gates were opened by some one behind them. The taxi pounded up the gravel path and stopped in front of a flight of stone steps, with large stone vases on each side of them ; in the vases were flowers and ferns. We got out. The driver rang the bell, and the door was opened by a parlourmaid with streamers. She showed us into a long room at the back of the house, with a conservatory at one end, and French doors leading to the garden. A lady in grey silk, who was sitting reading by one of the windows, got up and shook hands 46 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON warmly with Mother, and said she was so glad to see us. " And this is little Philippa," she said, and tried to kiss me. However, I dodged her, for I am not one of the kissing sort. It's a habit that is not encouraged by the Guides. " We call her Pippa, for short," explained Mummie, " and I do hope that she will be a good girl and give you no trouble." " I'm sure she will be a credit to the school," said Miss Lavender, and she had such a nice voice that I took a look at her. There was a sus- picion of a twinkle in her blue eyes that warmed my heart towards her ; and she shimmered as she moved, for her grey silk shone like silver, and her hair was like silver too, and her face was like her name, so that I thought it was no wonder if Uncle Philip had been moved to like her when he was young. The door opened, and another lady came in. " My sister, Miss Doreen Lavender," said Miss Lavender, and we shook hands with Miss Doreen, who was not in the least like her sister. She was ever so much younger, to begin with, and her brown hair was bobbed, and she wore quite a short skirt, and was generally skittish. But I did not take to her much. THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 47 "Would you show Pippa her room, please, Doreen ? " said Miss Lavender. " She will like to see where she is going to sleep." " You come too, Mummie," I urged. But Mummie said she wanted to talk to Miss Lavender and would follow presently. So I went after Miss Doreen's back, and made a grimace at it, which relieved my feelings very much. We crossed the hall, and saw one or two girls flitting about. Then up two flights of stairs I followed my guide, until she paused outside a door on a large landing and turned the handle. " Is any one here, and may we come in ? " she asked brightly. There were two people there an old woman, who seemed to be unpacking a box, and a fattish girl. But I did not waste time on them, for I flew to the open window, and shouted : " The sea ! The sea ! " There was a beautiful view of it beyond the sloping garden. A sort of park spread out on one hand, and a short street led down to the shore. I was so excited that I waved my hand- kerchief and said, " Hooray ! " " Are you cheering the sea ? " asked Miss Doreen, laughing. 48 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " I am," I told her. " I love the sea." " Well now, here is somebody else you must love," said Miss Doreen, pushing the fattish girl towards me. " This is Hilda Cheesman ; and, Hilda, this is Pippa, who will share this room with you, now Dorothy has gone." Hilda shook hands flabbily, and did not seem much interested in me, as she had to keep her eyes on the things the old woman was hauling out of her trunk. I glanced round the room. It was small, but big enough for two beds, two washstands, a wardrobe, and a dressing-table. " The younger girls are in the large dormi- tories," went on Miss Doreen. " But our bigger girls always have rooms to themselves, as far as possible." I thought it was hardly having a room to myself if I had to share it with fat Hilda, and I was just about to say so when it occurred to me that I might as well give Hilda a trial, and see how I liked her, before taking steps to get rid of her. Hilda had a round face with blue eyes, and very unfashionable hair. Instead of a neat shingle, it grew long and thick, and was plaited into a pigtail tied with a ribbon bow. It was an enormously thick pigtail, of a bright yellow colour. There was a beautiful view beyond the sloping garden. * They're just bringing up your trunk, Pippa," said Miss Doreen, " and Susan shall unpack it for you when she has finished Hilda's. Now, when you hear the bell, Hilda dear, bring Pippa down to the drawing-room, and you shall both have tea there to-day." She pranced out of the room in a sprightly manner, and Susan rose from her knees and went after her, saying as she went, " Don't you (4.3S1) 49 50 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON touch anything, Miss Hilda, dear, till I come back." " Rather not," said Hilda, diving into a corner of the box and drawing forth a brown shoe, which had a lump of toffee concealed in the toe. " Have some," she offered, handing it to me. I took a bite, and then Hilda took a bite, and we sat down together on the window-sill to chew the succulent morsels. I opened the conver- sation. " How old are you ? " I asked. " Going on for fifteen," she answered. " Oh, then, you're older than me. Are you a Guide ? " " What's that ? " said Hilda. I was shocked. Such ignorance was appal- ling. " Aren't there any Girl Guides in Brighton ? " I asked with scorn. " Oh, I think there are, but I never heard of them," said Hilda. " Rotten old place. I wish I'd stopped in London." " Oh, don't say that. You can introduce the Guides here, if you want them." So I could. Here was my life-work before THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 51 me, and I took another bite at Hilda's toffee in a more cheerful frame of mind. " Did you have Guides at your last school ? " she inquired. " I've never been to school before, but Mother let me join a Company our Vicar's sister got up, to match her brother's Scouts. My energy and enthusiasm soon raised me from the ranks." Hilda gazed at me in admiration, and we finished the toffee. " Each Guide performs one good and un- selfish deed every day," I went on. "I've simply loaded my ungrateful family with bene- fits, but I've never had much encouragement or sympathy from them. Are you clever ? " " No," said Hilda, " I'm a complete duffer at Maths." " Who cares about Maths ? Can't you do anything else ? " " Only one thing." " What's that ? " " Sing. I've got a voice. I'm going to be trained to be a prima donna when I leave school." " You're kidding." " I'm not. Wait till you hear me." " 'Spect I shall wait a good while." 52 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " You won't. I'll sing in the hymn to- morrow morning at prayers, and you'll hear. I generally save my voice at such times, but I'll let it go for once." "Thanks, awfully," said I sarcastically. At that moment a bell rang, and we ran down- stairs. " A drawing-room tea is an empty honour," said Hilda sorrowfully, as she turned the handle. I soon saw what she meant when a plate of wafery bread and butter was passed to me, and then a finger of cake, and nothing else. I had to fix my thoughts intently on the lobster and biscuits in my box upstairs to keep up my spirits at all. After tea, Mummie went away. I didn't like it at all when her taxi turned out of the gate, and I was left alone in a strange world. I waved farewell with a heavy heart, and turned back into the hall hoping that my Guidehood was not disgraced by any teariness about my eyes. " But I suppose I must make the best of it," I said with a deep sigh. " The best of what ? " asked Miss Lavender, who was standing near. " Oh, the school, and the girls, and the teachers, and the rest of it." THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 53 " Don't despair," said she. " Remember your own song, Pippa * God's in His Heaven ; All's right with the world.' You must get Hilda to sing it to you." I stole a glance at her. She really was a sweet-looking thing, but it was too much to hope that she was a fair representative of the rest of the staff. " There'll be plenty of things to put up with at school," said Miss Lavender. " I know," I said gloomily ; " but then there are, everywhere. You ought to see what I put up with at home, where no one appreciates me, and everybody thinks I'm young." " What a shame ! Never mind, Pippa. You and I will be elderly together, if you like." " Thank you. I shall be glad of a sensible friend. Hilda seems rather a mug." " Not a bit," said Miss Lavender. " She's quite a darling. Wait till you know her." " I will," I agreed. " Can I go upstairs and unpack ? " " You can go up and help Susan in a few minutes, if you like. Come into the school- room now, and be introduced to the girls." I followed her into a large room, with pictures on the walls and flowers on the mantelpiece, 54 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON and no sign of a map. I hate maps. An im- mense concourse of girls of all ages were rush- ing about and screaming like maniacs. " Are they all mad ? " I asked. " You're not used to school life when lessons are not going on, or you would know that this is quite an ordinary recreation," said Miss Laven- der. She rang a little bell. " Be quiet, girls, for a minute," she called out, " and come and speak to your new friend." Several came and shook hands. Some of them seemed almost grown-up, and some quite kids, but the greater number were apparently middle-aged from twelve to fourteen. " Is Hilda here ? " I said, glancing round. " She's probably putting things straight in her room. Would you like to go to her ? " " I certainly would. This bear-garden is not to my mind." " Come, come, Pippa. You'll soon get used to it, and make more noise than any of them. Miss Lambert," turning to a bald-looking lady in eyeglasses " I expect Pippa will be in your form, as she is about the age for it. But you must give her a little examination in the morning, and find out what she can do." THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 55 " I hope the examination will be short, for there's very little I can do," I said modestly. I had no wish to deceive. Miss Lambert eyed me sternly. " Don't you wish to get on ? " she inquired. " Well," I said, " I don't really mind much, but, naturally, I shall do my best. A little know- ledge may come in useful some time. Probably when I'm married . . ." Miss Lambert's expression of horror froze my speech. " What is the child talking about ? " she cried, with elevated eyebrows. I tried patiently to explain. " I might have been engaged by now, if Charlie had listened to me." " Who is Charlie ? " asked Miss Lambert. I refrained from begging her to mind her own business, and politely enlightened her. " He's my brother-in-law or he will be when he has married my sister Muriel. I offered to marry him to save her, but he had the bad taste to decline me." " I'm sure I don't wonder," said Miss Lambert rudely. But Miss Lavender was laughing heartily. " You are an original, Pippa," she said. " But 56 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I do hope you will settle down and try to keep the Rules. Now you may run up to your room for half an hour, if you like." I went thankfully. Miss Lavender was all very well, but I did not know how I was going to stand the Lambert person, who was sure to be shocked by the simplest action. I could only hope that the morning's examination would prove that I was not up to her class, or else far beyond it. " Oh, here you are at last," said Hilda, as I went in. "What ages you have been. Be quick ; Susan wants the key of your box." I was just about to respond, " Then she can't have it," when I thought better of it, took off the ribbon round my neck with the key attached to it, and handed it humbly to Susan. I was thankful to see that she was pressed for time and was disposing of my property without giving much attention to details. Several card- board boxes I took quickly from her, remarking that I would put them straight in the drawer, as I should not be needing any clean collars or handkerchiefs for several days. When all the things were out, Susan dragged the trunk from the room. "You hang up your frocks on those pegs, THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 57 Miss Pippa," she said cheerfully, as she van- ished. " I shut the door carefully behind her, and kicked the garments on the floor out of my way. " Shall we open the lobster or the salmon, Hilda ? " I asked. " Oh, the lobster, I think," she answered. " And I've got a jam-roll that will go with it nicely." It was fortunate that I had remembered to bring a tin-opener and a teaspoon. Hilda used her toothbrush, and we had the tin between us on the window-sill. The jam in the jam-roll was greengage. Outside, the sun was setting over the sea, and the sky was aflame in pink and gold. " Perhaps it won't be so bad, after all," I said hopefully. " What won't ? " asked Hilda, sucking the toothbrush. " Oh, school, and all that. You tell me how long have you been here ? " " This is my fourth term." " Golly ! I don't suppose I can stick it for four terms." " I don't suppose they'll stick you," said Hilda candidly. " You're a holy terror, aren't you ? " 58 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I was offended. " Pass the tin," I said loftily. " It's empty," said Hilda, examining it. " What are we going to do with it ? " " Chuck it out of the window," I sug- gested. " Gracious, no. You'd bring a fine hornets' nest about our ears. I'll put it in a drawer until we go for a walk, and then I'll take it with us and dispose of it. Well, I feel all the better for that little refreshment, don't you ? " " I'm not sure. Jam-rolls are bilious things." " So are lobsters. Have you got many more ? " " A few. Don't let's talk about them. Are any of the girls nice ? " " Most of them are horrid, and some are snobs." " Why ? " " Because they've got titles in their family, and it gives them swelled head. Selma Pratt's father is a Member of Parliament. He's a Socialist." " Well, she can't be proud of him" I said. " She is," said Hilda ; " eaten up with pride. But, then, she's barmy. How do you like Miss Lavender ? " We had a tin between us. " She seems all right, but you never can tell. How old is Miss Doreen ? " Hilda gave a cackling laugh. " I've heard her tell people she's thirty, but that's her professional age, and Doreen's her 59 60 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON professional name. She was christened Fanny forty-five years ago." " However do you know that ? " " All the girls say so," said Hilda. So I suppose it's true. We sat talking until the last vestige of sunset had faded out of the sky and the room was growing dark. " Come on," said Hilda, getting up. " We'd better be downstairs when the bell rings." " I don't know that I want to go down," I said faintly. "Nonsense. You must squelch down your agony. I thought you were overdoing it with that lobster." " It was my lobster," I was beginning, when the bell rang loudly, and Hilda pulled me, blinking, down the stairs. In the long, large schoolroom the girls were standing in rows, and Hilda and I slipped quietly in at the back. Some one gave me a hymn book, but I never felt less like singing in my life. After prayers, of which I have only a con- fused recollection, we all trooped into the dining-room, and scrambled for seats round two long tables, which each held twenty girls, and THE ARRIVAL AT BRIGHTON 61 a mistress at either end. The supper seemed only too plentiful, and I stared at it with half- closed eyes. A plate was dabbed down in front of me, with tapioca pudding and stewed prunes on it. ' Take it away," I said feebly. " Why, aren't you hungry ? " said a red- haired girl on my right. I couldn't speak. " Poor thing," said the red-haired girl kindly. " It's your first night, and I expect you're home- sick." " You're partly right," I murmured. If she had said " tinned-lobster-sick " she would have been nearer the mark. Miss Doreen was at the head of our table, and I was fourth from her. She must have noticed how green I was looking, for she bent across and whispered to me, " If you don't feel very well, Pippa, and would like to run up to bed, you may go." I pushed back my chair, and fled. Just in time. When Hilda came up at nine o'clock, I was in bed and nearly asleep. And so ended the first day at school. CHAPTER IV THE FIRST DAY ALOUD gong, with a brazen voice, woke me at seven the next morning. I opened my eyes and stretched out lazily, to see if I felt quite well. I did. " Hilda," I called, " are you awake ? " She did not answer, and a faint snore from her bed told me that she was still asleep. " She must have an iron constitution to sleep through all that noise," I thought, as the gong went on pounding, and thumping, and lashing itself into a fury. " Hilda," I shouted, " if you don't hear that, you must be dead." She half opened one eye, and shut it again. " Don't get agitated," she murmured. " They do it every morning. You'll soon get used to it." " Aren't you going to get up ? " " No. I'm tired. You wash first." I acted on this suggestion, and was ready to THE FIRST DAY 63 go downstairs before Hilda slowly thrust her legs out of bed. " Do we never have baths ? " I asked. " Oh, yes, two a week. You must study the Bath Time Table in the corridor if you want to find out when your turn comes. Don't go down without me." " I'm not going to. Think I'll have a biscuit while I'm waiting." " You would get into a row," said Hilda, tearing at the tangles in her thick hair, " if they knew you were keeping provisions up here. It's quite against the rules." " I daresay it is," I agreed, as I sat on the window-sill and munched. " I'm sure, if I kept a school, I shouldn't allow eating in the bedrooms. Most unwholesome, besides en- couraging mice." Hilda opened her eyes at me. " Why do you do it then ? " she asked. I shook my head and sighed. " Depravity of human nature," I told her. She had barely fastened her dress when the gong began again, and we ran downstairs. Girls were pouring down from every side, and I wondered how soon I should get to know them all. 64 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " There should be half an hour's prep before breakfast, but there won't be any to-day, as it's the first morning, and they haven't had time to deal out their beastly homework," Hilda in- formed me. I was thankful for that, and we turned into the long room, where Hilda left me, to speak to her older friends. One or two girls came up to me and seemed inclined to be friendly. One plain, shingled person, with a flat nose, appeared to take a fancy to me at first, until I asked her to account for the nose. " Were you born with it, or did it sink down later in life ? " I inquired with interest. But she was as squiffy as possible, and said I was a rude thing and she'd never speak to me again. " I shan't mind that," I said. " It isn't as if you were worth knowing." " You've no idea who I am." " Don't want to." " My father's a Member of Parliament. He makes the laws that you have to obey." " Fancy that now ! My great-grandfather's a Duke and lives in a castle with a moat." " I don't believe that." " Nobody asked you to ..." I was pro- THE FIRST DAY 65 ceeding to give further details of the life of my exalted but entirely mythical relative, when Miss Lambert came bustling in. " Oh, good-morning, Philippa," she said to me. " Come into my classroom presently, and you can work your papers there." I said I would, and relapsed into gloom, for I had entirely forgotten everything I ever knew, and felt they would make me begin all over again with the infants in the lowest form. At eight o'clock a bell rang ; the girls ranged themselves in rows, as they had done the night before, and Miss Lavender came in with the rest of the staff. I felt so homesick that, if I had not been a Guide, I should have burst into tears on the spot. Three whole months to be got through before there was any hope of release ! I did not think I could bear it. I wanted Mummie so much that it hurt. I wanted the old schoolroom at home, where I could hatch my schemes for good deeds before carrying them into effect. I should even have welcomed the sight of Nita or any one connected with the dear dim past. I suppose a tear or two did stray into my eyes, and my thoughts were far away, when some- thing happened. The girls must have been (4,361) 5 66 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON singing the hymn, played by one of the music mistresses on a piano in the corner. I was paying no attention to their bleating and bray- ing, when suddenly a sound arose that was not like anything I had ever heard before. I held my breath to listen. " Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing " It was Hilda singing. And, as she sang, the bleating and braying of the girls round her died away, melted into the sweetness of her lovely voice. High, and true, and pure, and sweet beyond all expressing, it rose, and rose, and filled the room, and rilled the world. I forgot that I was homesick. I forgot that I was in a strange place and wanted my break- fast. I forgot Miss Lambert and her detested class, and the examination that was looming before me. I only remembered the angels' song, and Hilda, with her blue eyes raised, singing for all she was worth. She seemed no longer a plain, fattish schoolgirl with a sandy pigtail. She was one of the mysterious forces of the world, with power to move it. The tears were running down my cheeks in good earnest before she had finished, and I THE FIRST DAY 67 didn't care. When the last notes had died away I woke up and wiped my eyes. I seemed to have been dreaming, but I caught Hilda's arm as we were all trooping in to breakfast, and said: " You were quite right. You will be a prima donna. You have the most beautiful voice in the world." " Yes, haven't I ? " said Hilda complacently. " Well, you needn't be cocky about it, any- how. It's no doing of yours. It was made in you, and you can't help it." " I sang this morning to let you know I could, but you won't hear me again for ages, so make the most of it." I was very hungry, and glad to get a large plateful of porridge, followed by cold bacon, bread and butter, and marmalade. The bread was cut in doorsteps and very little butter was scraped on. I should not have touched it at home, but I ate ten doorsteps with alacrity, and should have started on the eleventh if one of the girls had not been told to say Grace, and the meal came to an end. Then we went for a walk, two and two, along the front, with Miss Lambert and another trotting at the back and keeping up with diffi- 68 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON culty. I found that it was a point of honour with the girls to walk as fast as they could when they were out in the crocodile. The mistresses were always ordering us to go more slowly, but we never took any notice of them. Each girl carried her mackintosh, neatly folded over her left arm. I had intended to rebel against this unnecessary foolery, but Hilda begged me not to. " You can't think how useful those macks can be," she said. ' Why, you wouldn't guess that at this minute I'm carrying out to its long home the lobster tin that we emptied yesterday." " What are you going to do with it ? " I asked with curiosity. " All along the Parade," Hilda told me, " are small receptacles for refuse, provided by a thoughtful Mayor and Corporation, who simply dote on keeping things tidy. I'm giving the lobster tin into their keeping." And she managed so cleverly that I really never saw what she had done until she had done it. It was a lovely morning, and I longed for a swim, but Hilda said that swimming wouldn't begin for several days, as some new tents ordered from the stores had not yet arrived. / really never saw what she had done. So we just lounged along the front in the direction of Hove, and then we trailed back to the West Pier, the entrance to which was placarded with bills of an exciting nature, which Miss Lambert wouldn't let us stop to read. We quickened our pace, and made her run till she was scarlet in the face. Then, the half-hour being up, we wended back to Blackthorne House, and scattered to 70 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON the various classrooms. I found my way to Miss Lambert's class, which I was told was the Upper Fourth. It was not very large, there being only nine girls in it, and they were all due next term in the Fifth. I sat down at a desk at the back of the room, and ranged two of Nita's pencil-boxes in front of me, with a substantial ruler, an offering of Muriel's. Miss Lambert dealt out to me some sheets of foolscap, and papers with typewritten questions on Grammar, Geography, History, Scripture, and Arithmetic. I was never any good at arithmetic, so I tackled that first, and got some surprising results. There were the usual silly problems about the ages of a father and son, and the number of times a bicycle wheel would have to turn to get round the world, and so forth. In my answers, the son came out as 4975 years old when his father was born and that obviously couldn't be. Nor could any bicycle compass the globe in five revolutions. But I stated the answers very clearly, and underlined everything, so I hoped the examiner would like it. Then I tried the Scripture paper, which began: " Who was Zerubbabel ? " There was a thing to ask an innocent child. I felt sure THE FIRST DAY 71 that a person with a name like that was no better than he should be. And yet, on reflection, I concluded that he must have done something great, or they wouldn't ask questions about him. So I wrote a wordy reply, in which I said that he was a very celebrated man in his time, but that his time was now so remote that many of his deeds both good and bad were lost in the mists of antiquity. I exercised a good deal of ingen- uity in the replies I gave to the questions, for I have a fervid imagination and much literary ability. I've heard Mother say so to her friends. The time went quickly till the bell went for Break at eleven, and I followed the crowd into the fresh air. Two maids brought out plates of thick bread and butter, and we ate it in the garden, which was sweet with the smell of wall- flowers. " Hilda," I cried, rushing at her, " do you know who Zerubbabel was ? " Hilda wrinkled her brows. " Some relation of Ezra," she said, " or Nehemiah. We did him last term, But he's been a mummy for centuries, so why worry ? " " Oh, I'm not worrying about him, but about myself. I'm afraid, when they read my papers, 72 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON they'll think that I can only learn with the seven- year-olds." " They won't read your papers," Hilda assured me. " They've only given you them for form's sake and in accordance with custom. They meant you to be in the Upper Fourth from the beginning." After that I finished the exams regardless ot consequences, and I think Hilda was right, and no one really looked at the papers I sent in, for I wrote the most outrageous things, and no notice was taken. I was consigned to the Upper Fourth and given a desk in that room. Morning school was over at half-past twelve, and then we had the time to ourselves until one o'clock. This was not as pleasant as it might have been, because there was a foolish rule forbidding the girls to go to their bedrooms during the day, except for ten minutes before tea, when they changed their school attire for " evening " wear. Dinner was at one o'clock, and there was hot mutton, with greens and things, and jam pud- ding. I ate more than was really necessary to keep me alive, and refused an offer to make a four at tennis afterwards, as I wanted to write to Mummie. But even this good deed was THE FIRST DAY 73 frustrated by the authorities, for I was told that Friday was the day for writing home, and we were not allowed to write at any other time. It was also the blackest of crimes to post a letter for oneself. I sighed wearily, and flung myself under a tree on the lawn, with a story-book I had found on a shelf. It would be much simpler if they said plainly the few things we might do, and then we should know where we were. I was getting drowsy under the sycamore, when a girl came up and seated herself on the ground beside me. " Now then," I said to her, " I was here first. You go away." The girl she had black shiny hair and wicked little eyes stared at me and did not move. " Who taught you manners ? " she asked. " No one," I replied. " So I should think," said she. " I don't like you," said I. " Why not ? " " Your hair's too black, and your eyes too close together." " Well, of all the rude creatures ! I'm much admired wherever I go, and I'm an heiress." "So'm I," I said promptly. "The Begum of Cawnpore left me a gold mine and a cellar- 74 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ful of rubies. When I come of age I shall be the most wealthy woman in England. Already, princes are clamouring for my hand." " Some people," said my companion calmly, " are born liars. What's your name ? " " Pippa. What's yours ? " " Silly name, Pippa. Mine is Isabel Duncan Fortescue." Then her manner suddenly changed. " Come," she said, " let's be friends. I think you look such a lark, and I've got a large iced cake in my box. Do you like eating ? " " Of course. Have you cut the cake yet ? " " No, but I'm going to do it to-night. When the house is quiet I'll creep into your room with it, if you like, and we'll go shares." " You'll get caught, and there'll be a row. Besides, Hilda might not want you messing about." " I don't care about Hilda. She's no friend of mine. Stuck up toad." " I think she's splendid," I said warmly. " And there she is." I jumped up, and, brushing Miss Fortescue aside, rushed at Hilda and put my arm through hers. " Hilda," I said, " let's run away." " Who taught you mawntrs ? 1 Where to ? " " Oh, anywhere, to get away from the girls. I've just been talking to a thing called Isabel Fortescue." "Then you shouldn't," she said. "You'll never get into a good set if you start keeping low company." " Is Isabel low company ? " " Certainly. She's always trying to get a friend, but no one can stick her." 75 76 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Poor brute. Where does she sleep ? " " In a room with four cubicles. The girls in the other three won't speak to her." " Why won't they ?" " They say her father's a Jew and keeps a pawnshop." " What's that to do with her ? She says she's an heiress." " That's because of her Jewishness and his pawnshop." " Well, anyhow," I said, " it's a shame to blame her for what she can't help. And I daresay it isn't true." " Very likely not. Who cares ? Oh, there's the tiresome bell. I do hate afternoon lessons." We sauntered in and took our places. Then Mademoiselle came to give us a French lesson. I hoped she wouldn't notice me, for I was feeling dull and sleepy, but she spied me in a minute. " Bon jour, mademoiselle," she said briskly. " Vous parlez Fran$ais ? " " Oui, tres bien," I answered, making the best of it. She did seem pleased, and jabbered a quantity of her language at me, while I cocked an intelli- gent eye and said " Oui " at intervals. Then we began to read from a very tedious work called THE FIRST DAY 77 Lazare Hoche. I went to sleep with my head on my desk, and though Hilda was very kind and kept kicking me, it was no use, for what with the sun, and the late jam pudding, and the strong salt air from the open windows, I could no more keep my eyes open than I could fly. When it came to my turn to translate Lazare I simply emitted a snore. Mademoiselle was shrill with horror and rage, and sent me out of the room. I retired gratefully, and finished my nap in a corner of the hall. Here Miss Doreen found me presently and woke me up. " Why are you not in class ? " she asked suspiciously. " Mademoiselle sent me out," I told her. " I'm sorry," she said. " And the first day, too. Whatever were you doing ? " " That's just it. I wasn't doing anything," I explained sleepily. " Lazare Hoche soothed me off, and when my turn came I was in a profound slumber." " Well, if that's all," said Miss Doreen, " I will come back with you and ask Mademoiselle to overlook the lapse for once." " Don't," I pleaded. " Don't send me back. It's so comfy here in this nice cool hall, and I'm still sleepy." 78 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Well, I hope it won't happen every after- noon," said Miss Doreen doubtfully. ' You'd better catch Mademoiselle as she comes out of class, and apologise." I shut up my eyes, murmuring " I'll grovel," and Miss Doreen faded away. I had a very refreshing time, and when Mademoiselle came into the hall, later, I went to her and said, " Mademoiselle, je suis fachee." She instantly let loose a torrent of her uncouth speech, but as I did not understand a word she said, I did not know if I was forgiven or not. " Merci beaucoup," I said politely, when she seemed to have finished, and without waiting to hear any more, I rushed away, and tumbled into the arms of the red-haired girl with the kind heart. CHAPTER V LIFE AT SCHOOL SHE was the girl who sat next me at table and had asked if I was homesick on the first night. Her hair was very red, and her eyes light green, but she had a pleasant smile. " What's your name ? " she asked. I told her. " Well, Pippa, and how do you like school ? " she went on. " The food seems good," I answered guardedly. She burst out laughing. " And that's important," I added sternly. " You're not in the Upper Fourth ? " " Of course not. I'm in the Sixth. Why, I'm nearly eighteen, and I am leaving at the end of the term." " Lucky you ! I'm only fourteen, and years of the treadmill stretch before me." " They'll go like a flash, and you'll be awfully sorry when the time comes to leave." 79 8o PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " M-m-m," I said, without conviction. " Do you think Miss Lavender will let me establish a company of Girl Guides in the school ? " " No, I don't think so ; but you can ask her." " If she won't," I said, " I shall run away." " Well, then, I shouldn't think you are much of a Guide. Now we have ten minutes to go to our rooms and get ready for tea." " You haven't mentioned your name," I reminded her. " Oh, haven't I ? It's Margaret Campion, familiarly called Meta." " One minute, Meta," I cried, as she was turning away. " Do you happen to know a baby child of the name of Norah Britton ? " She laughed heartily, though I hadn't said anything amusing. " Baby child, indeed ? " she cried. " She's two months older than I am, and getting on for six feet high." " Lor ! I thought, from the way her aunt spoke of her, that she was a prattler of two. Do show her to me." "That's her coming downstairs at this moment. Hi, Norah. Stop a sec. This child thought you were a prattler of two." LIFE AT SCHOOL 81 A very dignified and grown-up young person, with a smooth dark head and long lashes, shook hands as if she did not care to know me. " I suppose you're Pippa," she remarked. " My aunt has mentioned you to me." * Yes ? She mentioned you to me, too," I retorted, " but I was so surrounded with million- aires and archbishops at the moment that I did not take much notice." This time she did not condescend to look at me, but all she said was, " My aunt told me you were a nice little thing, and I was to be kind to you." " And are you going to be ? " I inquired. " No, I'm not," she answered. " Good after- noon." She moved away, like Pygmalion coming to life or was it the other one ? and Meta's squeals of merriment rang through the hall. I went up to my room and began to overhaul my wardrobe. " What's the correct wear ? " I asked Hilda, who was hastily replaiting her hair. " Anything white, that will do for tennis in the evening." " Don't we have any lessons to do ? " " Oh, no. Schools of this class don't make (4,361) 6 82 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON a great feature of silent study. We generally have half an hour's prep in the afternoons, and another half-hour before breakfast, and that's all." " Good business. I was never created for silent study. I must try to do some good Guide deeds in the long evenings." " You'll get into mischief, I've no doubt. Are you good at tennis ? " " I've not had much practice, but I daresay I shall be a champion by the end of the term." Then the tea bell rang. More doorsteps were ranged along the table, flanked by dishes of plum jam and plates of plain cake, slightly spotted with currants. After tea we went into the playing field, where there were two tennis courts and a cricket pitch. I consented to make up a set, with Hilda for partner, and I soon found that I was the worst player of the four. That was be- cause I had seldom played at home. Muriel and Nita went to a club, but they never would take me when they could help it. I served nothing but faults, and nearly wept at the repeated bad strokes. But Hilda played so well that in the end we won the set, though only by a single game. LIFE AT SCHOOL 83 I set my teeth, and resolved to practise hard. I was not going to be beaten by a simple thing like that. I got a good-natured small girl, who was very active, to have a single with me after- wards, and I am glad to say that I really improved by the time we went in. Supper was at half-past seven, and from eight to nine there was a terrible experience. The elder girls (all over thirteen or so) assembled in the drawing-room and assumed society manners. The teachers came too, except the lucky ones who were having their evening off. Between intervals of polite conversation different girls were called on to play or sing. " Can you play to us, Pippa ? " asked Miss Lavender. " No, thank you," I answered quickly. " I mean, I am afraid I don't play well enough." " Well, what can you do ? " " Nothing ..." I was beginning, and then hesitated, for an idea occurred to me. " I can recite a little," I admitted. " Capital ! We shall enjoy that. Stand over there, and begin." I stood over there and began, but they didn't enjoy it. For they thought I was never going to end. I recited " Horatius " from the first line to 84 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON the last, and refused to take any notice of the sighs of ennui so freely displayed by my audience. " Lars Porsena of Clusium," I began, with great firmness. I saw the girls look at each other and yawn. I am sure that every one hoped I should quickly forget what came next, but my memory is good, and they were disap- pointed. I had learned all the Lays of Ancient Rome with Miss Brentwood, and I now reaped the benefit of my industry. I went on and on with much enjoyment, and held the stage for the best part of half an hour. When I came to " false Sextus, who wrought the deed of shame," I felt sure, from the expression on the girls' faces, that they thought I was referring to myself. Miss Lavender closed her pretty eyes, and did not open them until I reluc- tantly arrived at the " brave days of old " in the last line. Then she opened them and smiled at me. " What a memory you have," she said. * Thank you, very much." The girls sat in stony silence, and no one else thanked me. " I know them all," I said. " Shall I give ' The Battle of Lake Regillus ' now ? " " Not to-night. It's getting so late," said I recited " Horatius." Miss Lavender hastily. " Keep it for another time." As we were going up to bed, later, I said to Hilda, " The time will never come when I shall be asked to recite again." " I'm certain it won't," Hilda agreed. " Every one has had more than enough of you for the rest of the term." 86 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I was just settling off to sleep when I remem- bered the girl who had offered to cut her cake that night at my bedside. The light was out, and I was getting drowsy. Hilda seemed to be asleep, for she did not answer when I spoke to her. Presently I dropped off myself, and was in my night's slumber when I was awakened by a sharp prod through the bedclothes. " Sh-sh ! " hissed a voice in my ear. "I've got here at last." " Then go away again. How dare you dis- turb me at this time of night ? Breaking rules, and everything. I wonder you're not ashamed of yourself." " Don't be silly. Look here." She hoisted something, round and white and heavy, on to the bed, and brandished a knife. ' Would you like to cut it ? " she whispered. I said I should, for, now that I was wide- awake, I realized that I could do with something to eat. Besides, I like cutting cakes. So I sawed away at the hard sugar, and cut nothing but the sheet. " If we had a little more light I could see what I am doing," I said. Isabel struck a match, and held it till it burned out and scorched her fingers. She let it drop Isabel struck a match. on the bed, and a circular brown patch appeared on the white counterpane. " Now, see what you've done," I said crossly. " I didn't ; it was you," replied Isabel. "Liar!" I said. "Temptress! Light an- other match." At this point Hilda sat up in bed and asked if burglars had got in. 87 88 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " It's all right," I assured her. "I'm just engaged on a good deed." " What are you doing ? " " Feeding the hungry," I answered. ' There, I've done it at last. Shall I cut a bit for Hilda ? " " Oh, she won't eat it. She's too virtuous," sneered Isabel. " No, I certainly won't," cried Hilda, now thor- oughly awake. " Is that you, Isabel Fortescue ? Just wait till I get out of bed. I'll soon make an end of jyow." She jumped up, rushed at Isabel, seized her by the shoulders, and shook her till her teeth rattled. Isabel screamed as loudly as she dared. " Now, take your beastly food to your beastly bed," cried Hilda, forgetting to speak like a lady. I took no part in the scrimmage, for I was engaged in tucking away under my pillow the wedge of cake I had secured. At that moment there was a distinct sound down below the opening and shutting of the front door. " Some one coming up," I warned the other two. ' You'd better skedaddle to your own quarters, Isabel." Hilda stopped shaking her and looked out. LIFE AT SCHOOL 89 " There's a light coming up the stairs," she said. " I'm afraid she'll be cotched, and a good thing too." The next moment the ascending light revealed itself as a candle in the hand of Miss Doreen. She saw, as she passed, that our door was not latched, and paused to shut it, but, looking in to see if all was right, she spied Isabel with her cake clasped to her pyjama jacket, waiting to sneak out of the room. Miss Doreen entered and put down the candle. " What's all this ? " she inquired, and switched on the electric light in order to see better. Then we noticed that she was in evening dress, and was flushed and shining as if she had just come from a dance. Somehow she did not look at that moment as though she could be very severe. " It's Isabel Fortescue," said Hilda, " bring- ing her eatables into our immaculate bedroom, breaking the rules, and encouraging the mice." " Sneak ! " said Isabel under her breath. " Tell-tale tit ! " " Eatables ? " said Miss Doreen, in a dazed, happy sort of way. " In the bedrooms, too ? Dear me, dear me, how could you do it ? You you naughty girls." 90 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " It's Isabel's cake," remarked Hilda, getting back into bed. " Give it to me," said Miss Doreen. And she took the cake away from the dismayed Isabel. " I'm afraid this is confiscated. It shall be given to the poor, and, Isabel, write out a hundred lines of Virgil in your spare time to- morrow, and bring it to me before supper. Now, go back to bed at once. Good-night, girls." We said good-night humbly and thankfully. The affair was going off better than could have been hoped, and Miss Doreen had evidently not noticed that the cake was not intact. She turned off the light and, taking up her candle ? went glittering out of the room. The cakeless Isabel crept back to her cubicle, and I got from under my pillow the large slice I had fortunately secured, and munched it in peace and content- ment as I went off to sleep. " I fear there will be crumbs in the bed to- morrow," I thought. " But, never mind, we must cope with our troubles as they come." Then I called out to Hilda, " Did you notice how uncommonly smart Miss Doreen was ? Something's up with her. It's not like her to have patched up an affair like this with a little Virgil." LIFE AT SCHOOL 91 " It was your fault as much as Isabel's," murmured Hilda sleepily, " so you'd better help her write her lines." " I'm sure I shan't, then," I said. " ' Let well alone ' is my motto. And, anyhow, I look upon my good deed for to-morrow as already done." " I should like to know what that is ? " * Why, nourishing the poor, of course. And with rich cake, too. Which makes it doubly precious." " It wasn't your cake." ' Well, but for me the poor wouldn't have got any, so I can take the credit of the whole thing. Do you think Miss Doreen's in love ? She looked as mawkish as Muriel used to when she was expecting Charlie. But, of course, a person who was christened Fanny forty-five years ago couldn't be." " It was only the girls who said that, and girls are seldom to be relied on. Now, I'm going to sleep." And she went to sleep. But next day Miss Doreen still seemed a little queer what the French call distraite and she would have forgotten Isabel's imposition if I hadn't reminded her of it. I was very kind to 92 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Isabel, too, and lent her my Virgil when she couldn't find hers. And I begged her to think, besides, what a famous feast she had provided for the poor. But that was too much. Isabel screwed up her courage and sought out Miss Doreen after the afternoon class. I followed, to hear what she was going to say. " Oh, please, Miss Doreen . . ." she began. Miss Doreen turned benignant eyes on her. " Well, Isabel, come to beg a boon ? " " Oh, yes, please. I'm getting on with the imposition." " So Pippa told me, some time ago." " And, please, if you have not already given my cake to the poor, mayn't we have it for tea ? " For a second Miss Doreen looked puzzled. I verily believe she had clean forgotten all about both the cake and the poor. Then she remem- bered, and actually laughed. " Of course you shall have it for tea, if you want it," she promised. " I don't recollect where I put it, but certainly it hasn't yet found its way to either poor or rich." And, sure enough, when we went in to tea, there was Isabel's cake, beautifully cut into small pieces, all among the doorsteps. We could not LIFE AT SCHOOL 93 understand Miss Doreen. Two days ago some of us would have been on bread and water, and now a confiscated cake passed happily round. All sorts of rumours about Miss Doreen soon got about. A young man was observed by some of us (myself among the number) to call rather frequently, and sometimes to stay to dinner. Before a week was over, Miss Lavender herself told some of the Sixth that her sister was engaged to Dr. Major, and would be married in a year. " It's a shame," I said, when I heard the news. " She's no business to get married before her elder sister. Poor Miss Lavender ! I must see what I can do for her." " You can't do anything," said Hilda. " I'm not so sure. There's Uncle Philip- very ugly and stupid, certainly, but better than nobody." I gave a good deal of earnest thought to the matter. The days were now delightfully warm and sunny. The sea and the sky sparkled together, and the swimming began. We went down to the beach after morning school, and dinner time was changed to half-past one, so that we might have a good hour. Half a dozen small white tents, with B. H. S. in dark blue letters, were put 94 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON up, and swimming lessons were given to those who needed them. I was a good swimmer, but some of the girls were duffers at it, and not a few were too cowardly to try to learn. * You'll never get a medal for saving life at sea," I said to Isabel Fortescue, as she stood shivering on the shingle. " Don't want one," she answered. Blackthorne House was certainly not a school where the girls were overworked. But I found it so difficult to remember, and to keep all the rules at the same moment that I made an arrangement with myself to keep them one at a time. This really answered the purpose, for I calculated that by the half-term I should have kept them all, and the last half of the term I could keep the whole caboodle over again. Hilda seemed a little doubtful when I explained the system to her. " But while you're keeping one, you're break- ing all the others," she argued. " You may be, of course," I agreed. " But, again, you may not. You simply let the others go, and concentrate on the one you are keeping. Take that silly regulation about no food in the bedrooms, for instance. Well, now we can keep that until after Saturday, for there's not a crumb LIFE AT SCHOOL 95 left, and I've spent my meagre shilling long ago. How hard life is ! " I posted a letter to Uncle Philip that very day. Of course, it was not Friday, but then I was not keeping that rule at the time. I wrote a very nice and affectionate note, describing my new life. " But the worst of it all, dear Uncle," I said, " is, that I am cut off from my beloved family, who are rather niggardly in their allowance. A shilling a week is not very much, is it, dear Uncle ? Couldn't you come down to Brighton and see me ? You did promise, you know. And it would be such a joy to dear Miss Lavender to meet again one of the friends of her youth. Her younger sister, Doreen, has basely gone and got engaged. It seems a shame, when Miss Lavender is so much older and better looking, doesn't it ? My good Guide instincts prompt me to act in the matter. Do come next Saturday, and then you can take me out to tea, if you can afford it. Your loving niece Pippa." CHAPTER VI UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT NO answer came from Uncle Philip, and I did not know whether to expect him or not. Saturday turned out a hot blue day, and we spent most of the morning on the beach. After dinner we were allowed to choose whether we would go for a country walk or play tennis in the field. Needless to say, I chose the tennis, and so did Hilda ; but it was really too hot to play much, and we soon abandoned the attempt. I fetched a book from the library, and made for my favourite seat in the garden, where, I sus- pect, I dropped asleep. I was awakened by Rosa the parlourmaid touching my shoulder. " Miss Lavender says, will you please go to the drawing-room, Miss Pippa. There's a visitor for you." I opened my eyes and was wide awake in a second. " Good old Uncle Philip ! " I cried, and raced past Rosa to the house. UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 97 I burst into the drawing-room, forgetting to knock as I was in such a hurry. There, sure enough, sitting very upright in an easy chair in the window, sat Uncle Philip in his best grey coat, and a pair of grey suede gloves resting on his knee. Opposite him sat Miss Lavender, smiling and sweet. I flew at Uncle, knocked down his gloves, and flung my arms round his neck. He looked disgusted, and shook me off. " That'll do," he snapped. " I didn't come down here to be throttled. I do hope, Miss Lavender, that my niece is not giving you an undue amount of trouble." " Oh, well, we're rubbing along," said Miss Lavender lightly. " She always was high-spirited and head- strong," went on Uncle Philip, taking no notice of my presence, " and her Aunt Florence per- suaded my sister-in-law to send her to school. Don't make faces at me like that, Pippa. If Miss Lavender will be good enough to give permission, and you could get your hands a little cleaner, perhaps I will take you out for an hour." I thought it better to dissemble my feelings and do the meek stunt. (4,301) 7 98 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Very well, Uncle dear," I said. " And may Hilda come too ? " " Who's Hilda ? " " Hilda Cheesman. My great chum." " I don't mind," he said. " She can come if you like." " We can walk one on each side of you," I said demurely, and went away to find Hilda. She was just about to make up a set with Meta and Norah and somebody else when I dragged her away, saying that Miss Lavender wanted her ; and they had to put up with Isabel Fortescue, who can no more play tennis than she can swim. " Whatever does Miss Lavender want me for ? " Hilda inquired. " She doesn't," I answered. " It's Uncle Philip. At least, he doesn't want you particu- larly, but he's going to take me out to tea, and he said you might come too. Where shall we go ? " Hilda considered. " I think the cream buns are largest at the ' Mikado,' " she decided. ' Then that settles it. I suppose we'd better put on hats and gloves. Uncle said I was to wash UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 99 my hands, but it won't be necessary if I cover them in a ladylike way." We presented ourselves in the drawing-room, and Uncle Philip got up and shook hands with Hilda, and said he had met her father. She smiled at him in her fat-headed way, and he seemed rather taken with her. * Well, come along, children," he said, collecting his gloves. " Good afternoon, Miss Lavender, and thank you for your gracious permission. I'll take care of the young people, and return them as soon as possible." "I'm sure you will," she said gravely. We walked gracefully to the Front, Uncle Philip between us. No one spoke. ' That's the wrong way, Uncle," I said as he was turning off to the lawns. ' Way to where ? " he asked gruffly. ' Well, I understood that you were taking us out to tea," I said. " Of course, we don't want you to unless you feel you really can afford the expense." " Well, I can but be ruined," he said. " Do you know a good tea-shop ? " ' We do, and it's the other way." We all turned and marched in the other direction. A good many people stared at us, ioo PIPPA AT BRIGHTON but I expect that was because Uncle looked so silly, striding along in suede gloves, with Hilda on his left and me on his right. " I hope it isn't far," he said. " Just a little way along, and a very exciting place. You go downstairs and walk along a narrow dark corridor, with a horrid gramophone always playing, and you come out on the beach, quite close to the sea." " You know it well, I suppose ? " "No, dear Uncle," I said sadly. "It's beyond my limited means. The cream buns are sixpence each. My entire income would only buy two a week." He grunted, and seemed to wish he hadn't come, but Hilda and I led him firmly into the shop, and down the stairs, and along the corridor past the gramophone. There, at the end, the wide open windows gave an entrancing view of the sea and the beach, and I flew towards them and enthusiastically seated myself on the window- sill. Uncle and Hilda sat down decorously at a small table, and a waitress, evidently impressed with the suede gloves, bustled up. Uncle removed his hat and said " Tea." I thought it time to scramble down and take part in the conversation. UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 101 " And things to eat, Uncle dear," I reminded him. " Oh, yes, bread and butter," he said to the waitress. She moved off, but I started up and caught her apron string. " Come back," I cried. " He's made a mistake. No bread and butter. Cream buns." She looked at Uncle, who was taking off his gloves. He nodded at her. " Anything," he said. So she returned carrying a dishful of the luscious things, piled on one another, with the cream bulging out of their insides. " You do realize that they're sixpence each, don't you, Uncle dear ? " my conscience com- pelled me to ask. But I impaled one on a fork and transferred it to my plate as rapidly as possible in case he realized the expense as beyond his means and sent for penny buns instead. " So long as I am not expected to eat any, I don't care what they cost," said Uncle. " Now, Miss Hilda, suppose you pour out the tea." Hilda poured out in a dignified and matronly sort of way, and seemed sorry to find that Uncle took neither milk nor sugar. He did 102 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON not enjoy himself at all, poor man, and ate noth- ing, but looked at us and the diminishing pile of cream buns as if he wondered how we did it. I was half-way through my third when a party of six surged in and took possession of two tables. The two men sat at one by themselves, and the four women at the other. They were a funny looking crew, and I thought I heard Uncle mutter under his breath the word " Germans," with a qualifying adjective in front. I hope I did not hear that adjective aright. The elderly man had thick black bristles sticking up straight in the middle of his other- wise bald flat head, and he was quite the ugliest person I had ever seen. But he evidently had a good heart, for he persuaded his female relations to eat quantities of rich pastries. The three younger ones helped themselves liberally, but they only let the old lady have a plain scone. I thought it rough on her, until I saw that they were all feeding her with their teaspoons from their own cream buns. They would take a mouthful themselves, and then spoon a quantity into the old lady's mouth, and she sucked it all in with much enjoyment. I was so interested in watching them that I / caught her apron string. left uneaten the last part of my third cream bun, and, indeed, the sight before me took away my appetite. " I don't think I can eat any more, Uncle dear," I said faintly. 103 104 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " I was thinking myself that you'd had enough," he remarked rather brutally. " Shall we go ? " " Not back to school yet," I pleaded. " I've never been on the pier. Let's go on the pier, Uncle." " Come on, then," he said, and beckoned to the waitress, who made out the bill which was enormous and blushed with pleasure when he gave her a shilling for herself ; though, as I whispered to him, twopence would have been enough. The German family were still shovelling their pastries into the open mouth of the old lady when I took my final look at them. Why they didn't buy her one for herself I could not imagine, but they probably thought they were economising, and that, with Reparations and the rest of it hanging over them, they must save somewhere. We reached the open air and dodged through the motors on to the Parade. It was the Palace Pier I was anxious to visit, for I had often read, in large letters across a pavilion in its midst, the entrancing words " Palace of Fun," and naturally I wanted to see what it was like. We steered Uncle past the turnstile, and I pointed out to UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 105 him the blueness of the sea, and the colours of the sunset that we were going to have presently. He did not seem in the least impressed, and suggested sitting down and having a cigar. " Hilda and I do not smoke," I said. " But you light up, Uncle dear, and we'll stroll round by ourselves." " Well, don't go far," he said ; " and come back in five minutes." " Certainly," we promised, and left him puffing away. We made for the Palace of Fun, the entrance to which was fortunately free. We did not, however, care much for it. It consisted of stalls round the sides like a charity bazaar, and you had three shies a penny, and won a prize if you hit the mark. A good many people were there, but no one had any money for the com- petitions, and the stall-holders seemed weary with doing nothing. " Poor sort of fun," I said as we strolled on. " Let's put a penny into an automatic machine and see the figures work." Hilda chose The Execution, and her penny went in with such a plop that it attracted the attention of about fifty people of all ages, who crowded round to enjoy the sight. The prison io6 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON gates opened, and the bell tolled, but then some- thing went wrong with the works, and the con- demned man stuck long before he reached the scaffold. " What a sell," said Hilda. " If only I could get my penny back ! " She tried, and the good-natured crowd who had been disappointed of their show tried too. But all in vain the executioner's fell task re- mained incomplete. " Cheat ! " said Hilda bitterly, and moved on. " I'll try this," I said, stopping before the Tyrolese Lover, and this time we really did get good value for my penny. The musician played beneath his lady's window, and we actually heard the music ; the window opened and a beauteous maid looked forth ; the window closed, but the musician played on ; then it opened again, to disclose a hideous hag with a thick stick. The musician stopped, the window banged down, and all was as before. The crowd applauded, and regarded me as a public benefactor. I bowed to them graciously, and then Hilda and I went back to Uncle. "I'm afraid we've left you alone rather long," I said politely as we sat down beside him. / bowed to them graciously. " No," he said, " it didn't seem long." " The Palace of Fun is a delusion," I told him, " and very sordid. Hilda was cheated disgracefully. She put a penny in The Execu- tion, and the wretched thing wouldn't work. So she has lost her penny, poor girl. I am sorry for her." " So am I," said Uncle. 107 io8 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Oh, never mind," put in Hilda. " It wasn't quite my last." " No," I said sadly. " Last but one." Uncle grinned. " Now, I'm sure you young ladies will want to be getting on with your lessons," he said. " How about going back to school ? It's a good walk, and I've got a train to catch." " That's the worst of being poor," I sighed. " You have to go by train. Now, if you were Mr. Woolley, you could motor at any hour. I think I should like to send a little note to Mr. Woolley. What is his address, Uncle dear ? " " Never you mind," said Uncle, getting up. " Shall I give them your love at home ? " " They wouldn't value it," I said. " But you can tell Muriel and Nita that I've lost nearly all the pencil-boxes. I should like to see Mr. Woolley. He was such a friend to me." " I daresay," said Uncle calmly. " Now, if we can find a florist's, we might buy some roses for you to take back to Miss Lavender." " Say it with flowers ! " I cried, delighted. " Oh, Uncle dear, don't you think Miss Lavender a charming woman ? " " I don't know that I've thought about it." " Not lately, perhaps, but when you were UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 109 young. And now you've seen her again although so late in life doesn't your heart bound more quickly ? " Uncle Philip gave such a loud guffaw that the policeman at the corner looked at him with suspicion. " You'll be taken up if you're not careful," I said to him, " and that won't be very pleasant for me, in a place where I'm known and respected. Here's a flower shop." We went in, and Uncle, still chuckling in his senile way, bought a lovely bunch of roses and sweet peas, and had it carefully packed in white paper. He carried it himself until we got to Blackthorne House, and then he thrust it into my hands. " My compliments to Miss Lavender," he said. " But surely you are coming in to give them to her yourself," I said. " I am not," he answered. " Trains wait for no man. Now do try to be a good girl, Pippa. I'm sure Miss Hilda is always good. And look here, girls, here's a little present for each of you to remember me by." He dived into his pocket, found a case, and extracted from it two pound treasury notes. no PIPPA AT BRIGHTON He gave one to each of us. We thanked him effusively. " Don't waste it, or spend it all on cream buns," he admonished us. ' We'll make a good use of it," I promised. ' What a blessing money is." We stood at the gate while I kissed him and he shook hands with Hilda. Then he strode quickly away and we went in. " Hilda," I said, " the possession of so much money is a sacred trust. We must get as much good out of it as possible. I have an idea how it can be spent with profit and advantage." " What's the idea ? " " Well, I'll tell you later. I must first medi- tate on my plan." We found Miss Lavender in the drawing-room with some of the girls. I presented the bou- quet, and said that Uncle Philip had sent it with his undying affection and many apologies for not giving it in person. The girls crowded round to listen. Miss Lavender buried her face in the roses to hide her blushes, but when she emerged she only seemed amused. ' What was the actual wording of the message, Pippa ? " she asked. " Compliments," I growled sulkily. UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT in " Ah, that's more like it ! What beauties ! " She caressed the flowers in a hopeful fashion. " But we must read between the lines," I said, brightening up. I did not venture further, but I noticed that the roses were put carefully in vases and stood on Miss Lavender's table for some days. Of course, I don't know what eventually became of them, but I felt that I had done my best for all parties. I found the lessons at Blackthorne House easy and amusing, though I continued to be a duffer at arithmetic and algebra. But my English essays and compositions were always highly marked, and I really began to make prog- ress with French. Indeed, it was Mademoiselle who partly gave me an idea of a good way to spend Uncle Philip's pound, and a bill I had read on the pier supplied the rest of the idea. But at present I had only meditated on it in silence. I noticed that the chief characteristic of the whole staff of teachers a feature they all had in common was brightness. It would have made the sun wink to see Miss Lambert prance briskly into the Upper Fourth, grin at the girls, seize a lump of chalk, and take her place in front of the blackboard. ii2 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Now, we'll find out how much we remember of our last lesson," she always began. Nobody remembered anything which would have darkened the horizon of any one not paid to be bright. But Miss Lambert scintillated, and would herself go through the points of the last lesson while we sat in wooden-headed silence. She taught history and literature, and it was rather an effort to listen to her. I usually fidgeted, unless I felt sleepy and had a quiet doze. The last part of the lesson consisted of the dictation of notes, which we were supposed to commit to memory. I should have done so if I had not always had so many other things to do. My tennis was coming on finely, and I hoped that the captain would let me play in the end- of-term matches. But there was a good deal of selfishness and jealousy in the Sixth, I was sorry to see, and I felt that unless I did something to attract their attention I ran a risk of being overlooked. Every Wednesday afternoon was a half- holiday, and the girls were sent out on fine days for a walk, with a young governess or a pupil-teacher at the head of each division. UNCLE PHILIP'S TREAT 113 It was then that I missed my Guiding so much. If only we had had a Company in the school, what a much jollier time we might have had. One favourite way of spending Wednesday afternoon was to stalk along the front until we came to the shelter of Madeira Walk, and there break up the crocodile and run races and play games. Quiet people, settled in the Walk for the afternoon with their novels and knitting, always scuttled off when they saw us coming. We were glad for them to go. I always hate to annoy the aged and infirm. My good Guide instinct once made offer to hold a skein of silk for an old lady, who was knitting a necktie on the second terrace, while the Upper Fourth and part of the Fifth were having a hopping race. She was trying to wind it by herself, and getting into difficulties. " I'd love to help you I would really," I said. She thanked me doubtfully and slipped the silk over my hands. Of course, it had not been wound properly in the first place, or it never could have got into such an unholy mess as it did. I had no sooner touched it than a thousand knots and tangles i appeared. The old lady pulled one way and I tugged the other, and, in (4,361) ii4 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON the end, the whole skein was hopelessly ruined. Nothing on earth would ever straighten it out, and the elderly one jerked it away from me and called me a clumsy little girl. I was naturally hurt, and said " Good-afternoon " rather coldly. It was on one of these Wednesday afternoons that Hilda and I had a great adventure, and for a short time we loomed large in the public eye. CHAPTER VII THE CONCERT PARTY IT was when I had been at school for about six weeks that we found ourselves on a certain Wednesday afternoon in Madeira Walk as usual. There were about a dozen of us altogether, and Doris Graham (a pupil-teacher) was responsible for our good behaviour. It was a broiling hot day, and the sea was like blue oil. Doris was sleepy and languid, and sank down thankfully on the first seat she came to. " Now, do keep quiet, girls," she begged. " It's too warm to play games." " So it is, Doris dear," I agreed ; " and Hilda and I will just stroll along by ourselves very slowly indeed." " Don't go beyond the end of the terrace, then," said Doris, opening a book. " Certainly not. Just there and back. Come on, Hilda." We sauntered away from the rest of the party, who all settled down to various amusements. 115 n6 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " I've not done my good deed yet to-day, Hilda," I said when we were well out of sight and sound of the others. " Then I should give it a miss for once," was Hilda's unworthy advice. " I can't do that. Let's prowl along until we come to something." We prowled along until we came to Tom Bow- ling's Entertainment on the beach. We stood on the Parade and looked down at the smart little platform and the rows of empty chairs. The Entertainment was just beginning, and one old woman in the sixpenny seats and two boys (who looked as if they had got in without paying) in the threepenny were all the audi- ence. Of course, there were a good many people on the Parade with us, leaning over the railings and looking down, enjoying a free show in the meanest manner. Whenever the collector came among them with his alms bag, they moved away to another spot until he had gone. No one passed the turnstile down below, and the girl in the pay-box had apparently gone to sleep. The pianist was thumping out the accompani- ment to a chorus, and the entire company five strong were singing a lusty invitation to THE CONCERT PARTY 117 the public to roll along, with dance and song, tra la, tra la la. One more boy climbed over the barrier and sat down. The sixpenny old lady got up and shook herself, and I could see by her manner that she would not have stopped a minute longer if she could have got her six- pence back. I did feel sorry for the Enter- tainers. " Poor dears ! It is a shame," I said to Hilda. " How are they all to pay for a night's lodging with one sixpence and an empty alms bag ? " " Not empty," said Hilda. "I've seen five people put in a penny." " What's fivepence ? Now let me think. What can I do to help them ? " " Nothing. You can't sing." " No, but you can," I cried in a burst of in- spiration. " The very thing. Hilda, I've done many good deeds in my life, but never one like this." " Like what ? " In great excitement I seized Hilda's arm and dragged her down the steps to the beach. We rushed up to the turnstile, and the girl there opened her eyes and asked if we would have sixpenny or threepenny seats. n8 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Neither. We're helping in the show. You wait a minute and listen," I cried breathlessly. " And for goodness' sake don't go to sleep again, for you'll have work enough in a minute." The girl looked bewildered, as well she might, but she let us pass through the entrance and make our way to the platform. The first chorus was over, and the singers were trooping off the stage, while the three boys in the three- penny seats shouted " Ancore." I took a flying leap on to the stage, and caught up with the tail of the company. He began to bluster, and ordered me off the platform. " Not so fast," I said. "I'm here from pure compassion. Are you Mr. Tom Bowling ? " " No, I'm not," he said crossly. 1 Then go and find that sheer hulk, and tell him a friend wants to speak to him." He seemed surprised, but made off quickly, and I followed him through the wings and over the side of the platform into a little recess roofed with canvas. " Mr. Bowling," said my conductor, " this young lady wants to speak to you." An enormously fat man, dressed like all the others in red and white, came forward. " What is it ? " he said. " Be quick." Be reasonable," I adjured him. " There's a girl round the corner with the voice of an angel," I told him breathlessly. " Just let her sing, and hundreds will rush in to hear her." " Nonsense," he said. * You run away, my little girl. I haven't time to play with you now." " Be reasonable," I adjured him. " Let me conduct this entertainment for five minutes and your coffers will be overflowing. We can't 119 120 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON do any harm, for there's only the old lady to mind, and I will sacrifice half my week's allow- ance and return her sixpence if she doesn't like it." He looked at me earnestly, and I suppose he thought of the rows of empty chairs outside. ' You can have three minutes," he said. " Hooray ! " I cried. " You'll never regret it, Thomas. Is that a drum ? Lend it to me, will you ? Now pass over that drumstick, Tommy dear." With the drum in my arms I bounded on to that stage, and I beat that drum until Brighton resounded, and the Downs all round sent back an echo. Then I stopped and made a speech. " Ladies and gentlemen," I shouted to the old lady and the three boys, and the crowd on the Parade, " and all you mean skinflints up there-, trying to get something for nothing, listen to me, and come down from on high and pay your sixpences like men, and especially like women. The most wonderful performance ever known in human experience is about to begin. Come up here, Hilda. I'll mind your hat." The crowd of listeners on the Parade certainly grew larger ; several people came down to the beach, and two girls paid for threepenny seats. THE CONCERT PARTY 121 " That's a very good beginning," I screamed encouragingly. " Roll up in your thousands, there's dears." An elderly man passed through the turnstile to a sixpenny seat. I got Hilda fixed to the front of the platform, twitched her hat from her head, and said to the pianist, who was still at the piano, " Begin." " What shall I play ? " she asked. " Anything does," I told her. " Just listen to Hilda, and vamp a little every now and then. But she always sings in tune, so an occasional chord will be enough. Now for it, Hilda." I leaned against the piano, the pianist struck a few feeble notes, and Hilda apparently smiled at the audience, for she got a round of applause, and several people with broad grins on their faces planked down their money. Hilda has a very large but somewhat old- fashioned repertoire. Most of her songs had been cribbed from the portfolios of her mother and grandmother, but I don't know that they were any the worse for that. I always thought that Queen Victoria must have been far more tuneful than King George. Hilda opened her mouth and sang for all she was worth. 122 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Darby, dear, we are old and grey, Fifty years since our wedding day." The pure, sweet notes floated out on the summer's breeze, and the people on the Parade stopped short and listened. Then they simply tumbled over one another to get down the steps. They formed a queue at the turnstile, and, as far as I could see, every one paid sixpence. "Always the same," sang Hilda, "Darby, my own. Always the same to your old wife Joan." The old lady who was the first patron got out her handkerchief and wept freely. The audience still swept in, and Tom Bowling himself went into the pay-box to help to take the money. " Darby and Joan " came to an end in a burst of applause, and Hilda paused for a minute before beginning again. Then she sang with much feeling a song she had found inscribed with the name of her great-great-grandfather. " Said the Young Obadiah to the Old Obadiah, ' I am dry, Obadiah, I am dry, I am dry.' Said the Old Obadiah to the Young Obadiah, ' So am I, Obadiah, so am I, So am I.' " There were a great many verses, and Hilda sang them all. Long before she had finished, THE CONCERT PARTY 123 every one was laughing, and nodding, and keep- ing time, and joining in. The person who had not been too civil to me at the first went to the entrance to lend a hand with the money-taking. No one thought any longer of paying three- pence ; every seat was a sixpenny, and every seat was full. Still the people flocked in and stood all around the enclosure, and along the aisle, and even squeezed on to the sides of the stage ; but Hilda did not seem to notice them or bother about them. She had fairly got going, and I only hoped her voice would not crack before she had done. She sang some of our school songs, and then luckily remembered " Tommy, make room for your Uncle," which she had heard in some Revue in the holidays. I kept a sharp look-out for the shimmer of mackintoshes in the distance. The concert had lasted half an hour, and at any minute Doris and her flock might come to search for us. The horizon was clear at present, but I knew it could not last. I had done what I intended and col- lected an audience, but I had no desire that my good deed should become known. There is so little understanding of real goodness in this world. 124 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Last song, Hilda," I hissed across to her. She folded her hands, raised her eyes in the sickeningly sentimental way she has, and sang Schubert's " Adieu," which is one of her master- pieces. " The hour is come to part us, Adieu, my own dear love." There was no laughter now in the rows of faces turned towards her. Regret for the past, sadness of parting, vague hopes for the future, all showed in their rapt expressions. More than one face was wet with tears. The six- penny old lady was obviously gulping down her sobs. " Awhile for me thou'lt sorrow, With tears my loss deplore, But there will dawn a morrow When we shall part no more." Well, well, there is nothing pleasanter than being thoroughly miserable, and I was feeling choky myself when Hilda, for the grand finale, broke into : " Don't be sorrowful, darling, Don't be sorrowful, pray, For, take the year together, You'll always find the May." She had barely finished when my sharp eyes THE CONCERT PARTY 125 caught the glint of the sun on the row of mackin- toshes, and I darted in front of Hilda and spoke a few valedictory words : " Ladies and gentlemen, you have answered nobly to the call of duty, and now that you are here, I trust you will remain to the end of the show, which will be continued by Mr. Tom Bowling and his talented assistants. I cannot, therefore, follow that good old custom of the Church and take a leaving collection, but I'll just run around with Hilda's hat, and your generosity will do the rest." I thought that was rather a neat way of putting it. But I had not much time, as the gleam of the mackintoshes grew more distinct. However, it was a splendid hatful of silver that I emptied out at the pay-box, and there were even two or three notes among it, given by elderly gentlemen and the sixpenny old lady. It was rather a battered-looking headpiece that I finally squashed over Hilda's head as I led her hastily away, without waiting for any more thanks or applause. We heard the tinkle of the piano again as we ran up to the Parade, and the company began a song in unison. But what really happened we had no means of 126 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON knowing, for we walked quickly to the rest of our party and asked Doris where she had been that we had not seen her for so long. " I thought I told you not to go beyond the terrace," she said angrily. " Did you, Doris dear ? " I asked, trying to soothe her. " Perhaps you did, but I'm afraid it has slipped my memory. Still, we've been very good all the time, so don't worry." She did not answer, but stalked on ahead, evidently rather upset. I fell meekly into my place. " Hilda," I whispered, " I believe I could take a day off good deeds to-morrow. I've been so uncommonly successful to-day." " Um-m-m," said Hilda. " I don't quite know how Miss Lavender would take it." " As I shall say nothing about it, and you never will, she'll not know anything." " Perhaps not," said Hilda doubtfully, " but you never know. Things leak out." And our escapade very nearly did leak out, for the very next Saturday The Brighton Herald displayed a headline on its poster : ' Two SCHOOLGIRLS ASSIST TOM BOWLING REMARK- ABLE SCENES." Although it was against the rules (of course), I felt justified in buying, un- THE CONCERT PARTY 127 observed, a copy of the paper and hiding it under my mackintosh. When I had an opportunity of reading it in private, I was at first a little alarmed, but, as no names were mentioned, and Hilda was spoken of as a pretty and charming girl when she's really quite plain I felt sure that no one would recognize the description and we need not be anxious. The paper raved about the beauty of her voice, and hoped soon to hear it again. It was a little curious that Miss Lavender asked us casually at dinner if we remembered where we walked on last Wednesday after- noon. " Only down Madeira," I said. " We broke ranks for a time, and I recollect that Hilda and I took a run on the beach. Doris said we might." " That all ? " persisted Miss Lavender. " I gave a penny to a blind man on the way home," I said. " I didn't speak to him, so no rule was broken. He said * Gorblessyoumiss.' Then we came in, and had seed cake for tea which I can't bear." Miss Lavender said no more, but I thought she did not seem quite satisfied. I had, how- ever, told the truth in every particular. There 128 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON was no necessity to blazon forth my good deeds. That is not the Guide method. Now that the half term was drawing near, we began to talk about the breaking-up day, which was to be celebrated by a garden party, to which our parents and friends were always invited. There was to be a pastoral play, and Miss Lambert, who was making all the arrangements for it, had chosen As You Like It. She called a meeting of the Upper Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Form girls to decide the cast, and she herself took the chair. Miss Lambert opened the proceedings with a long speech, to which nobody listened ; it was very prosy. She then called on the big girls in the Sixth to help her allot the various characters. " I think Meta would be a good Rosalind, and Norah might take the part of Orlando," she suggested. ' What is your opinion ? " I got on my feet at once. " I do think Norah would look awfully silly trying to wrestle," I said; " and I'm sure her Aunt, who is very particular, wouldn't like it." " Whatever do you know about my Aunt ? Which aunt ? " cried Norah. " Any of them," I said. " They'd be dis- THE CONCERT PARTY 129 gusted. I will willingly undertake the part of Orlando. Let Norah be Charles, and I'll throw her down." " Be quiet, Pippa," commanded Miss Lam- bert. " Nobody wants your opinion. How about Freda Wright for Celia ? " I got up again. " It would be better to have Hilda," I said. " Plain as she is, she's not so downright homely as Freda." " If you interrupt again, Pippa, you must go out of the room." And so it went on, until all the characters were settled, in spite of my protests. Such a play was, of course, foredoomed to failure, but I could do nothing to prevent it. They would not even let me play Charles or Audrey I always liked Audrey but I was simply put down for one of the pages, and Hilda for an- other because she could sing. It was a wretched set-out altogether, and I felt that it would be hardly worth while to have my family down just to see me as a silent page for they had impressed upon me that I was not expected to sing. Why, even Isabel For- tescue was to be Old Corini, and had quite a lot to say. It was most unfair, for I am really (4,361) i 3 o PIPPA AT BRIGHTON a good actor. But there were still many weeks before the end of the term, and I hoped to wangle a better part before the time for the garden party arrived. In the meantime I had a scheme in my head for a little change from the routine of discipline and the keeping of rules. Also, I saw my way to enlarging my mind and improving my lan- guages. On the Saturday night before the half- term holiday I confided my plans to Hilda. CHAPTER VIII THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY WE were in bed, and the lights were out, but the room was not dark. A soft twilight, made of starshine mixed with departed day, came in through the window and made everything look creepy. " Hilda," I whispered. She did not answer. " You needn't pretend you're asleep," I said more loudly. " Even your snores wouldn't convince me. And I want to say something." Hilda turned over and yawned. " It's against the rules to talk in bed," she remarked. " It would be," I answered. " And, fond as I am of the rules, and anxious to keep them, as you know, it happens not to be the turn to be kept of the rule you refer to. Now listen. I've made such a lovely plan." Hilda raised herself on her elbow and leaned towards me. * ' Speak softly, ' ' she urged . "We don't want 131 132 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON to disturb any of the Staff. The poor dears are entitled to their night's rest." " I wouldn't for worlds." " Then what's the plan ? " " It concerns a well-spent half-term holiday." " Well spent ? It doesn't sound exciting, or much like you." " It is exciting, though ; and it's exactly like me. No one else would have thought of it." " I can quite believe that." ' We will spend the pounds that Uncle Philip gave us." " I don't call that very original, and we should only make ourselves sick." " That's so like you, Hilda," I said in dis- gust. " You think of nothing but eating. My method of laying out our money is intellectual and educational, as well as most amusing. I've been thinking about it for a long time." Hilda seemed to grow excited, for she sat up in bed and cast off her attitude of indifference. " Fire away," she cried, forgetting to modu- late her voice. "Hush!" I warned her. " You needn't raise the household. Now listen. We will spend the day in France, and perfect our knowledge of the language." THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 133 Hilda gasped at the idea, but I went on and unfolded my plan. ' There's an excursion boat to Dieppe every day from the pier. I've read the notice about it. The return fare is only fourteen and six, so we can well afford it. They give us four and a half hours on foreign soil, and we shall be back again by nine o'clock, almost in time for supper." " Are you going to beg Miss Lambert to escort us ? " asked Hilda sarcastically. " That would spoil the whole thing, of course. We will go by ourselves." " They'll never let us." " They won't be asked," I said with scorn. " And when we say afterwards that we did it to improve our French, they can't say anything." " Oh, can't they ? I expect we should be expelled." " No such luck," I said with conviction. " They don't expel from high class private schools. A little storm will soon blow over, and it will be worth it." " Anyhow, I'm not going to do it." " Then I shall go by myself. Mean sneak ! And it was my Uncle who gave you the pound." " That's true," said Hilda. I went on to expound ways and means. 134 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Most of the Staff will be away," I said, " and a good many of the girls have invitations out. We shall never be missed. We must slip off after breakfast, go to the tents for a bathe, and, instead of going in the water, get to the pier. The boat goes at half-past ten. There couldn't be a hitch." "I'll think about it," Hilda agreed, but she did not seem very enthusiastic. " I've never been abroad, have you ? " I inquired. " No," said Hilda ; " but Dieppe doesn't seem very much abroad. It's so close." " It's the best we can do, anyhow," I argued. " And one can learn a good deal in four and a half hours." I was so pleased with the prospect that I lay awake a long time thinking about it and arrang- ing details. I thought about it all Sunday, too, and woke at an unusually early hour on the eventful Monday morning. " I do love adventures," I said while I was dressing. " It's a heavenly day, Hilda. Just look at the sky." For the sky was like the turquoise in Mummie's ring, with the sea sparkling up to kiss it. THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 135 I thought it prudent to eat a good breakfast, for I did not know when we should get another meal. So I forced myself to take twice of every- thing, and had seven doorsteps, thickly spread with marmalade, to wind up with. I had thought of taking a parcel of food with us ; but it would have taken time and diplomacy to get it, and English food, eaten on French soil, wouldn't have been much fun. ' We'll just have frogs and tartines for a change," I thought to myself. " There'll be plenty of money in the change out of the pounds." I hoped that Hilda was eating well, but I forgot to mention it beforehand, and I could not shout at her across the table. Still, I felt I could trust Hilda, who is really rather a greedy girl, and, not being a Guide, has no idea of self- restraint. Breakfast was a little later than usual, and it was nearly nine when we rose from the table and went to get ready for the beach. Doris was told off to look after a small party, and about eight or ten of us set off for the bathing tents, carrying our towels and swimming dresses and, of course, the mackintoshes. " Hilda and I are going to have a tent to 136 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ourselves," I said when we had arrived. "No one else is coming in. Good-bye, all. We'll meet at Philippi." I dragged Hilda in and secured the flap of the tent. " Now, we'll just give them five minutes to get well in," I said, letting the mackintosh and the rest fall to the ground, " and then we'll slink off and get along to the pier with all the speed we may." Hilda looked at me admiringly. ' You have a perfect genius for organization," she said. " I am the head of Number One Company," I answered proudly. Presently we saw, through the chinks of the tent, the swimming party emerge from their shelters and waddle down to the sea, when they waded in with the usual squeals. That was our moment. We should not be missed until it was time to return to school, and we hoped to be nearing another country at the moment when Doris collected her party for lunch. We slunk away behind the tents and gained the Parade, running as quickly as possible until we reached the farther pier. We took our tickets for Dieppe at the entrance, and ran to the land- ing stage, feeling like birds on the wing. I THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 137 don't know when I had been so happy. Life was perfectly glorious, and I was full of good resolutions as I pranced along to the steamer. " I hope it won't be rough," said Hilda. * There are little white horses out there, and I'm not a good sailor." " How do you know that if you've never been abroad before ? " " I went once from London to Lowestoft in a steamer, and I was disgustingly sick. I re- member to this day how I wished I was dead." " Well, you're a nice cheerful companion for an adventure, I must say." I spoke scorn- fully, trying to cheer her up, but she sighed in a doleful way. " I half wish I hadn't come," she said. I took her arm and pushed her down the gang- way. We arrived on a crowded deck and found seats with difficulty. All round us were women, and children, and babies, and groups of young men in flannels, who were obviously not gentle- men. But we were en route for France, and the sun was shining on the sea, so what did anything matter ? It was a thrilling moment when they weighed the anchor, or, rather, 138 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON loosed the chain that held the boat to the pier ; and the good ship bounded away, rejoic- ing to be free, like the bridge over the Tiber in the days of Horatius. I squeezed Hilda's arm. Isn't it lovely ? " I cried. " I don't know," she replied faintly. Now I am sure that Hilda did not really feel ill, but all the way across she pretended she did, and it spoilt my pleasure a good deal. I can't think how people can be so selfish. One should always think of others rather than of oneself, as every good Guide knows. We sat very still, and the boat did go up and down a little, certainly, but I enjoyed it very much, and felt sorry when, three and a half hours later, we sighted the French cliffs, and the voyage was drawing to an end. "Look, Hilda," I said. "We're getting quite near. I can see houses high up on the cliffs, and the beach with bathing tents, much like the beach at Brighton." She did rouse herself then and begin to take an interest in life again. We glided into the harbour between the two jetties, with a huge Calvary on either hand and a church perched high on the cliff to the left. I pushed her down the gangway. " Isn't it all sweet ? " I cried. " There's nothing like going abroad for enlarging the mind." 139 140 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " And also the appetite," put in Hilda. " I'm as hungry as a hunter." I was glad to see that she had recovered her spirits. ' We'll have a meal the minute we land," I said with enthusiasm. " Hilda, what's the French for lunch ? " " Dejeuner," said Hilda. " I think that's breakfast. Never mind. One meal is as good as another in this gorgeous day-dream." It did seem rather like a dream the quay, and the blue water of the harbour, and the ships of every kind. We were a long time getting ashore, but at last our feet were crossing the gangway to the enchanted land. " I wonder if they've missed us yet at Black- thorne House," said Hilda. " I don't care if they have. Do you see all the restaurants right round the quay, Hilda, with little tables down to the edge of the water ? " "Yes; but it occurs to me," said Hilda, " that we'd better get some French money before we patronize one of the little tables." That seemed sensible, so I pointed out a place I had noticed at the station we came through. THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 141 It was marked " Bureau de Change, " and I guessed rightly that we could change our money there. The amount of French coins that we got in exchange for our English shillings seemed enormous. " We never can spend such sums," I said, gathering up handfuls of silvery and copper coins and dirty paper notes. " We must try," said Hilda. ' You take care of mine, Pippa. I haven't got a bag, and you have." I put all the wealth into the little bag that hung on my wrist. It had been one of Nita's numerous presents before I left home, and it was really useful at times when there happened to be any money to put in. There was a train standing in the station on the quay which was on the point of starting for Paris, and for half a minute I thought we would get in and go too. Indeed, it is very likely that we should have done so if we had not been so hungry. " We must have a meal before we can do anything," I said. " And we might not be able to get to Paris and back in time to catch the boat this evening." " You do think of everything, Pippa," said 142 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Hilda. ' You might be grown-up, you're so sensible." " That's because I'm a Guide," I said modestly. We walked round the quay to a place where small, bright yellow tables were ranged along the rough cobblestones. There were yellow chairs to match, and it looked very clean and comfortable. A girl with yellow crinkled hair, to match the furniture, and a white muslin apron approached us and stood waiting for orders. " Now, let's see," I said nervously. " Qu' avez-vous a manger ? " " Mademoiselles can speak English," said the girl. " I was educated at a school in England." I was astonished that a person of the shop- keeping class should be educated at all, but it was rather a relief to find that we could speak to her in our own language. " Well," I said, " we've just landed from the excursion boat from Brighton, and we're natur- ally very hungry. What should you advise ? " " Lunch is all over," said the waitress, " but you can have some soup and an omelette if you like." THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 143 * The very thing ! " we cried simultane- ously, and she bustled away. I never enjoyed a meal so much before. The girl brought us all kinds of delicious things, as well as those she had mentioned little crisp rolls, and gold butter patted up into quaint shapes, and glass saucers of strawberry pre- serve, and a dish of ripe plums and grapes ; we had coffee to wind up with. It was most amusing to watch the coming and going of the sailors, and the market women with baskets, and all the life of the harbour, where the wonder- ful deep blue water gleamed between the brown boats. " I want to stay here for ever," I said. " So do I," agreed Hilda. " But we'd better be moving on, or we shall see nothing of the rest of the place." We rose and beckoned to the waitress, who presented us with a bill that rather staggered us. Seven francs fifty seemed a good deal, but I turned out the bag of money on to the table, and the girl took what she wanted from it. There did not seem so very much left, but I gave her a franc for herself, and she thanked us and bade us good-afternoon. We strolled away up a narrow, fascinating i 4 4 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON street, none too clean, and came upon a huge grimy church that we discovered was called St. Jaques. " Shall we go in ? " I asked. " I suppose we ought to," said Hilda ; " but we must be very quick, for time is going fast." We went in and walked round rapidly in the gloom. It seemed mouldy and badly in need of a little soap and water, but we loved the mysterious deep shadows that surrounded us on every side. I don't know what brought us to a standstill in one of the side chapels, called the Chapel of the Guardian Angel. But pause we did, and look round, for it was a little lighter than the rest of the building. A large stone angel with cracked, dusty wings stood over us on a pedestal, and underneath it was a real young man in a sort of uniform of powdery blue, and he had the nicest face I have ever seen. In his hand he carried a cap with letters round it spelling " Pourville." " What's Pourville ? " I whispered to Hilda. " I don't know," she replied. " Probably some part of heaven, where he lives." " He looks much more like a guardian angel than the ugly stone thing up there." " What's Pourville ?" I whispered to Hilda. (4.361) 145 IO 146 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Perhaps he is," said Hilda. And we both stared at him. He raised his eyes and smiled at us, and then moved away. We hurried from the dark church out into the dazzling glare of the sun, and found our way, somehow or other, into what I suppose was the High Street, for it was full of shops, and people, and the road was dense with motors. There were all sorts of shops, each with a different merchandise, but the patisseries and the shops that sold souvenirs attracted us most. " I shall get a few little presents to take back," I said. " Would Miss Lavender like one of those ivory elephants, do you think ? And, considering that he's the founder of the feast, so to speak, what can we buy for Uncle Philip ? " " Not very much if we're to have any com- fort ourselves," said the selfish Hilda. In the end, we purchased the ivory elephant, and following the good Guide rule of doing a kindness to a person you dislike, I insisted on getting a thimble in an ivory case for Miss Lambert. For Uncle Philip we bought a quantity of the sweets that look like small stones from the beach. " I don't suppose he'll actually eat them," I said, " but he'll value them as a curiosity." THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 147 " And yet they're awfully nice," said Hilda, putting one into her mouth. We were highly pleased with these purchases, though they were a nuisance to carry, and it was past three when we arrived on the front. There were stretches of grass there, like the lawns at Brighton, and a large statue of some- body, and antirrhinums. The sea was creep- ing lazily over the yellow sands, and many people were bobbing about in it. There was no pier, but there, to the left, was the Casino, imposing and glittering. I drew Hilda to- wards it. " I've always longed to enter a casino," I said, " and now's our chance. I'm told that such places are sinks of iniquity." "You're thinking of Monte Carlo," said Hilda. " This poor thing looks innocent enough." It was expensive enough, anyhow. When we had paid for our entrance we found ourselves almost penniless. " Never mind," I said cheerfully. " I will gamble and win a trifle for our expenses." "You can't," said Hilda moodily. "It's impossible to gamble if you have nothing to start with." 148 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " That seems to prove that only the poor can be truly virtuous." " It doesn't prove anything. Besides, I don't want to gamble. Do you hear music ? Oh, Pippa, there's a concert going on in that lovely hall. Let's go in." We went in and found two very comfortable chairs. An orchestra of stringed instruments was playing away on the platform, and we listened in a pleasant dream. The dream soon slided into a sweet slumber, for the voyage and the excitement had tired us out, and we slept peacefully till the end of the concert. The cessation of the music, and the rustle of the audience going out, roused us, and for a minute I could not remember where I was. Then all the lovely reality flashed upon me, and I laughed for sheer pleasure. " Aren't you enjoying yourself ? " I said to Hilda. " No," she answered crossly. " I want my tea." I stopped laughing. It was nearly five o'clock, and I, too, wanted my tea. I took the few coppers out of the bag and counted them carefully. They amounted to ninety-five cen- times. THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 149 ' This is probably a very expensive place," I said, putting them back. " We must wait till we find a cheap confiserie, and buy some buns. But we won't go away till we've explored a little further." So we wandered on, averting our eyes from the tempting little tables on the terrace, and found a reading-room, where there were many comfortable chairs and lounges, and large tables strewn with magazines and newspapers. But what pleased us most were cases of note- paper, with pictures of the Casino at the top ; and you were allowed to help yourself. Hilda and I both secured several sheets for future use. Then, attracted by the sounds of a jazz band, we opened a door, descended a few steps, and straightway we were in a ballroom crowded with people children and grown-ups. They were all dancing to the strains of a small band which blared away on a platform at one end. " Come on," I cried, seizing Hilda round the waist, and away we swung on the polished floor. I am a good dancer, but Hilda is rather lumpy. However, we enjoyed it, and, when the dance was over, and we were standing by one of the open windows getting cool, two little French- men really only good-sized boys came smirk- 150 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ing up and bowed low to us with their hands on their hearts. " Allez-vous en," I said to them, for I hate Frenchmen. But still they stood, gesticulating and jabbering in such rapid French that I could not make out what they were saying. ' Whatever do the little monkeys want ? " I said to Hilda. ' They want to dance with us, I suppose," said Hilda. " Then they won't," I responded. " You're a poor dancer, certainly, but you're superior to a Frenchman. Regardez " (this to the grinning aspirants), " vous n'avez pas etc introduits. Je danserai avec mon amie seulement." The music began again, and I grabbed Hilda and whirled her off. " Very stupid of you," she grumbled. " They might have invited us to tea." " They might, and they mightn't. Anyhow, we shouldn't have understood what they said, so it would have come to the same thing." We danced until six o'clock, and then the band stopped and the dancers drifted away. The two French boys who had spoken to us had disappeared, and we went next to the room where they were playing " boule." THE HALF-TERM HOLIDAY 151 It was not unlike bagatelle, and the score was registered by some contrivance overhead. Ap- parently you said which number you'd have, and an ugly fat man on a high stool set a ball rolling, and the number it dropped into won. It seemed simple enough, and I had a good mind to risk a few centimes, only Hilda said she didn't suppose they would take less than a franc. We stood peering over the shoulders of the players, who were seated round the table, and we were enjoying the novelty of the spectacle when a clock somewhere in the distance struck seven. " Good gracious ! " said Hilda. " It is late. What time does the return boat go ? " " I forgot to ask, but, as we were to have four and a half hours here, I should think it must start about six." " Impossible ! Why, it's struck seven." We looked at each other in consternation. Here was a pretty kettle of fish. " Come on quickly," I cried. " We must run down to the quay. I daresay it hasn't gone yet." We left the Casino at full speed, and crossed roads at peril of our lives. Of course, we lost 152 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON our way several times, but at last we arrived at the harbour, breathless and panting. " I don't see it," Hilda cried wildly. I caught a porter and literally shook him. " Ou est le bateau a Brighton ? " I asked him. He shook his head and answered volubly in some unknown tongue. We continued to tear madly about the quay, and I with difficulty prevented Hilda from boarding a ship that was starting for Brazil. At last we saw a man in a cap marked " Cook," and he understood English and was kind enough to make inquiries for us. " The excursion for Brighton started half an hour ago," he told us at last. " Th-ank you," I gulped ; and we turned aside into a sort of prison that they call the " douane," and sank helplessly on to a bench. CHAPTER IX ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE " TAON'T cry, Hilda," I said after a time. J " You look so ugly when your face is sodden." " Oh, I wish we hadn't come," sobbed Hilda, wiping away the falling tears. " It was all your fault, Pippa. I shouldn't have thought of it. Now I suppose we shall die of starvation in a foreign land." " I don't know, I'm sure. We'd better try to earn a little money to pay our fare back with. You shall sing in the streets, and I'll go round with the hat." " Then I just won't." Hilda straightened herself and stamped furiously. Then she began to cry again. " And where are we going to sleep to-night, I should like to know ? " she wailed. It was a serious question, and I felt I should like to know myself. I meditated on several plans, but all seemed impracticable. 163 154 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ' Well, there's always the casual ward," I remarked with a sigh. " What's that ? " asked Hilda hopefully. But I really didn't know what it was, or how to get there. I only remembered that I had heard it mentioned in connection with tramps and paupers, to which class I imagined we now belonged. I looked round the large empty place, with its long, narrow counters, and found little comfort. Then two men in greasy uniforms came through one of the doors and made straight for us. They were evidently angry, and let fly such torrents of language at us that even my stout Guide-heart failed, and poor Hilda fairly screamed. We caught each other's hands and ran from the place. Outside in the air it was better, but the sky was no longer clear. Clouds had gathered, and a cold wind was blowing in from the sea. ' We must get back somehow, if we have to go as stowaways," said Hilda. I said nothing, for my thoughts were busy. Perhaps, after all, it had been wrong to come, and we were being punished for our misdoings. If so, we could only bear it, and make good resolutions for the future. But would there be ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 155 any future ? I was already so hungry that I did not feel as if I could live much longer without food. I was also growing tired and sleepy. We sat down on a large stone near the water, and I borrowed Hilda's handkerchief, having lost my own. Hers was soaking with her tears, and I had made it worse before I returned it. ' Well, you two forlorn-looking young people, have you lost your way ? " asked a pleasant English voice behind us. We both started up and turned round to face the Guardian Angel of St. Jaques, in his silvery blue uniform, with the letters spelling " Pour- ville " round his cap. " Oh," I gasped, " who are you ? " " Just an official from the hotel at Pourville," he answered. " What's Pourville ? " " A little place close to Dieppe." " And do you live there always ? " " No," he laughed. " My home is in Sheffield. I shall go back there at the end of the season. What are you doing here, at this hour, all by yourselves ? " Then I poured out the sad story. " We're spending our half-term holiday. Uncle Philip 156 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON had given us some money, so we came away from our school at Brighton to spend the day in France and improve our French." " Humph ! And do they know at your school in Brighton what you've done ? " " No, of course they don't, or we couldn't have done it. I expect they are getting pretty worried by this time." " I expect they are," he said grimly. " And are you not returning to-day ? " " We can't. The excursion boat has gone. We went to the Casino and forgot the time. And now we are homeless, and penniless, and starving." " That's bad," said our new friend, and looked at us as if he were considering the situation. Then he took out a notebook and opened it. " Perhaps Madame Morville will take you in for the night," he said. " Now tell me the address of your school, and I'll try to get a wire through to-night." I told him, and he wrote it down. " They can send for you to-morrow," he said. " Yes, but what's to become of us to-night ? " I wanted to know. " And who is Madame Morville ? " We both started and turned round. But he only said " Come on," and led the way to the front of the station. We followed meekly. A beautiful shining light grey motor was standing there, and the Pourville Angel opened the door and invited us to get in. " Of course your people will have to pay for it afterwards," he said. " Of course," I agreed. ' You must send them the bill." 157 158 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON My spirits were rising, and I was beginning to feel that life yet held bright days in store. It was a very nice car, with soft grey padded seats, and a silver clock, and a bunch of mar- guerites. We nestled down on the cushions with immense relief, and the Angel shut us in and drove off. " I think I shall live at Sheffield when I'm grown up," I murmured sleepily. " It must be a nice place." " I don't believe it is," replied Hilda. " I've learnt something about it in geography, but I forget what." We glided through the grey streets, now twinkling with lights. In many parts the pave- ments were dotted with small tables, round which clustered men, drinking coffee and wine, and looking very happy and peaceful. " I could drive on for ever, if I were not so starving," I said to Hilda. " Isn't it just like fairyland ? " " I don't know what Miss Lavender will say," she remarked. " I can pretty well guess," I responded. " But we must bear it bravely and patiently, and they'll soon forget all about it." "I don't know," moaned Hilda. "If ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 159 I'm expelled, Mummy will be thoroughly vexed." " It's very selfish of you, Hilda," I remon- strated, " to try to spoil the little pleasure we might get out of the present circumstances. As you say, we shall have enough to bear later on." She cheered up a little after that, and we drove on past the shops and cafes, until we stopped at last before a tall, narrow, stoney house, in a steep street of other tall, stoney houses all joined together. The Angel got out, but told us to stay where we were until he had interviewed Madame. We watched eagerly while he rang the bell ; the door opened and he disappeared into the dim unlighted hall. It seemed ages before he came back and invited us to get out and come in. " Madame will receive you for the night," he said. " I have explained matters to her. She speaks very little English." We followed him through the door, and across the hall, and into a room on the right. A lamp was burning here on the table, and cards were spread out evidently for a game of Patience. Madame advanced out of the shadows to meet 160 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON us, and, folding Hilda (who entered first) in her arms, kissed her soundly on both cheeks. She was a tall, thin woman, dressed in black, and she had rather an unhappy, discontented sort of face, but she seemed kind, and was clearly delighted to see us. " These are the little girls, Madame," said the Angel, quite unnecessarily. " Cheres petites ! " cried Madame, and kissed me this time. " Now I know they'll be safe with you until they are called for," he went on, " so I'll be off and send the news to Brighton before I get back to Pourville. Bonne nuit, Madame. Good- night, Mesdemoiselles." And he was gone. The door banged behind him, and we were left with Madame Morville. But she seemed a hospitable soul. We were thankful to see her clear away her Patience and ring the bell. " I 'ave ozzer guests," she told us, " but they 'ave already 'ad dinner. You 'ave faim, n'est-ce pas ? " " We 'ave beaucoup faim," I said, trying to make her understand. A French domestic entered, who was dressed in a very short pink silk frock with no sleeves ; ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 161 she was quite unlike anything of the sort I had ever seen. But she appeared to be a nice girl, for she grinned at us affably as she lit the gas and got a tablecloth out of a sideboard drawer. Madame bustled about, and produced honey and sweet biscuits, and cut thin wafers of raw ham, which tasted delicious. The maid brought us white china mugs full of hot milk, and a long shiny grey loaf, which she was kind enough to cut up for us. We ate and drank with great vigour, and Madame beamed at us and urged us on until we were obliged to call a halt. " Non, merci, Madame," said Hilda, showing off. " Je ne puis pas." " Je n'en peux plus," said I, going one better. Madame rose and took us upstairs. The gas was now lighted in the hall and on the landings, so we were able to see where we were going. A large and very beautiful white dog was lying across one of the stairs ; he refused to move out of the way, so Madame adjured us to step carefully over him. " He is ver precious," she said. " He 'ave belong many years to my son Jean." " Where is your son Jean ? " asked Hilda, as we stooped to caress the dog. (4.361) II 162 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " He is at the dance, and Rochelle will sit on the stair till he come in. Then he will go to bed with him." We kissed Rochelle on the point of his damp, black nose, and stepped carefully over his rigid body. He did not flutter an eyelid. " Shall we see your son Jean in the morn- ing ? " I inquired. " I 'ope," said Madame. She conducted us into a little room with two small beds side by side, a small washstand, a large wardrobe, and a soldier's helmet hanging on the wall. There was also a framed faded photograph of two little girls with stiff curls and long, flounced frocks. Madame pointed to them. " My little girls," she informed us. " And where are they ? " we asked eagerly. " They are dead many years." This was distressing, and we changed the subject. " Is that your son's helmet ? Is he a soldier ? " " That is the 'elmet of a German he did kill in the war," she said with pride. We looked at the dinted, battered thing with curiosity. " Your son Jean must be very brave," said o She took out two little white night-dresses. Hilda, " and he must have hated to kill the poor thing." " Oh, no," said Madame brightly, " he like it ver much." She opened a drawer, and took out two little white night-dresses, smelling of lavender. Then she brought in brushes and combs and soap and 163 towels, and finally lighted a candle and turned out the gas. ' You blow the bougie whan you go bed," she commanded. " A ver good night to you, my pretty ones." She kissed us again, and went out quietly. " Here's luxury," said Hilda, beginning to undress rapidly. " And a pretty penny it will cost our families," I said moodily. " I think I hear them grumble, and as for Aunt Florence lending a hand with the expense, it's no use hoping for it." " Perhaps it won't be very expensive. Pippa, just look at this nightdress. I can't get into it." ' That's the worst of being so fat. Mine is quite a fit. I wonder if the telegram has arrived at Blackthorne House by this time." " Oh, dear. It doesn't bear thinking of. Well, I'm too tired to bother about it to-night. You put out the bougie." She plunged into bed, drew the bedclothes up to her chin, and in five minutes was fast asleep. I did not go off so quickly, for I could not help wondering what was going to happen next day. Of course I should be blamed for everything, but I was used to that. We had had a splendid time while it lasted, and I could ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 165 not regret it. After all, it might have been worse, for if we had gone on to Paris we should now be wandering in hunger and despair, unless a gendarme had sent us to an asylum or prison. But we had had a guardian angel from Pour- ville to take care of us, and we had been kindly treated and sumptuously fed ; and we were now curled up in snug soft beds, so the future must take care of itself. I suppose I fell asleep at this point in my ruminations. But I could not have slept very soundly, for a slight noise woke me up. It was apparently the dead of night, and I had been unconscious for several hours, but, in a minute, I was wideawake and listening. The faint noise grew louder, and it seemed to come from the German helmet on the wall. Yes, there was no doubt about it. The sound of groaning was distinctly heard issuing from the helmet, and it grew louder and louder. The spirit of the dead soldier was moaning in his misery. " Hilda, Hilda, wake up," I cried in terror. She roused slightly. " Wassermarrer ? " she murmured. " Listen. The German soldier that Madame's son Jean killed is groaning over there." 166 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Don't be a fool," said Hilda. " How can he groan, if he was killed ? " " It's his ghost, of course. There. In the helmet. Don't you hear ? " " I hear a steamer hooting in the harbour. Perhaps the night boat is in. Do go to sleep. German groans, indeed ! " And she rolled over, and began to snore. I listened to the ghostly sounds until sleep overpowered me. The next thing I heard was a loud knocking at our door, and, opening my eyes, I discovered that it was broad day. The sunbeams were dancing on the walls and turning the old helmet into burnished silver. " Come in," I shouted ; and Hilda said politely, " Entrez, si vous voulez." The door burst open, and the serving-maid we had seen the night before still clad in the sleeveless pink silk dress entered tumultuously. She carried a large tray, which she left on the bed while she went to fetch a table. This she put up by the window, and slapped the tray down on it. She then made us a long speech in a patois that we could make nothing of, so we merely nodded and grinned in a friendly way. ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 167 When she had gone, banging the door behind her, we rushed to the window to see what she had brought that smelt so delicious. A lovely steaming jug of coffee, another of hot milk, a plate heaped with rolls, and two large pats of butter. Hilda and I lost no time. We did not wait to dress, but slipped on our coats and stockings and sat down to breakfast. " Let's open the window," I suggested. " Then we can look out better." We did so, and found that we were looking down on a neat square garden, at the back of which rose a steep chalky cliff. The garden had a smooth grass lawn, with a round bed in the middle, and narrow straight beds all round. There were marigolds and geraniums, and mignonette, and tobacco plants, and, what pleased us most, a little fat brown man, made of earthenware, wheeling a barrow of the same material. At the corners of the grass were four large glass balls, and a wooden bench was placed under a plum-tree. We sighed with pleasure. " I didn't suppose that French people' ever had such a garden as this," I said. " You can pour out, Hilda." 1 68 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON She poured out, and not even the devastating prospect of the fate that was in store for us kept us from enjoying our breakfast. The garden below fascinated us. We were delighted to see a young man whom we took for Madame's son Jean come out of a side door of the house and cross the lawn. He was closely followed by Rochelle, who was barking and gambolling round him. It was difficult to believe that any one with such a gentle face, and so devoted to his beautiful dog, could have killed anything even a German. " I should think, from the groans of the helmet, that he used a bayonet," I said. " Don't be silly," answered Hilda, crunching the last lump of sugar. We dressed slowly. It seemed a pity not to make the most of the pleasant, peaceful time. When we were ready we put on our hats and coats and went downstairs. A foreboding of coming disaster seized me, and I stood for a long time in the hall, with my hand on the handle of the dining-room door, before venturing to turn it. At last, with great reluctance, I opened the door as slowly as possible and tiptoed into the room. Hilda came after, and we saw in a flash ADVENTURE AT DIEPPE 169 that our forebodings of doom were more than justified. There, in a comfortable chair drawn up to the table, drinking coffee and talking to Madame, sat Miss Lambert. CHAPTER X THE END OF THE HOLIDAY MISS LAMBERT put down the coffee cup which she was in the act of raising to her lips, and looked at us in silence. Her speech seemed frozen on her lips. " Bon jour, mes enfants," said Madame, smiling at us. Miss Lambert still stared, incapable of utterance. " Good-morning, Madame," said Hilda. " Good-morning, Miss Lambert." Miss Lambert still stared. Her mouth re- mained open, but no words came. This gave me an idea, and, taking Uncle Philip's present from my pocket, I opened the bag, and offered her a pebble. " Do have one, Miss Lambert," I coaxed. " They're really Uncle Philip's, but he wouldn't grudge it. Hilda has eaten them in a shameful way." 170 THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 171 Miss Lambert did not take one ; she went on staring. " I know that, from some points of view, we've been wicked," I went on, " but we're prepared to apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused. Aren't we, Hilda ? " Hilda nodded, and looked longingly at Uncle Philip's present. " No, you don't," I said, putting a firm hand over the bag. " If Miss Lambert had fancied one, it would have been a different matter. But we've bought a present for yourself, Miss Lambert, dear. Look ! " I drew the thimble out of the other pocket. " The case was marked ivory in the window," I told her, " but I'm afraid it's only bone. " You see, we were very short of money, so it was the best we could manage. But thimbles are always useful." I put it beside her cup, but she took no notice of it, except to push it from her as if it were a snake. Then she stood up, and spoke at last. " This is neither the time nor the place to tell you what I think of your conduct," she said in an awful voice. " You will learn that later. Madame, if we catch the one o'clock 172 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON boat to Newhaven, we will leave here about twelve." " You must 'ave little lonch before you go," said Madame politely. " The dear little girls must not 'ave 'unger." Miss Lambert scowled at us, as if it were her dearest wish to have us poisoned. The atmos- phere was heavy with gloom. Then the front door opened noisily, and Madame's son Jean, accompanied by Rochelle, entered the room. Madame seemed relieved to see him, and introduced him to Miss Lam- bert, who looked at him as if she didn't see him. " This poor lady 'as travel all night, Jean. She is fatigued she shall rest in quiet you take the little girls for a walk." Jean kissed his mother on both cheeks. " Certainly," he said. We tried to conceal our joy, and got quickly out of the room before Miss Lambert had time to forbid us to go. I think she really was tired, and thankful to have us taken off her hands for an hour. Anyhow, we lost no time in escaping from her, and ran into the sunlit street, with Jean and Rochelle behind us. " This is more than we deserve," I cried, / drew the thimble out of the other pocket. executing a fancy dance on the pavement. " Oh, isn't it heavenly. Do you speak English as well as your darling mother, Monsieur Jean ? " " I speak English, of course, but I do nothing as well as my mother." " You hear that, Hilda ? As soon as I am 178 174 p ! ppA AT BRIGHTON grown up, dear Monsieur Jean, I shall have a son exactly like you." " Oh, I think you could do better than that," he said, laughing. " I couldn't. And I shall have a dog exactly like Rochelle." " That's impossible. For there's not another dog in the world like him. Or ever will be." Rochelle, finding himself the subject of conversation, rose on his hind legs, and put a paw on each of his master's shoulders. Jean stooped down to allow him to reach, and the two hugged each other with much enjoyment. " And to think that you killed a German in a groaning helmet," I cried. ' You did, didn't you ? " " Lots," he said. " Shake hands with the ladies, Rochelle." Rochelle sat on the ground and extended a paw to each of us in turn. , " Good dog," said Jean. " Now let's go for a row." Such a morning as we had. I forgot that we were in disgrace, that we had committed the blackest of crimes, and that unknown penalties were in store. Jean took us on the sea in a row- ing-boat, and we spent nearly an hour on the THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 175 sparkling blue water. Then we went to a con- fiserie, where we all (including Rochelle) ate cream cakes. Jean also bought us delicious sweets in bright colours, mounted on sticks. So convenient for eating. He took us up a steep path, past the old castle, to the top of the cliff, where the view was enchanting. And then he looked at his watch and said it was time for us to go back to lunch, if we wanted to catch the boat. We went back slowly and sadly. Madame and Miss Lambert were just sitting down to lunch. It was too early for the other guests, whom we did not see. Jean said he had some business to attend to, and wished us good-bye, and went away. Rochelle took up his position on the stairs to await his return. We tried to enjoy our lunch, but it was diffi- cult to eat with Miss Lambert's stony presence opposite. She had not taken up her thimble, which was lying on the sideboard, so I put it back in my pocket. " You must come again, my loves," said Madame kindly. " Your good parents will trust me to take care of you." We could not feel any confidence in the pro- ceedings of our good parents, but we thanked 176 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Madame, and said we would come again, if we could. Before we had quite finished, a fiacre drove up to the door, and Miss Lambert rose and took leave of Madame with many protestations of gratitude. The maid whose name was Yvonne wept bitterly at the parting, as if we had been old friends. Madame embraced us, and forced on us a parcel of cakes for the journey. We drove away in a mist of tears. It was not a pleasant journey. The sea was quite calm, but Miss Lambert kept us down in the cabin the whole time. She dozed on a couch, but we could not sleep, and the steward- ess, pitying our forlorn condition, lent us some old comic papers, which had been left behind by other voyagers. We reached Newhaven in the afternoon, and took the train to Brighton. " We seem to have been away for years," said Hilda, as we jumped out of the taxi at Blackthorne House and mounted the steps. " And yet the old place looks just the same." " Horrid old place," I pouted, and gave a little stamp. Miss Lambert, who had lingered to pay the taxi, joined us in the hall. " You had better go straight to Miss The view was enchanting. Lavender's room," she said, " and see if it is convenient to her to speak to you." " May as well get it over," I whispered to Hilda. " Come along." We dragged unwilling feet to Miss Lavender's 12 (4,361) 177 178 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON private snuggery, and knocked at the door. Her voice said " Come in," and we went in. As we met her eyes some sense of our mis- conduct came over us. * We're truly sorry, Miss Lavender," I said. " I see now how wrong we were, but I didn't realize it before." " Sit down," she said briefly, " and tell me all about it." We obeyed, and as we went over again all the details of our glorious adventure I could not wish that it had never happened. " It was more Uncle Philip's fault than any one's, after all," I wound up. " If he hadn't given us those pounds we couldn't have gone." " I think you will own, Pippa," said Miss Lavender, " that you are more to blame than Hilda, for it was you who thought of the plan- " It was," I interrupted. " Hilda never has any ideas, poor little noodle." " And it was you who persuaded Hilda to take part in the expedition, was it not ? " " Why, of course. It was also my uncle who furnished the funds. As a family we are greatly to blame." " You did not think, I suppose," said Miss THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 179 Lavender gravely, " of the unhappiness and suspense you caused to me and those in charge at school ? " " No," I said truthfully, " for we meant to be back before we were really missed. We fully intended to return by the evening boat." " It was ten o'clock before I got that wire from Dieppe, and then Miss Lambert went off at once by the night boat." " Yes," I said, " and instead of enjoying the unexpected little trip, she made herself thoroughly disagreeable. She wouldn't look at the nice little present we had got for her. Oh, Miss Lavender, dear, if only you had been with us. You would have loved Rochelle." " And we didn't go on to Paris," pleaded Hilda. " Paris ? " cried Miss Lavender, looking horrified. " The train was waiting in the station," I said, a trifle sulkily, for I was thinking of our lost opportunities. " But we were so hungry that we had to get food first." " Well," said Miss Lavender, " I can but be thankful that you are safely back, and I must send my heartfelt thanks to that kind Madame Morville." 180 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " And the Guardian Angel at Pourville. He will expect to be paid for the motor." " I will ask Madame to settle with him. And now, girls, I am very sorry, but I must write to your people and tell them the whole story." " Must you ? " I asked sorrowfully. " There'll be the whatshisname to pay." " You know that your conduct merits ex- pulsion ? " " Yes, we know. Of course, that would have its bright side for me, but Hilda would hate it. Do forgive us this once, dear Miss Lavender." " I am writing to your mother, and I shall be guided by her wishes. And now I wish you both to return to the ordinary school routine for the present, but you are not to mingle with your school-fellows more than can be helped. You may go." We retired rather crestfallen, and I did not recover my spirits until after tea. The girls crowded round us and asked innumerable questions. But Hilda would not open her mouth, and I thought it wise to say as little as possible. " I believe you've been up to some mischief," THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 181 said Isabel Fortescue. " You may just as well tell us all about it." " Curiosity is a disgusting vice," I told her. " Well, but, really, you know, what did you get up to yesterday ? " " You mind your own business," I said loftily. Isabel went on teasing, but I took no notice of her, and directly it was possible Hilda and I retired to our own room. Daylight and sunset were still lingering in the sky, and I put my head far out of the window and drank in the fresh sea breeze. Hilda got into bed quickly. " Come away from the window," she shouted. " You know it's against the rules to put your head out." I blew kisses across the Channel in the direc- tion of Dieppe. " To think that we woke up this morning in France," I meditated. " France is all very well in its way," said Hilda, " but, after all, England's England, and I do wish we had stopped here." " Well, I can't say I agree with you. We had a ripping time. I think I will write to Uncle Philip, and ask him to take the blame for the whole thing." i82 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " It would be horrid of you, after his kindness to us." " But, don't you see, Miss Lavender could never be seriously angry with him, and I could send him his present at the same time or what remains of it after what you have eaten." " I liked those pebbles," said Hilda can- didly. " Do you think one more would be missed ? " " You shan't even look at them, you old greedy. My poor Uncle ! " " And I'm so hungry," wailed Hilda. " So am I. It's the remorse and suspense. They always sharpen the appetite. What a blessing I managed to smuggle Madame's parcel of cakes upstairs without notice." " You did ? Oh, Pippa, how thoughtful of you." " Well, we couldn't eat in that stuffy cabin, with old Lambert's stony eye on us. So I brought it along, and left it on the landing while we spoke to Miss Lavender. Then I hopped up here with it. It's in the wardrobe." " Get it out," cried Hilda. We had a nice little feast, and finished the cakes, which were delicious. The paper they were wrapped in we returned to the wardrobe, THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 183 to be taken out at the first opportunity, under shelter of the mackintosh. " But we left the macks in the tent " I could not help chuckling at the recollection " and, unless Doris retrieved them, they're hopelessly lost." " Then we shall have to have new ones. I hate to be such an expense to my family." " Yes, so do I," I agreed with a sigh. The door opened and Doris put her head in. " Are you in bed and asleep ? " she inquired. " Both," we assured her, and she departed. The next day Mummie came, and there was a very pathetic scene. I was sent for, and found her alone in the drawing-room, with the tears running down her cheeks. I rushed at her and hugged her, and we cried together. " Oh, Pippa, how could you ? " she sobbed. " I'll try to explain, Mummie," I said, drying my eyes, " but I doubt if I shall ever make you understand." " I understand well enough that you have been a very naughty girl. Going to France, and all by yourself. You don't know what might have happened to you." " Hilda went too, so I wasn't alone, and all sorts of lovely things happened," I explained. 1 84 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Oh, Mummie, you can't think how I enjoyed myself." " But it was very, very wrong." " I know it was. Most nice things are wrong. I can't tell what's the matter with the world." " Miss Lavender is very upset about it, and she doesn't know what to do for the best." " She'd better forgive us this once, and let us start again, in the good Guide way." " She would be only too thankful to do so, but she must be fair to you. I am afraid you are not very sorry for your fault, Pippa." " I don't know. You see, I did love the adventure, and the Guardian Angel was so sweet, and Madame and her son Jean and Rochelle were so darling. And Hilda and I had a beautiful dance in the Casino, but we didn't play * boule ' because we had no money." " Pippa ! " " Well, we didn't do anything particularly wicked. And I don't believe they were really worried here until after supper. For every one does what she likes on half-term holiday, and they probably were expecting us to turn up all day. It was our losing the boat that put the lid on things and gave you the trouble and THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 185 expense of coming to-day. Mummie, darling, could you make it convenient to lend me a shilling or two ? I've only a few French sous in the world." ' What do you want it for ? " said Mummie suspiciously. ' Why, it's Miss Lavender's birthday next week, and the girls are collecting for a little present. I must remember to ask her how old she is." " Pray don't," advised Mummie. " I'm afraid you won't be popular as you grow up, Pippa." " That's not necessary," I said. " The great thing is to be good." Mummie stared at me for a moment, and then broke into helpless laughter. At that instant Miss Lavender walked in and caught her. I felt bound to apologize. " Do excuse Mummie," I said. " She's a little hysterical." Miss Lavender seemed surprised, and Mummie regained her composure. " I am naturally upset," she said, " to think that a child of mine can have caused so much trouble. I can only beg you to forgive her this once, Miss Lavender. I know she will promise i86 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON to be a better girl in the future. Won't you, darling ? " " Yes, indeed, Mummie. Are you going to take me out to tea ? " Mummie looked at Miss Lavender, who shook her head decisively. " I don't think you deserve treats, Pippa," she said sadly. " Ah ! " I sighed. " If we all got what we deserved, it wouldn't be much for most." Then I went up to Miss Lavender and said, " I know I'm not as repentant as I ought to be, but I'll truly try to keep the rules for the rest of the term. Do, please, give me a chance." So Miss Lavender gave me a kiss, and sent for Hilda and forgave her too, and we all had a drawing-room tea together, and it left us very hungry. Before Mummie left, I fetched the ivory elephant we had brought for Miss Lavender, and the bag of pebbles for Uncle Philip. " Will you take them to him, Mummie, and give them to him with our love Hilda's and mine. There would have been more but for Hilda's greediness. I do hope he'll be pleased with them. He might put them in a glass case. Do you like the elephant, Miss Lavender, dear ? THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 187 I'm so sorry the trunk's broken, but poor Hilda sat on it by mistake, and you know what a weight she is." Miss Lavender took it, and her mouth trembled. I think she was touched. She said, " Thank you, girls," in a choked voice, and turned away her head to hide her emotion. Mummie put the sweet pebbles away in her bag, and promised to deliver them. " Ask him to give one to Mr. Woolley, if he meets him," I said, " and tell Mr. Woolley where I am, and you might let him know how fond Hilda is of sweets, and how I would give them to her if I had them." Mummie left soon after that, giving me half a crown and much good advice, to which I listened carefully. " Well, that's settled," I said to Hilda, as we made our way to the tennis courts. " It may be for you," she replied, " but I have yet to learn the view my ancestors take of their little descendant's proceedings." ' What a well-turned sentence," I exclaimed admiringly. " Let's have a single, Hilda, and use your balls." Hilda learned her ancestors' opinion of her the next morning, when she received a furious 1 88 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON letter from her mother, who said that she was shocked and horrified, and had never heard of such a thing, and how dared Hilda do it, and what an objectionable girl I must be. There were four pages of it, and poor Hilda was quite upset. " Mother has so set her heart on my being a prima donna that she is terribly afraid some- thing may happen to stop it," she sobbed. " Nothing will happen," I consoled her. " You can be a prima donna without their help, if you want to. Look at the way I brought you before the public the other day." She dried her eyes and cheered up. " I think I will show the letter to Miss Lavender and ask her what I had better do," she said. Miss Lavender read the letter and told Hilda that she also had heard from Mrs. Cheesman, who was evidently grieved and troubled. "So I will permit you to write to-day, Hilda," she said, " although it isn't Friday. Tell your mother how sorry you are, and promise amendment. She will forgive you when she knows that I have done so. I am also writing to her." Apparently Mrs. Cheesman was soothed by THE END OF THE HOLIDAY 189 the correspondence, for she wrote no more on the subject, and only said in her next letter that if Hilda's shoes were down at heel she was to ask to have them sent to be repaired at once. So we settled down again into the usual rut lessons, and walks, and swims, and meals, and rules, and all the rest of it until the half-term holiday at Dieppe seemed like a dream. Two things, however, occurred that lent it reality for a time. One was an enormous box of chocolates, tied with red ribbon, and in- scribed " For the two Continental Travellers, with the best regards of their sincere admirer, E. Woolley." The other thing was a pithy letter from Uncle Philip : " DEAR NIECE, Your gift of pebbles from the beach at Dieppe was duly handed to me, and I am obliged for your thoughtful generosity. I shall never eat them. Your affectionate Uncle." CHAPTER XI AS YOU LIKE IT here, Prissy," I said to the school cat one warm evening after tea. "Do spare me a few minutes of your valuable time. I'm sick of human beings. Cats are so superior." Priscilla arched her back at the compliment and rubbed her soft side against my cheek, for I was sprawling on the grass. She then sat down within kissing distance, and prepared to listen to what I had to say. I love cats and dogs and all creatures. Prissy was very beautiful ; she knew it well ; every one was always telling her so. But her centre of pride just then was her son Peter, to whose bringing-up she devoted most of her time. He was a round ball of mischief with big blue eyes, and he was sometimes very rude to his mother when she tried to wash his face and get on with his education. " Prissy," I began, " everything is going wrong." 190 AS YOU LIKE IT 191 " M-r-r-r," purred Prissy meaning, " That's nonsense. Peter's splendid." " Oh, you think of nothing but Peter, and though I own he's a sweet thing, you must know there are other creatures in the world." " Not to compare with Peter." " No, of course not. But, do you know, Prissy, the end of the term is coming ? " " Who cares ? I shan't be dull. I shall have Peter." " Well, I know that Peter is much nicer than a wilderness of girls. I don't like girls much ; do you, Prissy dear ? " " Got no tails, no fur, no whiskers, but well enough in their way," said Prissy. She sidled up to me, and held up her head so that I could scratch her chin. She has lovely manners. I believe she rather likes the girls, who always fuss and play with her. " Now, I'll tell you my troubles, Prissy," I went on. She distinctly purred, " You must be quick about it, then. It's time for me to find Peter, and wash his face." " I'm being very badly treated. I ought to have a good part in the breaking-up play " " M-r-r why ? " 192 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Because I'm a very clever actress, much better than any of them, and I've only got a part that isn't worth dressing." " Don't dress, then." " Oh, I shan't play it. I'd rather pretend to be ill. And all my people will be there, and Uncle Philip, and perhaps Mr. Woolley who knows ? " " I shan't come. Peter wouldn't care about it." " Of course, it's not much of a play. It's only Shakespeare. But if they'd let me be Orlando, or the melancholy Jaques, or somebody decent, it would buck the thing up." " Any cats in it ? " " No ; only deer." " Not very interesting, then. Now, I'd better " " Oh, one more minute. The truth is, Prissy dear, it's all Miss Lambert's fault." " I don't care if it is. Oh, there's Peter running after his tail among the hollyhocks. Hi, Peter, come to Mammy, you bad kitten." She rushed off, and she and Peter began to chase each other round the lawn. Peter ran backwards, with his ridiculous tail straight up. It was a beautiful sight, but I was too moody to enjoy it properly. AS YOU LIKE IT 193 I was really being very badly treated, and besides, for the credit of the school, I wanted the breaking-up to be as smart as possible. But Miss Lambert was determined to keep me out of everything. She had never liked me, and ever since the half-term holiday and her jaunt to Dieppe she had had her knife in me. Not that I cared. A Guide can live her own life and be independent of other people. It was not only in the matter of the play, but she always gave me absurdly low marks for my school work. Even Hilda, who is notoriously stupid, would occasionally get eight out of ten, but I never got more than five. It wasn't fair, but I did not see at the moment what was to be done. I could only wait and be ready for emergencies. In the meantime I learned As You Like It straight through, and could have played any of the parts at a moment's notice. Rehearsals were going on rather languidly at present. It was not until the last fortnight that any one seemed to take much interest in the show. On the evening when I confided in Prissy there was to be a rehearsal at six o'clock. As I had only a small part, I could not feel that it mattered much whether I attended or not, so I kicked up my heels in the (4,361) J 194 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON garden, and watched the gambols of Prissy and Peter, and made no effort to go in. Presently Isabel Fortescue came tearing out. " Why aren't you at rehearsal ? " she gasped. " Everybody's waiting for you." " Oh, rot. What difference does it make if I am there or not ? I'm not coming." " I'll run and tell Miss Lambert what you say," she cried joyfully, and she rushed away. But I thought it more prudent to follow and see what was going on. And I was glad I did, for I found the rehearsal was to be in the garden, on the raised lawn. This made a fine open-air stage, and with a few screens for wings, and a little painted scenery at the back, it could be made to represent anything on earth. The girls said that it had been a storm at sea last year, when they had acted The Tempest, and Miss Lambert had made the thunder by banging tea- trays behind the scenes. The players were all assembled in the long room as Isabel and I went in. They were chattering at the top of their voices, while Miss Lambert issued directions. Every now and then she rang a bell, and when she had finished, she gave the word of command, and the company trooped out to the garden. AS YOU LIKE IT 195 " First Scene," shrieked Miss Lambert. " Girls, stop talking and clear the stage. Now, then, where's the wheelbarrow ? Oh, I see. Wheel it forward, then. Orlando, sit on the handle and bite a straw. Oh ? Then why haven't you got one ? I told you to remember to get one from somewhere. Bite anything; and don't forget next time. No, Old Adam, that's not the way to come on. Don't you realize that you're an octogenarian ? Oh ? Then you ought to know what it is. A great girl like you. Speak in a cracked voice, and walk doubled up. No, that won't do. Look at me." Here Miss Lambert paused to give a very painful exhibition. But poor Old Adam, try as she would, couldn't get anywhere near it. " Oh, go on," cried Miss Lambert in despera- tion. " Get out of the barrow, Orlando, this moment, and make your speech." " My speech ? " said Orlando, looking silly. " Do I begin ? " " You know you do. Haven't you learned it?" " Of course," said Norah. " I've learned it beautifully." " Then say it." 196 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " But I can't recollect a word of it at the moment. May I read it ? " " No. I'll prompt. Old Adam, if you don't pay attention to your part I'll send you to bed." Old Adam, who was only thirteen, after all, and who in private life was Brenda Hoskyns, got up from the grass, where she had been taking a minute's rest, and, leaning on a stick, hobbled towards Orlando. " That's better," said Miss Lambert en- couragingly. " Now, Norah, begin ' As I remember, Adam . . .' ' Orlando got through his speech by repeating the words after Miss Lambert. Then Old Adam winked at him and remarked, " Have you finished ? Then, there's Oliver." " No, no," yelled Miss Lambert. " It's ' Yonder comes my master, your brother.' ' " Why, so it is, of course," said Brenda. " But I remembered the spirit if the letter escaped me." " I see how it is," said Miss Lambert in despair. " Not one of you knows a word." I came forward and said : "I know every word. Shall I play Old Adam ? " " No, thank you," said Miss Lambert coldly. A very painful exhibition. " Take your books, then, girls, and, just for to-day, you may read." The girls opened their books gleefully, and the rehearsal proceeded. 197 198 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I can't say I thought much of the wrestling match, but that was entirely Miss Lambert's fault. She was so afraid the girls would hurt each other that she sent into the house for cushions for them to fall on. Jessie Sumner was Charles, chosen because she was the fattest girl in the school. She meant to play the part dressed as a butcher, and she had already arranged privately with a butcher in the town to lend her his blue apron. Miss Lambert did not know this. " Now, do be careful, girls," she begged. " Walk warily round and round one another. Oh, no, it's not like dancing the grand chain. Look as if you were in earnest, Jessie, and taking a little interest in what you're doing." " Interest ! " said Jessie bitterly. { When it's a foregone conclusion ! Touch me, Norah, and I'll flop gracefully on to the cushions. There ! Is that right, Miss Lambert ? " " It's rather flabby," admitted Miss Lambert, " but we can't stop to go over it again now or we shall not be finished by supper time." We were not finished by supper time or anything like it. I did not get a chance to say, " We are for you, sit i' the middle," which was the first of my two silly speeches. A second AS YOU LIKE IT 199 page was not at all necessary, and I had no intention of playing it, but it was no use stirring up strife by saying so just then. " But it's the proper thing to do," urged Norah when Miss Lambert objected to her prancing about with Old Adam on her shoulders. " I've seen As You Like It on the real stage, and Orlando did carry the old thing pick-a-back; he did, truly." " I don't care if he did," said the harassed stage-manager. " I can't have you injuring your spine, or breaking your shoulder-blades. Brenda's a very heavy child. Put her down at once." Norah shot Brenda off her back with such rapidity that the poor thing rolled over on the grass and squealed. ' You tiresome, careless girls. Brenda, get up this moment and stop that noise. Now hobble beside Norah and hold on to her arm." " That's a very tame proceeding." " I can't help it," said Miss Lambert. " It's safe." I really felt quite sorry for the poor creature she had so much to contend with, and the girls were all stupid. It didn't seem possible that in three weeks' time the play would be 200 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ready to put before a large and mixed audience. Nobody knew a word. " Now, mind," Miss Lambert said, as the bell rang and the company broke up, " at the next rehearsal, on Friday evening, every one is expected to be word perfect." The company sighed. Learning by heart is not a modern accomplishment. Very few people can do it. Of course, I am an excep- tion ; it comes easy to me. But, then, I am a Guide. After supper that night, before the bell rang for bed, Meta Campion called a meeting in a corner of the long room. I attended, and so did most of the elder girls, but some of the younger ones were playing " musical bumps " and making a shocking noise. This did not, how- ever, disturb the meeting. We were used to noise, and liked it. " It's about Miss Lavender's birthday pres- ent," began Meta. " I shall stop collecting now. I'm tired of trying to wring coppers out of unwilling pockets." " Stop it, then. How much have you got ? " asked Norah. " One pound, one shilling, and elevenpence halfpenny." AS YOU LIKE IT 201 " I wonder who gave the halfpenny," I mused. " I'm sure I've forgotten, but it may be handy. Lots of things are something half- penny." " Let's see," said Isabel, " Saturday's the day. Some one will have to go shopping before Saturday." ;< Unless we ask Miss Lambert or Miss Doreen to get it." " Oh, that's no fun. Let's get it ourselves. We can easily get leave. What shall we buy ? " Every one suggested something different. Isabel wanted to get a large birthday cake, and Hilda thought warm winter gloves would be useful later on. They all had a suggestion to make, and nobody thought much of any sugges- tion but her own. " We might get something out of an antique shop in Ship Street. Or, do you think she would like a picture ? " I asked. " If you're thinking of one of those horrid sporting prints " " I'm not. I'm thinking of one of Charlie's oils. He's a future relation of mine, and for my sake he might do one cheap." " Cheap ? We've got over a pound. That's 202 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON a good price to pay for a picture, I should think." ' Well, shall I write and ask him to do it ? " " No, there's not time," said Meta. " We'd better go round the shops ourselves and see what we can pick up." " I shall come with you," I said. " I gave a very large donation." " We don't want you," said Norah unkindly. " A shilling's not much, and you're always so disturbing." " Really, Norah, you are a beast. And your Aunt gave me to understand that you were an amiable little thing." " Bother my Aunt ! " " Now, don't be cross. There's Miss Lam- bert. I'll take the bull by the horns." And, without waiting for further discussion, I rushed at Miss Lambert, who seemed deafened by the musical bumps. " What do you say, Pippa ? Go shopping by yourself ? A secret surprise ? I don't under- stand." Here Meta and Norah came up, and Meta said : " We were only going to ask for an hour's AS YOU LIKE IT 203 leave to get a little present for Miss Lavender's birthday. May we go on Thursday as Friday's rehearsal ? " " Very well," said Miss Lambert. " Doris will go with you, and you may be out from five to six." " Thank you, Miss Lambert," I said joy- fully. Miss Lambert looked surprised, but she did not say I was not to go. So, when the time came, I went. The other two did not want me, but I took no notice of them. Directly after tea on Thursday, I threw on my hat and joined them in the hall, where they were waiting for Doris. " Now, what's up ? " said Hilda, looking on with dark suspicion. " Where are you wretched conspirators going ? " " You can't come, Hilda," I said hastily. " Oh, don't want to. If you're in it, Pippa, it's sure to lead to a scrape." I was trying to think of something sarcastic in reply when Doris appeared, ready for the expedition, and we started. I kept a little behind the other three, and was careful not to attract attention until we were too far away from the house for me to be sent back. They 204 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON made for the Western Road and became absorbed in the shops. " I should like it to be a little out of the common," said Norah. " So should I," I said. " We got her an elephant at Dieppe and she was very pleased, although Hilda had broken the trunk. That's a nice china idol." I pointed to a seated figure of a very fat Chinaman, polished and glazed. " It's horrible," said Meta, turning away with a shudder. " There are some nice cut-glass scent bottles," said Doris. " Umph ! I shouldn't be pleased with them myself," objected Norah, " and it's always safer to give something you'd like yourself." " I don't think it's at all a good rule," I said. " Uncle Philip would be charmed with carpet slippers, but you wouldn't look at them." We went slowly from shop to shop all down the long road, but there did not seem anything suitable to buy. We nearly got a lace collar at Hannington's, and we all four trooped into the shop. But, when they asked us what we wanted, Norah said we had not quite made up our minds, AS YOU LIKE IT 205 and we trailed out again without buying any- thing. Then we turned into the funny narrow little streets that lie round Ship Street, and that have the most fascinating shops in Brighton. " I have it," I cried at last. " Look there. I know she'd like it." We paused outside a wonderful florist's, whose windows were full of plants, and rock- gardens, and bowls of goldfish. " An aquarium would be a difficult thing to carry back," said Doris. " Not an aquarium, but one of those delicious rock gardens. Look at that ducky thing, with the pagoda, and the bridge over the stream, and real palms. And only twenty-six shillings." " We couldn't afford so much." " And whose fault is that, pray ? If you hadn't given up collecting so soon, just because it gave you a little trouble, we might have had thirty shillings or more." " Well, we haven't, then. But I think a rock garden is rather a good idea. Let's go in and look at them." We went in, and Meta explained that if there was a garden for one pound, one shilling, and elevenpence halfpenny we should like to see it. 206 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " I have a pretty one for a guinea," said the shopman, getting it out of the window and placing it before us on the counter. It was certainly sweet, with real moss, and a cactus, and ferns, and a tiny tea-house, and little Japs wandering about on the banks of a glass lake. We were struck with admiration. " It was clever of you, Pippa, to think of it," said Meta. " I don't think we could do better. And well within our means." " What shall we do with the elevenpence halfpenny over ? " I wanted to know. " Do you think Miss Lavender would like it for a nest-egg ? " " Oh, we couldn't give her money. Let's invest it in a fern." So, in the end, we bought a beautiful fern for a shilling Doris giving the extra halfpenny. The rock garden was packed up in a card- board box, and we carried it in turns. The man offered to send it, but that would never have done. We went back along the front, which was crowded with trippers tripping to their home- ward-bound charabancs, and children, and babies, and fat women. All the fattest women in the world live in Brighton. The girls call We were struck with admiration. them the " Not-more-than-others," because not more than others they deserve, but God has given them more. I looked away from them to the shining plain of the Channel, with the white-sailed fishing boats drifting out to sea. " That reminds me," I said suddenly, " I haven't been in a speedboat yet." " And you're not likely to," said Norah. 207 208 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ' Why ? There's no mention of speedboats in the rules. The sole thing that prevents me from going is the lack of half a crown. Could you lend me half a crown, Norah dear ? " " I wouldn't if I could. And if you can't carry that box straight you'd better give it to me." " Take it, then. I've got eighteenpence. The next instalment of my weekly income will bring it up to half a crown." " Don't be silly. You'd get wet through and probably be drowned." " I'm not in the least likely to be drowned." " No, I foresee another fate for you," said the brutal Norah with a grin. I was offended, and said no more on the subject. We reached the school without any adventures, and Doris undertook to put away the rock garden and the fern in her room until the moment of presentation. CHAPTER XII MISS LAVENDER'S BIRTHDAY AND END OF TERM A>J air of mystery pervaded Blackthorne House on the following Saturday morn- ing. There was a good deal of chattering in hushed voices, whispering in corners, and dartings to and fro. You might have thought it the First of April if you hadn't known that it was early in July. The rock garden more fairylike than ever was lifted from its box and carried in pro- cession to Miss Lavender's room, where it was left on the table, flanked by the fern. This was done before she was down. By the side, neatly written on a card, was a short poem composed by Norah. It ran : May the Garden that sits on your table Speak for us the words we would say, Breathe love and good wishes, and whisper Many Happy Returns of the Day. " From the Girls." (4,1) 209 14 210 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON We all thought that rather neat, and con- gratulated the poetess on her soulful effort. She smirked with satisfaction. We went in to breakfast simmering with excitement, and as the meal was drawing to a close, Miss Lavender came in smiling. " Oh, forgive me for interrupting I promise not to make a speech," she said in a raised voice that we could all hear. " But I must tell you how much I love the rock garden you have so kindly given me for my birthday. It is just the thing I have always longed for, but I never thought I should ever possess one, and I shall value it extremely. Thank you, girls. The rerse was beautiful." She smiled her way out again, and we finished our bread and marmalade. Then Miss Lambert addressed the assembly. " Girls," she said, " I was so grieved yester- day to find how little you knew of your respec- tive parts in the play, and so I have arranged that you shall give the first hour this morn- ing to learning them. You may take your books into the long room, or into the garden, and until half-past ten there is to be silent study." The girls looked at each other in dismay ; END OF TERM 211 they had other plans for the morning. Norah ventured to remonstrate. " But it's a holiday and Miss Lavender's birthday." " It's a pity," said Miss Lambert, " but you should have thought of that before." She hovered round until she had seen us established with open Shakespeares, then she melted away. " Come on, Hilda," I cried, closing my book with a bang as soon as the coast was clear. " You and I know our parts, at any rate, and, anyhow, I'm not going to act. Let's evaporate with as little ostentation as a morning mist." " Where do you want to go ? " I did not tell her at once, but urged her to put on her hat, and collect her money, and come. " We shall just have time to do it and be back by half-past ten," I said, crawling low among the bushes towards the gate. Hilda followed, and we escaped without being ob- served. I led the way to the West Pier, where we arrived, hot and breathless. "Pippa," cried Hilda, looking frightened, " you're not thinking of going in one of those dreadful speedboats ? " 2i2 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " That is my intention. Don't you want to come ? " " Nothing should induce me. And it's very wrong of you to do it." " Tm no coward," I said sublimely. " And I am only gratifying a perfectly innocent desire." " Well, I'll wait on the pier for you. You won't be gone ten minutes." We went to the landing-stage, and I took my place in a crowd of three men and a boy. " You going, missie ? " said one of the men to me. " Bit rough for you. Why don't you wait for a calm day ? " " I like it rough," I said with dignity. I nearly capsized the boat in getting in, and the boy made a most unchivalrous remark, of which I took no notice. We started, and soon were rushing through the waves, with the spray falling in showers all round us. I thought it must be the next best thing to an aeroplane, and felt sorry for Hilda, left behind on the stuffy old pier. The delight was all too short. We sped along like magic, and, in an incredibly brief space of time, swung round and rushed back to the starting-point. " Half a crown's soon gone," I reflected. END OF TERM 213 " Never mind it's worth it, and I'll save up and have another." We were within a dozen yards of the pier when I suddenly caught sight of Hilda leaning over the side and waving frantically to me. I stood up in the boat to wave back. " Sit down," shouted the three men and the boy. I was not going to be hectored by man or boy, and I scrambled forward with rather too much haste, for I lost my balance and fell over to the part of the boat that was almost under water. One of the men tried to clutch me, and, to elude his grasp, I shook myself away to the side. I am afraid I overdid the movement, for the next moment I had rolled out of the boat and was struggling in the water. There was a shout from the boat, and a shout from the pier, where the accident had been observed. I distinctly heard Hilda's yell of anguish as the waves closed over my head. Of course, there was no danger. I could swim like a fish, and we were close to the landing- stage. Several people did their best to drown me by jumping in after me and hanging on to me. A good many heroic efforts were made, quite unnecessarily, to save my valuable life. 2i 4 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I was towed to the side of the pier, where a dozen willing hands dragged me to safety. Hilda flew into my wet arms and got soaked. A strange lady dried my face with her pocket handkerchief, and several wept and tried to kiss me. ' Thank you all very much," I said, wringing the water out of my garments. " I think I'd better get home as quickly as possible. I do hope all those kind gentlemen haven't spoilt their nice clothes." I seized Hilda's hand and we raced off together, turning a deaf ear to the many offers of assistance that were showered on me from every side. We reached the school and separated. Hilda crawled back through the bushes to the lawn, where she had left her As You Like It, and I sneaked round to the kitchen entrance, and tapped gently at the tradesmen's door. As no one came, I turned the handle, entered, and ran along the narrow passage as quickly as the condition of my feet would allow. They were squelching up and down inside my shoes in a perfectly lovely way, and wherever I went I left a trail of dampness. I opened the kitchen door and looked in. The next moment I was struggling in the water. Cook was standing at the table, rolling out the paste for jam tarts ; and old Susan was sitting by the fire drinking her morning cocoa. They both stared as I slowly emerged round the door, which I shut carefully behind me. 215 216 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Don't scream," I implored them. " Don't do anything to attract attention to me if you love me. Cookie darling, what exquisite tarts you are making. Is that raspberry jam ? I think it's my favourite." ' You've been in some mischief, as usual, I suppose," said Susan. She came and passed a hand over me. " There isn't a dry thread on you." " There wouldn't be," I retorted. " I've just been rescued from a watery grave. But you don't want to get me into trouble, do you ? On Miss Lavender's birthday, and all." " You ought to go straight to bed," said Susan. ' Whatever have you been up to, you naughty child ? " " You'd never guess, and I shan't tell you. Look here if you'll run up to my room, Susan, and bring me some dry clothes, I can change here by the fire. Then you can dry my wet things down here, and no one will be any the wiser. I fear I shall never see my hat again. Another expense for my poor parents." Five minutes later I was seated by the cosy fire in Susan's chair, in nice comfortable dry clothes, while my wet things hung steaming over a clothes-horse. Cook, who was a good- END OF TERM 217 natured, comfortable old body, gave me a cup of hot sweet cocoa, and I ate several rock-cakes that had just been taken out of the oven. " Cookie," I said, when I had finished, " and Susan, your beneficence is beyond all praise. I trust that in time to come I may be able to reward you suitably. Now I'll skedaddle." And I made tracks for the garden, and re- sumed my Shakespeare. When Miss Lambert appeared, a few minutes after, she found me with my head in my book, immersed in study. " I hope that you have not been wasting your time," she said to us all. " Now you can have tennis, or swimming, till dinner time." I chose tennis. I did not seem to want to get in the sea any more that day. Enough is as good as a feast. Besides, it was awkward to have lost my hat. That, however, was brought back in an hour by the boy who had been in the speedboat. He had fished it out of the water, and some one had recognized the school band and told him where to take it. Fortunately I saw him strolling up to the front door, twirling it in his hand, and I rushed at him and grabbed it. " Steady on," said the youth. " How do I know it's yours ? " 218 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON ' The name's inside. Look and see. And you saw me in the boat. Do you want a reward for your trouble ? " " Rather. What do you think ? " * Then you must call next Saturday, and I'll give you a shilling. Or would you be satisfied with sixpence ? " The boy guffawed in a vulgar way and seemed inclined to argue the matter, but I shut him up and sped back to the house with my property. It was a good thing that I met only Miss Lavender, who is not eaten up with curiosity as Miss Lambert is ; and she only said, " What have you done to your hat, Pippa ? It looks as if it had been in a naval engage- ment." " It fell in the sea," I said with perfect truth. And that was the end of that. We had a ripping birthday tea that afternoon down on the beach. The maids brought out cups and plates and great pots of tea, and baskets full of cakes and buns. We ate every- thing. The last weeks of the term were the best. The long holidays were coming, and a pleasant air of bustle pervaded everything. Even the play showed signs of life. The voice of the END OF TERM 219 prompter was no longer heard so constantly, and boxes of costumes of a most exciting nature began to arrive. The last tennis match of the season was played against a team from Hassocks or thereabouts. Their school was called St. Ives, and they were a plain, dreary lot of girls who looked as if they couldn't smile if they tried. I thought they appeared half-starved, and took the earliest opportunity of asking the eldest if this was the case. She turned on me a face of withering scorn. " Silly little ass ! " she said. " Well," I cried, " you might give a civil answer to a civil question. Probably you don't pay the extra twopence for manners at St. Ives." She made a grimace at me and walked off. We lost the match rather badly, but that was not my fault, for they would not let me play, although I offered. I had improved a good deal lately, and though my swift services were always faults, and when I returned a ball it invariably fell out of court or got muddled up with the net, still, the general style of my play, and the grace of my movements, more than made up for these slight blemishes. But there it was. 220 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON I had to stand aside, and, as a result, we lost the match. It was just the same with the rehearsals of As You Like It. The play could not be such a success as I should have made it if I had been allowed. " My page's suit has come," Hilda told me a few days before the breaking-up. ' When do you expect yours ? " " Never," I said gloomily. " Why, what are you going to wear, then ? " " Pyjamas." " Oh, Pippa, how can you be so wicked ? You'd better not act at all." " That's just what I think." I really had no intention of acting, so it did not seem worth while to write home for a costume. I had a letter from Mummie a few days before the festival, in which she said how she was longing for it, and trying to coax Daddy to come with her. She said that he seemed inclined to do so, as he wanted so badly to see his little Pippa again. I fancy that was only Mummie's politeness. Nita also sent a line, enclosing a postal order for two shillings. " You will find it useful," she wrote. " I hope that the school routine has END OF TERM 221 tamed you a little. You perhaps remember the young man you saw with me at the Academy ? That was Sir Percy Swan." " Oh, was it ? " I said to myself. " What on earth makes her write about young men to me ? I'm much too young to take any interest in the subject." Nita's letter wound up " Some of us are going to Switzerland in August, and Mummie has made arrangements for you to go to Lowes- toft with Aunt Florence." Oh ? I think I see myself starting for Lowestoft with Aunt Florence, while the rest of them go off to the Alps. I've always wanted to do a little climbing. Then a wonderful thing happened, and I got my chance after all. The girl who played Touchstone was Anne Batten not at all a bad sort of person, with plenty of go in her. She lived with her aunt in London, because her father and mother were in India. But they were coming home for a holiday that summer, and my good angel directed that they should arrive on the Saturday of the garden party. Anne's aunt wrote that Anne must be at home to welcome them on their arrival, and she went joyfully off on Friday afternoon. 222 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON Before she left she came to me, and gare me the clown's dress she had got ready for the performance. " I've told Miss Lambert that you know the part, Pippa," she said, " and I am sure you will play it much better than I, so here's the dress, and my blessing go with you." It was a lovely dress, made in two halves of red and yellow sateen, half of each colour, and joined in the middle. The cap and tunic were cut in scallops, and a tiny bell hung at the end of each. I put it on at once and danced round the long room in it. Of course Miss Lambert caught me, but she was in a chastened frame of mind, and did not scold as freely as usual. " Anne tells me, Pippa, that you know the part of Touchstone perfectly," she said. " She is right, I do. Am I to take her place ? " " I suppose there's no help for it. I wouldn't let you if there were any one else. I do hope, for once, Pippa, that you can be trusted to think about what you are doing." I drew myself up. " I am always to be trusted," I said. " Guides are firm and strong, like rocks. I shall make a much better clown than Anne." Of course Miss Lambert caught me. " Well, you must try, anyhow. And I shouldn't attempt to be too funny, if I were you." Saturday morning broke, sunny and warm. The sky was laughing at the sea when I put my head out of the window, and the sea was 224 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON twinkling back as if it could not be merry enough. Hilda and I made haste to be down as quickly as possible, so that we could keep an eye on all that was going on, and lend a hand with the prepi-rations. Dozens of small tables were set out on the freshly shaven lawn, and we were allowed to pick flowers for their decoration. We each selected a table for our own particular friends, and quarrelled a good deal about the relative merits of different positions. We had a little rehearsal of some of the worst scenes of the play, and they were so very bad that, at the close, Miss Lambert retreated with a look on her face as if she were about to cut her throat. We helped with everything, and later on I offered to cut the bread and butter and arrange the cakes, but my kind services were declined. The guests were to arrive at three, and at half-past two we were sent to our rooms to put on gala attire. I use the word " gala " in a sarcastic sense, for we were all compelled (by the rules) to wear the simplest of white dresses, and could not deck ourselves out as we should have wished. Even the eldest of us were forbidden to wear as much as a ring or END OF TERM 225 a bracelet. I did not mind, as I had no jewel- lery, but some of the rich girls like Isabel Fortescue would have blazed with diamonds, if they had been allowed. They complained bitterly. So there we were : forty white-robed dam- sels no, thirty-nine, now that Anne Batten had gone standing about on the grass among the flower-laden tables. At three, Miss Lavender and the Staff came out, all shimmering in silks and satins. Miss Doreen had on a white muslin frock, with touches of blue about it. She looked quite nice, and no one could guess her true character from her appearance. I resolved to look out for her fiance, and warn him before it was too late. Only that very morning, before breakfast, she had asked me if I had brushed my teeth. She knew perfectly well how pressed for time I had been, and if she had had any nice feelings she would not have sent me back to do it. Certainly I must let the doctor know what he may expect if he persists in his infatuation. People began to pour in, and the pretty scene became more animated every minute. At last I caught sight of Mummie strolling across the lawn in the direction of Miss Lavender. With (4,361) ! 226 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON her though I could hardly believe my eyes came Daddy and Uncle Philip ; and behind them were Muriel and Charlie. I kept in the background until they had greeted their hostess, and then I hurled myself upon them and hugged them furiously. ' There, that's enough, Pippa," said Daddy testily. " Bless the child, whatever does my tie look like ? " " It's all on one side and coming undone," I said, as I squeezed him round the neck. " Oh, Daddy, I have missed you so." ' Yes, and I've missed you too," he was good enough to say. " It has been a very peaceful three months." " It must have seemed a long time to you without your little Pippa." " No-o," he said hesitatingly. " It has not been nearly so nerve-racking as when you are about." " Oh ! " I turned from him to Mummie and changed the subject. " Where's Nita ? Why didn't she come ? " " She couldn't she's engaged " " Humph ! With Sir Percy Swan, I sup- pose ?" " However did you know ? " END OF TERM 227 " Well," I said, " if you mean she's going to marry him, I'm thankful to hear it, because that will leave Mr. Woolley for me. Oh, do look at Uncle Philip smirking at Miss Lavender ? Isn't she sweet ? Don't they make a lovely couple ? " " You silly little girl ! " cried Mummie. And she went to Miss Lavender and asked if my report this term was one that she could bear to look at. " I've done my best," said Miss Lavender, " and now that Pippa has settled down at school, I am sure that next term will see a great improvement." " If only we might have a company of Guides at the school next term ! " I sighed. " Well, I will think about it," she promised. That's something. I shall remind her of it when the time comes. I steered my family to the table I had chosen for them, and plied them with tea and ices. There were some excellent strawberry ices, and I was half-way through my fourth when Meta came and said it was time to dress. I finished the ice and went. The girls were dressing in the long room, and the utmost confusion prevailed. Every- 228 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON thing was lost ; nobody could find more than one stocking, and, with one bright exception, no one remembered a word of her part. I was the exception, as usual. In one corner the melancholy Jaques was tying on a bolster, to improve his figure. " You look exactly like Tweedledum in Alice, or the fat boy in Pickwick," I told him. " You shouldn't make the melancholy one such a figure of fun." But the most realistic costume was that of Charles. Miss Lambert nearly had a fit when she saw it. " Where did you get that horrible apron from, Jessie ? " she inquired. " Mr. Bones, the butcher, very kindly lent it to me," said Jessie proudly. " But it's so ragged and dirty and greasy. You look disgusting." " Yes, that's how I read the part," said Jessie calmly. " Mr. Bones let me have the apron after he had worn it for a week, and I got him to smear it with steak before I had it. I bought a pound of steak on purpose. I did not spare trouble or expense." ' You'd better throw it away and wear some- thing else," said Miss Lambert. Tying a bolster to improve his figure. " I have nothing else," said Jessie. " I can wear that, if you like." " I can't stay to argue. Your appearance is repulsive." Miss Lambert moved off and I approached. ' What did you do with the pound of steak, Jessie ? " I asked. " Did you bring it away ? " 529 230 PIPPA AT BRIGHTON " Of course. It's in my bed at the moment, wrapped in newspaper, under the pillow. I shall have to take it with me to church to- morrow, and leave it under a seat." " Good idea ! " I exclaimed. " Then they can give it to the poor of the parish." Miss Lambert's heart seemed broken when she found that Orlando had forgotten the straw, and was obliged to substitute a blade of grass. The wheelbarrow could not be found for a long time, so the play was late in beginning. But when it did start it went with a swing. The audience said afterwards that they had never seen anything like it. The melancholy Jaques received quite an ovation when his front figure wriggled round to his back, and it would not become me to write down all the compli- ments that were paid to my rendering of Touch- stone. Dr. Major sought me out, and said he had never laughed so much in his life. " Ah ! " I replied with meaning. " Laugh while you can." And thus my first term at Brighton came to an end. I did not go home with my people on Saturday, but returned with a party of girls who were going to London on Monday, and END OF TERM 231 Mummie met me at Victoria. Hilda was going to Scotland, and had left earlier. " Well, darling," said Mummie when we were in a taxi, " are you glad to be home again ? " " Jlty gkd. When do we start for Switzer- land ? " " Oh, didn't you know ? Dear Aunt Florrie wants to have you with her at Lowestoft." " She couldn't," I said firmly. " She knows me too well. And I am going to Switzerland. So that's that." " Well, well, we must hear what Daddy says." " I know what he'll say, but it won't make any difference." And I suddenly recollected that Daddy had a priceless collection of old walking-sticks, and I thought to myself, " I'll choose the stoutest and strongest, and take it with me for an Alpenstock. And it may be as well to cut a few notches in it before we start." THE END PUNTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE PRESS OP THE PUBLISHERS