CHAPTER XIX
The Surprise Tree
Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies onestablishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work indead earnest. They organized definite and systematic practice both atcricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie,who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis andcricket. During the winter there had been no opportunity for them todisplay their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches. Bothhad been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.They encouraged the girls to arrange matches.
"It's worth it even if you're beaten," said Miss Leslie. "You see otherpeople's play and learn to make a good fight. You can often pick up mostvaluable hints from your opponents. Some of the best tips I ever had Igot from a girl who invariably beat me."
It was quite a novel state of affairs at Silverside for day pupils tostay after four o'clock and join the boarders in tennis court or cricketfield, but after the first week the latter got used to the invasion oftheir privileges, and decided that the improvement in the general playwas ample compensation. The new badges soon arrived, and everybodydecided that the combination of pink, pale-blue, and navy was highlysatisfactory. The Loyal School League seemed likely to forge ahead.Avelyn made a capital secretary; she was prompt and business-like, and,though she did not push herself forward unduly, she was always readywith helpful suggestions. At one of the committee meetings she startedthe idea of the Romp Day. It was the Lavender Lady who really thought ofit--she inspired all Avelyn's best schemes. They had talked it over andplanned it out in the little garden at Lyngates, where roses were nowblooming instead of the wallflowers and aubrietia.
"I'm glad the League's prospering," she had said. "It's splendid howyou're all working together now and coaching each other. It's a pity,though, if all this new spirit of helpfulness spends itself entirely onthe school. It ought to find a wider outlet. You're having jolly timesin the playing fields this term. Can't you pass on some of the fun toothers who never get a chance to play games for themselves? I mean thelittle cripple children. There's a branch of the 'Poor Brave Things'Society in Harlingden. If Miss Thompson would let you give them anafternoon's outing they'd have the time of their lives. Could youpossibly suggest it, do you think? I really believe it's the sort ofthing Silverside would enjoy."
The League and Miss Thompson justified the Lavender Lady's good opinionof them. They took up the idea with enthusiasm, and decided to organizea "Romp Day" for the crippled children. They communicated with thesecretary of the "Poor Brave Things" Society, with the result thatinvitations were sent out to thirty little invalids to come to a picnicparty in the garden at Silverside and be entertained. A specialhalf-holiday was given for the occasion, and all the school was asked tounite in making the affair a success. Miss Thompson wished the day girlsto stay to tea that afternoon, but catering was a difficulty. It wasutterly impossible for her to provide a meal for a hundred and thirtychildren. The Food Controller rationed the school according to thenumber of its boarders. The Principal was inventive, however, and hit onan excellent solution of the problem. She asked each day girl to bringenough tea, sugar, milk, buns, and cake for her own consumption and forhalf the allowance for one guest, and in this way provided ample foreverybody, without anyone being asked to give more than a very smallcontribution of food.
"Before the war I should have been horrified at the idea of inviting youto come to a party and bring your own provisions," said Miss Thompson."In these days of semi-famine, however, we have to do many new andstrange things. It's wonderful what we can get used to when we try."
The girls themselves thought it was immense fun each to bring a littlebasket to make the feast.
"It's like an American tea," said Gladys Wilks. "I'm going to make somescones myself. We've got a quarter of a pound of sultanas hoarded up.We've been saving them for some great occasion; Mother said they'd dofor my birthday cake, so I know she'll let me use them for this instead.I've got a topping recipe, if they only turn out as it says."
"Guess they'll be jolly nice. Bags me one if the cripples don't wantthem all!" declared Maggie. "You shall have a piece of my sandwich-cakeinstead."
"Look here," interrupted Gertrude; "this business isn't to be all teaand buns. We've got to give these kiddies a real good time. Suggestions,please! Don't all speak at once!"
"We're going to sing to them."
"And the Juniors are to do a dance."
"How about some gym display?"
"Um--tolerable! But my idea is that they won't want to sit and watch usperform the whole time. There ought to be something specially forthemselves. Stop a minute! I've a brain wave! Don't speak to me! Mymind's working."
The girls grinned expectantly, while Gertrude stood with finger upliftedfor silence.
"Got it!" she proclaimed at last. "We'll have a Surprise Tree."
"What's that?"
"Well, you can't exactly have a Christmas tree at this time of year,but we'll rig up something very like it. You know that littlemonkey-puzzler near the summer-house? We'll decorate it with streamersof paper and ornaments, and hang presents on with coloured ribbons.There must be one for each crippled child, or two if possible. Everygirl in this school has got to bring a present."
Once the idea of providing suitable entertainment for their invalidguests was mooted, many suggestions were forthcoming. Vivian Roy, whowas the lucky owner of a Shetland pony and a tiny basket cart, offeredto bring these to school and take relays of children for drives roundthe garden. Sybil Beaumont undertook to lend a very superior gramophone;the mother of one of the Juniors promised to send oranges. Violet Parkertold her aunt, the Mayoress, about the party, and that kind-hearted ladyarranged to allow the use of her carriage for the afternoon, to carrysome of the children from their homes to the school and back. As meansof conveyance were a real difficulty, several other parents followed herexample and sent governess cars or hired cabs. It was a form of help forwhich the secretary of the "Poor Brave Things" was particularlygrateful.
"You've no idea what trouble it is for their friends to bring them," sheexplained. "Unless they possess, or can borrow, some kind of invalidcarriage it's an impossibility. Also many of them can't spare the timeto do it. In the days of petrol plenty we used to have an annual outingfor the children, and people lent their cars, but of course that is allstopped now."
On the afternoon in question the numerous hostesses were waiting aboutin the garden long before their visitors were due. Each day girl hadduly brought her basket, the contents of which were to be pooled forgeneral consumption. The gramophone had been placed on a table outside,and the Shetland pony and cart were in readiness near the door.
"I expect there's been a terrific amount of washing and dressing andhair-curling going on," laughed Annie. "I hope the children will surviveyour scones, Gladys!"
"Don't be insulting! My scones are delicious! I've tasted them, so Iknow."
"You greedy thing!"
"Certainly not. I couldn't bring them without seeing whether they werefit to eat."
"I heroically didn't touch even a crumb of mine!"
"More goose you!"
"Don't spar," interrupted Gertrude. "Here comes the first contingent!"
It was the Mayoress's carriage, and it had brought six guests--suchpathetic little people! Some of them had crutches, and could manage towalk, but others had to be wheeled up the drive in a Bath chair, whichwas waiting on purpose. A special corner of the garden, with couches andcosy seats, had been arranged for them, and each child as it arrived wastaken there, two special hostesses being told off to look after it forthe afternoon and make it happy. Avelyn, together with Laura, foundherself in charge of a mite of a girl who looked about eight, butdeclared she was nearly thirteen.
"It's the first time I've been out for ten weeks, miss," she said shyly."I lie on my back most days."
/> "What do you do? Can you read?" asked Avelyn.
"Yes, when I get any books. Our District Visitor lends me some."
"Have you ever been to school?"
"Not since I was nine. It was at school I fell and hurt my back. It'sbeen bad ever since."
The little visitors were evidently prepared to enjoy every moment oftheir party. They were given tea almost immediately, and did fulljustice to the various cakes and buns which the girls had brought forthem. They listened smiling while the gramophone blared forthselections, and clapped their hands when the Juniors danced for theiramusement. Those who could bear the jolting went for short drives inVivian's pony carriage, but most of them were obliged to sit very still.One little fellow--the cheeriest of all--lay flat on a rug, with acushion under his head.
As it would have been impossible to move all the children from one placeto another, their special corner had been arranged round the SurpriseTree. The little monkey-puzzler presented a very gay appearance, for ithad been decorated with Christmas-tree ornaments, coloured balls, andglass birds, crackers, oranges, and bags of sweets. Underneath werepiled sixty interesting-looking parcels tied up with ribbons. MabelCollinson, one of the Juniors, dressed as a fairy and attended by twoBrownies, suddenly made her appearance among the bushes, and going up tothe tree, began to strip its branches and hand sweets and crackers andoranges to the expectant children. The parcels came next. There were twoapiece for them; and so well had the girls responded to the appeal forpresents that gasps of astonishment and delight followed the unwrappingof the packages. "Oh's" and "Ah's" resounded on all sides.
"It's too lovely, miss!" beamed Avelyn's little protegee, hugging astory-book in one arm and a work-basket in the other.
Her neighbour was rejoicing over a writing-case and a drawing-slate, andthe tiny girl on the couch was kissing a doll. It was a pretty sight tosee the poor little helpless creatures happy for one afternoon--pretty,but so pathetic that the tears swam in Miss Thompson's eyes. Thecontrast between these crippled children and her own sturdy girls seemedso acute.
"Please, m'm," volunteered one little boy, "Lizzie over there says shecan say a piece of poetry if you'd like to hear her."
"By all means. We shall be only too pleased," returned Miss Thompson,going across to the small reciter and asking her to begin.
Lizzie was a diminutive, white-faced specimen of ten, with a crookedspine and big bright eyes. There was a large soul in the little body,and it showed when she began to speak. Her piece was a patriotic one,and she said it well. The Silverside girls who were near enough to hearher applauded heartily, and those who were too far off to catch a wordclapped too, out of sympathy. Finding that everyone was interested, MissThompson asked some of the other children to recite. Most of them weretoo bashful, but one or two consented, and shyly murmured a few verses.None, however, had the fire and spirit of Lizzie, who was quite the starof the company. She departed, beaming with pride at having distinguishedherself, and clasping a poetry book which Miss Peters had hurriedlyfetched from her bedroom and presented to her.
"It was the nicest party we've ever had at the school," said Laura,watching as the last of the little guests was lifted into a Bath chairto be wheeled home. "There was no mistake about their enjoyingthemselves at any rate."
"They've had the time of their lives, bless 'em!" agreed Janet.
* * * * *
There was much to tell the Lavender Lady when Friday came round again.Lately she had grown to be the centre of all Avelyn's actions. She wasalways so ready to take a sympathetic interest in things, andDaphne--Daphne, who of yore was the recipient of innumerableconfidences--had somehow been growing self-absorbed. She would sit andstitch with a far-away look in her eyes, while Avelyn poured out schoolnews, and her occasional comments showed that she was not reallylistening.
"She's getting so horribly grown-up!" complained her injured sister."She's not the same girl she used to be. I feel as if she had driftedmiles away in the last few months. Quite suddenly she seems ten yearsolder than David and Tony and me. I don't like it!"
"You must let Daphne have her innings," said Mrs. Watson. "You'll haveyour own some day. She can't remain a child always. I think on the wholeshe's very good to you younger ones. It's only natural she should beginto like the society of older people now. Her life is just opening out.You mustn't expect her to give up her whole time to yourself and theboys. Do be nice about it, Ave! Be proud that you've got such a prettysister, and glad for her to enjoy herself."
That was certainly a different way of looking at it. Avelyn feltself-reproachful. She remembered that she had not troubled to listenwhen Daphne consulted her as to whether a pink or a mauve voile blousewould look best with her new costume; just at the moment school affairshad seemed so much more interesting than her sister's clothes.
"I suppose I'm a selfish beast!" she said to herself. "The next timeDaphne's going out to tea anywhere I'll sit in her bedroom while shedresses and hold hairpins for her, or anything else she wants. The worstof it is, though, she doesn't always want me! Just at present I believeshe'd any time rather have Jimmy!"
Jimmy was Daphne's little fox terrier. That is to say, he was herstemporarily, for he really belonged to Captain Harper. She had mentionedone day that she would like a small dog of her very own, and the youngofficer had looked thoughtful. The next week he had turned up,accompanied by Jimmy.
"I wish you'd accept him!" he said. "He's my dog, but I can't keep himat the Camp. I've had him boarded out in Starbury since I've beenstationed here, and yesterday I went over and fetched him."
"I'll have him as a loan and take care of him till you want him again,"agreed Daphne, "but I won't take him right away from you. It wouldn't befair."
"Yes, it would, if I wanted to give him. He's the best little chap out.You'll find him a kind of epitome of the Catechism combined with all thecardinal virtues. Jimmy, make your bow!"
The little fox terrier, which sat up and saluted at its master's word ofcommand, seemed a sharp and intelligent specimen of the canine race, andwhen it snuggled its nose in Daphne's hand it completely conquered herheart.
"Won't he want to run back to his master?" she asked.
"No, he has his orders and understands perfectly. I've explained thesituation to him, and you'll find he won't attempt to leave you. He'sprepared to carry a stick or an umbrella, mount guard over coats, barkat tramps, worry rats, or demolish burglars."
Jimmy's subsequent behaviour certainly justified the character CaptainHarper had given him. Having been solemnly made over by his master, heseemed to realize his responsibilities, and attached himself to Daphnewith all the strength of his doggy nature. His manners were excellent.He would lie curled up on the rug at meal-times, and did not beg untilhe had received express permission, only winking an occasional patheticeye in the direction of the table.
"I'm sure he understands every single word I say to him," said Daphne,who idolized her new possession. "I don't know how I should get alongwithout him now."
"What will you do if you have to give him back?" asked Avelyn.
"It hasn't come to giving him back yet," evaded Daphne.
But on the very Saturday after the Surprise Tree party the questioncropped up. Captain Harper had come over to Walden to fulfil a promiseof making a fresh door for one of the chicken coops. He had takenpossession of the carpentry room in the cottage, and was working away atthe joiner's bench. Daphne held the wire steady, and Avelyn--with astrong sense that she was not wanted--handed the nails. Jimmy lay at hisease upon the shavings and yawned. His attitude of complete comfortattracted attention.
"If you're really sent back to Starbury next month you'll have to takehim with you," commented Daphne.
"I never take back a present I've once given," answered the Captainfirmly. "We've argued that out before."
"But for Jimmy's sake? He loves you far the best still. I'm only amakeshift."
"I assure you he doesn't."
"Th
en how can we tell his preference?"
"Let him decide for himself. You stand over there and I'll stand here,and we'll both call him at once and see which he runs to."
Poor Jimmy, a much-perplexed and agitated dog, rose from his bed ofshavings and remained in the middle of the floor, whimpering and lookingwith indecision towards the master who had brought him up frompuppyhood, and the sweet young mistress who had won his heart. Then hemade a rush towards the former, and, seizing him by the trouser, hauledhim across the room in the direction of Daphne.
"Jimmy has solved the matter!" said Captain Harper. "He wants us both toown him!"
And at that point Avelyn felt that her presence grew so very _de trop_,that she murmured some excuse about finishing her lessons, and made herexit from the cottage, leaving her sister and Captain Harper to settlethe disputed question of ownership in their own fashion.
"I suppose this is growing up," ruminated Avelyn, as she crossed theyard and went into the orchard. "Daphne seems to enjoy it, and I'llgive her her innings by all manner of means. How funny it would be tohave a brother-in-law! It'll come to that some day if I'm not mistaken.No, thanks! I don't want to grow up just yet myself. Perhaps I'll changemy mind later on, but at the present time I'd ever so much rather be aschoolgirl!"