A Fourth Form Friendship: A School Story

  CHAPTER XIV

  An Alarm

  The Easter holidays were for three weeks, and to Aldred each day seemedmore enjoyable than the one before. She was thoroughly at home atGrassingford, and felt as if she could have wished to remain there forever. She had become a great favourite with both Mr. Farrington and LadyMuriel: her bright ways entertained them, and they were glad also forMabel to have a companion of her own age.

  "You seem more like a sister to me than Nora or Adelaide," said Mabelone day. "They were both married when I was quite tiny, so I haven'tseen a very great deal of them--not having them living in the house, Imean. And Sibyl and Ida at the Rectory are older than I am, too. Francisis the nearest to me--he's seven months younger--but then he's a boy,and that isn't in the least the same as having a girl friend, is it? Icouldn't talk secrets to him! Mother says she will invite you as oftenas your father will spare you, so we can look forward to plenty moredelightful times together. We shall call the little blue bedroom yourroom now, and it will always be ready and waiting for you to come backto it."

  This was a very desirable state of affairs to Aldred. She was quitecontent to be half-adopted by the Farringtons, and to know she was suchan acceptable and welcome addition to their household. She had neverfelt herself of any great importance at her own home, but here she wasconstantly considered, her opinion being asked and her wishes consulted;and she was well aware that with Mabel, at any rate, her will was almostlaw. She knew how greatly the rest of the girls at school had envied herthis visit, and how it would raise her yet higher in their estimationwhen she returned to Birkwood. She would certainly have a good excuse infuture for taking the lead in her Form, and letting the others plainlyrealize that they had not had her advantages.

  It is at moments like this, when we are complacent with fortune, andthink our happiness will never be moved, that Fate sometimes steps in,and with stern hand topples over all our schemes of self-advancement,and threatens us with utter desolation.

  In the very last week of Aldred's visit, when she was at the height ofenjoyment and gratification, and was beginning to consider herselfalmost a permanent fixture at the Hall, something happened--somethingthat she might have anticipated, indeed, yet a contingency that hadnever occurred to her, and therefore as unexpected as unwelcome.

  One morning, after the arrival of the post-bag, Mabel came running up toher friend with a look of bright animation on her face.

  "From Cousin Marion!" she exclaimed, waving a letter enthusiastically inher hand. "She writes that she's staying at Evington, and wants us to goover and see her. I'm so glad, for I always wanted to introduce you toher."

  It was a very innocent remark of Mabel's, but it came upon Aldred likea bolt from the blue. Cousin Marion--the very person of all others inthe world whom she most dreaded to meet! The shock was so great that shewas obliged to clutch with trembling fingers at the back of a chair, tosupport herself. On no account must she allow her emotion to be noticed,so she waited for a few seconds until her voice was steady enough toreply.

  "Your Cousin Marion! Why, I thought she was in Germany!"

  "So she was, and had intended to stay for a year; but the baths did herso much good that the doctor said she was practically cured, and mightreturn to England for the summer, at any rate. I'll read you a piece outof her letter. She says: 'It is ages since I saw you, so ask your motherto bring you on Thursday, and include your heroic little friend in theinvitation. I well remember seeing her on the pier at Seaforth, but hadnot the pleasure of making her acquaintance'--Why, what's the matter,Aldred? Are you ill?"

  "I'm afraid I must be bilious this morning, I feel so shaky, andheadachy, and queer!"

  "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Mabel was at once all sympathy and concern. "Youmust come and lie down on the sofa, and I'll fetch you my bottle ofeau-de-Cologne. There! Now you'll feel more comfortable. Would you likesome soda water, or lemon juice? I believe it's a very good thing. Inever remember your having a bilious attack before."

  "I don't often," said Aldred, who, indeed, was seldom troubled withillness of any kind.

  "I'll ask Mother if she can give you some medicine. You must get well byto-morrow! We couldn't possibly go to Evington without you. Think howdisappointed Cousin Marion would be--and so should I, for I'm lookingforward so much to taking you!"

  In spite of herself, Aldred could not stifle a groan of despair.

  "Do you really feel so poorly? Are you in pain? Perhaps we ought to sendfor the doctor. I'll go and fetch Mother immediately; she's a splendidnurse."

  "No, no! Please don't!" cried Aldred. "I dare say I shall be bettersoon. I don't want to make a fuss, and upset everybody."

  "You never do that, you're too unselfish and considerate. I know how illyou must feel, to mention it at all. I hope it's nothing serious!" andMabel rushed off in quite a fever of excitement and alarm, to fetch hermother.

  Lady Muriel was kindness itself.

  "I expect you are a little overdone, dear child," she said. "We havebeen working you rather hard at sight-seeing, and perhaps letting youstay up too late. After the regular hours at school, the holidays aresometimes apt to upset young people. If your head aches, wouldn't youlike to go to your bedroom, and rest quite quietly?"

  "Yes, please," said Aldred.

  She was devoutly thankful for the suggestion. Her one longing was to bealone, so that she might realize the blow that threatened her, and plansome means of averting it. Mabel's well-meant sympathy was almost agonyin the circumstances; all she wanted was time to collect her thoughts.It was with a sense of intense relief, therefore, that she allowedherself to be put to lie down in her room. Lady Muriel drew the darkcurtains across the window, rang for a siphon of soda water, and, havingdone everything in her power for the comfort of her young guest, tookher departure, bearing with her the reluctant Mabel.

  "Couldn't I just stay in the room, in case Aldred wants anything?" thelatter pleaded. "I wouldn't speak a word."

  "No, no! Aldred must be left quiet. If she can go to sleep, she maypossibly feel better in the afternoon."

  For once Aldred was quite glad to be rid of her friend. She hoped no onewould disturb her for a long while, for she wished thoroughly to reviewthe situation. This was indeed a catastrophe! A visit to CousinMarion!--Cousin Marion, who would be sure to remember the appearance ofthe girl she had seen on the pier at Seaforth, and would realize in amoment that the two were not the same. She would no doubt expresssurprise at the difference, then questions would be asked, and the wholeof the wretched affair would have to come out. It meant a completeexposure, and what the sequel would be Aldred dreaded even to imagine.

  "They would call me a hypocrite and a deceiver, and so I am!" shethought bitterly. "I couldn't stay any longer in the house. I should beobliged to go home immediately; and what excuse could I give to AuntBertha for cutting short my visit? She would insist upon worrying thetruth from me, and I should get into equal trouble at home. Keith wouldhear, and he would never forgive me. I don't believe I could even returnto Birkwood, if all the girls at school were to know about it too."

  She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice, and that atany moment the frail ground might give way under her feet, and plungeher into the depths of the abyss. "Cousin Marion" seemed her evilgenius; from the very first Aldred had been haunted by the fear of thismeeting. It was wrong to wish people ill, but she regretted with all herheart that the German spa had effected so speedy a cure, and that thedoctor had given permission for the invalid to return to England.

  "I've been practising a fraud for the last eight months," she groaned,burying her face in the pillow. "I'll allow that much to myself, thoughI'll try to hide it from everyone else."

  The agony she was enduring made her really feverish, for distress ofmind is often far harder to bear than pain of body. She had gained allshe wanted--popularity at school, a complete hold upon Mabel'saffection, and a permanent invitation to a house where it was an honourto be received as a guest. And now, must all this
be lost? Thefriendship had grown so necessary to her that she felt she could notlive without it, and the prospect of estrangement and cold looks wasappalling. At any cost she must manage to avoid this fatal expedition toEvington. She would sham illness, and ask to remain in her bedroom, sothat they could not possibly include her in the party. To be sure, shewould miss everything that was going on; but that was nothing, incomparison with the horror of an introduction to "Cousin Marion".

  "If she comes over here, and asks to see me, I must have somethinginfectious!" thought Aldred. "I wonder if I could rub anything on me tobring out a rash? Nettles might do it, only I can't go out to pick them.Was any wretched girl ever in such a desperate strait?"

  She had had so little experience of ill health that it was ratherdifficult for her to feign symptoms. She had mentioned biliousness toMabel on the spur of the moment, as it was the first idea that came intoher head; but she had rarely suffered from an attack. She remembered,however, that it included a bad headache, and a disinclination toconsume anything except soda water and biscuits.

  "I shan't dare to touch proper meals, no matter how hungry I am," shereflected. "I expect I shall be nearly starving before to-morrow isover. I wish now I had said I had a sore throat, and then perhaps theywould have been afraid of influenza, and have isolated me at once. Oh,dear! Mabel's tennis party is to be this afternoon, and I shall have tostop here and lose all the fun. Francis Farrington asked me to be hispartner, and he plays so well that I'm sure we should have beaten allthe others!"

  She was shedding hot, bitter tears, not so much of regret for the longmonths of deception as of chagrin for the pleasure she must needs forgo.She was sorry, indeed, for the course she had taken, but it was not realrepentance, only a wish to escape disagreeable consequences. Aldred hadmuch to learn yet before she could set the desire for right above thelove of approbation, or practise truth for its own sake.

  When Lady Muriel and Mabel came to see her, about one o'clock, theyfound her with red eyes, a flushed face, and a genuine headache.

  "You must lie still," said Lady Muriel, after feeling her hot hands."You seem quite feverish, and mustn't on any account try to get up andrace about at tennis; it would be the worst thing possible for you. I'mso grieved about it, dear!"

  "It's most disappointing!" echoed Mabel. "I should like to stay andspend the afternoon with you, only it would be so rude to the othervisitors. Perhaps I can keep running in between the sets."

  "No, don't!" protested Aldred. "You're indispensable, and will be neededout-of-doors all the time. You mustn't bother about me."

  At present she much preferred her friend's absence. She was afraid shemight not be able to play her part adequately, and that the loving,watchful eyes might discover how little she really ailed. Mabel alsowould be sure to talk of nothing but her Cousin Marion, in thecircumstances the most unpalatable topic possible.

  There was no lunch for Aldred that day; she ate three biscuits, theutmost limit she felt she dared allow herself, and drank some sodawater. She longed for roast beef and potatoes, but knew that an invalidwho could demand such solid fare would scarcely receive credence.

  "I suppose I can hold out until to-morrow evening," she thought, "butafter that I shall be obliged to confess to an appetite."

  She spent an extremely dull afternoon, listening wistfully to the soundof voices wafted from the tennis lawn. There were no books in her room,and she had not liked to ask for one, lest the request should be takenas a sign of her recovery. She was virtually a prisoner, and though hersolitary confinement was self-constituted, it was no less wearisome onthat account. She was able to indulge in a cup of weak tea and a sliceof thin, dry toast at four o'clock, but her supper was as unsatisfyingas her lunch, and she felt nearly famished when her solicitous hostess,after performing every possible kind service, finally left her arrangedfor the night.

  Oh, how she yearned to get up next morning, and present herself at thebreakfast table! It seemed intolerable to be obliged to spend anotherday in bed on starvation diet, but she was forced to restrain herself,and to look subdued and suffering when her attentive friends paid theirearly visit.

  "I hoped you would feel better to-day," said Lady Muriel, with realconcern in her voice. "I shall telephone for Dr. Rawlins, and ask him tocall and see you first thing, before he begins his rounds. I feelresponsible to your father for you, and it is well to be wise in time."

  In spite of Aldred's protestations, Lady Muriel insisted upon sendingfor the doctor, who came promptly in response to her message. Heexamined his patient carefully, took her temperature, felt her pulse,and made her put out her tongue. He looked at her so attentively, andwith such keen eyes, that Aldred could not help turning rather red. Didhe know, she wondered, that she was only shamming, and was he going todenounce her as a humbug? His expression, however, was inscrutable, andafter asking her several questions, to which she gave reluctant replies,he turned to Lady Muriel.

  "I think you have no cause for uneasiness," he said. "It is merely aslight, temporary indisposition, which will soon pass. I will make up abottle of medicine that ought to do her good."

  "Mr. Farrington feared it might be motor sickness," observed LadyMuriel. "We have taken her about so much in the car, and the motioncertainly affects some people."

  Aldred caught at the suggestion as a drowning man clutches at a straw.

  "Yes, it must be that. I'm sure it would make me sick to go in the motoragain," she volunteered eagerly, raising herself on her elbow in herexcitement, but sinking back languidly on to the pillow as she caughtthe doctor's contemplative eye.

  "We wished very much to take her to Evington to-day, but I'm afraidshe's not fit for it, poor dear child!" continued Lady Muriel.

  "Let her stop at home, then," replied Dr. Rawlins, whose tone was hardlyso sympathetic. "There is not the slightest need, however, for anyoneelse to stay on her account. She is much better left alone, and I forbidMabel to come into her room until this evening."

  "I should scarcely like to leave her," objected Lady Muriel anxiously."It is such a responsibility to have the charge of someone else'sdaughter!"

  "Install one of the housemaids as nurse, to see that she takes hermedicine. No, Lady Muriel! As your physician, I insist that you go outfor some fresh air. I have your health to consider as well as that ofyour young guest. She'll be in no danger while you are away."

  The medicine arrived shortly after the doctor's departure--much toosoon, in Aldred's opinion. It was a huge bottle, and was labelled: "Twotablespoonfuls to be taken every two hours". Anything more absolutelydisgusting Aldred had never tasted; it seemed a combined mixture ofevery disagreeable drug in the pharmacopoeia. Burke, an elderlyservant, had been placed on duty in the sick-room, and informed herpatient that she had received express orders from Dr. Rawlins himselfnot to omit a single dose.

  "He told me most particularly, miss, that you were to have it," sheannounced, in reply to Aldred's violent objections. "He said it was mostimportant, and if I couldn't get you to take it I was to telephone forhim, and he'd come himself and make you!"

  Aldred swallowed her nauseous draught at a gulp. She was not anxious toreceive another professional visit. She had gathered from the doctor'smanner that he diagnosed the nature of the case, though he did not careto offend Lady Muriel by expounding his opinion. It was ill-natured ofhim, the girl thought, to give her so severe a punishment; he could notunderstand her motives, and he might have treated her with moreconsideration. The one redeeming point of the medicine was that itutterly spoilt her appetite, and took away all desire for food; and shewas enabled to show a genuine lack of interest in the beef-tea and jellythat were sent up for her.

  Another long, long day dragged itself out. Aldred was in the very lowestof low spirits. She had ventured to beg for a book, but Burke promptlyreplied that the doctor had forbidden either reading or conversation,and had recommended her to keep perfectly quiet. So there was nothingfor it but to lie with half-closed eyes, listening to the everlastingclick o
f Burke's knitting needles, an irritating sound in itself, andmade worse by its monotony. Aldred counted the spots on the muslinblinds and the roses on the chintz bed curtains, and tried to imaginefaces in the pattern of the wall paper; she recited in her mind everypiece of poetry that she knew, and as much as she could remember of theplay the girls had acted at Christmas. She was even reduced to repeatingFrench verbs, to relieve her utter boredom; and hardly knew whether tobe glad or apprehensive when Mabel paid her a visit at seven o'clock.

  "We've had a glorious afternoon," said the latter. "The road was free,so we spun along, and got to Evington in an hour and a half. CousinMarion was so delighted to see us! She'd have been very disappointed ifwe hadn't gone."

  "I'm so glad you did!" put in Aldred.

  "But she was fearfully disappointed not to see you, darling, and sosorry when we told her you were ill. We talked about you for quite along time. Didn't your ears burn this afternoon?"

  "I didn't notice."

  "Well, I'm sure they ought to have done so. I won't tell you all wesaid, because you don't like to be praised, but you'd have been veryflattered if you'd heard. Cousin Marion remembers you quite distinctly."

  "I shouldn't know her."

  "I dare say not; you wouldn't notice her particularly at Seaforth. Bythe by--isn't it absurd?--Cousin Marion actually thought you hadsisters!"

  "Why should she suppose so?" Aldred's voice was uneasy.

  "She said they were with you, and so like you--one a little older, andthe other younger."

  "How ridiculous!"

  "Yes, I told her you are the only girl. Perhaps you had some friendswith you at the concert?"

  "I expect I had. I really can't remember now."

  "And another funny thing: she said she was sure your name was Mary."

  "So it is, Aldred Mary, after my mother," replied Aldred, thankful to beable to say what was really the case, though she knew her truth was onlyfurther aiding her deception.

  "That explains it, of course. I suppose the newspaper forgot the'Aldred', and simply put 'Miss Mary Laurence'. Newspaper reporters oftenmake mistakes."

  "So do other people," thought Aldred, though she did not say it aloud.

  "We were so anxious for Cousin Marion to come over to Grassingford,"continued Mabel. "Mother wanted to bring her home with us thisafternoon, to stay for a few days, but she wouldn't be persuaded. Shesays her doctor has forbidden her to motor."

  "Then won't she be coming at all?" Aldred tried to speak unconcernedly,but she could not quite banish the anxiety from her tone.

  "Ah, I knew you wanted to see her! No, dear, I'm sorry to say it'simpossible. She's still too great an invalid to take more than a gentlelittle drive in a landau. She might have come by train, but she decidedthat it would be too much for her. I'm afraid you won't meet her now, aswe go back to school on Wednesday."

  So the danger was over! The relief was so intense that Aldred had tobury her face in the pillow to hide her feelings. Her ruse had beensuccessful, and for the present, at any rate, she might consider herselfsafe.

  "I've tired you out!" exclaimed Mabel self-reproachfully. "I might haveremembered your poor head. How stupid and thoughtless I am! Good night,darling! I've missed you terribly all to-day. It will be absolute blisswhen you're yourself again."

  When Dr. Rawlins arrived next morning, he found that his bottle ofmedicine had been like the quack nostrums advertised in the newspapers,and had worked a lightning cure.

  "I knew it would have a beneficial effect," he remarked, with a twinklein his eye that only Aldred understood.

  "Then you think she may really come downstairs, Doctor?" asked LadyMuriel, who was still a little worried.

  "Most decidedly! There's nothing to prevent it. The sooner she's out inthe fresh air the better. A game of tennis would be the best tonic I canprescribe. Her medicine? Oh, well, she's so wonderfully improved thatI'll excuse her from finishing the bottle! She might keep it, in caseshe's ever troubled with the same symptoms again."

  "Isn't he nice?" said Mabel enthusiastically afterwards. "I always likeDr. Rawlins so much. I think he's the kindest man I know. I often sayit's almost worth while being ill, to have him come to see one. And he'ssimply enormously clever!"

  "He certainly seems to cure his patients quickly," replied Aldred, withdoubtful gratitude.