Monica's Choice
*CHAPTER V.*
*"I WANT YOU A MINUTE."*
Monica Beauchamp returned home from her second day at school in highspirits. At last, she believed, she had found a friend, a girl of abouther own age, who apparently had tastes somewhat similar to her own, towhom she could talk without restraint, and to whom she could confide allthe hundred and one grievances of her everyday life at hergrandmother's.
She felt so light-hearted about it that she even condescended to make anaffable remark now and again, during the walk home, to thelong-suffering Barnes, whom Mrs. Beauchamp insisted should accompanyMiss Monica both to and from school, and who had had a sorry time sofar. For Monica was so indignant at the idea of requiring a nurse-maid(as one or two of the girls had not hesitated to call the person whomthey saw with Monica) that she had vented her spite on Barnes bymarching sullenly along without saying a single word.
Barnes, who was accustomed to all sorts of treatment from "that MissMonica," as she was wont to call her, confided to the other maids overtheir dinner that school was working wonders in their young ladyalready, and she wished she'd gone a good bit before.
"Not as I enjoys the constitootional twice a day," she added, "for Ican't abear it, and it takes a sight of time. But still, if the missiswill have it so----"
"I'm sure I'd just as lief go out a-walking, as tidy up all the rubbidgein her bedroom," sniffed Mary Ann, the under-housemaid, who privatelythought herself far more suited to go than Barnes.
"You never need be expecting to, then," replied the maid, withconviction. "You're far too giddy."
"Dear, dear," was the mocking answer, "old maids isn't always the onespreferred!"
"There, that'll do, Mary Ann!" interposed cook good-temperedly; "don'tbe rude to Miss Barnes." And she adroitly changed the subject.
Meanwhile, Monica was having a _tete-a-tete_ meal with her grandmotherin the dining-room upstairs. The old lady had been out the previousafternoon and evening, and so had not had an opportunity of questioningMonica about her first experiences of school life. She proceeded to doso when the parlourmaid left them alone together.
Monica, still happy in the thought of her new-made friend, looked brightand lovable as she sat opposite her grandmother at the lavishlyappointed luncheon table; even Mrs. Beauchamp, austere andundemonstrative as she was, felt for the moment a thrill of satisfactionin possessing so handsome a grandchild. But neither her words nor tonesgave any indication of such a state of feeling.
"Now give me some account of your school-work, Monica," she saidstiffly, as she toyed with a minute helping of orange jelly.
"Oh! I think I shall like it no end," was the girl's off-hand reply, aswell as she could between huge mouthfuls of rhubarb tart, which she wasdiscussing with her healthy school-girl's appetite. "It was a bitstrange at first, but I chummed up to one of the girls to-day, so I feelquite at home."
"Really, Monica," expostulated her grandmother, "you must not use suchexpressions; you quite shock me. I do hope they will not allow you tospeak improperly at this school." And she sighed voluminously.
"That isn't slang, really, grandmother; everybody says chum nowadays,"was Monica's conciliatory reply. "At least, all young people do."
"I do hope you won't grow unladylike, I'm sure. It is doubtful if it wasa wise step to send you to such a large school, I am afraid."
"Don't fidget, grandmother," said her grandchild soothingly. "I daresayI shall turn out all right in the end." And she added, mentally: "Atany rate, dad, I won't disappoint _you_ if I can help it."
"Well, what about this girl you've made friends with?" continued the oldlady helplessly; "who is she?"
"One of Dr. Franklyn's daughters," began Monica, but Mrs. Beauchampinterrupted her.
"Oh! I'm glad you had the sense to choose a professional man's child.Although I don't know much of Dr. Franklyn, I think he is a veryrespectable medical man. But was there no girl in your own station,Monica, who would have been more suited as a companion for you?"
"I'm sure I didn't give a thought to what her father was," said Monicafrankly. "I shouldn't have cared much if he had been a chimney sweep.I've taken a great fancy to Olive Franklyn, and she seemed friendly, sowe have agreed to be chums."
"Well, I hope you have not been rash. I must make enquiries about theseFranklyns before I can allow you to become further acquainted."
Monica muttered something under her breath, which sounded suspiciouslylike "What rubbish!" but the look on her grandmother's stern face warnedher to be careful, if she would keep her friend.
"I thought Mr. Bertram said the Osmington clergy had daughters at theHigh School," remarked Mrs. Beauchamp after a pause; "would not one ofthem have done?"
"I think there's only Amethyst Drury in our form," was the scornfulreply, "and I'm sure she's a little prig. She's great friends withOlive's twin sister Elsa, who is just such another as herself, I shouldthink."
Her grandmother inferred from that remark that Monica had evidentlychosen a kindred spirit, and she dreaded what might be in store, in theway of added unruliness. But she refrained from saying what was in hermind, and went on to enquire about lessons, and so forth.
Monica gave a very good description of all she had done, with theexception of the caricature episode, and having somewhat ingratiatedherself with her grandmother, by repeating a few words of praise thathad been bestowed upon her German exercise, she thought it a goodopportunity to ask a favour.
"Oh! grandmamma," she said coaxingly, "don't you think I might gowithout Barnes? It seems so silly for a great girl like me to beobliged to have a maid to walk with me. The girls say nasty thingsabout it, too," she added ruefully.
"I have been considering the matter, Monica," said Mrs. Beauchamp, asshe rose from the table, "but I have not decided yet what I shall do."
"Can't I go by myself, grandmother? I'm sure you might trust me."
"I am not so sure, Monica," was the cold rejoinder. "I do not approve ofyoung ladies tearing here, there, and everywhere by themselves, thoughit may be all very well for girls of the middle classes. I shallprobably get a small governess cart, and Richards will drive you in andout."
A drive with the sedate old coachman who had been years in Mrs.Beauchamp's service, and who occasionally "spoke his mind to MissMonica," was scarcely any improvement on walking with Barnes. But, atany rate, there would be no reason for the girls to ridicule her then.So she made no demur.
"Now, Monica, go to the schoolroom and do some of your lessons, and beready at half-past-three to accompany me to The Knoll. Put on yourcream serge frock, and make yourself as neat-looking as you possiblycan, for Mrs. St. Quintin is very particular."
Monica was not over-pleased at the prospect of a longish drive, anddrawing-room tea to follow, but even that was preferable to remaining athome alone. So she prepared to do as she was told, and behaved in soexemplary a manner during the rest of the day that Mrs. Beauchamp beganto have great hopes from the new educational arrangements.
By the end of the week the governess cart was procured, and Monica wasfreed from Barnes's espionage. The girls were quick to see the fresharrangement, and Lily Howell, who had been the one to talk about thenursemaid, was furiously jealous of the smart little turn-out. Herfather, a retired soap-manufacturer, was extremely wealthy, and his onlyand much spoiled child was most extravagantly dressed; indeed, she hadeverything for which she expressed a wish. But for some unaccountablereason he would not go in for "hoss-flesh," as he called it, preferringto hire a landau from the livery stables when Mrs. Howell wished todrive; so that Lily's pet ambition, which was to drive herself, was notrealised. A bicycle she might, and did, have, but she had tired ofthat, because it was such a "fag"; so that she was dreadfully annoyedwhen the new girl, with the uppish ways, passed her on her way to theHigh School, seated in just such a trap as her soul coveted. She madeup her mind to vent her spite somehow upon Monica, who took absolutelyno notice of her a
t all, while she was as "thick as thieves" with thatFranklyn girl, whose father was as poor as a church mouse.
Now Lily was a sly, deceitful sort of girl, and was by no means afavourite with the others; but she was in the habit of spending moneyfreely, simply because she wanted to show off; so that some of the moregreedy girls made a sort of queen of her, and flattered her tremendouslyon account of the chocolate, and other good things, which she showeredupon them. She was so lazy and indolent that she would have beencontinually getting into trouble with the governesses, had it not beenfor her little coterie, who managed, by one trick and another, to shieldher from exposure; and somehow she managed to pass muster.
On the morning in question she nursed her jealousy of Monica untilrecreation time came round, and then she found a splendid opportunity,as she thought, of "paying her out."
The usual visit to the housekeeper's room, where the girls could buyvarious biscuits, and get milk, if they liked, for lunch, having beenpaid, some of the Fourth Form girls hurried off to secure one of the twoasphalted tennis courts, Monica and Olive being among the number. Butwhen they arrived on the scene, it was only to find that the Fifth Formhad appropriated them both, and were practising with a view to atournament which was to take place between the girls of the Osmingtonand another High School later on.
"Oh, I say! it's too bad of you girls to take both courts," cried Olivebreathlessly.
"First come, first served, my dear," replied one of the elder girlscondescendingly, as she returned a serve gaily, but so carelessly, thatthe ball was netted, and her partner groaned, as the umpire scored"forty--love."
"Well, let's have a game of fives, Monica," suggested Olive, as theyleft the tennis players. But, alas! the fives courts were all filled bythen, so there was no amusement left but to saunter about the largeplayground arm-in-arm, as several of the others were doing, some, likethemselves, in couples, and some in school-girl fashion, in strings offour, or even five.
"What do you do on Saturdays, Olive?" said Monica, as they left thetennis players behind them, and strolled round the quieter part of theplayground, that nearest to Miss Buckingham's house.
"Oh! all sorts of things. In the summer we have picnics in Disbrowewoods, and sometimes on the river, when my brothers are home."
"You never told me you had any brothers but Pat," said Monica, insurprise. "Are they older than you?"
"Haven't I? Why, yes--Roger, that's the one at St. Adrian's Hospital,is twenty-two, and Dick is seventeen. He's with an uncle of ours who isan auctioneer. They'll both be home in August, and we can have somelovely picnics then, if Mrs. Beauchamp will let you come."
"I expect I shall have to go to the seaside with her again, like we didlast year," was Monica's gloomy reply. "She always goes to Sandyshorefor a whole month, because it's quiet and restful, she says. It's ahateful little place, _I_ think--no niggers, or band, or anything toamuse you all day long. I do wish we needn't go there this year."
"Oh, dear," sighed Olive lugubriously, "I wish I had half a chance of amonth by the dear, darling sea! We are so dreadfully poor that fathercan never afford a holiday at the seaside for us. At least, we haven'tbeen for years, though we did have a fortnight once, when Elsa and Iwere about eight or nine, but it is so long ago I can hardly rememberit."
"Wouldn't it be awfully jolly if grandmother would let you come withus?" said Monica eagerly.
"If pigs might fly!" was her friend's merry response, as the bellclanging out warned them that "rec." was over.
"Olive Franklyn, I want you a minute."
The girl turned round at the sound of her name, and saw Lily Howellbeckoning to her mysteriously from a little distance.
"Whatever does she want? I suppose I must go and see," said Olive, asshe slipped her arm out of her companion's. "I'll catch you up in halfa minute, Monica."
"All right; I'm glad she doesn't want me. I can't bear that girl."
"Nor I."
Monica went leisurely round the corner towards the entrance the girlsgenerally used; several of them, hurrying past, advised her not to belate.
"I'm just coming," she said, and turned back to look for Olive. Therewas no one in sight now, except a girl called Maggie Masters, who cameflying round the corner in great haste.
"Olive Franklyn told me, if I saw you, to ask you to go back to thetennis courts a minute. It is something particular."
If Monica had been a little more up to school-girls' tricks she wouldhave scented something wrong in the way the girl delivered her message,and then rushed into school. As it was, she hastened back to the tenniscourts, only to find the place absolutely deserted, and no trace ofOlive anywhere! Feeling sure there was some mischief afloat, Monicaretraced her steps hurriedly, determined to find out the originator ofthe trick. But alas! when she reached the school door it was boltedfrom within, and rattle at the handle as she would, no one appeared toopen it. Growing more angry every minute, she rushed round theplayground to the other entrance, only to find that fastened likewise!
Scarcely knowing what to do, Monica was just about to pull thedoor-bell, when she remembered that the Fourth Form windows wereaccessible to the playground. She hurried across the small plot ofgrass, nicknamed "The Square," and by dint of standing on tiptoe couldjust see into the classroom.
All the girls had taken their places, with the exception of Olive, whowas vainly endeavouring to make Fraeulein Wespe understand that MonicaBeauchamp must have got shut out. But Fraeulein, who was a very freshimportation from Germany, either could not, or would not understand, soshe merely motioned to Olive to take her place, while she ejaculated"Ach, so!" and smiled benignantly.
A hurried glance round the room revealed to Monica that she had been thevictim of a practical joke, for Lily Howell and Maggie Masters, who wereseated at a desk just under the open window, were engaged in a whisperedconversation about her non-appearance while Fraeulein's attention wasbeing taken up with Olive.
"We've put a spoke in her ladyship's wheel, now," whispered Lily, anugly sneer upon her thin lips.
"Nasty, uppish thing to look down on you, dear!" purred Maggie, who hadvivid remembrances of the delicious milk-chocolate she had just beenenjoying at Lily's expense.
"I'll be even with them yet," remarked Monica mentally, as she moved tothe next window, from which the two conspirators would be unable to seeher. Here she rapped loudly on the pane, to attract Fraeulein'sattention. That lady was, of course, astonished beyond anything to seeone of the pupils still out in the playground, and she began to questionvolubly in German as to the cause of such behaviour, leaving her desk,as she did so, and walking over to the window.
Now it so happened that Monica was not a bad German scholar, for herage, one of her long-suffering governesses having insisted upon Germanconversations, and Monica had picked up a very fair smattering of thelanguage during her six months' reign. Therefore she made itsufficiently intelligible to Fraeulein that she had been the victim of apractical joke for that worthy to express pity for the girl who wouldevidently be one of her best pupils, and, in broken English, she badesome one go and unfasten the passage door.
Olive, of course, was the first to run and do her bidding, and in thesecond or two they were together Monica learnt that Olive had beendecoyed into entering the school by the other door, under some pretextor other, Lily Howell having assured her that she had seen Monica go inthe usual way a minute before. Neither of the girls could think of anyreason for the trick, except that Olive thought it was "just like LilyHowell."
"She'll hear more about it one of these days," said Monicasententiously, as she entered the classroom, with her haughtiest air,and took her place, without deigning even to glance at the conspirators,who were burning with curiosity to know just how much Fraeulein had beentold, and whether any exposure would follow. But as no further noticewas taken of the affair, probably on account of Fraeulein Wespe'signorance of rules, Lily Howell began to feel that her little manoeuvreto get the new girl into disgrace had
fallen rather flat!