Chapter XX
STRATEGY
"For April showers may come your way," Janet sang lustily as she trampedalong through the warm June rain beside Carol and Gale.
"Slightly off in your months, aren't you?" Carol commented. "Methinksthis is June."
"Ah, yes, 'what is so fair as a day in June'?" Janet murmured. Shesquinted up at the dark clouds hanging overhead and at the heavydownpour coming therefrom. "I ask you, 'what is so fair as a day inJune'?"
"June," soliloquized Carol, "the month of roses, sweet scentedbreezes--and examinations!" she ended disgustedly.
"What has come over you two?" Gale wanted to know. "Quoting poetry--evenin the rain!"
"Yes," Carol grinned mischievously, "one might think we were in loveinstead of it being you who----"
Gale frowned good-naturedly at her. "Instead of who?" she encouragedthreateningly. She didn't mind their teasing; by now she was used to it.
"I was going to say----" Carol continued meekly.
"Hi, book slaves," Madge called, and swung into step beside them.
"Ah, the light of the history class," Janet greeted her. "I hear youwere disgustingly brilliant in your examination this morning," sheaccused the latest arrival.
"As usual," Madge said modestly.
"And poor me," Carol sighed, "I probably won't sleep tonight forworrying about my test tomorrow morning."
"As if anything less than an earthquake could keep you awake!" Janetdeclared.
"I understand that is what we are coming together for this afternoon,"Madge said, "to coach you."
"Much to my sorrow," Carol declared. "You know I simply can't learnanything when we are all together."
"Is that the only time?" Janet inquired daringly.
There might have been serious results to her last question had not Madgesupplied food for different thought.
"How is it Phyllis is having us at her Aunt's house?" Madge wanted toknow, shifting her books from one arm to the other while she juggled herumbrella.
"I think her Aunt is out of town for the day," Gale answered.
"I hope she is out of town," Carol declared heartily. "I wouldn't wantto be present if she should come home and find us."
"If we get the chance, if her Aunt should surprise us, we must carry outour plans!" Janet insisted.
"Hm," Carol said unenthusiastically, despite the fact that in the verybeginning the girls' plan had originated with her.
The four went on to the grey house on the top of the hill. There theydiscovered Valerie had already arrived and was attempting to draw somemusic from the old piano which was so very seldom used.
"What a day!" Janet declared. "Even music. What would your Aunt say?"
"Why do you have to remind us of what Miss Fields might say?" Carolasked irritably. "We want to enjoy ourselves."
"Not you, my fine young lady," Janet declared, flinging Carol's historybook at her. "To work, for you!"
For the rest of the afternoon the girls tried to impress on Carol thefacts she would surely need for tomorrow's examination, the final andbiggest of the term. On it depended the result of her whole year's work.They simply would not let her fail.
"I'll have a pony!" Carol said with sudden brilliancy.
"You know very well you can't take a horse into a classroom," Janetsaid.
"Silly," Carol laughed. "A pony in this case is a little slip of paperwith all the answers written on it."
"Uh huh," Janet said, "and what happens if you lose the paper?"
"I didn't think of that."
"Besides, how do you know what questions are going to be asked? How canyou tell which are the right answers to write down?" Madge added.
"Forget I said anything," Carol pleaded. "I'll pass without the pony."
The girls really had a good time, and at dinnertime Carol had to admitthat she did know a little more than when she had started.
Phyllis suggested that they all stay and between them make their owndinner. The girls welcomed the suggestion albeit they were a littlefearful of the sudden and unexpected return of Phyllis' Aunt. However,Phyllis assured them Miss Fields wasn't expected back until late in theevening. She was no more anxious than the rest of them to incur herAunt's wrath.
For that one evening the house on the hill was lighted gaily, laughterand chatter echoed in the rooms usually so silent and the dining roomwas the scene of a festive, yet far from elaborate, dinner. The silverand glassware glittered in the light from the old-fashioned chandelier.The girls were delighted with the old patterned china and glassware.
"It is a wonder your Aunt wouldn't give a lot of parties just to showoff the things she has," declared Madge.
Phyllis laughed but said nothing. She could never picture her Aunt ashostess to any party.
After the simple meal the girls put together and washed the dishes, Galedoing the actual washing, Valerie and Phyllis drying while Madge, Janetand Carol carried them to the dining room and put them in theold-fashioned sideboard.
It was upon one of the return trips to the kitchen for more dishes thatCarol pushed the swinging door squarely into Madge, knocking the hugeplatter from her hand.
"I'm dreadfully sorry!" Carol said in horror, gazing down at the smashedfragments of the dish.
"That doesn't help matters any," Janet said with a frown. "Why don't yoube careful? We will probably get Phyllis in an awful mess now."
"It doesn't matter really," Phyllis said, knowing in her heart itmattered a great deal. She had no idea what her Aunt might do when shediscovered the destruction of her favorite platter.
While Gale assisted Phyllis in picking up the pieces the other girlsreturned to the dining room. There they waited for the other two whiletracing the patterns of wood carving on the heavy oak furniture.
Suddenly Carol, who had been standing at the old sideboard beside Janet,looked up and into the mirror over her head. She saw suddenly the figureof Phyllis' Aunt in the doorway behind them. At first she almost droppedfrom fright, then quickly she gathered her wits together. She nudgedJanet and from the look on her friend's face judged Janet had alreadybecome aware of Miss Fields. Carol only hoped now that the woman did notknow the girls were aware of her.
"You know," Carol said, trying to speak naturally, "since Phyllis can'tgo with us to Briarhurst, suppose we go to Stonecliff with her."
Valerie and Madge looked at the other two swiftly, but taking their cue,nodded in agreement.
In the mirror Carol saw Miss Fields draw back into the protectingshadows of the room beyond. She turned quite calmly about. Phyllis' Auntcould not now be seen, but she was still listening, of that Carol wassure.
"Yes," she said, "I think it would be more fun to go with Phyllis thanto break up our group, don't you think so?"
"Don't we think what?" Phyllis asked, entering then with Gale.
"We've been thinking," Janet supplied, "that it would be nice if we wentwith you to Stonecliff since you can't go with us to Briarhurst."
Phyllis stared at her friends in surprise. "But I thought----"
"That we were set on Briarhurst?" Valerie put in. "One college is asgood as another," she shrugged convincingly.
"But----" Phyllis began, and stopped. "Why this sudden decision?" shedemanded.
Carol was afraid she would spoil everything. "We just decided on it!"she said firmly. "Can't we change our minds if we like?"
"It will be nice being with you," Phyllis sighed. "I--Aunt Melba!"
"Phyllis, when your guests have gone I would like to speak to you. Iwill come to your room."
The girls were not slow in taking their leave after that. As Carol said,they didn't need a second hint.
When the door had closed behind her friends Phyllis leaned against itand for a moment considered dashing after them. Her heart was beatingwildly. There had been something about her Aunt--Phyllis dreaded beingalone with her. She knew there was punishment coming for daring to bringher friends into th
e house and then there was that prized platter! Whatform the punishment would take Phyllis did not know. Her Aunt did notuse physical violence, instead she deprived Phyllis of something thegirl wanted very much. Phyllis was glad the Prom was past. This wouldhave been an excellent reason for her Aunt to refuse her permission togo. But now nothing could dispel the memory of the good time she had hadthat night.
Slowly and thoughtfully she mounted the steps to her room. There was aglimmer of light beneath her Aunt's door but not a sound came fromwithin. In her own room Phyllis sat on the edge of the bed and waited.Two important thoughts leaped and surged through her mind. One was herAunt's anger and the other the Adventure Girls' new announcement. Shewas glad that they were going to Stonecliff with her. It would not be solonesome now.
Suddenly the door knob turned and noiselessly the door opened. Phyllisstared at her Aunt standing on the threshold. A heavy frown was on thecold features. Phyllis thought instinctively of the broken platter. Nowit would come! She got to her feet and stood waiting.
"Phyllis----" her Aunt began.
"I'm sorry I brought the girls here, Aunt Melba," Phyllis interrupted."I didn't mean----"
"Silence!" Her Aunt held up a peremptory hand. "We won't discuss that.Recently you asked me to reconsider my decision to send you toStonecliff. I have done so and have decided that perhaps you are right.Briarhurst may be the best for you."
Phyllis sat down abruptly upon the bed. "But now----" she began vaguely.
"Briarhurst is the better college," her Aunt said firmly. "You should bepleased. It was what you wanted. Good night."
The door closed behind her Aunt and Phyllis flung herself across thebed. What she wanted? Last week it was, but now--just when the othergirls had made up their minds to go to Stonecliff? She, her Aunt, musthave been listening tonight when the girls were talking aboutStonecliff, Phyllis decided. It must have been then she decided to sendher niece to the other college. Anything to break up the friendshipbetween Phyllis and the other girls.
Phyllis choked back her tears and went to the window. The rain hadcleared away and in the faint moonlight Phyllis could see the houses inthe valley below lighted and cozy. She thought of the other girls inhomes that were gay and with lots of friends. Girls who did much as theypleased.
Phyllis tried to remember her own mother and father but she could not.Her Aunt never referred to Phyllis' parents and she gave the girl noopportunity to ask questions. But lately Phyllis had begun to wonder.She even doubted sometimes if her Aunt was really her Aunt. If she werereally Miss Fields' niece, wouldn't the woman have a little affectionfor her? Wouldn't she be a little kinder sometimes? Must she always bedistant, always cold, always a total stranger?
Phyllis decided to give up thinking anything tonight and go to bed. Shefelt very young and friendless as she climbed into bed and lay staringup into the darkness. Yet a moment later she chided herself sternly. Shehad friends, all the Adventure Girls and others. She supposed her Auntdid love her in her way or else she wouldn't be sending her to collegeat all. Yes, she told herself, she did have friends. Hadn't theAdventure Girls decided to go to Stonecliff because she was to go there?Yes, but now she wasn't going there. She would have to see if she couldchange her Aunt's mind back again. Everything was terribly mixed up!