Helen Grant's Schooldays

by Amanda M. Douglas

  CHAPTER XIV

  AND THORNS SPRANG UP

  School work began in great earnest. There was no loitering now. Thegirls who went in the A grade would be seniors next year, and the Agrade of seniors would graduate. Helen took up French with a vim. Mrs.Van Dorn spoke of it particularly in her letter, and she had the rightto order what Helen should do. The girl never thought of any mentalprotest.

  Then there were all the other classes. A conscientious girl was keptpretty busy. Helen was in the sketching class, Daisy was painting anddid it well. Miss Craven began also, and evinced a decided genius forit. She was still quiet and reserved. She made no especial demands uponHelen, but the younger girl found many little ways to assure her of aninterest. Just a clasp of the hand, a glance of the eye, a smile, andMiss Craven was comforted for hours.

  She tried to draw her into general conversation at the table, she saidnice things to other girls about her and endeavored to interest them.Oh, if Miss Craven only would come out of her shell and say some of thereally bright things she did when they were alone! It was hard workHelen found; a sort of weight at times affected her own spontaneity.

  With all the study there was a good deal of fun, sometimes almostfighting when arguments ran high, or when one's favorite writer or poemor story was assailed. Some of the girls insisted that Miss Reid had themost genius for painting, and others were on Miss Bigelow's side. MissGertrude Aldred would not be trapped into a decision, though many a plotwas laid for her.

  Helen thought now and then of Mr. Warfield. She did so want to write tohim. She could not, at least she did not say to Mrs. Dayton the manythings she felt puzzled over, that even Mrs. Aldred could not haveunderstood, for Mrs. Aldred had never seen her home and knew so littleabout her past life.

  And, oh, the planning that went on, the different pursuits that werediscussed, the aims and hopes, yet it is true that most of them turnedon marriage. Nearly every girl was confident that this would be herportion.

  Daisy Bell owned Helen now. She was her chum, her comrade. They couldnot always be together, of course, and Daisy was a great favorite withother girls. Indeed, sometimes Helen wondered why she should have chosenher so exclusively when there was a little world of adorers to pickfrom. She could not have understood in her broad-minded nature thatoccasionally Daisy longed to make her jealous by a show of fondness forsomeone else.

  Miss Craven would not come to her room unless it was the afternoon ofMiss Bell's music lessons. She was one of Mr. Griffin's pupils.

  "But I am alone here and you can come to me. I am so glad to be alone. Idon't see how I could stand a girl about!" declared Miss Craven."Unless," smiling a little, which she did quite often now, to Helen,"unless it was you."

  "And I am not the most charming girl in the school," Helen replied inher eager, wholehearted fashion. "If you only _would_ let yourself befriendly with them."

  "I'm satisfied with you and Miss Aldred. I like her very much, and most,I think, because she is beyond twenty. You see I am not young, and thatmakes the difference."

  "Miss Reid will be nineteen in June, about the time she graduates, andseveral of the girls are nearly eighteen or over."

  "But they will have finished their education. I have only just begunmine," protestingly.

  "Then there will be the more years to study," with a bright joyousemphasis. "It's like a climb up a mountain, perhaps the Alps or theAndes, when you have to come back and try over the next day, and a goodmany days, only it grows easier all the time."

  "Do you know what I heard one of the girls call me?" and Miss Cravenflushed so deep a red it was almost brown.

  Helen flushed, too, but she asked nonchalantly, "What?"

  "An old maid! And she said she didn't know what I wanted to come toschool for. I would never know enough to teach. Do you suppose she woulddare call Miss Aldred an old maid?"

  "Oh, the girls do call each other that, and they don't mean anything,"said Helen lightly.

  "They were talking _about_ me, not to me. It doesn't make me a dayolder, I know, but it keeps me from being friendly and at home, don'tyou see? My way is paid as well as theirs--it costs me more, for I haveprivate lessons. I have as good right to the school as anybody, whetherI want to teach or not."

  Helen looked at her in amazement. She had never seen so much spirit inher face. If she could be roused, not by anger merely, but some potentpower. Happiness and love might do it.

  "Oh, now I have offended you----"

  "No, you have not offended me at all. You looked so spirited that Icould not help admiring you. It is a very mean thing for girls to makeill-natured comments on each other. I wish they did not. I do not seewhy they cannot pick out the nice things instead and say them over."

  Helen had made several protests about this matter. She corrected thesubject of Miss Craven's age with spirit.

  "You will never make me believe that," Miss Mays had exclaimed withunnecessary vigor.

  "Mrs. Aldred has the register, ask her."

  "Oh, Miss Craven may have said that was her age. And who knows anythingabout her? She keeps to herself as if there was something notquite----" ending with a disagreeable emphasis.

  "Girls," began another, "we all know if there was anything wrong ordiscreditable she would not be here. I do not call her an attractivegirl, but if we do not like her we can let her alone. She lets us alone.We can't say she has forced herself in our society."

  "A vote of thanks from one for speaking up for her," said Helen gayly."And, of course, Mrs. Aldred knows."

  "And Miss Grant, the baby of the school, has been taken into confidence.Pray do enlighten us. Did she come from India or the Fiji Islands, whereeducation is sadly neglected?"

  "For all information on the subject, I refer you to Mrs. Aldred."

  Helen was angry, but she kept her temper. The ridiculous side of it alloccurred to her, and another thought--What if Uncle Jason should comestriding into the hall when half the girls were standing around? Whatwould they say about her? How could girls be so mean and ungenerous?

  This had happened some days before the talk. And now, after a moment ortwo of silence, Helen said to Miss Craven, "There is a verse inProverbs, I think I heard it read in church one Sunday, 'He that wouldhave friends must show himself friendly.'"

  "I don't want any friend but you."

  There was a great tremble in Miss Craven's voice and she began to cry.

  "And you will not let me advise you about the little things that make somuch difference with girls."

  How did _she_ know? Helen flushed at her own assumption, and yet she_did_ understand. She pitied Juliet Craven profoundly, too.

  "Oh, don't cry. Can't I comfort you with some word? See here, I reallylove you. You are so brave, so persevering, you have had such a hard,lonely life, and I would like to make it brighter."

  "Oh, Helen! Oh, Miss Grant."

  "No; keep to the Helen," the younger girl interrupted.

  "To have you love me! But I might have known so much care and kindnesscould only spring from love. Oh, I think I shall not mind the othergirls now. I've been longing so for real love. Are you quite sure? Itseems too good when I have been making myself content with a simpleliking."

  She pressed Helen's hands to her hot cheeks, wet with tears. Helenkissed her on the forehead, but the elder drew her face down andreturned the kiss many times.

  "The dinner bell will ring in a few moments," Helen declared presently,"and we must both make ourselves fit to be seen, not of men, but betweenthirty and forty feminines. I wish your gowns were not quite so grave,but spring is on the way and we will take to light raiment and look likea flock of birds. Good-by for five minutes," and she flashed away.

  Daisy had a blue ribbon tied in her hair and a pretty chiffon neckgear,and was really an attractive girl.

  "Why didn't you stay all night with that woman of grays and browns andgeneral dismalness, and lose your dinner! There, you have almost. If shehad any beauty or charm about her I should be jealous, for you belo
ng tome, you know."

  Helen slipped into a light shirtwaist and was ready in a trice. MissCraven did not come down. When the maid went to inquire, she said shehad a headache, and wanted only a cup of tea.

  There was the bit of social life, the study period, and Helen seemed sodiscomposed that she used up every moment of it until they weredismissed. Daisy put her arm about Helen, another girl took the otherside, and three or four of them came into the room.

  How they stayed! Helen summoned courage presently.

  "Excuse me a moment," and she flashed out of the room, tapping at MissCraven's door.

  It was open just an inch or two.

  "I came to ask about your headache and say good-night," in a low tone.

  "Oh, you dear, sweet friend! It did ache, but I think it was a kind ofjoy throbbing. I didn't want any dinner though. I just laid here andthought--happy thoughts."

  The half-past nine bell pealed and everyone ran to her own room. Daisystood in the middle of the floor upbraidingly, if one's attitude canexpress so much.

  "I believe that girl has cast an evil eye on you," she began when Helenkept silence, busying herself with preparations. "There are evil charmsas well as delightful ones, and spells that wile away love. And you havepromised not to love anyone but me."

  "Have I?" Helen's voice was unsteady.

  "Yes, you have, and you think promises ought to be kept faithfully. Youmust keep yours. I said I wouldn't love any other girl, and I haven't.I've seen her look at you with a strange light in her eyes, and they arehorrid eyes----"

  "Don't let us talk about Miss Craven, but read our verses and say ourprayers," and now Helen's voice had decision enough in it.

  "You are changing every day, I can see it," complained Daisy.

  "Then let us pray that I may get back to the point," with graveperemptoriness.

  Daisy was a little awed at this solemn way of taking it up, andacquiesced.

  Helen lay and wondered at herself. Had she made Daisy such a sweepingpromise? And how easy it had been to say those few words to Miss Craven.What joy it had given her. She did not love Daisy Bell any less--howmany people could you love? Must one true affection shut out the others?

  She _did_ really love Daisy Bell. She had a rather petite figure andface; the face fair and full of soft curves changing with every emotion,and a rose tint that came and went, that seemed playing hide and seekwith two seductive dimples, one in her chin, the other in her cheek.Her hair was a light brown that had a tint of gold, and her eyes were asoft dark brown that could look at you with the utmost pathos or deepenwith fun and fire, and her rose-red lips had a dewy, tremulous fashionof shaping themselves to any mood.

  Another charm for Helen was her love of order and neatness, withoutbeing at all fussy, her wonderful blending of colors, the little touchesthat gave an air to the plainest surroundings. Then she was generallyhelpful. Helen had been indebted to her for many small aids along thedifficult paths of learning that were quite unknown in Hope Center.

  Daisy had made the first advances. She was more experienced in schoolways, older, richer, and a favorite with the class. Helen felt honoredby her preference. If she had been less lovable it might have savored ofpatronage and that Helen would have declined. It sometimes seemed as ifshe was the stronger, the leading spirit, as in some respects Daisyyielded unhesitatingly to her.

  It was Helen's first girl friendship, and it possessed something of themarvel to her that Mrs. Dayton's kindliness had, since neither were inanywise compelled to take her up. But why had she ever promised to loveDaisy only?

  And did she really _love_ Juliet Craven? This night was the first timeMiss Craven had ever used her Christian name. She would hardly dream ofbeing intimate with any of the young ladies in the senior class, thoughseveral of them were very cordial and she had been asked to sing forthem and with them. Helen made a funny distinction about this, it wasdue to her voice and not her personality. She was too wholesome to feelaggrieved about such a thing and she had very little vanity. Beingbrought up by Aunt Jane would have taken the vanity out of any girl.

  But there did not seem so much difference between her age and MissCraven's as the years confessed. Helen knew a great deal more about thereal world. She was likely to make a good logician. Her short experienceat Mrs. Dayton's had given her the key to the larger world. Those womenwith their different qualities were reproduced here in the school, herein Westchester, and were no doubt repeated elsewhere. But Miss Cravenknew nothing and was afraid to judge, to have decided opinions, tocompare one with another. Her solitary life had taken her into the veryheart of nature, of a certain kind of dreaming, and longing forknowledge, but that was widely different from the every day knowledge ofgeneral living. Helen had not been lonely, her mind was too active, andthere had always been people about her. She wanted her knowledge toenable her to go out in the world and conquer it; girls of fourteen andolder do have such dreams. Miss Craven wanted hers largely for herselfalone.

  Helen had pitied her, been very sympathetic, assisted her over roughplaces, and really advised. Was not this some of the work preached abouton Sunday in the churches, helping the weaker brethren? She had hardlythought of religion up to this period of her life as having any dutiesin a practical sense, but Mrs. Aldred gave the school that tone, andMiss Grace was interested in the broader Christian life, not merelychurch-going.

  So Miss Craven, curiously enough, had looked like a duty to Helen. Sheand Daisy did their brief reading every night, but since Christmas somany verses had pointed to the weaker brother. The stronger, wiser girlsin school did not want anything of her, at least she thought she hadnothing to give them, since they did not ask, and the word was "everyonethat asketh." Miss Craven had asked by a glance of the eye, a pressureof the hand, a quiver of the wordless lips that hesitated to frame thedesire into speech. Yes, she did love her if charity and kindliness werelove, and--oh, there _was_ something deeper, wider, higher.

  She had not settled the question when she fell asleep, rather late forher and so she did not wake until Daisy touched her. Daisy Bell had halfa mind to let her oversleep and lose a mark, then she really did loveher too well.

  "Oh, dear!" sighed Helen ruefully. "And I wanted to finish my Latintranslation this morning."

  There could be no thought of anything but hurrying downstairs. MissCraven was in her place and glanced up with a certain eagerness in hereyes. All through breakfast time Daisy made herself uncomfortable,watching.

  "So you have a rival in your sweetheart's affections," Miss Mayswhispered mischievously, linking her arm in that of Daisy's as theysauntered through the hall. "The glances are something wonderful,beseeching. If the eyes hadn't that dull, leady look they might provedangerous in years to come, but I doubt if young men will be drawn nearenough to experience their fascination. But she gains a little everyday, and you will soon lose your Helen of Troy."

  "Helen of Troy is a free agent. She can make friends wherever she will,"was the rather curt answer.

  "But 'life is thorny and love is vain,'" quoted Roxy. "I _do_ wonder atHelen Grant's taste."

  There were lessons and exercises and Helen found her mind wandering,having to bring it back by sharp turns. Daisy was very distant. "Oh, howfoolish girls can be!" Helen thought.

  When they went in to luncheon a surprise greeted most of the girls.Helen Grant saw the vacant seat beside her. One of the girls oppositetouched elbows with the other and both glanced at the end of the room.

  Helen let her eyes wander down leisurely. Next to Mrs. Aldred sat astranger, next to her Miss Craven, more timid than ever.

  The stranger was elegant and airy. Her cloth gown was of the newestshade of green, the small bolero covered with iridescent embroidery,the satin bosom a few shades lighter, sown here and there with beads incolors that sparkled like gems. A very pretty, stylish-looking woman offive and thirty perhaps. She wore two magnificent diamond rings and asmall star at her throat. The most critical taste could not pronounceher loud.

  Hel
en thought rapidly. Was that Mrs. Howard? She felt ratherdisappointed.

  Everybody went on with the luncheon and when it was through, Mrs.Aldred, the guest, and Miss Bigelow retired to the drawing room. Whatdid it all mean? They heard presently. The lady was Mrs. Davis, the wifeof Miss Craven's guardian. Just as Morris had answered the door, MissBigelow crossed the hall and recognized a lady she had seen a good dealof in the summer.

  "Why this _is_ delightful to meet a familiar face," declared thestranger. "Is this where you are at school? We have a _protegee_ here,at least Mr. Davis is guardian and trustee of a young woman and no endof money, Miss Craven, do you know her?"

  Morris was trying to usher the guest into the reception room.

  "Yes, she is here," and Miss Bigelow did the honors; begged Mrs. Davisto be seated. Morris came back with the word that Mrs. Aldred would beat liberty in a few moments.

  "Do tell me what kind of a school it is? The girl's grandfather died; hewas a queer old fellow, and the business was in a sort of muddle, but,as I said, there is no end of money. I wanted her to go to a convent; Iwas good enough to take her in and see what could be done in the way ofpolishing, for you see she must go in society. She didn't take kindly tothe Roman Catholic aspect, but you know they never interfere withanyone's religion. I had a friend come to stay with me while I wasgiving a house party, a Mrs. Howard, who took a fancy to her; she hadscarcely been out of the woods, though I found she had come of a verygood family--Revolutionary people and a great-uncle, a judge inMaryland, and several men of note. The Baltimore relatives are amongsome of the best in society. If there had been no family back of her Ireally couldn't have undertaken her. Mrs. Howard knew of this school; Ithink she had a niece educated here. So she wrote, and the mattersomehow settled itself. I was engaged for Lenox, and two or three houseparties, and Washington, Charleston, and Florida. I do seem to keep onthe go most of the time. And this is really the first opportunity I havehad to look after her, though I knew I could trust Mrs. Howard."

  "Miss Craven is in excellent hands here. Of course I am among theSeniors and graduate in June, and am very busy, so I see but little ofthe Juniors."

  "Why, it is quite college-like." Mrs. Davis had taken in a fresh supplyof breath. Her voice was soft and well trained, though she rather sweptalong as she talked.

  "Girls are prepared for college, or for any position in life," MissBigelow replied with a smile.

  "That is what Mrs. Howard said. I can't understand how the grandfathercould become such a queer old hermit when the family was an excellentone. It might have been the loss of his son, this girl's father. Mr.Davis thinks he was a man of education and shrewd about business. He hadto go over all the papers, you know, and there were marriagecertificates, his parents and his own, and various family affairs. I wasglad for her sake that everything was right. A family stigma alwayskeeps cropping up."

  Mrs. Aldred entered at this juncture, and Miss Bigelow left the twoladies to their conference. Mrs. Davis went over the ground again, moreat length, and stated her wishes definitely. She wanted Miss Craventrained to make a good impression on society, accomplished if she couldbe.

  "She has a great talent for music and will make a fine player. It is apity she could not have begun her general education sooner," repliedMrs. Aldred. "It will take time to reach any standard."

  "Oh, a thousand pities. But it doesn't seem really necessary for her togo into the abstruse subjects, for every year counts. It is an excellentthing that girls do not marry as young as they used to. I was marriedbefore I was quite eighteen, but I had been three years at a first-classboarding school. She will be twenty in the summer. She certainly canfinish in another year?" tentatively.

  "She can do a good deal, but hardly that. This year it will beprincipally ground-work. She has had private lessons, and she does lovestudy, is eager to learn. Next year she will go into regular classesand get accustomed to girls. She is painfully shy."

  "I hope you can give her some style. After all, money _does_ make amendsfor a great deal, and I have known some really ignorant girls to marrywell, but now everyone who makes a bow to society is expected to havesome training, and get the air of _nouveaux riches_ rubbed off. That isdetestable."

  "I do not think that will be one of her faults;" and Mrs. Aldred smileda little, wondering how long it had been since Mrs. Davis had castcomparative poverty behind her.

  "French and all that she can pick up abroad. I should like her to knowsome Italian songs. I wish I _could_ take her next year. You hardlyconsider it possible?"

  "Oh, no. I should certainly wait. She has improved. I will send for her.And as it will soon be luncheon time may I not have the pleasure ofmaking you a guest? You will see our school in every-day trim, and meetsome of our teachers. We have also a day school for larger girls."

  Mrs. Davis accepted graciously. Miss Craven was summoned, and enteredwith self-possession.

  The girl had been very happy all the morning. The consciousness thatsomeone loved her, albeit a girl so much younger, had been like red wineto her blood, and kept her pulses throbbing, given her eyes a subtleglow. The bluish tint should never have been in such eyes, golden or thetranslucent green that sometimes sets hazel eyes ashine would have madea great change in her face. But they had lightened up curiously, and hercheeks rounded out, her complexion cleared up since she was no longerexposed to sun and wind, and had a more hygienic training. She had tieda pink ribbon around her neck. Helen Grant liked it so much.

  Altogether, she looked improved from last summer. And she certainly hadlearned to smile. Her teeth were white, even, and pretty.

  She was very much surprised, and could not dismiss her distrust of Mrs.Davis at once. Indeed, what reason had she for distrusting her? Mrs.Aldred led the conversation until the girl's first embarrassment wasover, and then gracefully withdrew to plan for a change at the table.

  Soon after luncheon Mrs. Davis took her leave, quite convinced that Mrs.Aldred would do as well for her husband's ward as anyone. She wouldhave liked the prestige of the convent better.

  By dinner time most of the girls knew that Miss Juliet Craven was reallyan heiress, and that her guardian was the great banker and lawyer aswell, and who was occasionally called upon to disentangle some veryintricate points, Mr. James Elliot Davis.