by L. T. Meade
have Harriet explain toJane what she felt about things. After a time, Jane said softly: "UntilRobina came, we were the _only_ naughty girls in the school."
"Oh, we were not a bit naughty in reality," said Harriet. "It pleasedyou to think it, Janie. When I told you that we were the naughty ones,you used to be as proud as Punch; but we were not really naughty as shecould be naughty. I declare since she came I feel that I could doanything."
"Let us make _her_ naughty," said Jane, in a low tone.
"Let us what?" asked Harriet, turning and facing her little companion.
"I know!" said Jane after a pause. "I heard what they said when I washiding under the holly bush. They said that she was sent to schoolbecause she was so noisy and wouldn't obey anyone. Up to the presentshe has only been a little naughty; she has done the sort of things thatpeople forgive. Let us make her do something that people don't forgive:let's make her awfully disobedient."
"I declare, Janie," said Harriet, "you're a much cleverer girl than Igave you credit for. That isn't at all a bad idea. Of course it'snaughty of us to wish anything of the sort; but then she is tooaggravating, and--and--if she takes my character for cleverness away,and keeps the head of the form, and wins my prize--I _cannot_ stand it.Oh, she put me to shame just now before the others--I won't tell youhow, for it isn't worth while; but she--she laughed as I went out of theroom, and--the others laughed, too. I _hate_ her! I don't mind what Ido to get her into trouble!"
"We mustn't do too much, we must be careful," said Jane. "But if she isreally very disobedient at home, why should she not be disobedient justonce at school? You are clever enough to manage that, aren't you,Harriet?"
"And you are clever enough to help me," answered Harriet. "Well, let'ssay no more now; mum's the word. They're going to have tea on the lawn,and we may as well join the others. I shall not feel nearly so bad now,Janie, since you are my friend, and we are making up a little plottogether. Let's think very hard. Let's put on our considering caps,and let's meet again here this hour to-morrow."
"Oh, Harriet!" said Jane. "I am glad and I'm sorry. I'm a bitfrightened, and yet my heart goes pit-a-pat with excitement. I do loveyou, Harriet. Oh dear, oh dear! I wonder if this is desperatelywicked!"
"I'll give you a kiss if you will faithfully promise not to say one wordof our conversation to another soul," said Harriet.
Her kisses were considered great favours by the hungry Jane, who nowreceived solemnly a peck on her forehead from Harriet.
"We'd best not be seen too much together," said Harriet. "I will goround by the fish-pond to the lawn, and you can run into the house andcome out that way."
There is no doubt whatever that these two girls felt a very extra spiceof naughtiness in their hearts on that afternoon.
Meanwhile, Robina was enjoying herself; she was the centre of a largecircle of girls. She was very nicely dressed, to begin with; and shelooked, if not pretty, yet exceedingly interesting; her face was so fullof intelligence and her expression was so varying, that it was quite adelight to watch her when she talked. She had the merriest laugh, too,like a peal of bells, and she had a very good-natured way of drawing aneglected girl to her side, and putting her arm about her and makingfriends with her for the time being. In particular, she was fond oflittle children, and the small girls of the school clung round her,pressing up to her side, and begging to be allowed to sit on her kneeand fondle her, as tiny girls will.
The first form in the school at present only consisted of four littlegirls. There were Patty and Cissy Price--two wee sisters of seven andsix years of age; and there was Curly Pate--as they called her--theyoungest girl of all, who was not yet quite six; and there was littleAnnie, who was older than the others, but very small in stature and verydelicate.
Curly Pate was the baby of the school, and was somewhat spoiled inconsequence. She was a perfect roly-poly creature, with fat arms andcreasy, fat neck and little fat legs. Her face was perfectly round--asround as a ball, and she had blue eyes and a soft complexion, andfluffy, curly, baby hair all over her little head. Her hair was shortand thick, and of that fine, fine quality which only very tiny childrenand babies possess.
From the eldest to the next youngest girl in the school Curly Pate wasthe darling. Anyone would be proud to walk with her, to caress her, tosubmit to her whims; and Curly Pate, like all young queens, wasexacting. She had her preferences. She liked Constance Amberley betterthan any of her own small companions. When Constance walked about thegrounds with Curly Pate on her back--that young person pretending thatshe was riding her pony and desiring her "Gee-gee" to go faster, andpounding her on the head and shoulders in no inconsiderable degree--Constance, far from being pitied, was envied by everyone else in theschool. But lo, and behold! when Robina appeared, that fickle youngperson--the school baby--changed her tactics. She walked straight up toRobina on the first day of her appearance in the playground and said:
"I 'ike oo--new dirl!" and established herself on the spot, Robina'sruler.
Robina was elected to be the baby's slave, and the others laughed andjoked at Constance, and watched the baby with delight. The other littlegirls followed suit, as very small girls will.
On this special afternoon Robina had the four small children in a circleround her. Curly Pate, it is true, occupied the place of honour on theyoung lady's lap, but Patty and Cissie Price, and grave, pale littleAnnie were also close to the popular favourite.
"Tell us a story, Robina," asked Cissie Price.
"Not now," said Robina; "and you are not to pull me, babies, for itmakes me too hot. Curly, sit still, you little imp! I'll put you offmy knee if you don't behave."
Now none of the other girls in the third form would have dared to speakto Curly in that tone. They would have received a slap in the face fortheir pains, but Curly took it quite meekly from Robina.
"I--is--dood. I is--vedy dood. I 'ove oo," she said.
She nestled up close to Robina, pulling that young person's hand roundher waist, and patting the said hand with her own two fat little onesand saying, over and over again: "I 'ove oo, Wobbin--I 'ove oo!"
It was on this scene that Harriet and Jane appeared. Since Robina hadcome, Harriet had rather avoided her. She had been jealous, poor child,from the first moment; but now she altered her tactics, and forcing herway through the group, sat down close to the new favourite.
"There's no room here," said Robina. "Go a little further off, please,Harriet; you are pushing little Annie and making her cry."
"I don't care twopence for little Annie!" cried Harriet, rudely. "Ihave as good a right to sit here as anybody else. Don't press me,Annie; if I am in the way, you're the person to make room, not me. Goback to your nursery, won't you?"
Annie, who was a very timid child, began to cry. Robina immediatelyrose, lifted Curly Pate on to her shoulder, and said to the three otherlittle ones:
"I have changed my mind. I will tell you a story now, but no one elseshall listen; it's a lovely, true, true fairy tale. We'll just situnder that tree, and you shall all hear it."
They followed her, clinging to her skirt and one of them trying to graspher hand. Harriet's face grew black. Frederica said:
"Well, Harriet, you don't look too well pleased; but for my part, Ithink Robina was quite right; you ought not to have taken poor littleAnnie's place."
"Do you mind telling me," answered Harriet, "what right those childrenhave to interfere with us? They belong to the first form; let them stayin their nursery."
"Oh, as to that," said Rose Amberley, "they have as good a right to thelawn as we have. They are always allowed to play here every afternoon;and Robina invited them to tea; she bought a lot of sweeties, chocolatesand cakes for them. They are Robina's guests; they just worship her."
"Worship her, indeed!" said Harriet. "Well--_I_ don't worship her."
"Anyone can see that, Harriet, and it is a great pity," said RoseAmberley. "Robina is a very nice girl, and as good as gold."
"I know what I know," said Jane, nodding her little head with greatfirmness.
Frederica looked very hard at Jane; then she glanced at her own sister.
"Look here," she said suddenly; "we have all been very happy at school,haven't we?"
"Who says we haven't?" answered Harriet. She felt crosser than ever,for there were such peals of laughter coming from under the shelter ofthat tree, where Robina was telling the babies