by L. T. Meade
everything."
"Oh, yes; I suppose so," said Jane. Then she added quickly: "I wish hehad not come to the school."
"Who do you mean by that?" asked Harriet.
"Ralph--I wish he had not come."
"It can't make any matter to you," said Harriet.
"It does," said Jane. "He is a nice little boy. I like him justawfully. He won't be happy with you."
"What do you mean by that?" said Harriet.
Jane was silent.
"You think," said Harriet, in a low tone, "that I am sure to be selectedby Mrs Burton as his school-mother?"
Jane nodded her head. Her little round face was quite flushed, and herblack eyes were shining.
"Did he say anything to you," asked Harriet, in great excitement. Janenodded. Harriet felt her heart beating fast. She suddenly put herlong, thin arm round Jane's neck, drew her up to her, and kissed her.
"Then you have helped me," she said. "I knew you would. I won't forgetit when the holidays come."
Just then some other girls appeared in view, and Jane and Harriet had toseparate. The other girls walked on arm-in-arm. They consisted of Roseand Vivian Amberley, Patience Chetwold and Robina. Robina was not quite_au fait_ to the ins and outs of the school. She still lived more orless in a world of her own. Now, she was rather surprised when Vivian,who was leaning on her arm, gave it a violent tug, and said in asmothered voice, which only reached Robina's ears:
"Oh, I am quite unhappy!"
This was the sort of remark which could not fail to interest Robinaprofoundly. She had been an only child all her life, and although shehad now and then played with another child, and although the one dreamof her existence was to be surrounded by other children, she had neverenjoyed this pleasure daily and hourly until she came to school. Robinawas full of faults, but she had a kind and generous nature. There wasnothing mean about her, and she was, for an only child, absolutelyunselfish. Vivian's remark in a low tone was not heard by either Roseor Patience. Robina took an opportunity to draw the little girl aside,and to ask her what she meant.
"It's about Ralph," said Vivian.
"What about Ralph?" asked Robina.
"I dare not tell," said Vivian.
"Very well," said Robina; "then there is no use in questioning you."
"But I am very, very unhappy, all the same," said Vivian.
Robina looked at her longingly. "Sit down," she said suddenly.
They had come to a wooden seat under an old oak tree. Vivian poppeddown at once, but Robina still stood.
"I don't know much about school," said Robina. "I have not been herelong. I am not a specially good girl; I was often very troublesome athome, but I think I know a few things, and perhaps I learnt those thingsat home."
"What are they?" asked Vivian.
"I have learned," said Robina, "to know a good girl when I see her.There are some girls in this school who are not good."
"Oh, yes; oh, yes!" said Vivian. She turned white, and clasped hersmall hands tightly together.
"And there are some girls in this school," proceeded Robina, "who arenot strong," and she fixed her grey eyes on Vivian's face.
"Yes," said Vivian again, falteringly.
"I won't name them," said Robina; "but I will only just say this: thatif I were a weak girl in the school, I'd just make up my mind that Iwas. I would not pretend that I was strong, for instance, and I'd goand tell anything that made me unhappy to the person who ought to know."
"Oh, but you wouldn't, if you were me," said Vivian, suddenly speakingin great excitement.
"Does the cap fit?" asked Robina.
"Yes, yes," answered Vivian; "it fits. But I can't, I can't!"
"I haven't the least idea what is the matter," said Robina; "but you areunhappy, for you have said so, and you are weak, not strong, for youadmit it and, anyhow, I know. Now, being weak in a school like this,where there are some girls who are not good, you have no chance at all,unless you go to someone stronger than yourself to help you."
"Who ought I to go to?" asked Vivian, trembling very much.
"You ought to go to some of your teachers."
"Oh, I can't do that--it would be quite too dreadful; you don't knowwhat they would say of me."
"That is what you _ought_ to do," said Robina; "but if you haven'tcourage for that, you ought to go to one of your school-fellows. Youhave your two sisters."
"They are no good at all; they are not, really." Robina was silent fora minute. Then she said:--
"Well, I am of some good, I suppose, and I think, on the whole, I amjust a tiny bit strong."
"Oh, you are, you are," said Vivian. "You are just wonderful."
"Well, then, you can come to me."
"But they'll call me a tell-tale-tit; they will, they will. You don'tknow, you can't know."
"I tell you what you will do," said Robina. "You will take my hand, andyou and I together will go and stand before the girls who are making youunhappy. You will say: `I can't stand this, and I am going to tellRobina, and Robina will help me to decide as to what is best to bedone.' You won't be mean if you do that, Vivian, for they willunderstand. That is what you ought to do. Now, I have told you."
"I ought, but I can't," said Vivian. She wriggled in her seat.Suddenly she sprang up, caught hold of Robina's hands, and kissed them.But Robina wrenched them away.
"No, no; don't do that," she said. "I hate being kissed by cowards."
She turned and left Vivian. The poor girl had never felt so small andabject in all her life, for poor Vivian was more or less in the secret.Not only had Jane explained to Ralph the great advantage of choosingHarriet as his school-mother, but Vivian had also been forced into thecause. She had spent a truly most miserable day, knowing perfectly wellwhat Harriet's real character was, and yet afraid to do anything buturge Ralph to choose her as his school-mother during the remainder ofthe term. Alas and alas! what a dreadful thing it was to be a weakgirl, and how Robina despised her; and how strong Robina seemed herself,and what would not Vivian give in all the wide world to have Robina'sstrength, and to follow the advice which she had given.
Immediately after breakfast the next day Mrs Burton called the eightgirls of the third form into her parlour. When they had all assembled,she said to them:
"You have had your day of trial each, with the exception of Robina, whomit was more fair not to count. I may as well tell you frankly that Ithink Robina will be elected as Ralph's school-mother, and I may aswell, also, tell you now that I shall be glad if that is the ease. Atthe same time I may be mistaken."
There came a sort of gasp from several of the girls. Harriet wasstanding quite in the background. Her face was quite pale. She felther heart beating almost to suffocation. Oh, that pony, with hisside-saddle. Oh, that habit made to fit so perfectly! Oh, the joy ofgoing home in the holidays with such a companion--such an unfailingsource of delight! Would not Harriet in future be a heroine in herhome? What would not the others give to be the owner of a real fleshand blood pony? She did not mind how low she stooped in order to obtainit.
Mrs Burton paused, and looked round at the different girls.
"My dears," she said, "I doubt not that you are interested, not,perhaps, in Ralph for himself, but in the thought of the prize whichRalph's father, Mr Durrant, has offered you. I have my own ideas withregard to that prize; but Mr Durrant wishes you to have it, and thereis nothing more to be said. The girl whom little Ralph himself selectsas his school-mother will at the end of the term be the possessor of thepony--that is, always provided that she fulfills her duties to myperfect satisfaction. When Ralph has made his choice, he must, ofcourse, abide by it, unless something quite out of the common occurs;but I must assure you in advance, my dear girls, that the post ofschool-mother will be no sinecure. The girl who has charge of Ralphmust be patient and remember that he is only a very little boy. He willbe necessarily thrown a great deal with the younger children, and thegirl who is his school-mother must not
only be patient with him, but shemust help him to learn his little lessons. He must sit by her side atmeals, and every morning she must rise a little earlier than usual inorder to dress him, and every evening she must leave the playground inorder to put him to bed. It will soon be perceived whether he is happyor not in her company. Now, I think I have said all that is necessary,and Ralph himself shall come in and decide."
Mrs Burton rang a little silver bell which stood on the table. MissFord, the mistress who had the charge of the small