The Girls of St. Wode's

by L. T. Meade

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE GUILD OF ST. ELIZABETH.

  Immediately after dinner that evening, Leslie ran up to her room to makepreparations for her visit to East Hall.

  "Come, Annie," she said to Miss Colchester, who was standing with herface to the window and her back to Leslie, "had you not better wrap ashawl about you; it is time to be off."

  "I'm not coming," said Annie.

  "Not coming? But you must. You know it is not only a request; it is anorder from Miss Lauderdale. Every student is to be in East Hall athalf-past eight."

  "It doesn't matter," replied Annie, "whether it is an order or not; I'mnot coming. Say nothing about me, please. I shall stay at hometo-night."

  "But why? You will only get yourself into trouble, and there is surelyno use in that. Oh, Annie, I know you are dreadfully unhappy aboutsomething, and I wish I could comfort you. Do--do let me."

  Annie Colchester now turned slowly round; she looked fixedly at Leslie.There was a strained expression in her eyes, as if she did not quiteknow what she was looking at. Leslie approached her, and touched herhand. It burned as if with fever.

  "You are ill," said Leslie. "I ought not to leave you. You ought to liedown and see a doctor. Do let me go and tell Miss Frere. I know yourbeing ill will make all the difference."

  Leslie had scarcely finished her sentence before Annie pushed her away.

  "How dare you interfere?" she said, her eyes flashing. "You are to go,and say nothing about me. Because you happen to be my roomfellow, areyou to control my actions? I am longing for you to leave the room. Youdon't know what a trial it is for me to have you here. Why will you keepon prying, and fussing, and interfering. I want to be alone--go!"

  "I know you don't quite mean what you say," said Leslie; "but of courseif you really wish me----"

  "Before you came I had liberty," interrupted Annie. "You fret me beyondendurance. Since you came I feel myself tied and bound. Yes; you annoyme more than words can tell."

  Leslie walked to her own side of the room. She had taken a deep interestin Annie; and Annie's words cut her to the heart.

  "I am quite sure it is because she is so unhappy," she thought. "Shedoes not know what she is saying. I ought not to mind her--I mean I oughtnot to be really hurt; but there is nothing for it but to leave her forthe present."

  Wrapping a pretty blue shawl round her head and shoulders, she turned toAnnie. "Good-by," she said; "is there not any message you would like meto take, Annie?"

  "None; only go!"

  Annie stamped with her foot.

  Leslie was just closing the door behind her, when Annie called afterher.

  "By the way," she said; "there is no key in this lock; do you know whereit is?"

  "I took it out," said Leslie.

  "Took it out! And why, may I ask? Have the goodness to find it and putit back."

  "But don't lock me out, please, Annie. You know on occasions you areabsent-minded, and one-half of this room is mine when all's said anddone. I pay for it, and I have a right to it."

  The unexpected words of spirit caused Annie to become a little lessrude.

  "Oh, I won't lock you out," she said; "but I must have the key. Pleasefind it before you go."

  Jane Heriot's voice was heard in the passage.

  "If you two are ready," she called out, "we may as well start."

  "Coming in a moment, Jane," answered Leslie. She found the key, whichshe had put in the top drawer of her wardrobe, and gave it to Annie. Asshe walked down the corridor she heard it being turned in the lock.

  "What can this mean?" she said to herself.

  Jane came up.

  "What is it, Leslie?" she said; "you look as if something was worryingyou."

  "Something is," replied Leslie, "but I don't know that I ought to telltales out of school."

  "Oh, I won't press you," replied Jane.

  "After all, perhaps you ought to know, Jane. I am unhappy about AnnieColchester."

  "Oh, my dear," said Jane, "if you begin to fret about the oddities ofthe college you will never know a moment's peace. I am told that thatextraordinary and most unpleasant girl, Belle Acheson, has begun to taketo you. Now don't, I beg of you, get into her set."

  "Oh, I shall never do that," replied Leslie. "I don't want," she added,"to get into any set: but I do wish to be kind to Belle, for I think shehas good points in her. You see, all the girls except Eileen andMarjorie laugh at her, and that seems to me to make her worse."

  "I don't quite go the length of laughing at her," said Jane in athoughtful voice. "But there, you are one of the 'unco good,' I amafraid."

  "Please don't call me that," said Leslie, tears now visiting her prettyeyes.

  "Oh, I would not say a word to hurt you," replied Jane, penitent on thespot. "You are quite the sweetest girl in the college, and so we allsay. Now, listen; I am going to make a confession. There are times whenI am a little jealous of you, for, you know, you are so wonderfullypretty, and you are so kind to everyone. They say too that you areexceedingly clever, and yet you have no jealousies and no smallnesses inyou. You are a universal favorite; I envy you your popularity."

  "I don't know that I am at all what you say; but any girl ought to bepopular and good who was brought up by a mother like mine," said Lesliewith enthusiasm. "Some day, Jane, you must see her. If you are in Londonduring the summer, you must come and pay us a visit, will you?"

  "I shall be only too delighted," cried Jane. "But now, Leslie, what isthe trouble? that is, if you care to confide in me."

  "I believe poor Annie is dreadfully unhappy."

  "Poor dear, perhaps she is; but she ought to be on her way to East Hallby now. Miss Lauderdale will be very angry with anyone who does notattend."

  "That's just it, Jane; that is what frightens me. She refuses to come."

  Jane stood still and faced Leslie.

  "Refuses to come?" she cried. "She will get into an awful scrape."

  "I believe she is ill, and does not quite know what she is saying,"continued Leslie. "She was very queer when I left her just now; that waswhy I was a little late. I felt her hand too, and it was very hot. I amsure she is ill. She works too hard, and she---- But there, I don't knowthat I ought to say any more."

  "Don't say any more," cried Jane. "I'll go back and speak to her. It ismy duty to save her from getting into hopeless disgrace."

  "I'll wait for you here," said Leslie. "I have had the misfortune toirritate her a good deal during the last day or two, and you probablywould have better success than I."

  "I won't keep you a moment," answered Jane. She turned back, ran downthe corridor, and knocked at Annie's door.

  "Let me come in, Annie," she called out. "I am Jane Heriot; I want tospeak to you at once. Let me in."

  There was no reply.

  Jane rattled the handle impatiently. It wanted but two minutes to thehalf-hour; already she and Leslie would be late.

  "Aren't you coming, Annie?" she called out; "aren't you coming to EastHall in response to Miss Lauderdale's orders? You will get into a mostawful scrape if you don't. Do come, Annie; don't be such a goose. Why,they may rusticate you. Do come, Annie, do!"

  Still there was no response. Jane stooped, and applied her eye to thekeyhole, but she could see nothing within. In despair she came back andjoined Leslie.

  "She seems to have turned both deaf and dumb, and I can do nothing withher," she answered. "It is just possible that she may have gone down theback-stairs, and be already in the hall."

  "Scarcely likely," replied Leslie; "she told me she was determined notto come to the meeting. By the way, we ought to meet Marjorie and Eileenin the center hall."

  But Marjorie and Eileen had already departed, and Leslie and Jane foundthemselves among the last students to arrive at the great East Hall.

  Miss Lauderdale was standing with the other tutors and principals of thedifferent halls on a raised platform. One by one the many students filedin and took their places. Then a roll-call was gone through
by one ofthe tutors; the only absentee was Annie Colchester. No notice was takenof this at the time, and the proceedings of the evening were immediatelybegun. Miss Lauderdale stepped forward, and began to address thestudents. She said that the object of this gathering was to propose thebeginning of a new departure in their lives and work. They were all, shewas glad to know, acquiring knowledge; they were also becoming strong inbody.

  "The physical part of your training, and also the mental part, areabundantly supplied in this great house of learning," she continued;"but the spiritual part, it seems to me, ought now to be strengthened. Iwant your whole threefold nature to get the best possible training whileyou are under my care, and I think that you girls of St. Wode's ought totake steps to keep the souls which God has given you, the undying souls,strong and in health."

  "Hear, hear! and once again, hear!" suddenly said the sharp voice ofBelle Acheson. She uttered her strange remark standing up. Marjorie andEileen were close to her.

  "Hear, hear!" she repeated, continuing rapidly: "it was but to-day, MissLauderdale, I was speaking of the miserable dead souls which most of thestudents of St. Wode's carry within their breasts."

  "Hush! no more speaking in hall," said the voice of the indignantchairwoman. Miss Lauderdale, after a pause, during which her kind eyeswere fixed on Belle's excited face, spoke:

  "I will talk with you, Belle Acheson, presently," she said. "Now,please, don't interrupt again while I continue my short address.--Ipropose that the girls of St. Wode's--that is, those who choose to doso--should take up an extensive district of the poor in this large townof Wingfield. I have spoken to our rector on the subject, and he thinksthat they could carry on a thorough work of supervision and of interestin the poor without endangering their own health in the very least. Allthose who choose to become members of our new league, which is to becalled the Guild of St. Elizabeth, can do so. The names of proposedmembers are to be submitted to me before this day week. I will then morefully declare my plans, and show the girls who wish to join our league aprogramme which I hope they will approve of."

  Miss Lauderdale said a great deal more. All her words were uttered withgreat eloquence and much feeling. She explained to the girls that Godheld each of them, with their vast opportunities, their great means ofculture, their abundance of money (for most of them were wealthy),responsible for their brothers and sisters.

  "'Am I my brother's keeper?' you ask," she continued. "God answers toeach of you, 'You are.' The world says, 'No, I am not,' but Godsays, 'Yes, you are.' All men are your brothers. For all who sin, all whosuffer, you are to a certain extent responsible. To each of you, in yourstrength, is given by God a weak brother to look after, one who has notgot your opportunities, who has not got your wealth, who has not gotyour comforts and luxuries in life. You are responsible for him, andsome day you will be asked what you have done with your responsibility.If you leave the world without having fulfilled that terrible and yetgrand obligation, you will through all eternity feel the loss of whatyou might have gained."

  Finally the principal sat down amid loud cheering. Most of the girlswere enthusiastic over the new scheme; and Marjorie and Eileen inparticular felt their hearts glowing and their eyes sparkling.

  After the address the girls themselves were encouraged to speak, and avery animated discussion followed. When it was over, folding-doors werethrown back, and all the students were invited into the large saloonwhich Miss Lauderdale reserved for very rare and special occasions. Herethey were supplied with light refreshments, and presently MissLauderdale herself went to the organ at the end of the room, and playedsome splendid music. She was a musician of rare power, and Leslielistened with her heart in her eyes.

  It was past ten o'clock when she left the hall. Just as she was doing soMiss Frere came up.

  "Annie Colchester is your roomfellow, is she not?" she said. "Can yougive me any idea why she has been absent to-night?"

  "I don't think she is quite well," replied Leslie.

  "I see by your face, Miss Gilroy, that you are distressed aboutsomething. Are you keeping anything back?"

  "I am afraid I am," replied Leslie, distress now in her tone.

  "Unless Miss Colchester's illness is really very serious and needs adoctor, she will be very severely reprimanded for this willfuldisobedience to the command of her principal," continued Miss Frere. "Imust see her myself early in the morning, and I am quite sure thatnothing will satisfy Miss Lauderdale except a very ample apology and afull explanation of the reason why she absented herself. She hascommitted a very grave act of disobedience. You know, of course, thatthe few rules that are imposed upon the students are expected to be keptmost rigorously. Excuses make no difference. The girl who breaks therules has to be punished. Annie Colchester's only chance is to apologizeto Miss Lauderdale."

  "I will tell her. I will do my very best," said Leslie. "I am glad youhave spoken to me. I will go back now, and see her without delay."