Part 6 (1/2)
”Splendiferous!”
”Girl alive, you're a genius! Go instanter!”
Dorrie hurried off to deliver her second invitation. It was more graciously received than the first.
”Oh! I'm only too flattered! I shall be delighted to turn up. May I bring a contribution to the feast?” beamed Miss Aubrey.
”Done Katrine Marsden for once!” chuckled Dorrie, communicating the good tidings in the study. ”She'll be fearfully sick when she finds her idol has deserted her for us.”
”I sincerely hope she will.”
At eight o'clock an extremely jolly party a.s.sembled in the little room underneath the studio, all prepared to abandon themselves to enjoyment, to crack jokes, sing catches, ask riddles, or indulge in anything that savoured of fun. There were not chairs for all, but n.o.body minded sitting on the floor. Viola's spirit-lamp was on the table, and the kettle steamed cheerily; tins of cocoa and condensed milk and packets of biscuits were spread forth with the row of cups and saucers. Miss Aubrey, throned in a basket-chair, with girls quarrelling for the privilege of sitting near her, held a kind of impromptu court.
”It's been a ripping May Day. Everybody was saying how well you'd engineered the whole thing,” Viola a.s.sured her. ”The folk dances were just too sweet! Those Americans who came in that big car were in raptures. They dropped half a sovereign into my box. They said the May Queen was the prettiest child they'd ever seen.”
”Mary Gartley is only second to Hugh,” replied Miss Aubrey. ”I hear the little chap nearly got run over this afternoon, and Katrine Marsden rescued him. Where is Katrine, by the by?”
For a moment an awkward silence reigned.
”She's in the studio. We invited her, but she wouldn't come,”
volunteered Dorrie at last.
”Oh!” said Miss Aubrey, with a gleam of comprehension.
Upstairs, Katrine was painting away rather half-heartedly. She wondered why her beloved art-mistress did not arrive. It would be delightful to have her all to herself, without those schoolgirls. The door burst open, and Gwethyn came rus.h.i.+ng tumultuously in.
”Kattie! The Fifth are giving a Mad Hatter's party! We're going to have the most screaming fun! They've asked you, so do come, quick!”
”Oh, I don't care about it, child! I'm waiting here for Miss Aubrey.”
”Miss Aubrey? Why, she's gone to the Sixth Form party! I saw her walking into their study with a box of chocolates and a bag of something in her hand. They're at it hard!”
A glimpse of Katrine's face at that moment might have soothed the injured feelings of the monitresses. From below rose unmistakable sounds of mirth to confirm Gwethyn's words.
”Aren't you coming? Do hurry up!” urged Gwethyn impatiently.
But to join in the festivities of the Fifth Form after declining those of the Sixth was too great a come-down for Katrine's dignity.
”Run along, Baby! I don't care for nonsense parties. I'd rather stay and paint,” she replied, with an air of sang-froid that was perhaps slightly overdone.
”Tantrums? Well, you're a jolly silly, that's all I can say; for we're going to have ripping fun!” chirruped Gwethyn, shutting the door with a slam.
CHAPTER V
Lilac Grange
So far Gwethyn's impression of Aireyholme had been largely tinged by the prevailing presence of Laura Browne. Laura took her up the very evening she arrived, and had since gushed over her without intermission, monopolizing her almost entirely. It was Laura who explained the school rules, and offered advice on the subject of preparation or practising; Laura who walked with her round the garden, introduced her to the library, and showed her the Senior museum. The temperature of the friends.h.i.+p might be described--on Laura's side at any rate--as white-hot. She took complete possession of Gwethyn, driving off the other girls gently but firmly.
”I'll tell her all about the lessons!” she would declare, waving Rose or Susie away. ”Come with me, dearest! Of course I know our work's nothing to you, after your other school, but any help that I can give you, you're more than welcome to. It's so refres.h.i.+ng to have a girl like you here, after these others. Oh, anyone could see the difference! I fell in love with you at first sight. Look at Rose Randall, now; it would be impossible to be friends with her. I couldn't do it. And Beatrix and Marian are unspeakable. No, darling, until you came, I hadn't a chum in the whole school.”