Part 32 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXI

The Sports

The Summer Term at Aireyholme always wound up with the Sports. They were as much of an inst.i.tution as the dramatic performance given shortly before Christmas. The girls stuck to them with conservative zeal.

Several times Mrs. Franklin had suggested some other kind of fete to celebrate the close of the school year, but concerts, tennis tournaments, or pastoral plays were alike rejected in favour of athletics. For the last week the Committee had been at work arranging the events and making copies of the programme. The prizes were on view in the studio, and were inspected with deep interest on the morning of the great day.

”I can't think why you should make such a fuss about sports!” said Katrine, who was touching up some sketches, and found her painting operations decidedly hindered by the crowd cl.u.s.tering round the table.

”If you'd had an art compet.i.tion, now, it would have been far nicer. Why didn't you?”

”Because we've got to think of something to suit the whole school, and not just a few hobbyists,” returned Viola rather touchily. ”You're absolutely obsessed with painting. We monitresses take an all-round view, and consider the general good.”

”Isn't it for the general good to elevate public taste?” asked Katrine, who never missed an opportunity of arguing with Viola.

”Certainly; but it's not fair on an occasion like this to have a compet.i.tion for which only an elect number are eligible. Sports are democratic things. Every one has the same chance.”

”Now there I don't agree with you. Some girls are better at running and jumping, just as others are cleverer at music or painting. Sports aren't a sc.r.a.p more democratic, really; they only offer a different field of battle. Your artistic genius may be a duffer at a sack race, and your crack pianist a b.u.t.ter-fingers with a ball. You must admit that!”

”I shan't admit anything of the sort. It's well known in every school that athletics are the fairest things going. That's why they're so popular.”

”But from your own reasoning----”

”Oh, I say, stop--for the sake of peace!” interrupted Diana. ”We're going to have the Sports, so what's the good of barging about them? If you'd write a few extra programmes, Katrine Marsden, instead of giving your opinions, there'd be some sense in it.”

”I thought you had enough.”

”We could do with half a dozen more. It's horrid to be short; and extra visitors sometimes turn up.”

It was the tradition of the school that the summer fete should be held on the last Sat.u.r.day in July. Though not the actual breaking-up day, in the estimation of the girls it was almost as good. After Friday's cla.s.ses there were no more lessons; Monday would be devoted to packing, and on Tuesday all would be speeding away by train to different points of the compa.s.s. It was a kind of ”do-as-you-please” day; rules were relaxed, and everybody made the most of the holiday. A band of helpers, under the superintendence of the Games Committee, spent the greater part of the morning preparing the playing-field, forms were carried out to accommodate the spectators, hurdles and other obstacles were arranged, and the ground for the long jump freshly raked.

”It's frightfully rough on Coralie that she mayn't compete this year!”

said Hilda Smart. ”She's something wrong with her heart, I believe; anyhow, the doctor has absolutely forbidden it. Poor old Corrie! She's so disappointed! She was ever so keen on winning a medal. She'll just have to sit and watch, like a visitor.”

”And t.i.ta has blistered her foot, and can't run, so two of us are off,”

commented Diana. ”It's hard luck on the Sixth!”

”Never mind; we've got Gladwin and Ellaline! They'll have to brace up for the credit of the form.”

”Trust them! But some of the Fifth are A1, and may steal a march on us.”

”Not while Dorrie Vernon's alive! I'd back her against anybody.”

”Has Katrine Marsden put her name down for anything?”

”Only for the bicycle race. She thinks the other compet.i.tions hoydenis.h.!.+”

”If you'd called them Olympic contests, and required candidates to come attired in ancient Greek costumes, she'd have been madly enthusiastic!”

grinned Diana.

”Much jumping one would do in cla.s.sic draperies!” sniffed Hilda scornfully. ”What does that kid want hallooing at us over there?”