Part 25 (2/2)
Scene followed scene. Jane's love-story and Lydia's and Elizabeth's until the tangles, always tied in true lovers' garlands, were disentangled one by one and Mrs. Bennet was able to sing her hymn of joy. ”Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! What will become of me? I shall go distracted.”
It was a great success, of course, the Reunion Play always was, and each one better than the last as every one said, but Judith and Nancy privately decided that nothing could ever be better--it was perfect.
The play over, benches and chairs were piled up at the sides, the orchestra played an entrancing tune, and every one danced; Mr. Collins with Lady Catherine de Burgh, and Elizabeth with Judith, Mrs. Bennet with Nancy, and Jane with Bingley.
Then by and by Miss Meredith gave a signal to the orchestra, and big girls and little, Old and New, formed a great triple hand-clasped circle and sang together as was the custom, ”Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot?” And if some of the Old Girls found they couldn't sing at all because their voices grew hoa.r.s.e and husky, as they thought of what old acquaintance in York Hill had meant to them and was going to mean to their young sisters and daughters, what wonder!
It was over. The guests were moving slowly down to the drawing-rooms for refreshments, and the School and the Old Girls crossed the quadrangle and had their lemonade and cake in Big Hall. In twos and threes the girls stood making plans for next year, or talking over the events of the day.
Some one at the piano began to play ”Forty Years On,” the last song always at York Hill on Prize Day.
Judith didn't want to sing--she slipped out through the open door. It was a glorious sight, the moon was nearly full, and the quadrangle was flooded with silvery light.
In front of her was the great main School building, its windows blazing with light, the silhouette of the bell-tower etched against the sky. She could hear the Old Girls behind her singing in the Gymnasium--
”Forty years on, when afar and asunder Parted are those who are singing to-day, When you look back and forgetfully wonder What you were like in your work and your play.”
Memories of the past year crowded into Judith's mind. The first days, and this splendid last week; she could not put into words even to herself what it had all meant to her, but deep within herself she realized that Aunt Nell's wish had come true--York Hill was helping her to be true to the best she knew.
The insistent rhythm of the chorus caught her and held her:
”Follow up! Follow up!
Till the field ring again and again With the tramp of twenty-two men-- Follow up! Follow up!”
Judith had sung ”Forty Years On” many times. It was a favourite for the Sat.u.r.day-night sing-songs, but never before had it gripped her like this. Out into the night floated the golden notes of Kathryn Fleming's glorious voice--
”Oh, the great days in the distance enchanted, Days of fresh air in the rain and the sun How we rejoiced as we struggled and panted, Hardly believable forty years on.
”G.o.d give us bases to guard and beleaguer; Games to play out whether earnest or fun; Fights for the fearless and goals for the eager: Twenty, and thirty, and forty years on.”
”Follow up” sang the beautiful voice--and then came the answering refrain from hundreds of York Hill daughters--”Follow up! Follow up!”
A great wave of emotion shook Judith--the pent-up feeling of the last few days must find expression; with an unconscious dramatic gesture she turned to the School and held out her hands. ”Oh, I WILL have big ideals and not little ones--I wanted to say a big 'Thank you' the other night, dear York Hill--and I couldn't--I hadn't the words--and I can't now--but I will, I WILL follow up.”
THE END
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