Читать книгу Tomboys at the Abbey - Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley - Страница 6

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Miss Macey was kind-hearted and she had a warm feeling for Joy, who had come to the rescue of the school at a crisis, with an offer of hospitality. But her kindness had limits, and she was astonished and a little doubtful when the new idea was put to her.

“But the girls will do very well here, my dear Joy! It sounds as if you thought we would not be good to them!”

“I didn’t mean that!” Joy cried hurriedly. “It’s only—well, you see”—she stumbled and cast an agonised look at Joan.

Joan had insisted that the proposal should come from Joy, but now she felt it was time to take a hand.

“We have had so much help from Jen, all last summer and autumn, Miss Macey. We really would like to repay her, and this seems a way to do it. We know she would be all right at school, but it means a lot to girls to be together and away from the crowd, and she and Jack are such close friends. It would make them very happy to have these three months as day girls, cycling to school every morning. And we’d like to have them so much. It would be a kindness to us too, if they could come.”

“We’re so terribly sorry to have left school,” Joy said diplomatically. “Every May-day makes us feel cut off from the girls. We’d like to be more in touch with you all.”

“That could be remedied.” Miss Macey’s eyes twinkled. “I have thought of starting a senior course for girls who have left, to include domestic subjects—cookery and needlework and house-wifery. Perhaps I should hurry on with the idea, so that you could come back to school for a few terms? You could brush up your French as well.”

Joan laughed at the horror in Joy’s face, and Miss Macey’s smile deepened.

“I didn’t mean that exactly. I shouldn’t have time. I’m giving every minute to music,” Joy said hastily, growing scarlet in dismay. “And I might not like it; I’m not good at house stunts. But it would be useful for Joan!”—in revenge for Joan’s laughter.

“Thanks, but I’m learning the ‘house stunts’ at home. Mother sees to that,” Joan retorted. “I’m really quite domesticated, Miss Macey.”

“Preparing for a home of your own some day?” the Head smiled.

“I don’t think so. I don’t see any sign of it. But I do try to relieve Mother as much as I can.”

“How is Mrs. Shirley? I thought she looked very well at the coronation.”

“Oh, yes! She’s splendid; ever so much stronger. We’re beginning to see the result of these quiet years and a settled happy life,” Joan said eagerly.

“What does she say about this wild plan of Joy’s?”

“She likes the idea,” Joan assured her. “She is very fond of Jen and very grateful to her for her help last year. She would like to welcome her to the house for her own sake this time.”

“I see your point,” Miss Macey admitted. “But I shall have to think about it and to write to Mrs. Wilmot and Mrs. Robins. I feel you should write also.”

“Oh, we will! Then you’d agree, if the mothers are willing?”

“I might. But, as I say, I must think it over carefully. You will not say anything to the girls at present, of course.”

“Oh, no! Thank you very much, Miss Macey.”

“But if they’re to come to us, you’ll let us tell them ourselves? Oh, please!” Joy begged.

The Head laughed. “That will be only fair. I’m not sure that I approve. It seems very unnecessary.”

“But it’s Jack’s last term!” Joy pleaded. “It would be such a comfort to the kids!—well, the girls, then! I’m sorry.”

“That’s better,” Miss Macey said severely. “I hope if the girls come to you they will remember they are no longer children and will behave themselves and not worry Mrs. Shirley.”

“Jen will never worry her. She’s much too fond of her,” Joan said quickly. “Then may we write to Mrs. Wilmot? We’ll ask Mrs. Robins, too, but we feel sure she will let Jen come. But we couldn’t write to them without your consent.”

“You may write,” Miss Macey said. “But my permission depends, as before, on punctuality at school and on homework properly prepared.”

“I’m sure the girls will be careful,” Joan promised.

Miss Macey’s eyes twinkled again. “I will forgive the girls for being late, if you have another burglar alarm, but not for any other reason.”

“Then let’s hope they are never late,” Joy said fervently. “We don’t want any more burglars. We won’t ask to see Jen to-day. I’m sure I would say something I shouldn’t. We’ll rush home and write those letters.”

The answers from Mrs. Robins and Mrs. Wilmot were almost identical. If Miss Macey gave permission, the mothers would be delighted to agree to the plan; but the Head’s consent was necessary.

“Miss Macey didn’t promise,” Joan reminded Joy, who had whooped with delight on reading the letters.

“But she’s going to agree. I saw it in her eyes.” Joy ran to the telephone to make an appointment with the headmistress.

“I believe Mrs. Wilmot’s really terribly bucked to think of Jack living here,” she said, coming back to Joan and Mrs. Shirley. “You see what she says about a summer in country air being so much better than the whole term in town! Jack hasn’t been too strong sometimes.”

“We must see that the girls spend all their spare time out of doors,” Mrs. Shirley said.

“There’ll be no trouble about that,” Joy laughed. “It will be nothing but cricket with Jack.”

“They can do their prep. sitting out under the trees,” Joan suggested.

“And how much prep. will they do?” Joy scoffed. “If they’re anything like me—like I used to be, I mean—they’d be much better shut in the library till the work’s done. The Head will see us to-morrow afternoon, Joan. She’s heard from the mothers too, and she says it all seems quite satisfactory.”

“Then she’s going to agree. Jolly for everybody,” Joan assented.

By Miss Macey’s permission, when they left her study next day, they went to the playing-field, where practice was in progress.

Jen saw them before anyone else, and basely forsaking Jack, to whom she was bowling, she came racing across the grass, her plaits and her green girdle flying, her legs looking longer than ever in her very short blue tunic.

“Joan! And Joy too! What fun to see you! Have you come for some cricket? I’ll bowl to you! Jack says I’m improving; I’d gone off a bit, but that twist is coming back. Take Jack’s bat and see if you can stand up to my balls!”

“We haven’t come for cricket.” Joan managed to edge in a word. “We’ve come to ask if you would like to live with us all summer and cycle to school every day, as you did when Rykie was here?”

Joy looked at Jen expectantly, awaiting her well-known shriek of joy.

But Jen’s response to the invitation was unexpected. She drew back and stared at the Abbey girls.

“Oh, I couldn’t! I’d love it, of course; you know that. But I couldn’t let Jack down. She’s counting on having me for company. I didn’t think you’d ask me to do that, Joan.”

“Idiot! As if we would!” Joy exploded. “You ought to know us better, you silly kid.”

“I wouldn’t do it, Jen,” Joan cried. “I put it clumsily; I’m sorry. We want you both, you and Jack together, of course.”

Jen gave a wild whoop and turned a somersault on the grass. “Joan! Angel! Darling! Do you really mean it? Both of us?—oh, gosh! What a time we’ll have! But will the Head let us go? Have you asked her? Oh, Joan, don’t dash the cup of joy from our lips! I just couldn’t bear it.”

“Of course, we’ve spoken to Miss Macey! What do you take us for?” Joan asked indignantly.

“Absolute angels! I’d never have believed anyone could be so kind. Who thought of it first? You, I suppose, Joan dear,” with an adoring glance at her Queen.

“Well, I didn’t. It was Joy’s idea, first and last and all the time, though Mother and I agreed it was a very jolly one.”

Jen whirled round on Joy. “You thought of it? I say, you’re tons nicer than I thought! It sounds much more like Joan than you.”

“How rude!” Joan exclaimed.

Joy had flushed. “Sorry you feel like that. I did think of it, all on my own, and I’ve spent ages writing to your mothers and interviewing the Head.”

“It wasn’t rude,” Jen said earnestly. “It was really a big compliment. I never dreamt you could be such a sport. Is it true? I’m going to love you for ever, if it is.”

“I’ll risk even that. It’s true enough. When will you come?”

“Now!” Jen shouted. “Did Mrs. Wilmot say yes? I know what Mother said!”

“Everybody said yes, though the Head can’t see any reason for it,” Joan remarked. “She’s inclined to be hurt, because we think you’d be happier with us than with her.”

“She’s right there,” Jen chuckled. She slipped her hand through Joy’s arm. “You aren’t really upset because I was surprised, are you? Don’t you see how nice it is to have shown somebody how simply marvellous you can be? I know you’re awfully kind about asking people to your house, but somehow I didn’t think you cared about me as much as all that. I don’t see why you should.”

“Because you’re such a good little girl, perhaps.” Joy’s indignation melted before her pleading tone. “All right, Jenny-Wren. I’ll let you come, and I’ll show you that I can have ideas, nice or otherwise.”

Jen stared at her, fascinated. “What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing, I hope,” Joan said promptly.

“Wait and see,” Joy retorted. “Aren’t you going to tell Jacky-boy? Perhaps she won’t want to leave this happy spot?”

“You try her!” Jen shouted, and raced off to the nets, where Jack stood, watching and wondering.