The Collected Works of Susan Coolidge: 7 Novels, 35+ Short Stories, Essays & Poems (Illustrated)
say,” remarked Clarence, the evening before the girls went back to school,—“I say, suppose you write to a fellow sometimes, Clover.”
“Do you mean yourself by ‘a fellow’?” laughed Clover.
“You don’t suppose I meant George Hickman or that donkey of an Eels, did you?” retorted Clarence.
“No, I didn’t. Well, I’ve no objection to writing to a fellow, if that fellow is you, provided the fellow answers my letters. Will you?”
“Yes,” gruffly, “but you mustn’t show ‘em to any girls or laugh at my writing, or I’ll stop. Lilly says my writing is like beetle tracks. Little she knows about it though! I don’t write to her! Promise, Clover!”
“Yes, I promise,” said Clover, pleased at the notion of Clare’s proposing a correspondence of his own accord. Next morning they all left for Hillsover. Clarence’s friendship and the remembrance of their day with the Agnews were the pleasantest things that the girls carried away with them from their autumn vacation.
Chapter X.
A Budget of Letters
“Hillsover, October 21st.
Dearest Elsie,—I didn’t write you last Saturday, because that was the day we came back to school, and there hasn’t been one minute since when I could. We thought perhaps Miss Jane would let us off from the abstracts on Sunday, because it was the first day, and school was hardly begun; and, if she had, I was going to write to you instead, but she didn’t. She said the only way to keep girls out of mischief was to keep them busy. Rose Red is sure that something has gone wrong with Miss Jane’s missionary during the vacation,—she’s so dreadfully cross. Oh, dear, how I do hate to come back and be scolded by her again!
“I forget if I told you about the abstracts. They are of the sermons on Sunday, you know, and we have to give the texts, and the heads, and as much as we can remember of the rest. Sometimes Dr. Prince begins: ‘I shall divide my subject into three parts,’ and tells what they are going to be. When he does that, most of the girls take out their pencils and put them down, and then they don’t listen any more. Katy and I don’t, for she says it isn’t right not to listen some. Miss Jane pretends that she reads all the abstracts through, but she doesn’t; for once Rose Red, just to try her, wrote in the middle of hers, ‘I am sitting by my window at this moment, and a red cow is going down the street. I wonder if she is any relation to Mrs. Seccomb’s cow?’ and Miss Jane never noticed it, but marked her ‘perfect’ all the same. Wasn’t it funny?
“But I must tell you about our journey back. Mr. Page came all the way with us, and was ever so nice. Clarence rode down in the carriage to the depot. He gave me a real pretty india-rubber and gold pencil for a good-by present. I think you and Dorry would like Clarence, only just at first you might say he was rather rude and cross. I did; but now I like him ever so much. Cousin Olivia gave Katy a worked collar and sleeves, and me an embroidered pocket-handkerchief with clover leaves in the corner. Wasn’t it kind? I’m sorry I said in my last letter that we didn’t enjoy our vacation. We didn’t much; but it wasn’t exactly Cousin Olivia’s fault. She meant we should, but she didn’t know how. Some people don’t, you know. And don’t tell any one I said so, will you?
“Rose Red got here in the train before we did. She was so glad when we came that she cried. It was because she was home-sick waiting four hours at the Nunnery without us, she said. Rose is such a darling! She had a splendid vacation, and went to three parties and a picnic. Isn’t it queer? her winter bonnet is black velvet trimmed with pink, and so is mine. I wanted blue at first, but Cousin Olivia said pink was more stylish; and now I am glad, because I like to be like Rose.
“Katy and I have got No. 2 this term. It’s a good deal pleasanter than our old room, and the entry-stove is just outside the door, so we shall keep warm. There is sun, too, only Mrs. Nipson has nailed thick cotton over all the window except a little place at top. Every window in the house is just so. You can’t think how mad the girls are about it. The first night we had an indignation meeting, and passed resolutions, and some of the girls said they wouldn’t stay,— they should write to their fathers to come and take them home. None of them did, though. It’s perfectly forlorn, not being able to look out. Oh, dear, how I wish it were spring!
“We’ve got a new dining-room. It’s a great deal bigger than the old one, so now we all eat together, and don’t have any first and second tables. It’s ever so much nicer, for I used to get so dreadfully hungry waiting that I didn’t know what to do. One thing is horrid, though, and that is, that every girl has to make a remark in French every day at dinner. The remarks are about a subject. Mrs. Nipson gives out the subjects. To-day the subject was ‘Les oiseaux,’ and Rose Red said, ‘J’aime beaucoup les oiseaux, et surtout ceux qui sont rotis,’ which made us all laugh. That ridiculous little Bella Arkwright said, ‘J’aime beaucoup les oiseaux qui sing.’ She thought sing was French! Every girl in school began, ‘J’aime beaucoup les oiseaux’! To-morrow the subject is ‘Jules Cesar.’ I’m sure I don’t know what to say. There isn’t a word in Ollendorf about him.
“There aren’t so many new scholars this term as there were last. The girls think it is because Mrs. Nipson isn’t so popular as Mrs. Florence used to be. Two or three of the new ones look pleasant, but I don’t know them yet. Louisa Agnew is the nicest girl here next to Rose. Lilly Page says she is vulgar, because her father paints portraits and they don’t know the same people that Cousin Olivia know, but she isn’t a bit. We went to spend the day there just before we left Ashburn, and her father and mother are splendid. Their house is just full of all sorts of queer, interesting things, and pictures; and Mr. Agnew told us ever so many stories about painters, and what they did. One was about a boy who used to make figures of lions in butter, and afterward he became famous. I forget his name. We had a lovely time. I wish you could see Lou’s little sister Daisy. She’s only two, and a perfect little beauty. She has got ten teeth, and hardly ever cries.
“Please ask papa”—
Just as Clover had got to this point she was interrupted by Katy, who walked in with her hat on, and a whole handful of letters.
“See here!” she cried. “Isn’t this delightful? Miss Marsh took me with her to the Post-Office, and we found these. Three for you and two for me, and one for rose. Wait a minute till I give Rose hers, and we’ll read them together.”
In another moment the two were cosily seated with their heads close together, opening their budget. First came one from papa.
“My dear Daughters,”—
“It’s for you too, you see,” said Katy.
“Last week came your letter of the 31st, and we were glad to hear that you were well and ready to go back to school. By the time this reaches you, you will be in Hillsover, and your winter term begun. Make the most of it, for we all feel as if we could never let you go from home again. Johnnie says she shall rub Spalding’s Prepared Glue all over your dresses when you come back, so that you cannot stir. I am a little of the same way of thinking myself. Cecy has returned from boarding-school, and set up as a young lady. Elsie is much excited over the party dresses which Mrs. Hall is having made for her, and goes over every day to see if any thing new has come. I am glad on this account that you are away just now, for it would not be easy to keep steady heads and continue you studies, with so much going on next door. I have sent Cousin Olivia a check to pay for the things she bought for you, and am much obliged to her for seeing that you were properly fitted out. Katy was very right to consider expense, but I wish you to have all things needful. I enclose two ten-dollar bills, one for each of you, for pocket-money; and, with much love from the children, am, “Yours affectionately, P. Carr.”
“P. S.—Cousin Helen has had a sharp attack, but is better.”
“I wish