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At three oclock the school assembled once more; but now the studies were of a less severe character, and Hester spent one of her first happy half-hours over a drawing lesson. She had a great love for drawing, and felt some pride in the really beautiful copy which she was making of the stump of an old gnarled oak-tree. Her dismay, however, was proportionately great when the drawing-master drew his pencil right across her copy.
I particularly requested you not to sketch in any of the shadows, Miss Thornton. Did you not hear me say that my lesson to-day was in outline? I gave you a shaded piece to copy in outline did you not understand?
This is my first day at school, whispered back poor Hester, speaking in English in her distress. Whereupon the master smiled, and even forgot to report her for her transgression of the French tongue.
Hester spent the rest of that afternoon over her music lesson. The music-master was an irascible little German, but Hester played with some taste, and was therefore not too severely rapped over the knuckles.
Then came tea and another half-hour of recreation, which was followed by two silent hours in the school-room, each girl bent busily over her books in preparation for the next days work. Hester studied hard, for she had made up her mind to be the intellectual prodigy of the school. Even on this first day, miserable as it was, she had won a few plaudits for her quickness and powers of observation. How much better could she work when she had really fallen into the tone of the school, and understood the lessons which she was now so carefully preparing! During her busy day she had failed to notice one thing: namely, the absence of Annie Forest. Annie had not been in the school-room, had not been in the play-room; but now, as the clock struck eight, she entered the school-room with a listless expression, and took her place in the same class with Hester. Her eyes were heavy, as if she had been crying, and when a companion touched her, and gave her a sympathising glance, she shook her head with a sorrowful gesture, but did not speak. Glasses of milk and slices of bread and butler were now handed round to the girls, and Miss Danesbury asked if any one would like to see Mrs Willis before prayers. Hester half sprang to her feet, but then sat down again. Mrs Willis had annoyed her by refusing to break her rules and answer her question during lesson hours. No, the silly child resolved that she would not trouble Mrs Willis now.
No one to-night, then? said Miss Danesbury, who had noticed Hesters movement.
Suddenly Annie Forest sprang to her feet.
Im going, Miss Danesbury, she said. You need not show me the way; I can find it alone.
With her short, curly hair falling about her face, she ran out of the room.
Chapter Eight You Have Woken Me Too Soon.
As Hester entered the room, from these parted lips came unmistakable and loud snores. She stood still dismayed.
How terrible! she said to herself oh, what a girl! and I cannot sleep in the room with any one who
snores I really cannot!
She stood perfectly still, with her hands clasped before her, and her eyes fixed with almost ludicrous dismay on this unexpected trial. As she gazed, a fresh discovery caused her to utter an exclamation of horror aloud.
The newcomer had curled herself up comfortably in her bed. Suddenly, to her surprise, a voice said very quietly, without a flicker of expression coming over the calm face, or the eyes even making an effort to open
Are you my new school-mate?
Yes, said Hester, I am sorry to say I am.
Oh, dont be sorry, theres a good creature; theres nothing to be sorry about. Ill stop snoring when I turn on my side its all right. I always snore for half an hour to rest my back, and the time is nearly up. Dont trouble me to open my eyes, I am not the least curious to see you. You have a cross voice, but youll get used to me after a bit.
But youre in my bed, said Hester. Will you please to get into your own?
Oh, no, dont ask me; I like your bed best. I slept in it the whole of last term. I changed the sheets myself, so it does not matter. Do you mind putting my muddy boots outside the door, and folding up my stockings? I forgot them, and I shall have a bad mark if Danesbury comes in. Good-night Im turning on my side I wont snore any more.
The heavy face was now only seen in profile, and Hester, knowing that Miss Danesbury would soon appear to put out the candle, had to hurry into the other bed as fast as she could; something impelled her, however, to take up the muddy boots with two very gingerly fingers, and place them outside the door.
She slept better this second night, and was not quite so startled the next morning when the remorseless gong aroused her from slumber. The maid-servant came in as usual to light the candles, and to place two cans of hot water by the two wash-handstands.
You are awake, miss? she said to Hester.
Oh, yes, replied Hester almost cheerfully.
Well, thats all right, said the servant. Now I must try and rouse Miss Drummond, and she always takes a deal of waking; and if you dont mind, miss, it will be an act of kindness to call out to her in the middle of your own dressing that is, if I dont wake her effectual.