Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
My dear, she said to Prissie, I have been anxious to cultivate your acquaintance. Will you come and have tea with me in my room this afternoon? And, Maggie, dear, will you come with Miss Peel?
She laid her hand on Maggies shoulder as she spoke, looked swiftly into the young girls face, then turned with a glance of great interest to Priscilla.
You will both come, she said. That is right. I wont ask anyone else. We shall have a cosy time together, and Miss Peel can tell me all about her studies, and aims, and ambitions.
Thank you, said Maggie, Ill answer for Miss Peel. Well both come; we shall be delighted.
Miss Heath nodded to the pair, and walked swiftly down the long hall to the dons special entrance, where she disappeared.
Is not she charming? whispered Maggie. Did I not tell you you would fall in love with Dorothea?
But I have not, said Priscilla, colouring. And I dont know whether she is charming or not.
Maggie checked a petulant exclamation, which was rising to her lips. She was conscious of a curious desire to win her queer young companions goodwill and sympathy.
Never mind, she said, the moment of victory is only delayed. You will tell a very different story after you have had tea with Dorothea this evening. Now, let us come and look at the notice-boards, and see what the days programme is. By the way, are you going to attend any lectures this morning?
Yes, two, said Prissie one on Middle History, from eleven to twelve, and I have a French lecture afterwards.
Well, I am not doing anything this morning. I wish you were not. We might have taken a long walk together. Dont you love long walks?
Oh, yes; but there is no time for anything of that sort here nor Priscilla hesitated. I dont think theres space for a very long walk here, she added. The colour rushed into her cheeks as she spoke, and her eyes looked wistful.
Maggie laughed.
What are your ideas with regard to space, Miss Peel? The whole of Kingsdene-shire lies before us. We are untrammelled, and can go where we please. Is not that a sufficiently broad area for our roamings?
But there is no sea, said Priscilla. We should never have time to walk from here to the sea, and nothing nothing else seems worth while.
Oh, you have lived by the sea?
Yes, all my life. When I was a little girl, my home was near Whitby, in Yorkshire, and lately I have lived close to Lyme two extreme points of England, you will say; but no matter, the sea is the same. To walk for miles on the top of the cliffs, that means exercise.
Ah, said Maggie, with a sigh, I understand you I know what you mean.
She spoke quickly, as she always did under the least touch of excitement. Such a walk means, more than exercise; it means thought, aspiration. Your brain seems to expand then, and ideas come. Of course you dont care for poor flat Kingsdene-shire.
Priscilla turned and stared at Miss Oliphant. Maggie laughed; she raised her hand to her forehead.
I must not talk any more, she said, turning pale, and shrinking into herself. Forgive my rhapsodies. Youll understand what they are worth when you know me better. Oh, by the way, will you come with me to Kingsdene on Sunday? We can go to the three oclock service at the chapel, and afterwards have tea with some friends of mine the Marshalls theyd be delighted to see you.
What chapel is the service at? inquired Priscilla.
What chapel? Is there a second? Come with me, and you will never ask that question again. Get under the shade of St. Hildas see once those fretted roofs, and those painted windows. Listen but once to that angel choir, and then dare to ask me what chapel I mean, when I invite you to come and taste of heaven beforehand.
Thank you, said Priscilla, Ill come. I cannot be expected to know about things before I have heard of them, can I? But I am very much obliged to you, and I shall be delighted to come.
Chapter Nine A New Like
sitting-room, therefore, had not the curtained-off effect which took slightly from the charm of the students rooms. In summer Miss Heaths room was beautiful, for the two deep bay-windows one facing west, the other south looked out upon smoothly kept lawns and flower-beds, upon tall elm trees, and also upon a distant peep of the river, for which Kingsdene was famous, and some of the spires and towers of the old churches. In winter, too, however and winter had almost come now the Vice-Principals room had a unique effect, and Priscilla never forgot the first time she saw it. The young girl stepped across the threshold of a new life on this first evening. She would always remember it.
It was getting dark, and curtains were drawn round the cosy bays, and the firelight blazed cheerfully.
Prissie was a little before rather than behind her time, and there was no one in the room to greet her when she entered. She felt so overmastered by shyness, however, that this was almost a relief, and she sank down into one of the many comfortable chairs with a feeling of thankfulness, and looked around her.