Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
How are you getting on? she asked brightly. Oh, by-the-bye, will you cocoa with me to-night at half-past ten?
I dont know what you mean, answered Priscilla. But Ill do it, she added, her eyes brightening.
All right, Ill explain the simple ceremony when you come. My room is next to yours, so youll have no difficulty in finding me out. I dont expect to have anyone present except Miss Banister, nodding her head in Nancys direction, and perhaps one other girl. By-bye, Ill see you at half-past ten.
Maggie turned to leave the hall, but Nancy lingered for a moment by Priscillas side.
Wouldnt you like to take your tea up to your room? she asked. We most of us do it. You may, you know.
I dont think I wish to, answered Priscilla, in an uncertain voice.
Nancy
half-turned to go, then came back.
You are going to unpack by-and-by, arent you? she asked.
Oh, yes, when I get back to my room.
Perhaps you ought to know beforehand; the girls will be coming to call.
Priscilla raised her eyes.
What girls? she asked, alarm in her tone.
Oh, most of the students in your corridor. They always call on a Fresher the first night in her room. You need not bother yourself about them; theyll just talk for a little while and then go away. What is the matter, Miss Peel? Maggie has told me your name, you see.
What you tell me sounds so very very formal.
But it isnt not really. Shall I come and help you to entertain them?
I wish began Priscilla. She hesitated; the words seemed to stick in her throat.
What did you say? Nancy bent forward a little impatiently.
I wish yes, do come, with a violent effort. All right, you may expect me.
Nancy flew after Maggie Oliphant, and Priscilla went slowly up the wide, luxurious stairs. She turned down the corridor which led to her own room. There were doors leading out of this corridor at both sides, and Priscilla caught glimpses of luxurious rooms bright with flowers and electric light. Girls were laughing and chatting in them; she saw pictures on the walls, and lounges and chairs scattered about. Her own room was at the far end of the corridor. The electric light was also brightening it, but the fire was unlit, and the presence of the unpacked trunk, taking up a position of prominence on the floor, gave it a very unhomelike feel. In itself the room was particularly picturesque. It had two charming lattice windows, set in deep square bays. One window faced the fireplace, the other the door. The effect was slightly irregular, but for that very reason all the more charming. The walls of the room were painted light blue; there was a looking-glass over the mantelpiece set in a frame of the palest, most delicate, blue. A picture-rail ran round the room about six feet from the ground, and the high frieze above had a scroll of wild roses painted on it in bold, free relief.
The panels of the doors were also decorated with sprays of wild flowers in picturesque confusion. Both the flowers and the scroll were boldly designed, but were unfinished, the final and completing touches remaining yet to be given.
Priscilla looked hungrily at these unexpected trophies of art. She could have shouted with glee as she recognised some of her dear, wild Devonshire flowers among the groups on the door panels. She wondered if all the rest of the students were treated to these artistic decorations, and grew a little happier and less homesick at the thought.
Priscilla could have been an artist herself had the opportunity arisen, but she was one of those girls all alive with aspiration and longing who never up to the present had come in the way of special culture in any style.
She stood for some time gazing at the groups of wild flowers, then remembering with horror that she was to receive visitors that night, she looked round the room to see if she could do anything to make it appear home-like and inviting.
It was a nice room, certainly. Priscilla had never before in her whole life occupied such a luxurious apartment, and yet it had a cold, dreary, uninhabited feel. She had an intuition that none of the other students rooms looked like hers. She rushed to light the fire, but could not find the matches, which had been removed from their place on the mantelpiece, and felt far too shy to ring the electric-bell. It was Priscillas fashion to clasp her hands together when she felt a sense of dismay, and she did so now, as she looked around the pretty room, which yet with all its luxuries looked to her cold and dreary.
The furniture was excellent of its kind. A Turkey carpet covered the centre of the floor, the boards round the edge were stained and brightly polished. In one corner of the room was a little bed, made to look like a sofa by day, with a Liberty cretonne covering. A curtain of the same shut away the wardrobe and washing apparatus. Just under one of the bay-windows stood a writing-table, so contrived as to form a writing-table, and a bookcase at the top, and a chest of drawers to hold linen below. Besides this there was a small square table for tea in the room, and a couple of chairs. The whole effect was undoubtedly bare.