Dolly’s Hamper.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IX, 30 August 1902, Page 568

Dolly’s Hamper.

(Written' specially for the “Graphic” by COUSIN V. A. ROCHE.)

At seven o'clock every morning the dressing bell rang out at Miss Percival’s boarding school for girls, and the. usual bustle commenced in the various dormitories. But on this particular morning something unusual had occurred in No. 1 dormitory. While the girls were dressing a little white packet was thrown in the window, bearing the name of one of the schoolgirls. “Why, Dolly!” exclaimed Julia Goodson, speaking to a little goldenhaired girl who was turning sleepily out of bed, “this is for you.” Dolly’s sleepiness vanished, and she seized the packet eagerly. The piece of paper, which was wrapped round a atone to give it weight, was a letter from her schoolboy- brother, who attended Dr. Langton’s school, a short distance away. This is what Dolly read:—

“Dear Doll ums, —The mater sent me a scrumptuous hamper yesterday, and one for you, too. I’ll bring yours over, if y.ou can devise some means for smuggling it into the school I guess Miss Percival don't believe in ■hampers. Old Langton don’t, so we have to do everything on the sly. Hurry up and give us an answer. 1 am waiting out on the law-n behind the. trees.. —Your affectionate brother, Teddy.”

When Dolly had read this epistle she piroutted round the room till her schoolmates were roused to the highest pitch of curiosity and excitement. “A hamper, girls!” she cried; “a hamper!” and all the others joined in the acclamations of delight. Dolly seized a pencil and scribbled the following reply:—

“Darling- Teddy,—How delightful. Bring the hamper to the foot of the window to-night, and I will lower my skipping rope for you to tie round it, and then I can haul it up. If you can do this give a long- whistle.—Your affectionate sister, Dolly.” She wrapped the letter round the stone and flung- it out of the window, and presently the figure of her brother crept cautiously out from the trees and, seizing- the parcel, ran back again. Dolly waited a few seconds, then a long whistle rang out, telling that all was well. Miss Dereival could not make out what the matter was with her little pupils of No. 1 dormitory that day. They were restless and excitable. Madarumselle de La Castres went nearly purple with sage, because, when she asked Dolly for a list of French verbs the latter made some answers in English about hampers, upon which all the other girls laughed, nearly sending Mademoiselle into hysterics. However, after school, Dolly went up and repeated the list of verbs quite correctly. and Mademoiselle's wrath was immediately appeased. Dolly Armstrong was the most popular girl in Miss Percival’s school. Everybody loved her, from Miss Percival down to the humble little boothoy who polished her dainty shoes with the utmost care every morning. Her nature was gentle and loving, and her face was that of an angel. Her tender little heart ever went out in sympathy for others, and more than half the contents of her purse—which, by the way, was always liberally filled by indulgent parents—-went out in charity. So you cannot wonder that she was idolised. Well, at eight o'clock that night ■the schoolgirls retired, but directly the teacher's back was turned half a dozen little figures all in white nightdresses bounded out of bed and waited quietly by one of the windows. Presently a low whistle was heard, and Dolly, wrapping n shawl round her head and shoulders, lifted up the window, and saw in the dim moonlight two figures in black Eton coats and large white collars. “Have you got it?" she asked in an excited Whisper. She didn’t wait for a reply, but lowered her skipping rope immediately. In a few seconds the hamper was safe in the dormitory. Dolly blew a kiss to her brother and thanked his friend for helping to

bring the hamper over, and then shut the window. A candle was soon lighted, and in a minute the girls were seated round the hamper, eagerly scanning its contents.

"Oh!” exclaimed Dolly with bated breath as she drew out a large iced cake with the following words written in pink icing on the top: “To my little Dolly, with Mother’s fond love.”

“How lovely,” cried the other girls in ecstasy. IJext came a box of fresh strawberries, in company with a bottle of rich cream. A number of meat pies, a pot of jelly, a luig of apples, ami a smell seed cake, the latter sent with cook’s love, completed the contents of the basket. It certainly was a hamper. >»

“I know what we’ll do. girls,” cried Dolly, suddenly; “we will eat some of this to-night and to-morrow, instead of going with Madamoiselle to the Museum; we will go down to the seashore and have a regular picnic.” This idea was received with much joy. Oue’of the girls produced a penknlife, no other kind of knife was available just then, and the cake was cut. In the midst of their enjoyment a step was heard outside in the corridor. In a second the candle was blown out, and six little fig-urcs whisked back to bed just as the teacher put her head in the door to see that all was well before retiring for the night. However, she was unsuspicious, and withdrew without entering, greatly to the rellief of the anxious girls. They finished their supper and went to bed to dream of the morrow. Lessons in the morning were again unsatisfactory with the girls of No. 1 dormitory, but the mistress concluded that it was the prospect of visiting the museum that made them excitable, so she was lenient. But what was her surprise •when Dolly Armstrong asked if the girls »dght stay home and practise tennis for- the coming tournament, instead of going out with Mad : amoiselle. Miss Percival readily granted the request, and Dolly went away rejoicing. In the dormitory there were great preparations. With a lit lie coaxing Dolly obtained from Eliza, the housemaid, a few- plates, knives and spoons and a small tablecloth. These were packed 5n the basket along with the eatables and were secreted to the shrubbery. The girls played tennis most industriously for the. first hour, but at halfpast two six little figures might have been seen walking stealthily away from the school. Twenty minutes’ smart walking brought them to the seashore. The shimmering sea, dotted here and there with dainty yachts, and the long stretch of bright yellow sand presented a dazzling appearance ,an<i the girls scampered along the beach, shouting- joyously to one another. They selected a small cove, Mid, sitting down, opened the basket and commenced their picnic. Never had they such an enjoyable time before. The meat-pies and cakes were delicious, and the-straw-berries and cream and jelly were past description. Butj alas! while passing away the time in jollity, the tide had risen, and when the girls prepared to return home they were dismayed to find that the tide completely hemmed them in. “Girls; what are we to do?” asked Dolly, looking about in hopes of finding some means of exit. But no, the great cliffs frowned perpendicularly upon them, offering no help whatever, An hour slowly passed. Dolly tried to comfort her companions, but she felt near breaking down herself. The prospect of spending a night on the lonely beach, or of being drowned, was too awful to contemplate. The other girls had given up all hope of rescue, and were crying bitterly; but Dolly walked up and down with a white face and tearless eyes. “No one knows that we are here,” cried the weeping Julia. “Oh, yes, Eliza knows,” interrupted Dolly, eagerly, “and when we are missed she. will be sure to confess; — although I told her not to breathe a word— 'but you see (here the little mouth quivered slightly) I expected to be home by four at least. Its past five now.”

Meanwhile there was a good deal of anxiety and commotion nt the Hdiool. Miss Percival did not think of enquiring for the girls until halfleast four. Eliza, unwilling to con-

fess, thought that the girls might have been delayed; but when halfpost five came and no sign of the truants, she went with fear and trembling to the distracted Miss Percival and told her. Miss Percival did not wait to give Eliza a scolding for not telling before, but flew down to the beach, followed by the other assistants. She espied a boatman mending h'is nets on the shore, and made in his direction.

“Have yon seen six little girls along here?” she asked in breathless agitatiion. The man looked up and removed his pipe with provoking slowness. “Yes, Marm,” he replied. “I seen sevcAa-1 young leddics all in white going round that there cove, but as the tide is risen 1 supposed that they had gone home.” “■Oh. my poor children,” gasped Miss Percival oh the verge of hysterics. “they will ba drowned. Quick, man, launch your boat and go round and save them. They must be hemmed in by the tide.” No one recognised the sedate and stately schoolmistress in this agitated woman. The 'boatman, roused to action by the imperative schoolmistress, quickly launched his boat and pulled towawls the cove. Miss Percival wanted to accompany him, but he said the boat would not hold more titan seveu. Imagine the joy of our little wandefiers when thej- beheld the boat approaching. Very soon they were safe oft the beach in M>iss Percival’s arms; who was too thankful to get them back safe and unhurt to scold just then. When they all reached the school, Dolly explained every thing, taking all the blame on her owm-ishouklers. Miss Percival did not say much, for she had a soft heart; but kissing. Dolly tenderly she dismissed her and sat down to think.

The rule forbidding the receiving of hampers was cancelled and the following one instituted: —“Pupils were allowed to receive hampers owe a quarter with the schoolmistress’ permission, provided that they received the hampers in an open fashion without an attempt to secrecy.” And thtr whole school was well pleased and contented with the. new rule.