"Has it crept through the keyhole?" quavered Peggy.
"Or just vanished into thin air?" speculated Magsie.
"The door"s really locked!" declared Vi, rattling the handle again to make sure.
"We certainly _saw_ it go up, but it"s not here now!"
"Flesh and blood can"t disappear in a second!"
"It"s most uncanny!"
"The old Cistercians wore white habits."
"I say, I don"t like this!"
Brother Lawrence, as the girls began to call the apparition, showed himself frequently, but always with the same elusiveness. The phenomenon was invariably as before: his white monastic robes would glimmer through the darkness, glide up the stairway, and then seemingly melt into nothing. Geraldine herself pursuing hotly on the scent, found that she was utterly baffled.
A head girl, especially a prefect with a scorn for superst.i.tion, does not like to admit herself baffled. Geraldine thought the matter over, took Loveday into her confidence, and went to Miss Todd. As the result of her interview she resolved to set what she called "a very neat little spook-trap". She and Loveday said nothing about it to the rest of the school. They merely bided their time.
Brother Lawrence did not always show up when anybody was on the watch for him; he seemed to prefer displaying his supernatural powers to the unwary. For two whole days he did not put in an appearance; whether he was haunting elsewhere or expiating his sins in purgatory was a point for discussion. On the third evening, however, Tattie, Jess, and Magsie had screwed their courage to sticking-point, and strolled upstairs in the twilight, half hoping and half fearing to catch a glimpse of the now almost familiar apparition. They kept in the shadow of the big cupboard, and held each others" hands without speaking. A full moon was shining through the landing window, and lit up the narrow staircase with a silvery, ghostly gleam. Suddenly from the darkness of a doorway emerged the white robes, and pa.s.sed rapidly upwards in the moonlight. Still clutching hands for moral support, the three girls tore after it.
Surely this time they could manage to overtake it? But no; it had turned the corner before they reached the lowest stair, and by the time they had dashed up the ten steps it had made its usual disappearance. They halted on the yard of landing, breathing hard; then their hearts seemed to turn somersaults, for the attic door suddenly opened. It was no ghost who peered forth at them, but Geraldine and Loveday. The former had a candle in her hand; she struck a match and lighted it calmly.
"You needn"t look so scared!" she said to the panting trio. "I"m just going to show you your precious spook. Stand back a little, will you? I a.s.sure you it won"t bite you!"
She descended to the landing, turned round towards the four steps that led to the attic door, then, to the immense amazement of the girls, raised up the steps like the lid of a chest. There was a good-sized cavity below, and in this place of concealment crouched a white-clad figure. Geraldine took it by the arm and hauled it unceremoniously forth. It issued chuckling, and, as its cowl fell back, disclosed a well-known and decidedly mirthful countenance.
"Stars and Stripes!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jess.
"The game"s up!" proclaimed Diana coolly. "You two"--nodding at the seniors--"have been too many for me."
"I always thought you were at the bottom of all this, Diana Hewlitt!"
said Geraldine. "I was quite determined I"d catch you. Take those things off at once. What are they? Sheets? Fold them up properly; don"t trail them on the floor. Do you know that if anybody in the school had had a weak heart you might have killed her by playing such a trick?"
"I knew you were all too strong-minded," twinkled Diana. "Of course, n.o.body believed in Brother Lawrence, any more than they believed in the fairies or the G.o.ds of Greece. I guess it"s rather nice sometimes to make a sort of practical demonstration of one"s reading. It shows one appreciates the books and takes an intelligent interest. There are heaps of good books in the library. I"m going to borrow _Customs and Superst.i.tions of the Celts_."
"You may borrow what you like," said Geraldine grimly; "but if we"ve any more of this business Miss Todd will settle it herself; so I tell you."
"People who provide entertainment are rarely thanked," sighed Diana, as she folded the sheets. "I ought to receive a stipend for keeping the school amused."
"You"ll receive something you don"t bargain for, if you don"t take care," warned Geraldine. "Go downstairs, all of you!"
That Brother Lawrence was identical with Diana did not very much surprise the school, but everybody went crazy over the discovery of the secret hiding-place under the stairs. Even Miss Todd had not known of its existence. Diana confessed that she had found it out quite by accident, had rushed downstairs to communicate the thrilling news, but had changed her mind as its obvious advantages flashed across her. She had not been able to resist making use of it to play a ghost trick. The little chamber which she had so unexpectedly brought to light was only just big enough to crouch in, and had probably been made in the troublous times of the Stuarts as a place of temporary concealment when the Abbey was searched by soldiers. Unfortunately it was quite empty.
"When I first opened it I expected to find a h.o.a.rd of spade-guineas or silver punch-bowls," said Diana ruefully to Loveday--the two girls were discussing the great discovery as they went to bed. "I nearly howled when I found nothing but dust."
"I wonder," answered Loveday, "if this is what that gentleman found--the one, I mean, who came to see Father when I had measles. You know I"ve always been hunting about for hiding-places."
"Yes, I know."
"I thought somehow it would be rather better than this, though. It hardly seemed worth while his troubling to come and call; though, of course, it"s interesting. Mr. Fleming will be very thrilled."
"I"d have been a great deal more thrilled if there"d been anything worth having inside. As I told you before, I expected spade-guineas. It"s one of the disappointments of my life!" declared Diana, getting into bed.
CHAPTER XV
Joy-riding
The post at Pendlemere Abbey was distributed after breakfast, and the girls devoured their correspondence in the short interval before lessons began. One morning in April the usual weekly letter with the Paris postmark arrived addressed to "Miss Hewlitt", and, five minutes after receiving it, Diana came tearing down the corridor in search of Loveday.
She looked the very incarnation of joy--her face was aglow, and her eyes shining.
"Such news!" she gasped. "What d"you think? I"ll give you three guesses.
Father and Mother are coming over to England for Easter. I haven"t seen them since last September, and I"m simply off my head. Isn"t it ripping?
And that"s not all, by any means. Come up to the ivy room, Loveday mine.
I want to tell you all about it without those kids hanging about listening to every word one says. Come now!"
Linking her arm in Loveday"s, Diana dragged her friend upstairs, away from the eyes and ears of inquisitive juniors, who were veritable little pitchers where their elders" affairs were concerned. It was only when they were in the safety of their own sanctum that she fully unbosomed herself.
"Somebody else is coming to England. It"s my brother Giles. He"s been made London correspondent of the _Louisville Herald_. He wanted most frightfully to join the army, but they wouldn"t accept him because of his eyes. He"ll be just standing on his head with joy at getting to Europe after all. Did I tell you he was in a newspaper office? He"s crossing next week, and he"s to go and see Father and Mother in Paris first, then come back with them to England, and have a holiday before he begins his new work. Dad"s going to hire a car and take us a joy-ride, and Lenox is to get leave and join us. You know Lenox isn"t demobilized yet. He"s in a camp in Wales. But he expects they"ll give him about five days. Think of seeing Britain in a car, with Father and Mother and Giles and Lenox! I want to shout!"
"You little lucker!" sympathized Loveday.
"But that isn"t all yet. I haven"t finished telling you," triumphed Diana, laying a fluffy head on her room-mate"s shoulder, and poking a caressing finger into Loveday"s dimples. "Mother said in her letter that she guessed I"d enjoy the tour so much more if I had a girl companion with me, and would I like to ask one of my school friends? You bet I would! Ra--ther! Do you know whom I"m going to ask?"
"Wendy?"
"Wendy! No! I"m very fond of her, but she"s not _the_ one for a tour like this. Besides, I know she"s going to the seaside with her own home folks. There"s only one person from Pendlemere I want, and that"s Loveday. Will you come? I"d just adore to have you!"
"O-o-o-oh! If your mother really asks me."
"Of course she does! She says she"s writing about it to Miss Todd."
Such a dazzling prospect as a joy-ride through England was hardly to be refused. In due course Loveday"s aunt gave her permission, and the invitation was accepted. It was arranged for the motor tour to begin on Easter Tuesday, so as to allow Diana and her family to have a few quiet days together first. They were to spend them at Windermere, then call with the car at Liverpool for Loveday, and also to pick up Lenox, who would join them there from the American camp in Wales.
Loveday went about the school feeling as if her reason were rocking. She had never imagined that anything so nice could happen to her. Since the loss of her parents life had not been too bright. Sometimes she almost dreaded the holidays at her aunt"s. She was shy and sensitive, and the impression that she was not altogether welcome there was a bitter one.
It is very hard for a girl when she has no home of her own, and no one whose special prerogative it is to love and encourage her. Though her uncle and aunt saw that she had everything needful in the way of education and clothing, they never petted her, and she had grown up with the starved feeling of the child who lacks kisses. She had too much self-respect to parade her woes at school, and perhaps her fellow seniors mistook her shyness for pride; they were nice to her, but she had not a real confidante among any of them. It was Diana--Diana whom she had at first resented as an intruder in the ivy room--who had broken down the wall of her reserve and found the road to her heart.
The remainder of the term pa.s.sed quickly; the spring days were so full with lessons and land-work that time at the Abbey literally raced along.
Nevertheless, with characteristic impatience, Diana crossed off the calendar each evening, and counted the lessening dates in huge satisfaction. Then came the joyful afternoon when trunks were brought down from the box-room, and the school began its congenial task of packing. The accustomed term-end routine was gone through, and next morning three tired mistresses saw twenty excited pupils safely into their respective railway carriages.
"Only a week and we meet again," said Loveday to Diana, whose train started first.
"Just seven days," returned that damsel, leaning dangerously out of the compartment window. "Guess I"m about living for that tour. If we don"t have the time of our lives, I"m much mistaken. Ta-ta till next Tuesday."
Diana enjoyed the quiet week at Windermere with father, mother, and brother, and though the little circle was not quite complete--for there was a brother of seventeen at school in America--it was delightful to be among her own family again. Mr. Hewlitt was very tired after his long spell of arduous work in Paris, and was glad to rest his brains, so they spent most of the time boating on the lake, or strolling in the woods, getting new-made-over in the fresh, bracing country air. The car they had hired was to meet them at Lancaster. They went thus far south by train, then motored to Liverpool. Loveday, ready with suit-case packed, was eagerly expecting them. From the window of her aunt"s drawing-room she watched the big six-seater car arrive at the door. Giles--a masculine edition of Diana, in spectacles--was driving. Lenox--a beaming khaki-clad figure with twinkle-some brown eyes--sat by his side. Mr. and Mrs. Hewlitt and Diana were in the rear seat. A goodly pile of boxes and baskets was strapped on to the luggage-carrier behind. A change of places was effected, resulting in the two girls sitting with Giles in the front. Loveday"s suit-case was stowed away, her aunt waved good-bye, the electric-starter was applied, and the car moved off on its eventful journey south.