For the School Colours Part 36

On Friday evening, when Avelyn called at the bungalow, the Lavender Lady had a neat music ma.n.u.script ready for her.

"I hope it will do," she said. "It's as far as possible what you asked me for. I've tried to express a spirit of school patriotism and union in the words, which seems to be the princ.i.p.al thing to aim at just now, and I've arranged the music for three voices. You'll have to make copies of it at school."

"Miss Peters will do that with the duplicator," beamed Avelyn. "I do think you're just the most absolutely lovely and clever and delicious person that I've ever met, or ever shall meet, in all this wide world!

How do you manage to think of things? I couldn't compose a song to save my life!"

"Why, I really don't know! The ideas just float into my head somehow,"

laughed the Lavender Lady. "As a matter of fact, this tune came to me in bed, at about half-past two in the morning, and I was obliged to get up and go downstairs to the piano to try it over and jot it down on paper before I forgot it. I knew that if I went to sleep again it would escape me. There's nothing so elusive as music. Yes, I'll try it over for you if you like. It'll sound much better, though, in three parts. I hope your first sopranos can reach A sharp? If not, I must set it in a lower key, but I like it best in this."

"They've got to get A sharp if they crack their voices!" decided Avelyn firmly.

The dedication and prize giving were to be held on the last afternoon of the term, and guests were invited for 2.30 prompt. The girls, resplendent in white dresses and the new hair ribbons, made a brave show, and all were sitting discreetly in their places when the distinguished visitors were ushered on to the platform.

During the last six months a better tone and discipline had pervaded the school, and there had been no repet.i.tion of the disorderly scene that had preceded the laying of the foundation stone. Every pupil of Silverside now prided herself upon her manners. It had become a matter of _n.o.blesse oblige_.

Mr. Robson, the Member of Parliament for Harlingden, was a short, stout man, with a bald head and a big moustache, and some gift of oratory. He fulfilled with dignity his duties as chairman, and made a capital speech, bringing in his views about education, and wis.h.i.+ng Silverside every success. A hundred and ten youthful pairs of hands clapped obediently, though some of the most junior heads had not altogether grasped the drift of the remarks.

It was now the turn of the School Report. Miss Thompson, typed papers in hand, was standing up and clearing her throat preparatory to reading it aloud.

Avelyn, in the fifth row from the front, turned her head and took a comprehensive glance round the room. It was certainly a hall to be proud of, looking both stately and festive with its decorations of flowers and flags and its large palms upon the platform. She was glad that the Lavender Lady should see it. Miss Carrington had come to the gathering with Mrs. Watson and Daphne; Captain Harper and Captain and Mrs.

Reynolds were sitting next to them. They caught Avelyn's eye, and smiled as she looked across, then concentrated their attention on the platform, where Miss Thompson was beginning to read the report.

The Princ.i.p.al first of all described the general work of the school, what successes had been gained in public examinations, and what record each Form could show. The average of marks was high, and both mistresses and pupils might be congratulated on their efforts during the year.

After commenting on the improvement which had also been made in music, part singing, drawing, and painting, Miss Thompson pa.s.sed to the subject of games.

"I am very glad to say," so ran the report, "that on its athletic as well as its intellectual side the school is now holding its own. During the winter season little was done in that respect, but with the spring a great games revival took place, and the 'Loyal School League' was inst.i.tuted, the object of which was to win honours for Silverside. I heartily congratulate the League both on the spirit of union and school patriotism which it has fostered and on the successes which it has won.

The cricket throughout has been most spirited, and great thanks are due to Miss Leslie and Miss Kennedy for their admirable help in coaching.

Out of six matches the school scored four victories, a very creditable record for a first season. In tennis also we are beginning to take our place. The improvement of the general play is most marked, and we hope to have established a new standard of energy and efficiency. Our champions were successful in defeating Pendlebury Ladies' College and Westfield High School; a match was also played with the Clifford Girls'

Grammar School, which resulted in a draw. As we consider games to be an extremely important item in our curriculum, we hope that this term's strenuous effort has established a precedent in this respect, and that the League will go on to greater triumphs in the future."

After the report came the distribution of prizes and Form trophies. VA won a beautiful picture for a wild-flower compet.i.tion; IVB gained the cup for general improvement; and the Sixth the s.h.i.+eld for knowledge of contemporary events; while among individual successes Adah Gartley, Annie Broadside, Maggie Stuart, Laura Talbot, and Irma Ridley were called up to receive rewards of books.

"I am asked to announce," said the chairman, "that Miss Thompson and the mistresses have presented a new gift to the school. This beautiful silver cup is to be awarded annually to the girl who is considered to have performed the greatest service for Silverside during the year. The first to win it is Avelyn Watson, to whose enterprise and energy in initiating the 'Loyal School League' much of the present success in games may fairly be credited. I congratulate you," beaming at Avelyn as he handed her the trophy, "that yours is the first name to be engraved upon the cup."

Avelyn walked back to her place almost overwhelmed by the unexpected honour. It was a complete surprise, for the mistresses had kept their secret well, and had allowed no word of it to leak out beforehand. The storm of clapping from the girls showed that the trophy, and the choice of its winner, were equally appreciated. There could be no mistake about the genuine cordiality of the applause.

"May I say, in conclusion," finished Mr. Robson, "that the part song which will now be rendered by the singing cla.s.s has been composed specially for this occasion by a well-known musician, and that henceforward it will take its place as what we might call the national anthem of Silverside, to be sung at all school functions."

Miss Webster struck a chord on the piano, and the singing cla.s.s rose.

The sunlight flooding through the window shone on their white dresses and the colours that tied their hair. There were a few bars of prelude, then, to a swinging, rousing, and most original tune, they sang:

"Girls of Silverside!

Hear us as we sing: With the praises of our school Let the rafters ring.

Loyal hearts and true Bring we here to-day, Chanting as our battle-cry, 'Silverside for aye!'

So join your hands and join your hearts, And form a circle wide, Let Silverside be all your pride, Girls of Silverside!

"Girls of Silverside!

True you are and leal, Each must strive her n.o.ble best For the common weal.

Banish thoughts of self, Make your interests wide, Be the glory that you gain All for Silverside.

So join your hands and join your hearts, And form a circle wide, Let Silverside be all your pride, Girls of Silverside!

"Girls of Silverside!

For the good and right, Here and in the wider world Let us all unite.

To your strenuous care Our honour we confide, Let your lives be such as bring Praise to Silverside.

So join your hands and join your hearts, And form a circle wide, Let Silverside be all your pride, Girls of Silverside!"

When the function was over, and mistresses, visitors, and girls streamed out of the new Lecture Hall, Avelyn's steps gravitated at once towards her Lavender Lady.

"Your song was beautiful," she whispered. "Everybody says it's the best tune they've heard for ages--it haunts us, we can't get it out of our heads for a minute! Miss Webster says she could play it in her sleep. It was just what we wanted--something specially for Silverside!"

"I'm glad it went off all right. Let me look at your cup. You lucky girl! Just to think that 'Avelyn Watson' is the very first name to be engraved upon it! Where are you going to keep such a treasure?"

"I shall take it home for the holidays, and then have it in our form room next term. If you don't mind, I'd like it to spend a week at the bungalow. I feel it was you who really won it, not I. The League was your idea entirely. Even if I'd thought of it I should never have had the courage to propose it, if it hadn't been for you. You inspired it all! May the cup stand on your mantelpiece for a whole week?"

"Only on one condition--that you come and stay with me to take care of it!"

"Oh! may I? I'd love to stay with you and have you all to myself."

Avelyn's eyes were s.h.i.+ning.

"Hallo, old sport!" said Laura, coming rollicking up with Irma, Janet, Mona, and a few other congenial spirits. "Congratulations! We didn't know Miss Thompson had this cup up her sleeve, did we? Jolly decent of her and the mistresses, I must say! We ought to subscribe and buy a bracket to put it on. Won't it look fine when it's up, rather! Some of the old girls are here to-day, and Miss Thompson's been telling them about the League. They think it's topping!"

"And they say our hair ribbons are just too jinky for anything," added Janet.

"Glad to hear they like them," said Avelyn, twisting round her plait and readjusting the broad bow of pink, blue, and navy. "Yes, on the whole, I really think it's rather priceless to have our hair tied with the school colours."

"It stands for so much," put in the Lavender Lady gently.

"Right you are! We're all hall-marked safe and sound now for a united Silverside," agreed Laura. "Next term our school will just forge ahead and break the record."