But before Elizabeth saw Dick again a subject came up which so excited her that even Miss Jewett’s wedding present was a matter of less importance. It was the very next morning after her talk with Betsy that an announcement was made at school which set all the older pupils to whispering and wondering.
“Before we open school, children,” said Miss Jewett, “I want to say to you that two scholarships have been established at the Academy. These are open to the pupils of this school. One for the boys and the other for the girls. There will be an examination at the end of the term, but the record for the year will be considered as well as the marks of the examination papers. Of course this applies to the older girls and boys only; those who are in our highest class, I mean. Anyone over twelve years of age, that is who has already entered his or her thirteenth year, is eligible. Of course the time is short, but I think it is better so as the regular work of the year will be a fairer test of scholarship than a sudden industrious spurt would be. I am not at liberty just yet to make known the name of the person who has established these scholarships, but this will be done when the names of the fortunate winners are announced.”
“When do we take the examinations?” spoke up Phil Selden.
“The last week of the term,” Miss Jewett told him. “Instead of the usual examinations, those required by the Academy will be given. They will be written ones, of course.”
With all good intention of settling down to work with more than ordinary zeal, the larger boys and girls could not keep their attention absolutely fixed upon their books that morning. One or two of the girls had already made their plans to go off to boarding-school, but of those remaining there were enough to make it a matter of competition, and what a buzz there was when the hour of recess came. Bess declared once and for all that she wasn’t going to try. She would go to the Academy, anyhow, and there wasn’t the slightest use in wearing out her soul in making an effort to do more than merely pass. Corinne wasn’t sure whether she would be in the neighborhood another winter; it would depend upon how long her parents remained abroad. Maria Black was going to boarding-school and wasn’t going to bother with an examination. Phil Selden looked very determined when he said: “Well, I, for one, am going to try my level best.” Bert was outside the limit of age and did not concern himself. Patsy McGonigle was a little older, being barely twelve. He scratched his head and looked dubious, but didn’t say whether he would enter the lists or not.
As for Elizabeth, she was so excited that she could scarcely speak. She mixed up her words more than ever and went from tragedy to comedy by leaps. “I shall simply respire if I don’t get it,” she cried. “Oh dear, I wish a fairy would help me. Betsy, who do you suppose is the saintly personage who has done this benefacted deed? Is it male or female? I would kiss his hand upon my bended knees.”
“Maybe it isn’t a he; maybe it is a she,” remarked Betsy. “Oh, Elizabeth, perhaps it is your aunt Eunice.”
“Ye shades of Venus! perhaps it is,” cried Elizabeth. “Well, I won’t kiss her hand, and I won’t get on my knees to her. Do you suppose it really could be?”
“I think it could very well be, for you know we are always hearing of the kind and charitable things she does.”
“And it would be just like her to do it without unclosing her name until the very last; she’s just that kind of animal. I’ll bet it is she. The more I think of it the more I am certain. Well, all is I shall be on my most enduring mettle, steel or iron, or whatever it may be. I shall burn the midnight oil and I shall let the sickly hue of resolution be o’ercast by thought. Oh Betsy, I am so excited I can scarcely retain myself within this narrow body. When the fearsome day comes I shall call upon all the saints, angels and ministers of grace to assist me. If I fail, oh, if I should fail! Perish the unworthy thought! but if I should, I know I shall fall in a dead faint on the floor, and I shall have to be borne out to an early grave. Of course you are going to try.”