“The girl who wins the Howard miniature is to be brave, truthful, loving, and chivalrous. She is to be, as far as possible, highly intellectual, and this fact is to be tested by a paper which she will be set to write on a subject yet to be decided on. Finally, she is to be athletic and physically strong.
“Now, my dears, this is a strange prize, and the competition for it is, if possible, still stranger. The rules for the said competition will be given to you all to-morrow morning after prayers; but before we close the subject of the prize to-day, and return to our normal work, I have something further to add. The girl who wins the Howard miniature wins a great deal more than a beautiful painting, set in gold and diamonds. Mrs. Howard has made certain conditions in connection with her prize, and they are, let me assure you, girls, very vital. Mrs. Howard, dear soul, passed out of the world the last of her race; but she had a strong desire to be remembered in futurity, and in especial to be remembered by girls, for the most passionate love of her heart was given to girls, she herself having lost her only granddaughter, who was educated at this school. Now the girl who receives the miniature and who sells it or loses it or exchanges the very valuable diamonds for paste receives no further benefits whatsoever; but, on the other hand, the girl who keeps it as an inestimable treasure, and who eventually gives it to her children or nearest of kin, possesses, both she and her heirs, in the Howard portrait, a fairy gift; for it is arranged by Mrs. Howard that the lucky possessor of a Howard portrait obtains with it a small sealed parchment, which she is not to open until her hour of need. Whenever that time comes, and she finds herself in want of money, or sympathy, or friendship, she has but to put herself immediately into communication with the trustees of the Howard Portrait Fund, who will immediately help her according to her requirements. There may be at present in this school girls who desire to do something big and great and noble in their lives, and are kept back by that common evil, want of funds. Let such a girl try for the Howard Portrait Prize, and see how kind and great and munificent a fairy she will evoke. The girl who gets the prize, on the other hand, may never want to use it herself, but some of her children may. In short, my dears, the Howard Portrait Prize points not only to the present time, but to futurity. It is meant to do that; it is meant to spell happiness. One of you present will probably win the prize and may not need money—mere money, children, which counts for so little; but you may need sympathy, friendship, counsel; the Howard portrait will obtain one or all of these inestimable gifts for you.
“I have spoken of it, my dears, as a fairy gift. The only thing it will not bestow is health; but even that is very much quickened; in short, is accelerated by happiness. The Howard Prize, children, in my opinion, means the beginning of a good life; and whether that life be long or short, who need fear? For Death, to those who follow the counsels laid down for their guidance in this prize, will enter with a smiling face, and say to them, ‘Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.’ Children, I shall be ready to answer any private questions with regard to the prize any day during the next week. This is Saturday; but those who wish to put down their names as competitors for the prize must do so between now and this day week. I have one last word to say now with regard to the Lower School. Any one who competes for the Howard Prize must be prepared to say solemnly to me that she had nothing whatever to do with the terrible event which took place in connection with Peggy Desmond. I do not think that there is one girl here present who would dare to compete for such a prize with that sin on her conscience. My dears, I leave the matter between you and your God. And now to lessons—to lessons, children.”
CHAPTER XIV.
MRS. FLEMING’S TROUBLES.
“Well, for my part, I think it’s abominably unfair,” said Jessie Wyndham. She was standing in the room which she shared with her sister, and there was a flush of great annoyance on her pretty face.
“But, Jessie,” exclaimed Molly, “surely you must admit that Mrs. Fleming has the right to do what she pleases in the school.”
“Oh fiddlesticks!” exclaimed Jessie. “That horrid Peggy has a way of bewitching people; it really is beyond endurance. I did hope that when we got to school we wouldn’t be worried with her. What right has she to be in the Upper School? I am certain Alison Maude doesn’t think it fair.”
“Oh yes, she does,” answered Molly, “for I spoke to her about it during recess, and she said that Mrs. Fleming had consulted her, and that she—she quite approved; so there! now you see that you’re wrong, Jess.”
“But, if for no other reason, she doesn’t know enough,” said Jessie.
“You are quite out there, she knows a wonderful lot for her age. Miss Greene says that her knowledge of history and geography would put us all to shame. As to French, of course, she doesn’t know any; but she’ll soon pick that up, she’s so clever.”