Peggy from Kerry

by L. T. Meade

Mrs. Fleming then begged the girls to remember that the essay, although very important, was but a certain part of the competition; that the part which related to morals and to that beauty of heart which must declare itself on the features was to be what would most affect the opinion of the judges. She said, therefore, that from that moment each day as it passed would be in reality a day of trial for each competitor, although they themselves would, she hoped, know nothing on the subject.

“Live worthily, my children, I beseech you,” said the head-mistress, and tears rose to her beautiful eyes; “for to live worthily is better than any prize. Children, ‘He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.’ And now we will talk no more about the prize, but will get to our usual work, which I hope will be all the better on account of this great stimulation.”

It was later on in the course of that same day that Mrs. Fleming came across, first of all, Alison Maude, and then Peggy Desmond.

Alison said: “Do you think it is right for me to compete? I do not need money; and, although I should love the honour and glory, I do not think I should take such a prize for such an object, there are so many in the school who really need it.”

“I know that, dear Alison, but I think I should like you to compete. Of course, in your case, you would never use the miniature in its double sense, although there is no saying but in future generations some of your children or grandchildren may be glad of it for that purpose. But you know, my dear, although your chance as regards morals and appearance ranks very high indeed, yet the prize essay will also largely tell when the prize is awarded. Yes, my child, try, and, when you try, try with all your heart.”

Peggy was very different from Alison. “Why, then, mistress dear,” she said, “how can I contrive to write a paper to please the English? Won’t they be at me if I let me heart spake the least, the least little bit.”

“Now, Peggy,” said her mistress, “I’m not going to let you off. I look forward with great enjoyment to reading your paper, and even if you do not get the prize this year you may next, remember. This is a yearly competition.”

After this the subject was dropped, except when girls whispered together in the lengthening days, and by-and-by in the long summer evenings. Peggy made steady advance in the refinement of her speech; her warm heart was as warm as ever, and to please darling Mrs. Fleming she dropped many of the eccentricities of her language. She quickly became prime favourite of the Upper School; the girls were, in fact, charmed with her, for she kept them in fits of laughter whenever they could get her to themselves. She was a born mimic, but her mimicry was never ill-natured. She could recite as no one else could, and to hear her recite “Fergus O’Flynn” was to bring tears to more than one pair of eyes. On all hands Peggy was in request, so much so that her supposed cousins were, one of them highly delighted and the other a little less jealous of her popularity. As Peggy herself was so sweet, so indifferent to flattery, so obliging and good-natured, even Jessie saw that she might as well be on her side. The girl would do anything on earth for her, and, being a very neat workwoman, would spend long hours arranging Jessie’s frocks and doing all she could to help either of the Wyndhams; in short, Peggy had found her métier, and no longer mourned for Old Ireland. It was the sweetest place in the world; but, bedad, Mrs. Fleming was the sweetest woman, and a woman came before a place any day of the week.

Thus this uneventful term drew to its close, and the girls departed for their Easter recess. Kitty had been quiet and inoffensive during the past term, and even Mrs. Fleming was hopeful about her; still, the mystery with regard to Peggy was unexplained, and Mrs. Fleming felt somehow that sleeping dogs were only quiet for the moment. During the term it had been Kitty’s great aim to induce the Dodds to get their father to give them a dress allowance; and, as they were not allowed to get any more dresses from Miss Weston, and Miss King was really making herself most unpleasant, crowing over the said Miss Weston, it was absolutely necessary that something must be done. Kitty, up to the present, had managed to quiet Miss Weston by giving her the ten pounds which each of the Dodd girls had to pay, owing to their bet with Kitty. She had, of course, ordered frocks for herself when she paid this money; but Miss Weston was still very cross and discontented, declaring loudly that she would expose the young ladies if they bought anything more from that King woman.

“Her airs in church are past enduring,” said Miss Weston; “she sits just in front of me, with a feather ’alf a yard long in ’er ’at, and I call it sickening. ’Tisn’t that I don’t want to oblige you, Miss Merrydew, for you pays for dressing, being most helegant in shape and face; but it’s the slight that’s put on me that I ’old myself against, and I’m sure them poor Dodds—they’re figures of fun in King’s cut, and that I will say.”