“Then thank goodness you didn’t know! At least I’ve had my last term in peace,” laughed Helen. “And when poor old Ellen finds you trailing her with lifted pencil, don’t tell her it was I who put you on to watch her, or my memory will be blackened for ever. By the way, twinses, you’ll find it quite helpful to talk to Miss Dampier if you’re in difficulties.”
The twins looked more round-eyed than ever.
“Does one really talk to her—ever?” queried Jean. “I merely quake in my shoes when I meet her.”
“Oh, one doesn’t take her actual problems, unless it’s absolutely necessary. But a talk about things in general helps one on a lot. She’s awfully human when you get to know her, really, and you’ve no idea how much she understands. Of course I began by thinking she was just one’s natural enemy, but I grew out of it. You will, too. She remembers your mother, too—she was a junior mistress in her time—and so she expects things of you.”
“It seems to be a big responsibility to be born with the School in one’s family, so to speak,” said Jo.
“Well it is, in a way. But responsibility’s a jolly good thing for every one,” the Captain remarked. “Now, that’s enough sermonizing, and I’m sick of packing. Thanks ever so for doing the books. I’ve got leave to take five girls down to St. Kilda to bathe—will you two come?”
The twins gave an ecstatic yelp of acquiescence.
“Then go and collect Gladys and Nita: I’ve collected Ellen already. Hurry them up—we’ll all meet here in ten minutes.”
Bathing was always a joy, but it generally took place in large parties, under the supervision of two house-mistresses, so anxious for the safety of the non-swimmers that discipline was very strict. Even Nita, who was like a fish in the water, was wont to say that it made her nervous to feel that Miss Morrison was ranging to and fro on the gallery like a panther, holding her breath when a girl dived, and emitting a bursting sigh of relief when her head at length popped into sight. But at the end of the term, when rules and regulations were relaxing, parties of senior girls known to swim well were sometimes allowed to go down without a mistress in charge, if at least two prefects were among their number. Invitations to these swims were much prized, and the twins felt that even if the cares and responsibilities of age were descending upon them, so also were some of its delights, as they fled about the business of “collecting” Gladys and Nita.
Ten minutes later the cheerful band hurried down the wide garden path, followed by the envious glances of girls who lay here and there under the pepper-trees enduring the hot afternoon as best they might. Someone begged Jo lazily to bring her back a strawberry ice, a dismal pleasantry which evoked groans from its hearers. Outside, the pavement felt sticky underfoot with the heat. Little eddies of winds swirled here and there, scattering dead leaves and scraps of dusty paper. On the shady side of the street a few tired children toiled home from school, swinging straps of books; but there were not many people to be seen. Even the tram which the girls boarded presently was nearly empty, and the conductor seemed almost too tired to collect their fares. He perched on his tiny seat at the back of the car, glanced with a covetous eye at their rubber bathing-bags, and remarked audibly to himself that it was better to be born lucky than rich!