The Girls of St. Cyprian's A Tale of School Life   By: Angela Brazil (1868-1947)

A Tale of School Life

BY ANGELA BRAZIL

Author of "The School by the Sea," "The Leader of the Lower School," "The Youngest Girl in the Fifth," &c. &c.

Illustrated by Stanley Davis

BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY

[Illustration: "'SO I'VE WON, EVEN WITHOUT YOUR VOTE,' SAID LOTTIE TO MILDRED WITH A SPICE OF TRIUMPH IN HER TONE"]

Contents

I. THE UNITED SCHOOLS ALLIANCE 9

II. ST. CYPRIAN'S COLLEGE 23

III. THE STORY OF A VIOLIN 35

IV. CONCERNS VA 49

V. AN ADVERTISEMENT COMPETITION 61

VI. A CHANCE MEETING 73

VII. A SCHOOL EISTEDDFOD 85

VIII. ST. CYPRIAN'S VERSUS TEMPLETON 102

IX. THE STUDENTS' CONCERT 117

X. CHANGES 131

XI. THE TOWERS 142

XII. AT TIVERTON KEEP 154

XIII. A COLONIAL COUSIN 165

XIV. MILDRED'S CHOICE 173

XV. MONITRESS MILDRED 190

XVI. THE AUTUMN TERM 204

XVII. THE ALLIANCE EXHIBITION 218

XVIII. TWELFTH NIGHT REVELS 233

XIX. WINTER SPORTS 247

XX. A MUSICAL SCHOLARSHIP 262

XXI. HARVEST 277

Illustrations

"'SO I'VE WON, EVEN WITHOUT YOUR VOTE,' SAID LOTTIE TO MILDRED WITH A SPICE OF TRIUMPH IN HER TONE" FRONTISPIECE 21

TANTIE TELLS MILDRED THE HISTORY OF HER VIOLIN, WHICH IS A VERY OLD AND VALUABLE ONE MADE BY STRADIVARIUS HIMSELF 39

HERR HOFFMANN TELLS MILDRED THAT SHE IS TO PLAY AT THE PUBLIC RECITAL IN THE TOWN HALL 80

MILDRED IS MET BY HER UNCLE, SIR DARCY LORRAINE, AT THE STATION 143

"'HI! DANGER!' HE YELLED TO DICCON, WHO WAS ABOUT TO START DOWN THE TRACK" 253

MILDRED IS TOLD THAT SHE HAS WON THE THREE YEARS' SCHOLARSHIP IN THE BERLIN CONSERVATOIRE 276

THE GIRLS OF ST. CYPRIAN'S

CHAPTER I

The United Schools Alliance

"If there's one slack, slow business in this wide world," said Bess Harrison, stretching her arms in the exigencies of a combined sigh and prodigious yawn, "it's coming back to school after the Easter holidays. Tame isn't the word for it! It's absolute milk and water. September start is some sport, because one's generally in a fresh form, and there are always changes; and even January is fairly lively; but now! Why, there's scarcely even a new girl to make a small excitement, and altogether it's about as stale as beginning again after half term week end."

"Worse," agreed Maggie Orton. "At half term one hasn't had time to get out of things. One feels a little sorry for oneself, but that's all. But when one's had nearly three weeks off it's far harder to fall into harness again."

"And the burden's heavier!" urged Mona Bradley. "I've just told Miss Pollock so. We don't start in September with such a grind. No! They keep laying straw after straw on our unfortunate backs, here an exercise and there a problem, or some bit of extra prep., till in the aggregate it's more than mortal girl can bear! We're victims of over pressure that's what it is!"

"You don't look a victim with cheeks like two streaky red American apples!" laughed Maudie Stearne.