Part 100

"Oh, no, I didn't," said the little old lady. "It's Miss Anstice Salisbury."

Alexia gave her one look; then took some flying steps across the street, and away down to the Salisbury School. She met a stream of girls in the front hall; and as soon as she saw their faces, she knew that her news was all old.

And they could tell her something more.

"Miss Wilcox is going to be the assistant teacher," cried Amy Garrett.

"And Miss Salisbury announced it; why were you late, Alexia?" it was a perfect buzz around her ears. "And then she dismissed school; and we're all going down to the drawing-room now, to congratulate Miss Anstice."

Alexia worked her way to Polly Pepper and clung to her.

"Oh, Alexia, you've got here!" cried Polly delightedly. "And only think, we can keep our Miss Salisbury after all."

XXV "THE VERY PRETTIEST AFFAIR"

And Mr. John Clemcy, having put off any inclination to marry till so late in life, was, now that he had made his choice, in a ferment to hurry its consummation. And Miss Ophelia, who was still to keep the house and run the old-fashioned flower garden to suit herself--thus losing none of her honors--and being in her element, as has been stated, with some one "to fuss over" (her self-contained brother not yielding her sufficient occupation in that line), begged that the wedding might take place soon. So there was really no reason on earth why it should not be celebrated, and Miss Wilcox be installed as assistant, and thus all things be in running order for the new year at the Salisbury School.

"And they say he has heaps of money--Mr. Clemcy has," cried Alexia, in the midst of the excitement of the next few days, when everybody was trying to adjust themselves to this new condition of affairs. A lot of the girls were up in Polly Pepper's room. "And it's an awful old family back of him in England," she went on, "though for my part, I'd rather have something to do with making my name myself."

"Oh, Alexia," cried Clem, "think of all those perfectly elegant old family portraits!"

"Mouldy old things!" exclaimed Alexia, who had small reverence for such things. "I should be ashamed of them, if I were Mr. John Clemcy and his sister. They don't look as if they knew anything to begin with; and such arms and hands, and impossible necks! Oh my! It quite gives me a turn to look at them."

"We are quite distinguished--the Salisbury School is," said Silvia, with an elegant manner, and a toss of her head. "My mother says it will be splendid capital to Miss Salisbury to have such a connection."

"And, oh, just think of Miss Anstice's engagement ring!" exclaimed another girl. "Oh my, on her little thin finger!"

"It's awful old-fashioned," cried Silvia, "set in silver. But then, it's big, and a very pure stone, my mother says; and quite shows that the family must have been something, for it is an heirloom."

"Oh, do stop about family and heirlooms," cried Alexia impatiently; "the main thing is that our Miss Salisbury isn't going to desert us."

"Miss Anstice is; oh, goody!" Amy Garrett hopped up and down and softly beat her hands while she finished the sentence.

"Hush!" Alexia turned on her suddenly. "Now, Amy, and the rest of you girls, I think we ought to stop this nonsense about Miss Anstice; she's going, and I, maybe, haven't treated her just rightly."

"Of course you haven't," assented Clem coolly. "You've worried her life nearly out of her."

"And oh, dear me! I'm sorry now,"--said Alexia, not minding in the least what Clem was saying. "I wonder why it is that I'm forever being sorry about things."

"Because you're forever having your own way," said Clem; "I'll tell you."

"And so I'm going to be nice to her now," said Alexia, with a perfectly composed glance at Clem. "Let's all be, girls. I mean, behind her back."

Polly Pepper ran over across the room to slip her arm within Alexia's, and give her a little approving pat.

"It will be so strange not to make fun of her," observed Amy Garrett, "but I suppose we can't now, anyway, that she is to be Mrs. John Clemcy."

"Mrs. John Clemcy, indeed!" exclaimed Alexia, standing very tall. "She was just as nice before, as sister of our Miss Salisbury, I'd have you to know, girls."

"Well, now what are we to give her as a wedding present?" said Polly Pepper. "You know we, as the committee, ought to talk it over at once. Let's sit down on the floor in a ring and begin."

"Yes," said Alexia; "now all flop." And setting the example, she got down on the floor; and the girls tumbling after, the ring was soon formed.

"Hush now, do be quiet, Clem, if you can," cried Alexia, to pay up old scores.