"No, an Anglo-American school for English-speaking girls. Do you
remember that charming Mr. Proctor who stayed with us last year on his
way from New York to Naples? His daughter is at this school, and he
strongly recommended it. It seems just exactly the place for you, Renie.
It will solve a great problem if we can educate you out there. It would
have complicated matters very much if we had been obliged to leave you
in England. As it is you'll be quite near to Naples, and can come home
for all your holidays."
"Hooray! Then I'm not to go to Miss Gordon's again?"
"As we start in a fortnight it's not worth while your beginning a fresh
term at St. Osmund's."
"Then I needn't bother to find the hateful old history book. I'm _so_
glad I didn't do those wretched holiday tasks--they'd just have been
sheer waste. Mums, I'm so excited! May I begin and pack for Italy now? I
can't wait."
For the next two weeks great confusion reigned in the Beverley
household. It is no light matter to decide what you need to take abroad,
what you wish to lock up at home, and to leave your establishment in
apple-pie order for the use of strangers. Inventories of furniture,
linen, blankets, and china had to be written and checked, a rigorous
selection made of the things to be packed, and the luggage cut down to
the limits prescribed by the railway companies. Poor Mrs. Beverley was
nearly worn out when at last the overflowing boxes were fastened, the
bags and hold-alls were strapped, and the taxis, which were to take them
to the station, arrived at the door. Tears stood in her eyes as she
crossed the threshold of her own house.
"It's a tremendous wrench!" she fluttered.
"Never mind, Mums!" consoled Irene, linking her arm in her mother's.
"It's an adventure, and we all want to go. You'll love it when we're
once off. No, don't look back: it's unlucky! Your bag's in the cab; I
saw Jessie put it in. Hooray for Italy, say I, and a good riddance to
smoky old London! In another couple of days we shall be down south and
turning into Romeos and Juliets as fast as we can. You'll see Dad
learning a guitar and strumming it under your balcony, and serenading
you no end."
"Hardly at his time of life!" said Mrs. Beverley; but the joke amused
her, she wiped her eyes, and, as Irene had hoped and intended, stepped
smiling into the waiting taxi, and left her old home with laughter
instead of with tears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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