Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
A College Girl
By Mrs George de Horne Vaizey ________________________________________________________________________ Here is a book about the young girl and her awakening to the world by this talented author. Darsie, the heroine, is selected by an old aunt to come and spend a year or so as her companion. The old woman tries to coach Darsie in matters of deportment and behaviour. This would be pretty odious if it were not for the presence locally of a young family of boys and girls of Darsie's age, whom, being rich and living rather grandly, the aunt allows Darsie to know. The first half of the book describes the times they had. The old aunt promises Darsie that she will make available the funds needed for Darsie to go up to Cambridge as a student at Newnham, a girls' college.
When the second half of the book begins the old aunt has just died, and Darsie feels glad that the poor old lady will be relieved of all her pains. The years of studentship are well described, and the friends that Darsie made come and go through the story. Finally we reach the last exams. Darsie does quite well, but is not in the First Class. She has a Second, which will be enough for her to be able to go and teach at some less distinguished school. But her friend Dan, one of those whom we met in the first half of the book, has obtained a First Class Honours degree, and the book ends with him asking her to marry him. What he doesn't know, and I suppose the author didn't either, is that young men going to teach at a top-rate boys' school are expected to spend their spare time coaching sports, and not to be married. In fact they would be better to have achieved a "Blue" at Oxford or Cambridge than a good degree.
I have had to make a slightly strange and annoying change to the name of one of the girls in the story. I changed Vi Vernon to Vie Vernon. The reason was that otherwise the speech generator always read her name as "Six Vernon". What we have now sounds correct, but if you read the book you will see this mis-spelling two dozen times. My apologies for doing this, but you will understand why I did it.
It is a good read, and as always I recommend making an audiobook of it, so that you can listen to it. NH ________________________________________________________________________
A COLLEGE GIRL
BY MRS GEORGE DE HORNE VAIZEY
CHAPTER ONE.
BOYS AND GIRLS.
This is the tale of two terraces, of two families who lived therein, of several boys and many girls, and especially of one Darsie, her education, adventures, and ultimate romance.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A College Girl by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
- 2: Some inherent quality in Darsie some grace
- 3: Of a dark and grimy appearance
- 4: But Darsie cocked her little head
- 5: ' and plain Hannah she has been ever since
- 6: In vain Darsie expended herself on flights of imagination
- 7: But Russell snored on unperturbed
- 8: Scathingly designated the Cads
- 9: The Cads raised a derisive cheer
- 10: Her rightful cognomen was Lady Hayes
- 11: I can't answer for what I should do if Darsie cried
- 12: Darsie set her lips in a straight line
- 13: Realised the dramatic nature of that pause
- 14: Vie Vernon collapsed on to the nearest chair
- 15: Darsie squealed in shrillest protest No
- 16: Darsie held out both hands in dramatic appeal
- 17: And introducing en rapport ' every other moment
- 18: And little cobby dinner rolls from the confectioner's
- 19: Darsie's dejection was deep Daniel
- 20: Darsie smiled with angelic resignation
- 21: The ferry at Earley was an old fashioned affair
- 22: Disconsolate chin fired Darsie to action
- 23: The prize had fallen to Russell
- 24: That the gamekeepers was getting very crusty of late
- 25: Darsie dragged herself slowly to a sitting position
- 26: Darsie drew herself up with a feeling of affront
- 27: What do you want with a pawnshop
- 28: Dan gave an expressive grimace
- 29: Being unknown in the healthy Garnett family
- 30: Darsie drew her breath sharply
- 31: Darsie braced her feet against a leg of the table
- 32: Darsie gave a little sob of misery at the thought
- 33: And pretend instead that you are Maria Hayes
- 34: Darsie left home on the following Thursday
- 35: Despite her weariness and nervous exhaustion
- 36: My pompadour is the best pompadour in my class
- 37: And Darsie herself was half shocked
- 38: Darsie walked slowly across the room
- 39: When Lady Hayes's voice called to her to return Darsie
- 40: It's only because he called you a frump
- 41: Sandon terrace the corner house in Sandon Terrace
- 42: Darsie was quite quelled by the thought of such splendour
- 43: Captain Beverley gave the alarm
- 44: Pointing with outstretched hand to where Darsie sat
- 45: In which Darsie was frankly uninterested
- 46: Darsie gave an impatient laugh
- 47: Darsie sat shamed and miserable
- 48: Darsie shook her bright head in vigorous denial
- 49: But so far Darsie had contrived to subdue her impatience
- 50: And the Percivals were cheered by rumours of a certain let
- 51: Darsie walked to the end of the jetty
- 52: The jetty or the millpond that was the alternative
- 53: And the punt swung heavily towards the shore
- 54: Medusa froze other people's blood
- 55: Darsie declared in self vindication
- 56: Darsie mentally heaped ashes on her head
- 57: Noreen was beginning to protest again
- 58: Another for Miss Darsie Garnett
- 59: Lady Hayes looked both shocked and alarmed
- 60: And once more Darsie was left to her own resources
- 61: Darsie had had frequent meetings with the Percivals
- 62: Darsie felt a twinge of compunction
- 63: The patronising condolences of Ralph
- 64: Darsie rolled back her dainty net sleeve
- 65: Darsie stood in the background
- 66: And Darsie waited for no further permission
- 67: Do you realise all that your workman's bundle contained
- 68: Darsie turned a quick look around
- 69: A small expression of gratitude from Mrs Eustace Ferriers
- 70: Thoughtfully Darsie bowed her head
- 71: Lady Hayes laid down her knitting
- 72: To defray the expenses of your course at Newnham
- 73: Darsie put her hands to her head
- 74: And Darsie smiled on unperturbed
- 75: But his eyes twinkled as he spoke
- 76: Darsie regarded him doubtfully
- 77: Clemence pouted in sulky denial
- 78: But when the Garnetts felt particularly tried on this score
- 79: Plain Hannah munched and munched
- 80: Leaving Darsie half way along the corridor
- 81: Sorry that Aunt Maria was dead
- 82: You're the prettiest girl here old or new
- 83: Hannah and Darsie jerked at the ominous word
- 84: Going at eightpence eightpence halfpenny I thank you
- 85: Handsome Oriental bedspread design of peacocks
- 86: What offers for the Botticelli
- 87: Whispered Darsie in her friend's ear
- 88: Darsie told herself indignantly
- 89: And Darsie Garnett belonged to the latter category
- 90: I'm at home for cocoa on Tuesday evenings at ten
- 91: She did not rise as Darsie entered
- 92: Student Number Two inquired of Darsie
- 93: Darsie looked at Margaret France as she spoke
- 94: Margaret nodded at the Fresher with kindly reassurance
- 95: Regarding Darsie with a twinkling eye
- 96: And the slit will outline my mouth
- 97: As she persistently ambled after Topsy
- 98: Hannah strolled into Darsie's study
- 99: Darsie thought that she was a charming creature
- 100: Returned Darsie in sententious tones
- 101: Darsie mentioned her free hours
- 102: Darsie glanced across to where Hannah sat
- 103: Dan said began Darsie involuntarily
- 104: Fine down what I have said to Ralph Percival
- 105: Darsie braced herself to the burden
- 106: Turned to the last packet of all
- 107: Darsie was in a mood of somewhat reckless gaiety
- 108: Some one has got at these cones
- 109: Mrs Garnett chuckled contentedly
- 110: Darsie wondered if Dan were uninterested
- 111: While he was in Madrid he went to the opera one night
- 112: Mumps in the Christmas holidays
- 113: Meretricia 1st Villainess Mr Harry Garnett
- 114: And the Villainess Number One or Two
- 115: Should Hannah Vernon be allowed to engross Darsie
- 116: Darsie drew a quick breath of impatience and
- 117: He turned his head and looked Darsie full in the eyes
- 118: Darsie braced herself physically and mentally
- 119: As Darsie had been wont to remark
- 120: Darsie assumed an expression of dejection
- 121: And it would have quite a fine frieze effect
- 122: Darsie watched him across the room
- 123: And motioned Darsie towards a seat
- 124: Darsie threw out her arms with a gesture of hopelessness
- 125: And once again Darsie wondered
- 126: But Ralph lopped crestfallen and discomfited
- 127: The Squire asked for no promises
- 128: It was good to be back in Newnham once more
- 129: Darsie gave a little caper of delight
- 130: And henceforth Darsie had taken her in hand
- 131: A canader came gliding slowly by
- 132: Darsie gave him an affectionate glance
- 133: And Darsie began that fine June day as gaily
- 134: And Mrs Percival turned to Darsie
- 135: Darsie was the first of the crew to reach this shelter
- 136: Mrs Percival spoke with happy assurance
- 137: She was subconsciously aware of a strong arm in hers
- 138: But alone with Darsie her anguish found vent
- 139: Darsie had often been inclined to think that
- 140: Cried her Newnham acquaintances
- 141: Possible Brides against Probable Spinsters
- 142: The Swotters might have bandages round their heads
- 143: Darsie reached her study again
- 144: And Darsie was now captain of the Clough Fire Brigade
- 145: I gave ten and sixpence for that quilt
- 146: Which Darsie hailed with a cry of joy
- 147: The head girl was one Annie Macdiarmid
- 148: May week followed hard on the Tripos that year
- 149: Hannah Vernon Mary Bates Eva Murray many names
- 150: Jenson got a mastership there two years ago my old coach
