The New Mistress Part 26

"Oh no, don't say that," said Beatrice, with a flash of her cold blue eyes. "You are so very clever. Miss Thorne. We were quite struck by your object lesson. But Scripture history, you know. We have been always with our brother, and we have made it so deep a study that it has come natural to us to have all these theological matters at our tongues'

ends. Catechism, too--I think, Rebecca, we remarked that the girls were much behind in 'Duty towards my Neighbour' and 'I desire.'"

"Very much so, Beatrice; and 'Death unto Sin' was dreadful."

"So was 'To examine themselves,'" said Beatrice. "I think, Miss Thorne, we might be of some a.s.sistance there."

"I shall be very glad of your help. Miss Lambent," said Hazel, who was quite unmoved. "Pray do not think I resent or should resent your coming at any time. No amount of time could be too much to spend upon the children."

"That's her nasty, cunning a.s.sumption of humility," thought Beatrice.

"She hates our coming, but she dare not say so."

"Is there any other branch where we might a.s.sist you, Miss Thorne?"

asked Rebecca. "There are so many girls, and you are--you will excuse me for saying so--you are very young, and I could not help noticing-- pray before I go any farther fully understand that we would not on any account interfere. As you must have seen, our brother the vicar objects to the proper duties of the schoolmistress being interfered with."

Hazel hid her mortification, bowed, and Rebecca went on--

"I could not, I say, help noticing that the girls displayed a want of discipline."

"Yes; I noticed that with sorrow," said Beatrice, giving Hazel a look of tender regret.

"And I thought if we could help you to impress upon the children more of the spirit of that beautiful lesson in the Catechism--"

Miss Lambent drew herself up stiffly, closed her eyes, stretched out one hand in a remarkably baggy glove, and recited loudly enough for the girls to hear--

"'To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters. To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters.'

Would you object, Miss Thorne, to the girls all repeating that aloud?"

Hazel signed to the girls to stand, when there was a rush up like a human wave, and in all pitches of voice the familiar portion of "My duty towards my Neighbour" was repeated several times over after Miss Lambent who waved her hands like a musical conductor, and gave peculiar cadences to her voice as she went on over the sentences again and again, in happy unconsciousness that Feelier Potts was saying, "Oh, Goody me! Oh, Goody me!" in constant iteration, instead of the prescribed forms, and making Ann Straggalls laugh.

"I think that will do," said Miss Lambent, smiling. "If we can make the children thoroughly take to heart, and then digest mentally the beauty of those orderly words, the discipline of the school will be greatly improved.--Sit!"

The order coming from fresh lips, some of the girls sat down, while some remained standing, and, just as Miss Lambent repeated her command with a shrill intonation, Hazel made a sign with her hand, and every girl resumed her place.

"Now, once more," cried Miss Lambent; "stand!"

The girls rose readily, and the lady who strongly objected to any interference with the mistress, shook her head, and cried--

"Sit!"

The girls resumed their seats this time pretty well, and rose at the word of command.

"There, you see. Miss Thorne, it is soon done. I think you will be able to get them well in order in time. Oh, by-the-way, Beatrice, did you say anything to Miss Thorne about punis.h.i.+ng Potts?"

"No; I thought you meant to mention it. Will you do so now?"

"You will speak to her upon the subject, I will go and take the juvenile cla.s.s."

As she spoke, Rebecca went off to the lower end of the schoolroom, while Beatrice _hemmed_ to clear her voice.

"My sister thinks that Ophelia Potts ought to be severely punished, and held up as an example to the whole school, Miss Thorne. Of course you have punished her?"

"No, I have not punished her, Miss Lambent; but I have talked to her a great deal."

"Not punished her, Miss Thorne! Dear me, I am surprised. The girl was most rude and impertinent on the inspection day. I really wonder that you have not punished her severely. She sets a bad example to the whole school."

At that very moment the young lady in question was behaving most dramatically, copying every motion of Miss Lambent, who was gesticulating and shaking her head a good deal while teaching the juvenile cla.s.s; but catching Hazel's eye, the girl bent at once over her slate.

"Ophelia Potts."

"A most absurd name, Miss Thorne! Why could not they call her Jane or Sarah?"

"Parents have curious fancies in the names they give their children, ma'am," replied Hazel. "This girl is of a singular disposition, and I cannot help thinking that punishment would harden her."

"But you saw how she behaved, Miss Thorne. Why do you say that?"

"The girl is of a very affectionate disposition, and I think I can win her over by kindness. She is very clever, and one of my best pupils, and I think in time she will be all I could desire."

"I must beg to differ from you. Miss Thorne," said Beatrice, shaking her head. "I have known Ophelia Potts four years, and I am perfectly sure that nothing but severe castigation will ever work a change in her.

But of course that is for you to decide. My sister and I could not think of interfering. We only wish, as you are so young, to offer you a few suggestions, and to be of whatever service we can."

"I am very grateful. Miss Lambent--"

"Miss Beatrice Lambent, if you please," said the lady in corrective tones. "My sister is Miss Lambent."

"Miss Beatrice Lambent," said Hazel gravely; "and I shall always strive to avail myself in every way of your and your sister's a.s.sistance."

"She is as deceitful as can be," said Beatrice spitefully, as they were walking home. "That abominable humility makes me feel as if I could box her ears, for it is all as false as false."

"Henry is perfectly stupid about her," replied Rebecca. "He thinks her a prodigy; but mark my words, Beatrice, he'll find her out before long, and bitterly repent not having sent her about her business at once."

"I can't imagine what Henry is thinking about," sighed Beatrice; "but he will find out his mistake."

Somewhere about this time Hazel had dismissed the girls, and told Feelier Potts to stop back, an order which that young lady obeyed for a few moments and then made a rush for the door.

"Ophelia!"

The girl's hand was already on the latch, and in another moment she would have darted through; but Hazel Thorne's quiet voice seemed to affect her in a way that she could not understand, and letting her hand fall to her side, she hesitated and turned.

"Come here, Ophelia."

The girl hung back for a moment, and then, as if drawn to the speaker, she approached in a slow, half-sulky, defiant way, gazing sideways at her teacher, and seeming ready to dart off at a word.

"She'd better not hit me," thought Feelier. "I won't never come no more if she do. I'll soon let her know, see if I don't."

By this time she was close up to Hazel, who, instead of looking at her in a mending way, smiled at the girl's awkward approach and suspicious gaze.

"You think I am going to punish you, Ophelia, do you not?"