第3章

"I

shallbegladwhenanyofyouarefitforpromotion,"proceededMabel.

"Atfirstitwillbebestfortheclassestoremainastheywereduringthelastsession."

Sotheorganizationcontinued.Bynoontheschoolwasreadyforwork;lessonshadbeenassignedingrammar,geography,andarithmetic,andthefirstclasshadread.

"I

thinkwehavedoneagoodmorning"swork,"saidMissMabelFrostastheclockstrucktwelve."Ibelieveourafternoonsessioncommencesatone.I

shouldliketohaveyouallpunctual."

Inleavingtheschoolroomtogotodinner,MabelpassedBenHadley."Youhavebeenofgreatservicetome,Ben,"saidshewithasmile."Ireallydon"tknowhowIshouldhavegotalongwithoutyou."

Benblushedwithgratification.Itwaslongsincehehadfeltsoproudandwellpleasedwithhimself.

"Howdoyoulikeyournewteacher,Ben?"askedhisfatheratthedinnertable.

"She"satrump,father,"saidBen,warmly.

"Thenyoulikeher?"askedtheSquireinsomeastonishment,forheunderstoodperfectlywellBen"sschoolreputation.Indeed,morethanoneteacherhadcometohimtocomplainofhissonandheir"smischievousconduct,andhehadhadmisgivingsthatMissFrostwouldhaveoccasiontodothesamething.

"Yes,Ido,"saidBen,emphatically.Sheknowshowtotreatafeller."

"Thentherewasnodisturbance?"

"Notaspeck."

TheSquirewasgreatlysurprised.

"I

helpedorganizetheschool,"proceededBenproudly.

"YOU!"exclaimedtheSquire,insmallcapitals.

"Certainly.Whyshouldn"tI?

"I

apprehendthatyoumightneedorganizingyourself,"saidtheSquire,smilingatwhatheconsideredawittyremark.

"MaybeIdo,sometimes,"saidBen,"butIlikeMissFrost,andI

meantohelpher."

"I

didn"tseemuchinher,"saidMrs.Hadley,openingherthinlipsdisapprovingly."Inmyopinionshedressestoomuchforateacher."

"I

don"tseewhysheshouldn"tifshecanaffordit,"saidBen,whohadconstitutedhimselfMabel"schampion.

Shecan"tafforditonherwages,"retortedhismother,"I

guessthat"sherlookout,"saidBen,hittingthenailonthehead.

"Ben"stakenanuncommonfancytotheschoolmistress,"saidSquireHadley,afterBenhadreturnedtoschool.

"Itwon"tlast,"saidMrs.Hadley,shakingherhead."He"llsoonbeuptohisoldtricksagain,takemywordforit.Idon"tbelieveshe"llsuit,either.Anewbroomsweepsclean.Justwaitawhile."

"Ifitdoeslast——ImeanBen"sfancy——itwillbesurprising,"

saidtheSquire."He"sbeenathorninthesideofmostoftheteachers."

"Itwon"tlast,"saidMrs.Hadleydecidedly,andtheretheconversationdropped.

Chapter4

BenHadley"sconversionhadindeedbeensudden,and,asinmostsimilarcases,hefoundsomedifficultyinstayingconverted.WhilehispridewasflatteredbytheconfidencereposedinhimbyMissFrost,thereweretimeswhenhisoldmischievouspropensitiesalmostovercamehim.Onthethirdday,asJohnCottonwaspassingBen"sdesk,thelattersuddenlythrustouthisfootintothepassagewaybetweenthedesks,andJohntumbledoverit,breakinghisslate.

"What"sthematter?"askedMabel,lookingupfromthebookfromwhichshewashearinganotherclass.

"BenHadleytrippedmeup,"saidJohn,rubbinghisshins,andlookingruefullyathisbrokenslate.

"Didyou,Ben?"askedMabel.

Benwasalreadysorryandashamed,ashewouldnothavebeenunderanyotherteacher.

Withallhisfaultshewasaboyoftruth,andheanswered"Yes,"

rathersheepishly.

"Youshouldbecarefulnottokeepyourfeetintheaisle,"saidMissFrostquietly."Isupposeyou"llbewillingtobuyJohnanewslate."

"Yes,"saidBenpromptly,gladtohavethematterendthus.

"I

needaslatenow,"grumbledJohn.

"I"lllendyoumine,"saidBenatonce,"andbuyyouabetteronethanIbroke."

Mabelquiteunderstoodthattheaccidentwas"doneonpurpose."ShedidnotwanttohumiliateBen,butrathertokeephimonhisgoodbehavior.Soshewasasfriendlyandconfidentialasever,andBenpreservedhisselfrespect.

Hekepthispromise,andboughtJohnthemostexpensiveslatehecouldfindinthevillagestore.

Mabelverysoonfoundherselfmistressofthesituation.Experiencegoesforagooddeal,butitdoesnotalwaysbringwithitthepowerofmanagingboysandgirls.Mabelseemedtopossessthisinstinctively.Beforetheweekwasout,allwasrunningsmoothlyinherdepartment,alittletothedisappointmentofMissClarissaBassett,whofeltthattheschoolshouldhavebeenhers.

Mabelstillboardedatthehotel.

Shewasquietlyonthelookoutforamoredesirableboardingplace.

Amongherscholarswasalittlegirlofnine,whosecheapdressindicatedpoverty,butwhopossessedanaturalrefinement,whichinherwasmoremarkedthaninanyotherpupil.Mabelinquiredintohercircumstances,andlearnedthatherfatherhadbeenanofficerinthearmy,whohaddiedsoonafterhismarriage.

Allthathelefttohiswidowwasasmallcottage,andapensionoftwentydollarsamonthtowhichhisservicesentitledher.Onthissmallsum,andalittleadditionalearnedbysewing,Mrs.Kentsupportedherfamily,which,besidesRose,includedaboytwoyearsyounger,whowasinMissBassett"sschool.OneafternoonMabelwalkedhomewithRose,andintroducedherselftoMrs.Kent.Shefoundheradelicateandreallyrefinedwoman,suchassheimaginedRosewouldgrowtobeintime.Everythinginthehousewasinexpensive,butthereweretracesofgoodtasteaboutthelittleestablishment.

"I

amgladtoseeyou,MissFrost,"saidMrs.Kent,withquietcordiality.

"IhaveheardofyoucontinuallyfromRose,whoisyourenthusiasticadmirer."

"RoseandIareexcellentfriends,"saidMabel,smilingkindlyonthelittlegirl."Shenevergivesmeanytrouble."

"I

haveneverheardofanycomplaintsfromanyofherteachers.OnethingthatI

haveheardsurprisesme,MissFrost.YouhavewonderfullychangedBenHadley,whohadbeenthetormentofpreviousteachers."

Mabelsmiled."IlikeBen,"shesaid."FromthefirstIsawthathehadmanygoodpoints.Hewasmerelymischievous."

"Merely?"repeatedMrs.Kentsmiling.

"Mischiefmaygiveagooddealoftrouble,butthespiritthatleadstoitmaybeturnedintoanotherchannel.ThisIthinkIhavedonewithBen.Ifindhimverybrightwhenheexertshisabilities.

"Youunderstandmanagingboys,Icanseeclearly.YetIhearthatthisisyourfirstschool."

"I

haveneverenteredacountryschooltillIcommencedteachinghere."

"Yoursuccessiswonderful."

"Don"tcomplimentmeprematurely,Mrs.Kent.Failuremayyetbeinstoreforme."

"I

thinknot."

"AndIhopenot."

"Youarelivingatthehotel,Ibelieve?"

"Onlytemporarily.Iamlookingforapleasantboardingplace."

"Mrs.Breckmightbewillingtotakeyou.Shehasboardedseveralteachersbefore."

MabelhadmetMrs.Breck.Shehadthereputationofbeingagoodhousekeeper,butwithalshewasavirago,andherhusbandalongsufferingvictimofdomestictyranny.Shewasathinlittlewoman,withashrewishface,whowasseldomknowntospeakwellofanybody.

"I

don"tthinkIshouldenjoyboardingwithMrs.Breck,"saidMabel.

"I"msureIshouldlikeyourhousemuchbetter."

Youdon"tknowhowplainlywelive,"saidMrs.Kent."Ishouldlikeverymuchtohaveyouhere,butmytabledoesn"tcomparewithMrs.Breck"s."

"Letmemakeyouabusinessproposition,Mrs.Kent,"saidMabel,straightforwardly."Idon"tpretendtobeindifferenttoagoodtable,andIknowthesmallamountusuallypaidforateacher"sboardwouldnotjustifyyouinchangingyourstyleofliving.Ipropose,ifyouwillbekindenoughtoreceiveme,topayyoutendollarsaweekasmyshareoftheexpenses."

"TendollarsejaculatedMrs.Kentinutteramazement."Why,Mrs.

Breckonlychargesthree."

"ButIwouldratherpaythedifferenceandboardwithyou."

Excuseme,MissFrost,buthowcanyou?Yoursalaryasteachermustbelessthanthat."

IseethatImusttellyouasecret,Mrs.Kent.Idependonyournotmakingitpublic.Iamquiteabletolivewithouttouchingapennyofmysalary."

"I

amgladofthat,"saidMrs.Kent,"butitseemssoextortionate,myacceptingtendollarsaweek!"

"Thendon"tletanyoneknowhowmuchIpayyou.Itwillimperilmysecretifyoudo.AmItoconsidermyselfaccepted?"

"I

shallbeverygladofyourcompany,MissFrost,andIknowRosewillbedelighted."

"Willyoucomehere,reallyandtruly,MissFrost?"askedRoseeagerly.

"Sinceyourmotheriswilling,Rose."

Roseclappedherhandsindelight,andshowedclearlyhowacceptablethearrangementwastoher.

Mabel"schoiceofaboardingplaceexcitedgeneralsurpriseinGranville."Iwishtheschoolteacherjoyofherboardingplace,"saidMrs.Breck,tossingherhead."Why,WidderKenthasmeatonlyonceortwiceaweek;andonce,whenIcalledaboutsuppertime,Inoticedwhatshehadonthetable.Therewasn"tnothingbutcoldbreadandbutter,alittleapplesauce,andtea.It"llbesomethingofachangefromthehotel."

"Shelivesbetternow,"saidMrs.Cotton.(ThiswasseveraldaysafterMabelhadbecomeaninmateofMrs.Kent"shouse.)"Icalledyesterdayonpurposetoseewhatshehadforsupper,andwhatdoyouthink?Shehadcoldmeat,eggs,preserves,warmbread,andtwokindsofpies"{sic}

"ThenallIcansayis,thatthewomanwillberuinedbeforethesummer"sout,"

saidMrs.Breck,solemnly."Whattheschoolteacherpaysherwon"tbegintopayforkeepin"suchatableasthat.It"smore"nIprovide,myself,andI

don"tthinkmytableisbeatbymanyinGranville.Mrs.Kent"safooltopamperacommonschoolteacherinanysuchway."

"You"reright,Mrs.Breck;but,poorwoman,Isupposeshehasto.ThatMissFrostprobablyforceshertoit.Ideclareit"sveryinconsiderate,forshemustknowthewidow"scircumstances."

"It"smorethaninconsiderate——it"ssinful,"saidMrs.Breck,solemnly.

"Mrs.Kentcan"tbeveryprudenttogotosuchexpense,"saidtheotherpartytothisimportantdiscussion.

"MissFrostflattersRose,andgetsaroundthemotherinthatway.She"saveryartfulyoungwoman,inmyopinion.ThewayshepetsthatHadleyboy,theysay,ispositivelyshameful."

"SoIthink.ShewantstokeepontherightsideoftheSchoolCommittee,soastogettheschoolanotherterm."

"Ofcourse.That"sclearenough,"chimedinMrs.Breck."I

shouldliketoknow,formypart,alittlemoreaboutthegirl.Nobodyseemstoknowwhosheisorwhereshecamefrom."

"SquireHadleyengagedheronMaryBridgman"srecommendation,Ihear."

Mrs.

Brecksniffed."MaryBridgmanmayknowhowtocutdresses,"sheremarked,"thoughit"smyopinionthere"splentybetter;butit"sanewthingtoengageteachersondressmakers"recommendations.Besides,there"sClarissaBassett,oneofourownfolks,wantedtheschool,andit"sgiventoastranger."

MissBassettboardedwithMrs.Breck,andthismayhavewarpedthegoodlady"sjudgment.

"I

don"tknowasI"minfavorofClarissa,"saidMrs.Cotton,"butthere"sothers,nodoubt,whowouldbegladtotakeit."

"AsforMissFrost,Idon"tseehowsheisabletodresssowell.Thatgownshewearstoschoolmusthavecosttwoweeks"salary,andI"veseenherwithtwootherdresses."

"Andallnew?"

"Yes,theydon"tlookasiftheyhadhadmuchwear."

"Perhapsshe"sseenbetterdays,andhassavedthemdressesfromthewreck."

"Butyouforgetthattheylooknew."

"Well,Igiveitup.It"sclearsheputsallhermoneyonherback.A

prettyexampleforourgirls!"

Suchwerethecommentsofthemothers.Amongthechildren,ontheotherhand,Mabelgrewmoreandmorepopular.Shesucceededininspiringaninterestinstudysuchashadnotbeenknownbefore.SheofferedtoteachaclassinFrenchandoneinLatin,thoughitentailedextralabor.

"Sheknowsanawfullot,father,"saidBenHadley.

"Shewasmyselection,"saidtheSquirecomplacently."Youpredictedshewouldmakeafailureofit,Mrs.Hadley.Thefactiswehaveneverhadabetterteacher."

"Theschooltermisn"tclosed,"saidMrs.Hadleyoracularly.

"Appearancesaredeceitful."

ItisrathersingularthatMabelwasfavorablyregardedbythefathers,whilethemothers,toaman,wereagainsther.Thereissomethingwronginthissentence,butletitstand.

Chapter5

InanoldfashionedhousealittleeastofthevillagelivedtheRev.TheophilusWilson,pastoroftheCongregationalChurchinGranville.Thehousewasconsiderablyoutofrepair,andbadlyneededpainting.ItbelongedtoSquireHadley,ofwhomtheministerhiredit,togetherwithanacreoflandadjoining,forseventyfivedollarsayear.Anexpenditureofoneortwohundreddollarswouldhaveimproveditsappearanceandmadeitalittlemorehabitable,andtheSquire,whowasnotameanman,wouldhaveconsentedtothisoutlaybutforthestrenuousoppositionofhiswife.

"It"sgoodenoughfortheminister,"shesaid."Ministersshouldn"tbetooparticularabouttheirearthlydwellings.Ibelieveinministersbeingunworldly,formypart."

"Thehousedoeslookratherbad,"saidtheSquire."Mrs.Wilsonsaystheroofleaks,too."

"A

fewdropswon"thurtallthefurnitureshe"sgot,"saidMrs.Hadleycontemptuously.

Mrs.

Hadleywasratherinconsistent.Sheregardedtheminister"spoorfurnitureandhiswife"sworndresseswithscornfulsuperiority;yet,hadeithercomplained,shewouldhavechargedthemwithworldliness.

"Onecoatofpaintwon"tcostmuch,"saidtheSquire,watchinghiswife"scountenanceforsignsofapprovalortheopposite.

"Itwilldonogood,"saidshepositively."Itwon"tmakethehouseanywarmer,andwillonlyconducetothevanityoftheministerandhiswife."

"I

neverthoughteitherofthemvain,"expostulatedherhusband.

"Youonlylooktothesurface,"saidhiswife,inatoneofcalmsuperiority."Igodeeper.Youthink,becauseMrs.Wilsoncan"taffordtodresswell,thatshehasnovanity.Icanreadherbetter.Ifshehadthemeansshe"dcutadash,youmaydependuponit."

"There"sonethingIcan"tunderstand,Lucretia,"saidherhusband.

"Whyarethingsworldlyinthemthatarenotinus?"

"I

don"tknowwhatyoumean."

"Youliketodresswell,andIlikemyhousetolookneat.Whydoesn"tthatshowaworldlyspiritinus?"

"BecauseyouarenotaministernorIaminister"swife."

"Whatdifferencedoesthatmake?"

"Youareverydullthismorning,Mr.Hadley,"saidhiswifescornfully.

"PerhapsImaybe,butstillIshouldlikeanexplanation."

"Ministersshouldsettheirheartsonthingsabove."

"Shouldn"twe?"

"Notinthesameway.Theyshouldbehumbleandnotselfseeking.Theyshouldsetagoodexampletotheparish.DoesMr.Wilsonpayhisrentregular?"sheasked,suddenlychangingthesubject.

"Tolerable."

"Isn"theinarrears?

"I

can"ttellexactlywithoutlookingatthebooks,"saidtheSquireevasively.

"I

understand;youdon"twanttotellme.Idaresayheisowingyouhalfayear"srent."

Thiswasquitetrue,butSquireHadleyneitherconfirmednordeniedit.HecouldquiteunderstandthatMr.Wilson,withawifeandthreechildren,foundithardtokeepevenwiththeworldonhisscantystipend,andhedidnotfeellikepressinghim.

"I

thinkitshamefulforaministernottopayhisdebts,"saidMrs.Hadley,inanacidtone.

"Supposehecan"t,mydear."

"Don"tdearme.Iamoutofpatiencewithyou,"saidtheladysharply.

"Why?"

"Youneedn"task.Youencouragetheministerinhisshiftlesscourse."

"SupposeIhadthreechildren,andallourclothingandhouseholdexpenseshadtobepaidoutoffivehundredayear."

"Ifyouwasaministeryououghttodoit."

"A

ministercan"tmakeadollargoanyfartherthanotherpeople."

"Hecangiveupluxuriesandvanities."

"Ourministerindulgesinveryfewofthose,"saidtheSquire,shrugginghisshoulders.

"I

don"tknowaboutthat.IsawSarahWilsoninthestoretheotherdaybuyingsomegranulatedsugar,whenbrownischeaperandwoulddoequallyaswell."

"I

believeweusegranulatedsugar,Lucretia,"saidSquireHadley,hiseyestwinkling.

"You"renotaminister."

"AndIshouldn"twanttobeifthesinnersaretogetallthegoodthingsofthislife,andthesaintshavetotakeupwiththepoorest."

"Callyourselfasinnerifyoulike,butdon"tcallmeone,Mr.

Hadley,"saidhiswifewithsomeasperity.

"Ain"tyouasinner?"

"Weareallsinners,ifitcomestothat,butIconsidermyselfasgoodasmostpeople.Howmuchrentdidyousaytheministerwasowingyou?"

"I

didn"tsay,"saidtheSquireshrewdly.

"Keepitasecretifyouplease.AllIsayisthatit"sadutyyouoweyourfamilytocollectwhatishonestlydueyou.IwoulddoitifIwereaman."

"I

thinkyouwould,Lucretia.However,topleaseyou,I"llattendtoitwithinaweek."

"I

amgladyou"regettingsensible.Youallowyourgoodnaturetorunawaywithyou."

"I

amgladyouallowmeonegoodquality,Lucretia,"saidherhusbandwithanattemptathumor.

Mrs.

Hadleydidnotfailtoinquireofherhusband,afewdaysafterward,iftherenthadbeencollected,andheardwithsatisfactionthatithadbeenpaiduptothecurrentmonth.

"I

toldyouhewouldpayitifyoupressedhim,"shesaidtriumphantly.

Herhusbandsmiled.Hethoughtitbestnottorelatethecircumstancesunderwhichithadbeenpaid.Hehadcalledattheminister"sstudythedayaftertheconversationabovedetailed,andafterafewremarksonindifferenttopicssaid:

"Bytheway,Mr.Wilson,inregardtotherent——"

"I

regretbeingsomuchinarrears,SquireHadley,"saidtheministeruncomfortably;"butreallyitisaveryperplexingproblemtomakemysalarycoverthenecessaryexpensesofmyfamily.Ihopeinafewweekstobeabletopaysomething."

Don"ttroubleyourself,mydearsir,"saidtheSquiregenially."Youmustfinditdifficult,Iamsure.Ifind,bymybooks,thatyouareowingmesixmonths"rent."

"I

amafraiditisasmuchasthat,"saidMr.Wilson,sighing.

"AndIamgoingtohelpyoutopayit."

Theministerlookedathisguestinsurprise.SquireHadleytookouthispocketbook,anddrewthere-fromfourtendollarbills.

"Mr.Wilson,"saidhe,"Imakeyouapresentofthis,andnow,perhaps,youwillbeabletopaymetherentdue——thirtysevendollarsanda,half,Ithinktheexactamountis."

"Mygoodfriend,"saidtheminister,almostovercome,"howcanI

thankyouforthisgenerosity?"

"Bypayingmemyrent,"saidtheSquiresmiling."Iamveryparticulartohavethatpaidpromptly.IfyouwillfurnishmewithwritingmaterialsIwillwriteyouareceipt.Now,Mr.Wilson,"headded,asherosetogo,"Iamgoingtoaskyouafavor."

"Onlymentionit,myfriend."

"Letthislittletransactionbeasecretbetweenus."

Itishardtopromisethat;Ishouldliketospeaktoothersofyourgoodness.IfI

saynothingaboutit,itwillseemungrateful."

"Ifyoudomentionit,youwillgetmeintohotwater."

"Howisthat?"inquiredtheminister,insomeperplexity.

"Thefactismywifeisveryfrugal,andjustaleetlestingy.Shecan"thelpit,youunderstand.Herfatherwasprettyclosefisted.Shewouldn"tapproveofmygivingawaysomuchmoney,andmightremonstrate."

"Yes,Iunderstand,"saidtheminister,whoknew,asallthevillagedid,thatMrs.Hadleywasquiteasclosefistedasherlamentedfather.

"Sowehadbettersaynothingaboutit."

"I

cantellmywife?"

"Yes,youmaytellher,foritmayrelieveherfromanxiety.Ofcourseshewon"tmentionit."

"Youareafirmfriend,SquireHadley,"saidMr.Wilson,graspingthehandofhisparishionercordially."Youareoneofthosewhodogoodbystealth,andblushtofinditfame."

"No,Iain"t,"saidSquireHadleybluntly;"IshouldbeperfectlywillingtohaveallmygooddeedsknownifitwasnotforMrs.

Hadley.Andthatremindsme,Iwouldwillinglypaintthehouseforyouifshedidnotobject."

"Thatisnotofsomuchconsequence;buttheroofdoesleakbadly,andtroublesmywifeagooddeal."

Thatoughttobefixed,"saidtheSquire."HowshallImanageit?"

Hereflectedamoment,andhisfacebrightenedwithanewidea.