she would not have taken the least mite of notice ofme.
Yes: really, this is a dreadfully hypocritical world!
"My Euphemia will be charmed to know you, my love," said Mrs CampanelleBrassey, looking at me as if I were good to eat, and she were acannibal's wife--"charmed, I'm sure."
"I sha'n't be charmed to know her," I said to myself, "if she is asinsincere as you."
"I'm sure that you will soon be the best of friends. It will be so nicefor her to have one to welcome her directly she leaves home, and, ofcourse, we shall have the pleasure of seeing you on a visit at theBelfry during the vacation."
Of course I thanked her, and thought that if I liked Euphemia I shouldvery likely go home with her for a while, since all places now seemedthe same to me, and I should require some _delassement_.
"This is one of our classrooms, my dear madam," said Mrs Blunt, openingthe door where all the girls were sitting, and just then Clara cameacross from the practice-room, with her music-book beneath her arm, forMrs Blunt had taken care that Mrs Campanelle Brassey should not standand hear her hammer away at the old ting-tang. Clara told me afterwardsthat she stopped as soon as the door opened. But then Clara never couldplay a bit, and I must say that she knew it, though, as I before said,her sketches were lovely.
"Charming, indeed," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey, inspecting the girlsthrough her glass, just as if it were a lens, and they were all so manycheese-mites.
Just then I exchanged glances with Miss Furness, but I was not going tobe stared down; for feeling, as I did, fierce and defiant, I justcontemptuously lowered my lids. Next moment the door was closed, and wewent into the dining-room, and then upstairs to the dormitories.
"What a charming little nest!" exclaimed Mrs Campanelle Brassey, whenwe entered our room at last, after inspecting, I think, every chamber inthe place--for everything really was kept beautifully nice, and neat,and clean; and, though plain, the furniture and carpets were tasty andnice--"what a charming little nest! Three beds, too! And pray whosleeps here?"
"Let me see," said Mrs Blunt, affecting ignorance, "this is your room,is it not, my dear? Ah! yes, I remember; and you have Miss Fitzacrewith you, and who else?"
"Miss Smith, ma'am," I said, quietly.
"Ah, to be sure, Miss Smith," said Mrs Blunt.
"Not a very aristocratic name," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey, smiling,and twirling her eyeglass about. "Pity, now, that that bed is not atliberty; it would have been so charming for the three girls to have beentogether night and day. I suppose that you could not manage to changethe present order, Mrs de Blount?"
"Shall I give up my bed, ma'am?" I said, quietly.
"Oh, dear me, no--by no means," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey. "Ithought, perhaps, as I had seen Lady Fitzacre's daughter and yourself,and you seemed so much of an age, that it might have been possible forthe young person of the name of--er--er--"
"Smith," suggested Mrs Blunt.
"Yes--er--for her to be exchanged into another room."
Mrs Blunt thought that perhaps if her young friend did not object tobeing separated she might possibly manage it. And really I hoped shewould; for any one, even Celia Blang--little spy that she was--wouldhave been better than poor Patty.
"But I really should not like to introduce my dear child here at theexpense of doing violence to anybody's feelings," said Mrs CampanelleBrassey.
"Oh, no! I know you would not wish that," said Mrs Blunt; "and really,if Miss Smith objected at all to being removed, I don't think I could--er--I should like to--to--"
"I see, perfectly," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey; "and I quite admireand appreciate your system, Mrs de Blount. But what does my youngfriend here say--would she object to such a change being made? Wouldshe not miss her friend, the young person of the name of--er--Jones?"
"Smith," corrected Mrs Blunt; for somehow the vulgarity of the nameseemed too much for Mrs Campanelle Brassey.
"I should be very glad to see the change," I said.
"And about Miss Fitzacre?" said Mrs Blunt, with such an air ofhypocritical interest, looking all the while so innocent.
"Oh, I'm certain that she would be glad," I rejoined. "In fact, ma'am,I have heard her say so. Miss Smith is very young, ma'am," I said,modestly, "and has never been a companion or friend to us."
And then I felt very much afraid lest Patty should hear of what I hadsaid, and repay me by telling all she knew.
"No; I should never have expected that from what I have seen of your twocharming pupils. Mrs de Blount, that they would have had feelings,sentiments, or emotions in common with a young person of the name of--Jones."
"Then, if your daughter wishes it, my dear madam," said Mrs Blunt, "Ithink we may venture to say that the matter is settled to yoursatisfaction. You see," she continued, "that when a new pupil arrives,I look upon mine as quite a maternal charge--one that embraces all thata mother owes to her child, with that of the teacher and trainer of theyoung and budding intellect."
"Exactly so," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey, nodding her head.
"And therefore," continued Mrs Blunt, apparently muchencouraged--"therefore, my dear madam, I try to study pupils' comfortand wishes, even in those which some people might consider trivialthings. I study, as far as I can, the present as well as the future; sothat when, strong-winged, these young birds take flight, they may alwaysin their happy futures--"
"Certainly--happy futures," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey, nodding herhead; "certainly, after such training."
"Happy futures, look back," continued Mrs Blunt, "to the days when theywere at the Cedars, and feel a tear dim their eye's brightness--a tear,not of sorrow, but of regret."
"Very true," said Mrs Campanelle Brassey. "I quite agree with you,Mrs de Blount. Charming sentiments."
"And therefore, you see, had there been any dislike to the alterationupon our young friend's part," said Mrs Blunt, "I should not have likedto make the change."
Yes: she actually said all that, just as if she believed it, and evensmiled at me as she spoke; while, I declare, I almost felt dumb-foundedto hear what she said.
The Cedars certainly must have been a most delightful place to motherlyeyes, for at every turn go where we would, Mrs Campanelle Brassey waslost in admiration, and found everything charming; and she did notscruple to say so, and to such an extent that I grew tired of hearingher. But that did not matter, for there was no getting away; and I hadto go with her, into the dining-room again to have some cake and wine,which I had to ring for, and then go and sit down by the side of thevisitor, who seemed to know by instinct which would be the softestcouch.
James brought in the wine, and when I was asked, as a matter of course,I ought to have declined, and said, with a display of Cedar deportment,"No, thank you;" but I did not intend anything of the sort, and said"Yes," for I knew that Mrs Blunt always had the best sherry brought outfor the visitors, and was in consequence terribly stingy over it. So Isaid, "Yes, if you please," and took a glass, while she was obliged tosmile all the time; for I did not mean to be walked about, and talkedat, and talked to all day for nothing.
But at last I was set at liberty, and went off to the schoolroom todiscuss the coming of the new girl, who was so handsome and charming inevery respect, till Miss Furness returned from the drawing-room, whereshe had been to be introduced, and desired us to pursue our studies,when, of course, we were all very industrious for quite five minutes.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
MEMORY THE TWENTY-FIRST--I SUFFER.
"I can't think how mammas can be so silly as to believe all that is saidby these lady principals," said Clara. "And so there's another new girlcoming, just my age? I wonder how she will like Cedar mutton--allgristle and tiff-taff. I wish I was out of it, I do! And so it's alloff between you and Monsieur Achille, is it, dear? Well, I'm very glad,for it had got to be dreadfully tiring, really. Now, tell the truth,ain't you glad yourself?"
"N-n-no, I don't think I am," I said. "It will be so dull now, withnothing t
o look forward to; and--heigho!--who would have thought that hewould be so false?"
"Anybody, everybody," said Clara; "and yet you were highly offendedbecause I said French gentlemen were fickle and brittle. Never mind,dear, there will be some one else some day, and I shall be bridesmaid,after all."
"Don't talk such stuff," I said, dolefully; while from the far distantpast there seemed to rise up the reproachful countenance of Mr SaintPurre, as I had seen him last, and I could not help sighing; while ifany one had asked me whether I was sighing