CHAPTER V
PHYLLIS AND BARBARA ENTER THE LISTS
Aunt Henrietta always stayed until November in her cottage nearMarblehead. She said that she never enjoyed the ocean until she wasalone with it, and Jessamy suggested afterward that it was a triflehard on the ocean--a severe remark for Jessamy, whose genuinely highstandards of good breeding forbade unkind comment on others--even onAunt Henrietta, though she was trying.
Immediately on her return to town, Mrs. Hewlett came to look up "herfallen kindred," as Barbara said. That young lady went down to theparlor to conduct her great-aunt to her mother. "It would make a lovelytitle for a Sunday-school book, wouldn't it?" she said, turning fromthe glass, where she had been inspecting the last faint trace of themishap to her nose. "'Little Barbara's Upward Leading,' or 'Toward theSkies,' or 'Helped Upward,' or 'Mounting Heavenward,' or even simply'Uplifted.'"
"Barbara, I am ashamed of you!" said her mother, as severely as shecould, while trying not to laugh.
"Now, Bab, do be nice," pleaded Jessamy.
"Nice! I'd like to know what could be nicer than to plan moral littletitles like those?" said Bab, in an injured tone. "But don't worry;I'll be a sweet morsel when I get down there."
"You look thinner," said Aunt Henrietta, when Barbara had delicatelytouched the unresponsive cheek offered her to kiss.
"I _am_ thinner, aunt; we're none of us waxing fleshy. Black Sally'smarketing and cooking seemed rather more comforting than our presentfare," said Bab.
"H'm! Where under heavens are your rooms?" asked Mrs. Hewlett.
"Just there, Aunt Henrietta. Right under heavens--on the top floor,"laughed Barbara.
"Do you mean to say you have taken your delicate mother up all thoseflights?" demanded her great-aunt. "You ought to be ashamed ofyourselves."
"What could we do, aunt?" asked Barbara, meekly, though her cheeks grewvery red. "We were not able to make any boarding-house keeper give usbetter rooms at our price for mama's sake."
"Do? You ought to be earning money--three great healthy girls--andPhyllis only a niece-in-law of your mother's into the bargain! I cameto talk to you about this," said Mrs. Hewlett.
"Please wait till we get up-stairs; I fancy there are always earsabout here," said Bab, and led the way to their own quarters."'Excelsior!' is our motto, aunt," she said, pausing at the head of thesecond flight, and finding malicious pleasure in her relative's laboredbreathing.
"Well, Emily, the consequences of your imprudence are severe. I amsorry to find you thus; you don't look well," was Aunt Henrietta'sgreeting to Mrs. Wyndham. "Now, I want to get down to business withoutdelay," she added, removing her splendid furs. "I suppose you are usingyour principal?"
"On the contrary, our living, such as it is, comes well within thelimits of our income," replied Mrs. Wyndham.
"Really!" exclaimed Mrs. Hewlett, disappointed of the chance to findfault on that score, but swiftly rallying to another point of attack."Then it is because you are living so wretchedly in order to keep thesegirls fine ladies. You always spoiled them, Emily; but your weaknessreally should have some limit. It is outrageous for you to be compelledto climb all these stairs, that a slender income may support fourpeople. These girls should be a source of income, not a drain upon you;you can't be poor and be fine ladies at the same time."
"We hope that we can be, aunt," said Jessamy; "but you are quitemistaken if you think we wish to spare ourselves at mother's expense."
Only Mrs. Wyndham's hand holding Bab's wrist tight kept that smalltorpedo from exploding. "This question has been discussed among us,aunt, especially lately," said Mrs. Wyndham, quietly, though her voicetrembled. "Jessamy has clearly determined her course; she has talent,and we all think can do good book illustrations. She is going to fitherself for her work, and we hope will be successful. From the firstJessamy has declared that she should prepare herself to do somethingwell, and devote herself to one vocation."
"Jessamy has sense," said Aunt Henrietta, surveying the girl withsomething like approbation. "She is so pretty that she will undoubtedlymarry before she follows any business long. I only hope that she willremember your necessities, and marry well."
"If by 'well' you mean a good man, whom she loves, I hope so too,Aunt Henrietta," said Mrs. Wyndham, with heightened color. "Bitter asour recent trouble has been, it would be unbearable if I thought itwould lead one of my girls to sell herself, forgetful of self-respect,goodness, and true womanliness. Thank heaven, I believe there is nodanger of what I should feel was a great crime."
"Sentimentality! You never were practical, Emily," said Aunt Henrietta,impatiently, but too intent on her object to quarrel. "Now, how aboutPhyllis and Barbara!"
"I agree with Aunt Henrietta that I, at least, ought to be earningmoney," said Phyllis.
"Not you any more than me, Phyl," cried Barbara, with more warmth thancorrectness.
"Well, I cut out an advertisement from the morning paper for one ofyou to answer," said Aunt Henrietta, producing a clipping. "I want tohelp you get started. Barbara, you might try this; it would probably beeasy employment, and you are too flighty for most things."
"Thanks, aunt," said Bab, with double intent, and read aloud: "'Wanted:A young lady correspondence clerk in gentleman's office. Good salary toright person. Address X. Y. Z. Trumpet, Downtown Office.'"
"That sounds rather nice," commented Barbara, spearing the slip to thepin-cushion with a hat-pin. "I will answer it, Aunt Henrietta."
"If you write now, I'll post it when I go out," suggested Mrs. Hewlett.
"Afraid to trust me? I always do what I say I will, but I would as liefwrite now as any time," said Bab, and seated herself at the table.
"How is this?" she asked later, and read: "'The inclosed advertisementfrom "The Trumpet" noted. The undersigned applicant for the situationwould say that she is seventeen years old. This note is a specimen ofher handwriting; and for character, ability, personal qualities, etc.,she can furnish best city references. An interview requested. Address,'etc. Will that do? I'm not so sure about the reference for ability, butI hope some one would guarantee my honesty."
"Mercy, Bab! where did you learn such business-like forms?" criedJessamy.
"Oh, but fancy my little Bab--my baby--going down to business everyday! There is no doubt that it is a misfortune for women to be forcedto compete with men; I never could let little Babbie do it," cried poorMrs. Wyndham.
"I promise not to compete, Madrina; the men shall go on as ifnothing--as if I, at any rate--had never happened. It can't do any harmto send in my application," said Bab.
"There is just where your foolish pride comes in, Emily," said AuntHenrietta, sternly. "Your daughters are no better than other people'sdaughters; and every one knows that if a girl behaves herself no harmcan befall her under any circumstances."
"It is not pride," said Mrs. Wyndham, stung to self-defense. "Nor doI fear harm, exactly. Unwomenly women are a misfortune to themselvesand all the community, and it is impossible to knock about the worldwithout losing something of that dear and delicate loveliness which, atbest, is fast going out of fashion. If it can be avoided, I think nogirl should be placed in the thick of the fight, striding through theworld in fierce competition with men."
"If it can be avoided--precisely; but it cannot be avoided," said AuntHenrietta, calmly; "for none of your relatives can afford to help you,Emily."
"Help? When did I ever dream of wanting or being willing to accepthelp, aunt?" cried Mrs. Wyndham, hysterically. "But if I prefer topractise stern self-denial to keep my girls sheltered until such timeas they can help me in more feminine ways than you propose--orwould let them follow if they were your own, I feel sure--is thatwrong?"
AUNT HENRIETTA.]
"Not wrong," said Aunt Henrietta, with exasperating soothing in hervoice, and entire conviction of being right, "but utterly foolishand impractical. Now, I have a proposition for Phyllis. A friend--anacquaintance of mine--desires a nursery governess. She has threecharming children, and will
pay a girl twenty-five dollars a month toteach them the simple things children between six and three years ofage learn, take them out--in short, be, as I said, nursery governess;you know what those duties are as well as I do. There is no exposure tothe world in that position, so you ought to like it, Emily."
"Could I go and come every day, aunt?" asked Phyllis, while Mrs.Wyndham twisted her handkerchief nervously. This was bringing povertyhome to her; she clung strongly, poor lady, to the hope of shelteringher little brood, and no amount of privation at home seemed to her likethrusting the burden on them, as did their going out into the world toearn their living.
"She would want you to," said Aunt Henrietta, rising, well pleasedat finding her grand-nieces so amenable to reason--"amenable toreason" meaning, to her mind, as to most others, readiness to accepther opinion. "I wrote this introductory line on the back of myvisiting-card. You will find Mrs. Haines at that number on East Forty---- Street, just beyond Fifth Avenue. You will do well to apply atonce, for there will be many after the situation."
"You won't mind if Phyllis mentions that she is your niece, in case shedoes decide to apply?" inquired Jessamy, with meaning hidden under agentle manner.
But the satire was quite lost on Aunt Henrietta. "Not at all; you areonly my grand-nieces, and my social position is beyond being affectedby trifles," she said, in self-gratulatory tones. Then she went away,leaving a perturbed roomful behind her.
"Now, let me tell you, my dearest auntie-mother, that I think I'lltry the nursery governess," said Phyllis. "Twenty-five dollars amonth will nearly pay my board, and I'd be happier to feel I werehelping. It won't be the end of my career, I hope, but it will answerfor a beginning. I honestly think our beloved metallic great-aunt isright--that we ought to be bettering matters, rather than settle downsatisfied to such a life as this. Jessamy and I have reached thatconclusion lately."
Mrs. Wyndham was crying softly. "To think that if I had heeded Mr. Hurdwe should still have enough," she moaned.
"If--if! Mama, what is the use of 'ifs' now?" cried Barbara. "Youdid what you thought right, and we can't bear to have you reproachyourself. My letter has gone, and we will try to enter the lists tofight for you like true knights--pity we're girls, for it spoils myfine simile."
"I think not, Babbie baby; a knightly spirit is quite as often in agirl's breast as in a boy's," said her mother, kissing her.
"The worst of it is that I feel so mean and selfish to let you allhelp, while I stay at home," said Jessamy. "But I honestly believeI can do more and help better by waiting and following my naturalbent. You won't think me shirking? When even little Bab is answeringadvertisements, I feel horribly indolent and self-seeking."
"'Even little Bab'--who is anything but even--is only a year youngerthan you, miss," said Bab; while Phyllis put her arms around Jessamyand kissed her as she said: "No one could ever suspect you of notplaying fair, my crystal cousin."
Phyllis went forth in her dark-blue gown the next day to "secure theyoung ideas which in the end she would probably want to shoot," Babsaid.
Mrs. Haines was at home, and came down immediately. Phyllis presentedher card of introduction, and stated her errand.
"It seems absurd to inquire into the qualifications of a Miss Wyndhamto teach children as young as mine are--but do you understandkindergarten methods?" Mrs. Haines asked affably.
"I am sorry, but I do not," said Phyllis.
"No; you would hardly have studied them, not having foreseen thenecessity of teaching. The books can give you suggestions, and you caneasily pick up those charming song-games. You sing?"
"A little; enough for that," said Phyllis.
"And speak French?"
"As well as English," said Phyllis, glad to answer one inquiryaffirmatively.
"Oh, then I should be glad if you would speak it with the children,"exclaimed Mrs. Haines. "Fancy having a daughter of Mr. Henry Wyndhamfor one's nursery governess! What a land of reverses America is!Frankly, I made up my mind to take you the moment you came."
The vulgarity of this remark struck Phyllis dumb for a moment. Neverin her life had she felt that the money standard existed. In her homeshe had been surrounded by luxury, but never before had she imaginedthat any one could estimate a person by what he had, or desire to knowthose who had wealth, merely for that reason. In a flash, the vision ofa world of shams, snobbishness, insincerity, spread before her, callingforth the fierce revolt, the sickening repulsion, proper and natural toher youth and better teaching.
"I am not Mr. Henry Wyndham's daughter," she said; "I am his brother'sdaughter, but I have lived with my uncle since I was almost a baby,and neither of my cousins feels any difference between me and her ownsister."
"Oh, but there _is_ a difference; your uncle and aunt must have feltit, if the children did not, or if they were too kind to let you seeit. They were very nice to look after you. Are you the only one whois going to work, now that the money is gone? Why did not one ofthe others come?" asked Mrs. Haines, with evident disappointment,wrinkling her pretty, if rather common, face fretfully.
"Miss Wyndham and Miss Barbara Wyndham have other plans," said Phyllis,haughtily. Then, realizing that she was actually the applicant fora position, and that this tone would never do, she added, with theintention of influencing the shallow creature before her, though shedespised herself for appealing to such motives: "I doubt very much ifthe world knows which is niece and which are daughters. We have alwaysbeen to every one merely 'the Wyndham girls,' with no distinction tooutsiders any more than among ourselves."
"How lovely! Of course it makes no real difference; you must come tome, just the same," said Mrs. Haines, brightening. "Would you like tosee the children and the nursery? All mothers _think_ their babiessweetest, but I _know_ that mine are." And she led the way up-stairs.
Poor Phyllis! Her heart melted somewhat toward her future employer atthis remark, but when she reached the nursery even her innocence couldhardly help discovering that this too was a pose. No mother-lightleaped into Mrs. Haines's eyes at the sight of the three littlecreatures playing there, nor did the children spring to meet her, asthe three little Wyndhams had always sprung at the sight of theirmother--mother to them all equally, in spite of Mrs. Haines's doubt.
Phyllis loved children, and her quick perception of the lack in thelives of these filled her with pity. She stooped down to them, and ranher fingers through the curls of the second child, a girl of four, anddrew the baby, another girl of three, toward her. The eldest, a paleboy of six, gazed at her steadily. "Who are you?" then he said.
"This is Miss Wyndham, and she is coming to teach you and play with youevery day," said his mother.
"Oh, wouldn't it be better for them to call me Miss Phyllis? It soundsless distant, and I want them to love me. You will love me, won't you?"said Phyllis.
"Don't touch my hair; you'll spoil it!" said the elder girl; but thebaby laughed and cuddled closer, and the boy said gravely: "I think Ishall, because you've got such a lamp behind your eyes."
"Decidedly, one of my charges is going to prove interesting," thoughtPhyllis; but she only said: "Won't you tell me your name, and yoursisters'?"
"Mine is Lionel Ferdinand Haines. What would you do if the boys up inthe park called you 'Nellie' Because you wore curls? My mother won'tcut them off."
"Then I should laugh at the boys for trying to tease me when I didn'tcare what they said; and I should try to like curls because my motherliked them," said Phyllis. "And the girls' names?"
"The big one is Muriel Dorothy Haines, and the littlest one is GladysGertrude Haines," said Master Lionel, and was about to propound anotherquestion when his mother interrupted him to say that she must takePhyllis away, because she had an engagement.
"Shall I consider the matter settled, Miss Wyndham, and that you arecoming?" she asked.
"Yes, please," said Phyllis.
"And at twenty-five dollars a month? Mrs. Hewlett mentioned the wages,I suppose?"
"Yes--please," said Phyllis again,
forcing the last word, as she kissedthe baby.
Lionel extended his hand to be shaken, but Muriel said "Good-by"crossly, refusing to be touched.
"I am engaged, girls," said Phyllis, coming into the room with very redcheeks on her return, and maintaining silence as to the discouragingaspects of her new employment.
Phyllis began her labors on the following Monday. Barbara, who hadheard nothing further from her application for the correspondenceclerkship, now turned to Mr. Hurd for help, and the little lawyerobtained for her the position of cashier with a friend of his own,where the young girl would at least be secure from many of thedrawbacks to a business career which her mother dreaded for her.
But, to Bab's unspeakable mortification, she found that she wasincompetent to fill the position. She made change slowly, oftenwrongly, and at night her columns would not add up right, no matterhow often she went over them nor how carefully she counted herfingers. At the end of a week she came home crestfallen, having beenkindly dismissed, to be comforted and petted by her mother and thegirls. Accomplishments she had, but practical knowledge, especiallyarithmetic, she lacked. Phyllis had been right, in the first place,when she said they were not able to compete with their inferiors indoing the serious work of the world.
After this experience, Mr. Hurd placed Barbara in an office to addressenvelops. This she did well, for her fingers and brain were quick; butshe was far from an expert, and her salary was but three dollars and ahalf a week. Fortunately, the office was within walking distance forher, so that car fare did not have to be deducted from this magnificentresult of six days' labor.
Jessamy was working hard at her drawing. Phyllis said little of herdaily experiences, from which her family concluded that they were notwholly pleasant.
A single ray of hope shone out of the gloom for Phyllis. A little storyshe had written was accepted by one of the large syndicates and paidfor--fifteen dollars. The money was not much, though it was more thanhalf of what she was paid monthly by Mrs. Haines; but the glory and thehope it shed on the future were invaluable.
On the whole, Phyllis and Barbara found their entrance into the listsnot easy, and the blows of the tourney hard, but they kept on with acourage fine to see.
They all felt that in some way their skies would brighten when Mrs.Van Alyn returned; she was their "Lady from Philadelphia," and wouldbe sure to find a way through their difficulties. But Mrs. Van Alynhad gone to England till February, and in the meantime the Wyndhamsstruggled on to the best of their ability.