CHAPTER XXII
STUNNED AND COLD.
"Come, Elma, what are you looking so thoughtful about?" asked Mrs.Steward in an impatient voice.
"Nothing, Aunt Charlotte," replied Elma, rising to her feet. "I am readyto go," she added. She sighed as she spoke.
"You must give up that unpleasant habit, my dear child. Nothingirritates me more than hearing people sigh. It always seems as if theywere discontented and ungrateful to Providence. Now, what have you, forinstance, to sigh about? A singularly fortunate girl, a girl whopossesses an aunt who is willing to take a mother's duties upon hershoulders. If it were that wretched, vulgar Carrie now, or even my poorsister herself; but you, Elma, don't let me think that you areungrateful to me or I wash my hands of you on the spot."
"Oh, I am nothing of the kind indeed, Aunt Charlotte," replied Elma. "Ialways have felt that you--you were more than good to me."
"Well, my dear that's as it should be. I honor your feelings. I oftensay to myself and to your uncle-in-law--remember he is not your realuncle, Elma, but your uncle-in-law, my dear husband, the rector of St.Bartholomew's--'John,' I say, 'if Elma doesn't show gratitude for all Iam doing for her I shall once and for all give up the human race. Ishall never again expect right feeling from any one." But of course youare grateful, Elma; you will be the comfort of my old age. You will beas my own child to me. I--I sometimes think, my dear, that when youreducation is finished and you are turned into a refined,highly-cultivated, highly-trained woman, I will keep you with me. Youshall be my companion, my housekeeper, the one who is to read aloud tome, to sit with me in the long evenings when my sight begins to fail. Myeyes do ache at times, my dear, I have thought of all that. You will bemy adopted child; not that I can leave you anything in my will, but Iwould provide a home for you while I am left in this tabernacle of theflesh. What do you say, Elma, eh?"
"It is too soon to say anything at present," answered Elma, to whom thisprospect was the reverse of charming. To live as her aunt's unsalariedcompanion could not be attractive to her; but she wisely concluded thatsufficient unto the day was the evil thereof, and she had yet to beeducated and brought to that calm of spirit and strain of intellectwhich would satisfy Aunt Charlotte.
"Come now at once," said the good lady, who suddenly from being in avery cross temper became in the best of humor. "We have just nice timeto go across to the school, and then after we have seen Miss Sherrard toreturn here for you to pack your things. What do you say, Elma, to ourboth staying in London to-night? It would be a pleasant treat for you,and there may be a few little things necessary to add to your wardrobe,which I shall have much pleasure in providing you with. Elma, you are inrare luck. When I think of all I am doing for you I feel that you haveindeed much to be thankful for."
"Yes, Aunt Charlotte," echoed Elma, but her voice sounded faint, and shebrought out her words with an effort.
Leaning on her niece's arm, Mrs. Steward now pursued her way toMiddleton School. Alas! her journey there quickly dissipated her latelyacquired good-humor. She had not gone one hundred yards before shecomplained of the dust of the roads, she had not gone two before heranger was great at the length of the way, and when she found that it wasnecessary to mount uphill her complaints became loud grievances--inshort, by the time she really arrived at the school she was in as bad atemper as Elma had ever seen her in.
"What it is to have a great girl like you hanging on to one, dependenton one!" she cried. "It was most inconsiderate of Caroline to marry asshe did, and she now even complains when I blame her for it. She is anextraordinary person. If she had remained single she might have beenliving comfortably with me at St. Bartholomew's rectory, and you andCarrie would never have been in the world plaguing your relatives."
"Well, you see we are in the world," said poor Elma, who felt that shemust just show the faintest spark of spirit. "We did not ask to beborn," she added, "so I don't see that we are to be blamed."
Mrs. Steward favored her with a sharp glance.
"Elma," she said, "if you indulge in pertness I shall wash my hands ofyou. Now, here we are. Have the goodness to ring the bell."
The great school door was opened presently by a neat-lookingmaid-servant, and Mrs. Steward inquired in a tart voice if Miss Sherrardwas in."
"She is, ma'am," replied the girl; "but she is particularly engaged atthis moment. Oh, is that you, Miss Lewis?" she continued. "Miss Sherrardis just sending for you, miss; but I don't think the messenger has goneyet. I'll run and stop him. Will you walk inside, ma'am!"
"A messenger for me!" murmured Elma. She felt terribly uncomfortable;her face grew whiter than ever.
"Will you have the goodness to tell your mistress that I wish to speakto her at once," said Mrs. Steward; "that I am in a hurry, and cannot bekept waiting? Pray mention my name, Mrs. Steward, from St. Bartholomew'sRectory, Buckinghamshire."
The girl promised to do so, and withdrew. She soon returned to say thatMiss Sherrard would be pleased to see both Mrs. Steward and Miss Lewisin her private room.
"I wish to see Miss Sherrard alone," said Mrs. Steward. "Remain whereyou are, Elma." Mrs. Steward sailed out of the room, and poor Elma sankdown on the nearest chair.
"If Miss Sherrard has sent for me she must know something," thought thewretched girl. "Oh! how am I to live through it? She will tell AuntCharlotte and then all my prospects are over."
Meanwhile Mrs. Steward sailed down the passage with a dignity andmajesty of demeanor which impressed Miss Sherrard's neat handmaidconsiderably. The next instant she was ushered into the school-mistress'presence.
Miss Sherrard looked troubled; she came forward to meet Mrs. Stewardvery gravely, and, motioning with her hand to a chair, asked her to seatherself. Mrs. Steward stared for a moment at the head-mistress, and thehead-mistress stared back at her. At last Mrs. Steward said glibly:
"I am sorry to take up any of your valuable time, Miss Sherrard; but Ithink I can explain my errand in a few words. I am about to remove myniece, Elma Lewis, from the school."
"Indeed, I am heartily glad to hear it," answered Miss Sherrard, visiblerelief both in her tone and face.
"What an extraordinary remark for you to make! But I will pass it by,for I am in a considerable hurry. I have heard of an admirable school inGermany to which I intend to send my niece. Not that I have the leastobjection to your mode of teaching, Miss Sherrard, nor to this verycelebrated school; but of course when it comes to foreign languages youcannot compare England to the Continent."
"Certainly not," answered Miss Sherrard, who was now staring at theother lady in some wonder.
"It is my intention to remove Elma to-night," continued Mrs. Steward;"for although it is not quite the end of term, yet the Harz Mountainsare some distance away, and it would not be possible for a young girlwho has at present no knowledge of the German language to go so farwithout an escort. Miss Sherrard, you will be glad to hear that anescort has been found, a suitable escort, and Elma will leave Englandnext week. Under these circumstance I propose to take her back to myhusband's rectory in Buckinghamshire to-morrow morning, and she willleave the school now."
"Indeed! I repeat that this is a most fortunate coincidence. I am gladto hear it," said Miss Sherrard.
"Your remarks seem to me the reverse of flattering; but I have no timeto ask you to explain them. What I have really come about is this: It isnecessary for Elma to have a certificate from her present mistress inorder to be admitted into the very first-class school in Germany where Ipropose to place her. Will you kindly give me a testimonial in myniece's favor, Miss Sherrard? Just say anything you can to the credit ofher character and general attainments. From your many letters to me Ijudge that you have a very high opinion of the dear girl; and I trust,now that I am doing so much, in starting this young girl in life, that Ishall not go unrewarded. The care of the young is a sad trial, MissSherrard and I doubt not that the looking after Elma will worry meconsiderably; but I am not one to shirk my duties, and I am willing totake all this responsibi
lity, and for the future to regard that younggirl as if she were indeed my own child. But I must have thetestimonial, so will you kindly write it at once."
Miss Sherrard had been sitting with her hands clasped in her lap whileMrs. Steward was speaking. Once she had lowered her eyes; but duringthe greater part of the time they were fixed upon the good lady's face.A look of consternation, almost akin to despair, flitted now over theteacher's expressive countenance.
When at last Mrs. Steward ceased to speak, Miss Sherrard still remainedfor nearly half a minute quite silent.
"You will perhaps oblige me by writing the testimonial?" said Mrs.Steward in a very haughty voice. Then she added, perceiving thatsomething was wrong, and finding it impossible to guess what, "I daresay you are annoyed at Elma leaving the school so unexpectedly--"
"No, no; nothing of the kind," said Miss Sherrard. "I have told youtwice, Mrs. Steward, that I am glad, very glad of this."
"Your words surprise me; but of course you will write--my time isprecious, I have not a moment to lose."
Miss Sherrard now stood up.
"I cannot give Elma Lewis a testimonial with regard to conduct." Thewords came out quietly, firmly, distinctly.
Mrs. Steward sprang to her feet.
"You cannot give my niece a testimonial with regard to conduct?" shegasped. "Do you know what you are saying what you are doing, MissSherrard?"
"Perfectly well, Mrs. Steward."
"In your letters to me you have invariably spoken of Elma's conduct asexcellent. Miss Sherrard, you surely forget yourself--you cannot bewell; you must be mistaking Elma for one of your other pupils? She hasalways been an exemplary girl. You cannot give her a testimonial withregard to conduct? Am I to believe the testimony of my own ears?"
"I am deeply sorry; I have seldom been more grieved about anything. I amtold that Elma has accompanied you here--if you will permit me, I willsend for her, and explain how matters really stand in your presence."
"Oh, this is intolerable," said Mrs. Steward, clasping and unclaspingher hands in her agitation. "The wicked girl, what has she done? Praysend for her at once, Miss Sherrard; if she has done anything reallydisgraceful I wash my hands of her. If you, her mistress, cannot giveher a certificate, do you suppose that my husband and I will take herup?"
"It is impossible for me to say, madam. In this emergency to really helpElma would be a Christian act. She may have been tempted beyond herstrength, but you will be better able to decide when you know thecircumstances."
As Miss Sherrard spoke she rang the bell. "When the servant appeared,she desired her to bring Elma immediately into her presence. A momentlater the young girl entered the room. She gave a wild and frightenedglance first at her aunt, then at Miss Sherrard, then stepping forward,fell on her knees.
"Has Kitty told you?" she gasped.
"Yes, Elma. Get up; you cannot kneel to me."
"Rise this minute you wicked girl!" said Mrs. Steward.
Elma staggered to her feet.
"It is all up, then," she murmured.
"I know everything, Elma," said Miss Sherrard. "The knowledge has cometo me as a painful surprise. Your aunt has just asked me to give you atestimonial with regard to character. I am bitterly pained to say that Imust refuse to do so."
"But what does it all mean," cried Mrs. Steward, "and why am I to bekept in the dark any longer? Elma, stop twirling your thumbs; standback. Now, Miss Sherrard, I have paid the school fees for Elma Lewis forthe last four years, so I presume I am entitled to know all about her.Tell me what has occurred. Of what she is accused?"
Miss Sherrard then briefly related the story which had been told to herby Kitty.
It was exactly the sort of tale which would affect a woman of Mrs.Steward's caliber disagreeably. She listened with a horror-strickenface. When the school-mistress had finished, she said abruptly:
"What do you propose to do now?"
"It will be necessary for me to explain the whole circumstances ofElma's wrong-doing to the entire school to-morrow," said Miss Sherrard."This is necessary for the sake of Kitty Malone."
"At what hour do you propose to make this very pleasant exhibition of myniece?"
"After prayers to-morrow morning--I sent for you, Elma," continued MissSherrard, "to tell you, as I thought you ought to be prepared."
"Thank you," answered Elma, her head bowed on her breast. She feltstunned and cold. The dreadful blow had fallen; but the acute miserywhich was immediately to follow was not at present awakened withinher.
"Come, Elma," said Mrs. Steward. She turned to leave the room. Just asshe reached the door she looked back at Miss Sherrard.
"After you have exposed Elma, and ruined her character for life, youwill doubtless expel her?" she said.
"I hope not--I think not."
"In any case she leaves the school, for I pay no more fees. Come Elma."