下载辰思小说免费APP
"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.
