of life now." But she was so tired that in spiteof all, she fell asleep and slept soundly.
It was morning already when she awoke--some moments of bewilderment asto what had happened and where she was were followed by a gradualrecollection of the painful events of the preceding day. Then FrauleinBraune in a curiously befrilled headgear which Ella supposed must be aGerman nightcap, peeped in, to see if her guest was awake. Ella startedup nervously.
"It is time to be getting ready, I suppose?" she said. "I wasforgetting."
"Yes," said the governess. "If you have really kept to yourdetermination of--"
"Of course I have," said Ella sharply. "I shall be dressed in tenminutes; there will be time to catch the early train, will there not?"
"Oh, yes, if we are quick," Fraulein Braune replied. Not that she wouldhave been sorry if they had missed it, poor woman! But she was insecret hopes that Ella's friends would have already communicated withthe railway officials, and that her escapade would come to a prematureending at the station.
Nothing of the kind happened however, and the German was obliged to ownto herself when fairly off on their journey, seated opposite Ella in asecond-class compartment that it really did not look as if the poorgirl's family cared much about her. Still the more she thought it allover the more satisfied she became that she had acted not only kindly,but wisely in accompanying her pupil.
"She would never have got on without me," the governess reflected,"though she is too childish to understand that. It will be easy toconfide in Mrs Ward so far as is necessary to ensure her taking care ofElla in the meantime, without Ella's in the least suspecting anything ofthe kind."
And indeed though the girl's heart and mind were very troubled and sore,she was feeling no special practical anxiety about her prospects. Shehad no misgiving as to the feasibility of the plan she had made, and wasin no way surprised when things turned out pretty much in accordancewith her own ideas.
Mrs Ward was the matron or superintendent of a small "Home" forgovernesses. Ella had once in past years, when little more than achild, called at this institution with her aunt to inquire for a younggirl temporarily there, in whom Mrs Robertson took an interest. Ellahad been struck by Mrs Ward's kindly, capable manner and sensibleadvice, and the whole incident had been recalled to her memory recentlyby Fraulein Braune speaking of this very institution as her usualhead-quarters when in London. And to go there and apply for a situationas governess in France or Germany had been the girl's idea.
The winter afternoon was fast closing in, it was dusk, almost dark whenthe cab containing Ella and her escort drew up at 29 Percival Terrace.As had been agreed between the two during their railway journey,Fraulein Braune got out first, leaving Ella alone to await the result ofher interview with Mrs Ward. It had been raining, a cold sleetyregular London winter rain. Ella shivered as she gazed out at thesloppy pavement, glistening in the light of an adjacent gas lamp.
"I had no idea London could look so dreary," she thought. Then herfancy pictured the spacious comfortable library at Coombesthorpe as itmust be looking at that moment--the fire burning brightly, throwing warmreflections on the crimson carpet and the dull rich bindings of thebooks, while Madelene made tea at the pretty table with its sparklingsilver "equipage," and Colonel St Quentin lay back in his chair talkingto her as she did so.
"And," went on Ella to herself, "very likely Sir Philip is there too,unless he has gone off to Ermine again. They are none of them troublingthemselves about me--that's plain. But it's better so. I could notstand it--no I could not go back again."
Just then the door of the house opened and Fraulein Braune came out.She smiled at Ella.
"It is all right," she said. "Mrs Ward insists on my staying thenight, though I had intended going back at once."
"Oh no, no, that would never have done, dear Fraulein," said Ella, asshe sprang out.
Then the governess paid the cabman and they went in.
"What did Mrs Ward say?" asked Ella, when they were in the hall.
"She will tell you herself," Fraulein Braune replied. "I--I thought itright to tell her your name, Ella."
"Of course. I have no intention of concealing it," Ella repliedhaughtily. "But you made her promise not to write home or anything ofthat kind, Fraulein? You know I shall do so myself as soon as ever I amsettled."
"Yes," said the German lady calmly, as she opened the door of the roomwhere Mrs Ward was waiting for them.
Ella at once stated her wishes. Mrs Ward listened quietly, though nowand then a quiet smile lighted up her face.
"You don't think it would be difficult to get a situation such as Ishould be fit for?" said the young lady in conclusion.
Mrs Ward hesitated.
"No," she said, "I think I might put you in the way of something of thekind. But it would be only a modest beginning, particularly as you wantto leave England. You would have no salary at your age, or if any, verylittle. Your best chance would be a situation _au pair_, as it iscalled. I have one or two on my books."
"What does that mean?" asked Ella, whose countenance had fallen alittle.
"You would have to teach English and in return for that you would haveboard and lodging and certain facilities for acquiring French or German,or both. I have an application at this moment from a school in Germanyof this kind." And she turned to a large ledger on the table.
Ella's face for the first time expressed perplexity and misgiving. "Nosalary," she said to herself. "Well, after all I have clothes enough tolast a good while and the great thing is to get something settled." Sheturned abruptly to Mrs Ward.
"I will accept that situation," she said. "I am eager to be settled.Can I go at once?"
Fraulein Braune gave an exclamation.
"My dear Miss Ella!" she said.
"Things of this kind are not settled quite so quickly, my dear younglady," said Mrs Ward with a smile. "However I will write about it atonce, and you can stay here till I get an answer. But--you in themeantime must get your parents' leave. You are not of age and I couldnot take the responsibility of sending you away anywhere unauthorised bythem."
Ella looked very blank.
"I mean to tell them when I am settled," she said. "I--I did not wantto do so before."
"You must think it over," said Mrs Ward. "In the meantime I will writethe letter. Now, Fraulein Braune, you know the house. Tea will beready in a few minutes. Will you take Miss St Quentin up stairs toNumber 5: it is the only unoccupied room, and when you hear the bellring please come down to the dining-room for tea."
Ella followed Fraulein Braune up stairs in silence; she looked grave andperplexed and the kind woman's heart was touched. But she thought itbest and wisest to leave the girl to her own reflections. It was nottill the next morning, when her friend was about to leave, that anythingwas said.
"I have been thinking it all over," Ella began.
"I see it is no use trying to keep my plans a secret, and after all itwill not make much difference, as I always meant to write homeeventually. But I don't want to write myself, just yet. If it is notasking too much, Fraulein, will you be so kind as to see my father or mysister as soon as you go back to Coombe and tell them where I am, what Iintend, so that they can write to Mrs Ward and satisfy her? I don'tthink there will be any difficulty; certainly not with my sister, and myfather will probably be so angry, that he won't care what I do. You cansee for yourself that they are not anxious about me, or they would havedone something."
Fraulein Braune could scarcely gainsay this. She was too experiencednot to know that nothing would have been easier than to trace Ella bythis time had her friends cared to do so.
"Will you see them for me, dear Fraulein?" Ella repeated.
Fraulein Braune was only too delighted to do so, and to free herselffrom the responsibility which was very heavy upon her. But to Ella shefelt it was wiser not to express her satisfaction too strongly; anyapproach to "crowing over" the girl might still be fatal in its results.
"Certainly I will see them. I shall go out to Coombesthorpe to-morrowmorning. I would go this evening but I fear it will be too late."
"Oh I wouldn't think of going to-night," said Ella, with a little smile."They are not uneasy. It is for my own sake I ask you to go soon. Iam so anxious to have it all settled about this place in Germany." MrsWard was well pleased to learn from Fraulein Braune what had beenarranged between her and Ella.
"They will never let her go to Germany," said the matron. "It would bealmost a scandal--people in such a position as theirs."
Fraulein Braune shook her head.
"I
The Third Miss St Quentin Page 41
