by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XII.
ROSAMUND TO THE RESCUE.
Lady Jane was in the midst of her meditations, and a more confused,distracted poor woman it would be difficult to find in the length andbreadth of the land, when suddenly she heard a step in the hall, a frankyoung voice--not Irene's, but bright and young and full of courage--andthe next instant Rosamund Cunliffe entered the room.
"May I speak to you, Lady Jane?"
James was mournfully removing the remainder of the breakfast. His facewas not improved by the blue-bag, and his expression was that of ahunted animal. The butler, in high dudgeon, had retired to his ownapartment, where he had locked and barred the door in order to preventany pranks of that imp, as he privately styled Irene. The other servantswere tremblingly attending to their duties; but all smelled mischief inthe air.
Two such awful things did not often occur on the same day as thepossible poisoning of Miss Frost and the terrible usage to whichinnocent James had been subjected.
"We're none of us safe!" quoth the cook. "It's best to give notice."
"But then wages is so high," said the kitchen-maid. "There ain't a placelike it in the country round--plenty of us, and half our time our own.What my mother says to me is, 'You must put up with something, Sukey;and if you hadn't Miss Irene you'd have low wages and 'ard work.' So Isaid I'd grin and bear it."
"Well, that's my notion, too," said the cook. "I say over and over,'I'll grin and bear it;' and when the child comes to me and asks me sopretty for the most unwholesome food--though nothing, for that matter,seems to disagree with her--why, I haven't the 'eart to refuse."
"You haven't the courage, you mean," said James, who entered the kitchenat that moment. "If you had my poor face you'd have something to say."
"Oh, your poor face!" said the cook in an indignant tone. "It'll be wellafore you're twice married. You take note of that."
James left the kitchen in a huff to return to his duties in thebreakfast-room. It was there that Rosamund found him when she burst inupon Lady Jane.
"I have come to see you. Can I have a talk with you where we can bealone?" said the girl.
Perhaps in all the world no sight could have been so welcome at thatmoment to poor Lady Jane as Rosamund's bright face. The courage in it,the knowledge that Irene respected and, yes, loved this girl, cheeredher inexpressibly. She was not jealous. The fact was, had she beenjealous, had she felt any very deep mother-love for her orphan child,things might have been quite different. But her whole heart was absorbedin memories, and Irene, in consequence, had never given her a truedaughter's affection. But she was terribly perturbed about the naughtychild; and Rosamund looked to her, with her straight carriage, her fineopen face, like a very tower of strength.
"I am in great trouble, my dear. I am very glad to see you. But how isit that you have got away from school so early?"
"I will tell you all about it. There has been great trouble atSunnyside. Poor Jane Denton, my special friend and room-mate, isdangerously ill with diphtheria."
"Diphtheria!" said Lady Jane, starting back as she spoke. "But is notthat very infectious?"
"I don't think it really is. I mean, of course, that if any one bentover a person who is ill, that person would be very likely to get it.Anyhow, all the girls have been sent away. Mrs. Brett, Mrs. Merriman'ssister, has taken them to Dartford to stay with her for the present; andtwo trained nurses are coming to look after Jane; and--oh, Lady Jane!perhaps you won't speak to me again, but I am expelled from the school."
"Expelled from the Merrimans'?" said Lady Jane in a low tone of intensedistress and feeling.
"It is true. They have expelled me--or at least the Professor has. I amnever going back. Now, I want to know whether I am to go to mother atBrighton, where she is at present, or whether I shall stay with you fora little, and--and help Irene."
Lady Jane's eyes filled with tears.
"You must tell me all about it. Why are you expelled?"
"It is all on account of Irene. I must tell you that I took a greatfancy to her."
"You did? How sweet of you!" said Lady Jane.
"I know she is very wild and naughty; but there is something lovableabout her, and I think I could manage her. I think she cares for me, soI wanted to be with her; and I asked the Professor, but the Professordid not wish it. You see, Lady Jane, I am sorry to hurt you, but Irenehas got quite a bad name in the place. Most of the people are dreadfullyafraid of her. They don't like her. They say she is always up tomischief."
"Indeed she is. Miss Frost has just gone to see the doctor because thenaughty child made her swallow some repulsive insects instead of herpills. But--oh, dear!"
"Don't go on, Lady Jane. I think I can guess how exceedingly naughtyIrene is. But, you see, I have taken a great fancy to her in spite ofher naughtiness. Anyhow, on Sunday last I managed to conquer her, whichwas something."
"Indeed you did. It was most wonderful! Poor Miss Frost and I wereamazed. We could scarcely contain our astonishment as we watched you."
"Well, now, I must tell you the whole story. The Professor said I was tohave nothing to do with Irene, for if I did he would not allow me tostay with them; and he begged of me to consider how important it was forme to stay at the school selected for me by my parents. So I gave him myword of honor that I wouldn't see Irene or have anything to do with herfor a week. I meant to keep it, of course."
"Your word of honor!" interrupted Lady Jane. "That was very strong, wasit not? Your letter astonished me, for you did not explain anything."
"I could not--it was impossible. At least, I felt so at the time,although now I don't much care what happens. Anyhow, I fully intended tokeep my word, although at the end of the week I meant to tell Professorand Mrs. Merriman quite plainly that unless I could see you, who hadbeen mother's dearest friend, and Irene sometimes, I would ask mother toremove me from the school. You see, mother is quite reasonable, and whenI explain things to her she does what she can. I sometimes think that isbecause she was exceedingly naughty herself when she was a little girl.Anyhow, that was how matters stood. But last night, when I went to myroom to go to bed--poor Jane had been removed to a room in another partof the house, as she was so ill--whom should I find in the room butIrene herself, and"----
"She has told me that part. Now I understand," said Lady Jane.
"I am glad you understand. But I had rather a fight with her. In the endI lost my temper, but that was owing to Lucy Merriman. Well, thismorning, when it was discovered that Jane--my dear Jane--had suchterribly bad diphtheria, the whole school was scattered on the spot.Kind Mrs. Brett has taken all the girls, with the exception of myself,to Dartford. I insisted on taking the Professor aside and telling himjust what had happened, and how I had broken my word of honor. I said Iwouldn't go to Dartford with Mrs. Brett, and he told me if I went to youI was never to return to the school. So here I am. What do you mean todo with me?"
Lady Jane sat still, looking very pale and troubled. Rosamund, seeingthat no answer could be expected immediately, sank on the nearest chair.She was now deadly tired; her night of absolute want of rest, added tothe excitement which she had lived through, was beginning to tell onher; and, strong as she was, she turned white as death. It was that lookon her face which first roused Lady Jane's attention.
"How cruel I am," she said, "and you your mother's child!"
She got up and rang the bell. The much-afflicted James answered thesummons.
"Get some breakfast immediately for Miss Cunliffe. Tell cook to send inanything nice and appetizing that she possesses. Not a word to MissIrene on the subject whatsoever."
He withdrew, and in a short time a really appetizing breakfast wasplaced before the nearly famished girl. Breakfast at Sunnyside thatmorning had been a farce, and when Rosamund came down the meal was over.She had, therefore, not tasted food that day until now. The hot coffee,the nice fish-cakes, the delicious bread-and-butter, all had their dueeffect. She owned that she was hungry, and when she had finished, freshcourage and ene
rgy came into her voice and manner.
"Now, what do you want me to do?" she said. "Please tell me. I havegiven up school. I have given up to a certain extent my reputation, forthis will always be brought up against me; and I have come to you tobecome Irene's friend, and to stay with you for the present if you wantme. But until I saw your face it did not occur to me that you mightperhaps be afraid--afraid that I might have the seeds of the samecomplaint within me as poor Jane Denton. Is that so?"
"She is my only child," said Lady Jane, "and, to tell you the honesttruth, I am afraid."
Rosamund got up restlessly and walked to the window. She had not lookedfor this complication.
"I'd have done better to have gone with Mrs. Brett after all," was herfirst thought. Then she turned to Lady Jane and said in a determinedvoice, "I don't think you ought to fear me, for I'm quite sure there isno danger. Even if there were, Irene would not have contracted thedisease through me, for she lay for some time last night in Jane's bed."
"Heaven help me!" said Lady Jane.
She wrung her hands, and then got up and also stood by the window.
"It strikes me," she said after a pause, "that God is punishing me morecruelly than He punishes most people, and I cannot understand it. In anycase, whether this means life or death, that child's present behaviorand present prospects are intolerable. You shall come, Rosamund. I willtake the risk. Come to me, and welcome, only let me have thesatisfaction of knowing that your mother approves."
"Then will you wire to her?" said Rosamund.
"That would be an excellent plan," replied Lady Jane. "I will take yourtelegram to the village, for you don't want the servants to see whatyou are saying. Write it out at once, and I will take it."
"I have not brought any of my things with me, except just what I amwearing, so you will have to provide me until mother sends me a boxfulfrom London. I am sure I am safe, and if--if Irene were to get ill, Ithink I should be able to nurse her better than any one else."
Lady Jane suddenly went up to the girl and kissed her.
"You are extraordinary!" she said. "You are brave above the common. Ibelieve God has sent you. Does Irene know you are here?"
"No; I have not told her."
"Then she needn't know for the present. But where is she?"
"I wish you would write that telegram, Lady Jane. You ought to havemother's consent. I shall not be happy until it has come."
"At present Irene is supposed to be in the schoolroom. Where she reallyis I do not know, poor Miss Frost being absent. Anyhow, I will take thistelegram myself, and ask you to remain quietly in a bedroom in thishouse until the reply comes from your mother. Just give me thispromise--that you will not see Irene until I have heard from yourmother."
To this proposition Rosamund was forced to submit. Indeed, she was notsorry at the prospect of a little rest, for she was beginning to feelvery acutely her adventures of the previous night. Lady Jane wrote thetelegram, ordered a carriage to be sent round, and drove into thevillage, a small place, which contained, however, a telegraph office,about a mile and a half away. Before she went she conducted her youngguest to a beautiful bedroom on the first floor, which she said shewould give her not only for a bedroom but also as part sitting-room. Itwas furnished in a style that Rosamund, well off as her parents were,had never seen before. The room was full of quaint and beautiful things,and there was a bookcase of delightful books--Kingsley's, Miss Yonge's,and many other favorite authors.
"Lie down, dear," said Lady Jane. "You look very tired. Forget Irene forthe time. I shall be back before long, and will send your lunch up toyou. We will just have your mother's permission, and then we shall feelin a straightforward position. She may, of course, wish you to return atonce to her."
"I do not think mother will do that. She is not a frightened sort ofperson. Anyhow, you know what I feel about your daughter."
"I do, and God bless you, my love!"
Lady Jane departed, and Rosamund found herself alone in her great room.She looked around her, uttered a weary sigh, and sank into a chair nearthe window.
Presently she heard a scuffling noise and cries outside, in the passage.She heard the voice of a maid-servant saying, "Oh, Miss Irene! MissIrene! don't do it; you oughtn't--you oughtn't!" then a scream, and thena girl's hurrying footsteps dying away in the distance.
"I wish I could fly out and give Irene a good box on the ears," thoughtRosamund. "I'll soon break her off those horrid tricks. Of course I amgoing to stay here, and of course I am going to reform her, and ofcourse--oh, how strange everything is! I think I'll lock the door. Idon't choose her to come in now until I get mother's consent. Afterwardsall is plain sailing."
Rosamund got up softly and locked the door, not a minute too soon, forshe had scarcely done so before the handle was turned and the voice ofIrene was heard outside crying through the keyhole, "What changeling isin this room? Which of you housemaids has dared to lock herself in?Come out! I've got a big spider ready, and"----
But Irene's voice died away for some extraordinary reason, and Rosamundfor the time was left in peace. She drew the chair near the window, tookup Kingsley's _Hypatia_ from the shelf, and tried to interest herself ina story which always had the deepest fascination for her. But by-and-bysleep overpowered her young eyes, and she only awakened from it byhearing a very gentle tap at her door. She went to it and called out,"Who is there?"
The gentle voice of Lady Jane answered in response:
"I have brought you some lunch, dear."
Rosamund immediately unlocked the door, and received a daintily preparedlittle tray, which she took in, Lady Jane following her into the room.
"As soon as the telegram arrives I will let you know. I am very anxiousthat your time of servitude should be over. That child seems worse thanever. I never knew anything like her manners to-day. Three of theservants have given notice, and even cook was in violent hysterics inthe kitchen, for she found that Irene had put a live toad into thebread-pan. She said she can stand most things, but that toads are beyondbearing. The thing foamed at her in a most terrible manner, and theconsequence is, all the bread had to be thrown away, as no one canpossibly attempt to eat it. Really, Rosamund, you will have your handsfull."
"I shall not mind that," said Rosamund. "But has Miss Frost come back?"
"Yes, poor thing! she is lying down. She says she feels that thosedreadful creatures are crawling about inside her. The doctor assures herthat there is nothing to fear, and that they are quite dead; but shewill not believe him. It will be all right when she knows that you arehere. You can do lessons with her, my dear, if your mother consents toyour staying, for she is very highly educated, though she really has nocontrol over Irene. I trust you may be able to do something with her."
"I will subdue her," said Rosamund. "There is no fear whatever on thatpoint. Only, don't tell her so, please, for that would put her againstme; and I think at present she has a sort of fancy for me. Do you know,I am quite hungry, and longing to attack those delicious cutlets."
"Then you shall, dear, and in peace. You had better lock your dooragain, for the girl is as suspicious as she is mischievous, and scentsout any fresh person in the house. She says that she has a strong senseof smell, and knows each person by a sort of delicate perfume whichemanates from them. Really, Rosamund, there are times when I almostdoubt if she is quite human."
"Oh! she imagines all that," said Rosamund in a low tone. "I wouldn'tfret if I were you, Lady Jane. Be sure you let me know when mother'stelegram arrives."
"Yes, dear; I will bring it up here and read it to you. It will probablynot be long now before we get it."
Lady Jane left the room, and Rosamund rebolted the door. Then she satdown to enjoy her lunch. She had just eaten a mouthful of the cutletwhen she was aroused by a whoop--that familiar whoop which Irene hadgiven vent to under poor Jane Denton's bed the previous night. Rosamundturned round, and there was Irene's face pressed against thewindow-pane. She had run up a ladder which she had forced one o
f thegardeners to bring to the window, and was looking in. Her face was allwreathed in smiles. She beckoned to Rosamund, who refused, however, topay the slightest attention to her. Fortunately the window was shut,and Rosamund did not suppose that the naughty girl would go to theextreme of breaking the glass.
She now deliberately turned her back upon Irene, and continued to eather cutlets without taking the least notice of her. In vain did Irenewhoop and call out, and sing and shout, all for Rosamund's benefit. Atlast she said in a threatening tone, loud enough to pierce through theshut window, "I will run down the ladder and fetch a hammer, and come upagain and break the window, and get in that way if you don't let me in.You don't suppose I am going to be conquered in my own house?"
But Rosamund was even with her. In one minute she had gone to thewindow, had flung it wide open, and taken both Irene's hands.
"Irene," she said, "you told me you loved me."
There was something in the tones, something in the absence of fear,which caused Irene to pause; the color faded from her little face,leaving it very white and almost imploring.
"I do--I do!" she said after a minute's pause.
"Now, do you know what I have done? I have left Sunnyside and have comeover here, and am just waiting for a telegram from mother giving herconsent to my spending a great portion of my time with you. But if yougo for the hammer and come back and break this window I shall gostraight home to mother, whatever she says. Now, you can choose. Go awaynow, and behave yourself. It doesn't matter to me what you do. Isometimes think you are not worth saving."
"Oh, no, I am not," said Irene in a completely new tone. She wentquietly down the ladder. The objectionable ladder itself was removed,and Rosamund continued her lunch in peace.
Half an hour afterwards the telegram arrived, which was quite cordial inits tone, giving a hearty consent to Rosamund's remaining for thepresent at The Follies; and saying that if all went well Mrs. Cunliffeherself proposed to pay a visit to Lady Jane within the next fortnight.In the meantime, owing to the sad circumstances at Sunnyside, she wouldsend a box of clothes that very day from London for Rosamund's use.
"Now I will go and find Irene," said Rosamund. "You must have perfectconfidence in me, Lady Jane, and if I do things that you do not quiteapprove of, you must nevertheless be satisfied that I am dealing withIrene as I think best. Oh, dear Lady Jane, how tired you look, and howsad!"
"This is a very sad day for me," said Lady Jane. "It is the anniversaryof my most beloved husband's death. I cannot but feel it; but that childhas no mercy. I am going now to visit his grave, in order to put a crossof beautiful flowers there. Any other girl would accompany her mother onsuch an errand, but of course Irene will not."
Rosamund did not reply for a minute; then she said gently:
"Perhaps she will come with you next year, dear Lady Jane. You cannotreform a nature like hers in a moment."
Lady Jane kissed Rosamund and left the room; and Rosamund, beingperfectly free to do exactly what she pleased, and being also refreshedand strengthened by her sleep and her good food, went in search ofIrene.
She soon found her swinging in her favorite attitude in one of thebeech-trees. The moment the girl saw her, she sprang to the ground, ranto her side, flung her arms round her neck so tightly as almost tothrottle her, and kissed her over and over again.
"Your face looks as if you meant to stay."
"I do mean to stay just as long as you are good."
"Then, gracious me!" said Irene, "that won't be for long; because theutmost I can be good for is five minutes at a time. You see, I never wasgood at all--I never attempted to be--so it didn't enter into mycalculations, and now to suddenly turn into a model of all the virtuesis more than I can do even for your sake."
"I do not expect impossibilities. I only want you to try."
"Well, you are not so precious good yourself."
"I'm not at all good. We'll try to be good together."
"It will be fun our both trying," said Irene, looking at her with acomical expression. "How are we to begin? Shall we do penance like theold monks? Do you know, Rosamund"--here Irene linked her thin, almoststeel-like little hand inside Rosamund's arm--"that I am a mostvoracious reader? Father was a great collector of books, and when I amtired of frightening the servants, and terrifying Frosty, and annoyingmother, I spend days at a time in his library swallowing down thecontents of his books. There is no other word for it. So I know odds andends of all sorts of things."
"You must know things properly henceforth. But what was that you saidabout penance?"
"Do you want us to do penance for our sins? The monks were very fond ofstanding out in the cold in their night-shirts. Do you want us both todo that to-night? It will terrify mother, and the servants will think weare a pair of ghosts. I should rather enjoy that."
"I don't want anything silly of that sort. Come along now, Irene. Thevery first thing you have got to do is to beg Miss Frost's pardon."
"I beg Frosty's pardon! But she is in bed. She says they are running upand down inside her."
"You know you were exceedingly cruel. It was a very low sort of trickto play. I can understand a girl being wild and doing all sorts ofthings that perhaps she ought not to do, and even neglecting herlessons; but to terrify a poor, harmless governess! And you haveterrified more than one. You'll have to drop that sort of thing now,Irene."
"It strikes me you are a poor sort after all," said Irene, gazing atRosamund attentively.
"Well, whether I am poor or not, I'm going to stay with you for a bit,and if you get any better I'll stay on; but if you get no better I shallgo straight home to mother, for you will be hopeless. There now, youknow."
"Oh, it is so delightful to have you! You don't know what you are to me.The courageous way you speak! I don't believe you'd be a bit afraid if Iput a frog on your neck."
By almost sleight-of-hand Irene suited the deed to the word, for a coldfrog of enormous size suddenly began to crawl along Rosamund's neck.Rosamund suppressed a shudder, for she would not for the world show thegirl that she loathed frogs; but she took the creature and laid itgently on the ground.
"That is very silly," she said. "You are not to do it again."
"I am not to do it again?"
"No; not to me or to any one else."
"I thought I'd put a small toad just inside the teapot for James when hewas going to make the tea this afternoon, for it would jump up andfinish that affair of the wasps and spiders that occurred this morning."
"You are not to do it. It is ridiculous; there's neither sense nor funnor anything else in it. It is downright, positive cruelty. You makeyour mother's life wretched, and you make the servants miserable. As topoor Miss Frost--oh, you can go to see her or not, just as you please. Iam going into her room now."
"Are you indeed? But why should you take any interest in Frosty?"
"Because you are so unkind to her, and I want her to know that I atleast am going to be her friend."
"Oh, dear, dear Rosamund, I do so earnestly want her to go! She doesn'tsuit me a bit. Can't you teach me instead? I'd learn from you."
"I don't know enough. I want to be taught myself. Miss Frost needn'tteach you unless you like, but she shall teach me. I can't give up allmy education even for you. Perhaps you understand that."
"I do--I do; but I am sure you know a great deal more than is good foryou."
"Don't be silly, Irene. Now, I am going to see Miss Frost. You ought tocome with me to beg her pardon; but perhaps when she is well enough tobe up you will do so."
"You won't be long with her, will you?"
"If you will promise to beg her pardon at tea-time I won't stay long."
"I will, for I want us to go out in the boat, and I want to show you mypony, and to try to get you to ride him. I don't believe you will beable to conquer him. He'll stand no one but me. His name is Billy Boy,and I have made him as wild and vicious as ever I could; but he is likea lamb with me."
"Then you propose that he shou
ld throw me, and perhaps kill me? Thankyou very much, Irene."
"Oh, I don't propose that really; only, you see, one must have larks.One couldn't live without them. I don't think there is anything quite solarky as frightening people."
"Now, once for all, Irene, if that is your idea of life, I will writeat once to mother and tell her I am coming home."
"No, you won't. I won't let you. I love you. I will try to be a littlebit good just to please you. I will say something to Frosty at tea-time.Oh! don't ask me any more."
Irene's queer eyes filled suddenly with tears. Rosamund saw that she wastouched.
"Run away and do what you like. I don't want to be long with Miss Frost;but I am going to her now."
Rosamund entered the house. She was met in the hall by James.
"I am so sorry, James," she said, taking the initiative at once, "thatyou were so frightened this morning by Miss Irene. She is a friend ofmine, and I have made up my mind to come and stay here for the present.Will you please tell the other servants, and remember yourself, that Ishall do my utmost to prevent the sort of things occurring which havemade you all so uncomfortable? I think you will soon see that Miss Irenehas as kind a heart as any other girl."
"I'm sure, miss," said James, almost whimpering, "the trouble I've hadalready, and the anxiety and worry, not to speak of the pain, miss. Themwasps, their sting is very sharp, and even my lady's blue-bag did notremove them at once. And then the show I am, miss, in this respectablehouse! But that is nothing to what poor cook felt when the toad poisonedthe bread. And there was Mary Ann, the second housemaid; Miss Irenecaught her and put two spiders down her back. Mary Ann has such a horrorof spiders as never was! Then, worst of all, there's poor Miss Frost,such a patient lady, and she has swallowed insects instead of pills.It's too awful to contemplate."
"It is very bad, but it won't happen again--at least I don't think so,"said Rosamund. "Now, I want to see Miss Frost. Can you direct me to herroom?"
James took upon himself to perform this office, and in a few minutes'time Rosamund was knocking at the door of Miss Frost's room. A veryfeeble, timid, suffering voice said:
"Who is there?" Then the voice continued, "If it is you, Irene, the dooris bolted, and the blinds are down, and the shutters shut, so even ifyou break the glass you cannot get in."
"It is not Irene. It is I, Rosamund Cunliffe. I want most particularlyto see you, Miss Frost."
Whereupon Miss Frost was heard getting out of bed and coming towards thedoor. She was a very cadaverous-looking person, about forty years ofage, thin to emaciation, with small, light, frightened-looking eyes, along upper lip, and a great many freckles on her face. Her hair was thinand dark, and was strained back from a lofty forehead. The momentRosamund saw her she took her hand.
"Please don't keep the door locked," she said. "And please unbar theshutters and draw up the blinds, for it is a lovely summer's day, andIrene won't do you any harm. I want to talk to you. May I?"
"I don't believe, my dear young friend," said Miss Frost, "that I amlong for this world. I feel those dreadful things even now creeping upand down. The doctor says they are dead; but how can he look inside me?I know they are alive. I know they are."
"I don't think they could be alive," said Rosamund. "I heard of thattrick being played on some one once before, and nothing whateverhappened, and I can assure you the person is quite well, and when thefright was got over the whole thing was forgotten."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Oh, I have lived through such a morning of agony!"
"You must forget your agony now."
"But how am I to endure that child?"
"Will you lie down again on your bed and let me talk to you for a minuteor two?"
As Rosamund spoke she took the cold hand of the governess, led her tothe bed, made her lie down, and covered her up. Then she drew a chairforward, and, still retaining her hand, she began to speak.
"I know quite well all that you would say about Irene; but please don'tsay it. I have come here contrary to rules, and at some trouble tomyself, but also with my mother's approval, to be Irene's friend andguest for a time. You are all very much afraid of her. Yes, you are,from Lady Jane to the lowest servant in the place, and it is because youare afraid of her that she is so exceedingly naughty. Now, it so happensthat I am not a scrap afraid of her, therefore I have some influenceover her, and I know positively that she will not play any of her horridtricks upon you again. For the moment she does so I shall leave her, andshe doesn't wish me to do that. Therefore you needn't be at all afraid.What has happened gave you a nasty turn; but there, that's the end ofit! You will get up, won't you, and come down to tea? I think perhapsIrene will be a little nicer to you. And to-morrow, or the next day, orwhenever we are to begin, I want to know if you will teach me as well asIrene. I also want us to know other girls, and to have a good time allround. For Irene is only a young savage at present; but she has a warmheart, and I do believe that I can touch it."
"My dear," said Miss Frost when Rosamund had done speaking, "may I askhow old you are?"
"I am fifteen."
"Then you are three years older than the terrible Irene."
"Three years older, and I hope three years wiser."
"A thousand years wiser, my dear--quite a thousand years wiser. Youdon't know what I have suffered; and I am not the only one. Her oneobject in life when each new governess comes is to get rid of thatgoverness. But I have a little brother and sister both dependent on mealtogether for their daily bread, and Lady Jane gives me one hundred andfifty pounds a year, a very large sum for a governess who is notcertificated. I simply daren't give it up. I try to, for I often feelthat I must. Even the children do not seem worth the agonies I undergo.But then again I struggled on until now."
"You will have no more struggling, and if you teach me as well as IreneI know mother will pay you something, so your people will be better offthan ever," said Rosamund in her cheerful voice. "Now cheer up. You havenothing to fear. Try to be courageous, and when you speak to theservants, get them to be courageous too. You have all let Irene get theupper hand of you, and it is exceedingly bad for her. Now, I promised tojoin her; but you will be with us at tea-time, won't you?"
"I will. You have put great heart into me. What a wonderful girl youare! When I saw you on Sunday I thought how remarkable you were, and nowthat you have spoken I see it more than ever."
"Perhaps you know what has happened at Sunnyside?"
"What is that, dear?"
"My own special friend, Jane Denton, is dangerously ill with diphtheria.I do not know if she will ever be better."
"Then is there any fear?" said Miss Frost.
"You mean of your taking it?"
"Oh, no, I don't mind for myself a scrap. I am not afraid of illness,and I had diphtheria when I was young, and people don't often have ittwice; but it is that child--that queer child."
"I cannot give it to her," said Rosamund. "If she takes it she must havecontracted the infection herself, owing to----But there, I won't say anymore. Let us hope for the best. I must go to her now, however."
