the setting sun shed its bright tints over the snow which lay thick upon the ground, making it glisten like diamonds, the cold was intense, and a bitter wind howled through the leafless trees, when the train arrived at m----, and isabel almost benumbed with cold, procured a conveyance from the station to the rock hotel, where mrs. arlington had promised to send for her.
on arriving at the hotel, she found the sleigh waiting punctual to the time appointed. isabel would gladly have partaken of some refreshment, but mrs. arnold had informed her, that mrs. arlington was very particular, and to have kept the horses standing, isabel felt would have offended her, which she was very anxious to avoid although she was shivering with cold.
it was a long drive of twelve miles to elm grove, but the horses went at a great speed, and in less than an hour they arrived at their destination. as they drew up at the door, it was opened by a footman, and a woman who seemed to be an upper servant met her in the hall, and conducted her to her room.
"i suppose you would like some tea miss," she said "i will order it while you are taking off your things, and then i will show you the school-room. mrs. arlington and the young ladies are dressing for a ball, so they cannot see you to-night."
when norris had left the room, isabel sat down with a sigh, and looked about to see what kind of accommodation she was to have. it was a nice sized room, with a bay window having an eastern aspect, at which the wind was now howling with great violence. it was neatly, but plainly furnished, the fire had burnt low, and the room was cold. she took off her things as quickly as possible, and sincerely hoped that the school-room would be more comfortable.
norris soon returned, and isabel desiring her to have more fuel put upon the fire descended to the school-room, which she found very bright and pleasant looking, the large fire and lamp making it look quite attractive.
the tea was on the table, and norris after saying "if you want anything miss, please ring for susan," left the room. isabel was very glad to have some refreshment after her cold drive, and when she rang to have the things removed, the bell was answered by a neat, pleasant looking girl, who had such a sunny face that it did one good to look at her, and presently a sweet little girl of about seven years old came running into the room, and going up to isabel, said "you are our new governess are you not. i think i shall like you very much, but i can't stay now, for eliza is waiting to put me to bed, but i did so want to see you to-night. good night!" and throwing her arms round isabel's neck, she gave her a hearty kiss, and disappeared as quickly as she came. when isabel returned to her room she had no cause to complain of the fire which was piled to the top of the grate.
when she awoke next morning it seemed very strange to be where she had not the least idea what any of the family were like. after dressing and arranging some of her things, she sat down to contemplate her situation, which she found anything but pleasant, so she determined to descend to the school-room.
the door was open, and as she approached she overheard little amy saying "she is the prettiest lady i ever saw, only she looks so pale and sad." isabel found three little girls in the room, of whom amy was the youngest. amy greeted her in the same cordial manner she had done on the preceding evening, the other two rose saying "good morning miss leicester," but when she stooped to kiss them, alice sulkily put up her face, and rose laughed. "fancy, miss manning kissing us" she whispered to her sister. "hush!" returned alice, "she will hear."
isabel spoke kindly to them, but alice only returned unwilling, and rose pert answers, so the breakfast was a dull unpleasant affair, and isabel perceived they regarded the governess in the light of an enemy; even little amy became shy and uneasy.
after breakfast rose informed her that they always had half an hour before school for a run out of doors. as they were departing little amy ran back, and coming close up to isabel whispered "don't cry miss leicester, i love you, indeed i do," for amy had noticed the tears that would come in spite of her efforts to repress them. isabel drew the child to her, and kissing her pretty upturned face, told her to go with the others.
amy had scarcely gone, when mrs. arlington entered. she was tall and stately, rather cold and haughty, and very dignified and patronizing in her manner. she hoped miss leicester had been made comfortable, and was sure that she would like the children. she then informed her that the school hours were from nine until four, with an hour for dinner, then she would have to take them for a walk, after that her time was her own. she would take her meals with the children, but she would be happy to have her come into the drawing-room occasionally in the evening. she said that her own time was so much occupied with her elder daughters, that she was forced to leave the children entirely to the governess, but, that as mrs. arnold had so strongly recommended her she felt sure she should be satisfied, then bidding miss leicester a polite good morning, she swept majestically from the room.
poor isabel, she had not expected quite so much dignity, and was excessively annoyed. "take the children for walks," that was a thing she had not thought of, and she did not relish the idea and as to going into the drawing-room, she could very well dispense with that. she was not aware that mrs. arlington intended her accomplished young governess to help to amuse her guests. excessively annoyed, isabel repaired to her own room to calm her ruffled feelings.
at nine o'clock she went to the school-room and found her pupils there already, also a very pretty girl of about seventeen, whom they were coaxing to tell them about the ball. as isabel entered the room, amy exclaimed, "miss leicester this is emily!" then emily laughed merrily, and held out her hand saying, "i hope we shall be good friends miss leicester, i'm sorry we were out last night."
"oh! emily, i'm sure you wanted very much to go to the ball, and you just now said that you enjoyed yourself exceedingly," said alice gravely.
"i didn't mean that you silly child, returned emily, but i am intruding upon school hours i fear, so if you will allow me miss leicester i will come for a chat before dinner."
isabel bowed assent and emily retired, rather annoyed that her advances had not met with a warmer reception. shortly after emily's departure, a tall and very elegant looking girl of about twenty entered the room, and bowing condescendingly to isabel, said, "have the goodness to try these songs miss leicester, i wish to know if there are any pretty ones among them, i would not trouble you only i am so excessively tired" she added, taking the most comfortable seat the room afforded; this was done in the most easy manner possible, precluding of course the idea that it was by design. miss arlington upon entering any room, immediately perceived the nicest place, and having seen, at once took possession with an easy indifference, as if totally unconscious that she was monopolizing the best place. isabel complied with her request, tho' not best pleased with the interruption.
"you sing very nicely miss leicester," miss arlington said patronizingly.
isabel's lip curled contemptuously, she presumed so when the crowded room had been hushed to perfect silence whenever she approached the piano, and when she ceased singing, the murmured praise and applause on all sides had sent the hot blood to her cheeks, and this not once or twice, but scores of times--she needed not to be told that she sang nicely.
"she sings much better than you do grace," said rose pertly.
"don't be rude, rose," replied grace, haughtily, "miss leicester will have some trouble with you i imagine," then thanking isabel, she left the room excessively annoyed with rose.
the lessons proceeded, and isabel thought that alice and rose must alter their manners greatly before she could take any interest in teaching them. it was evident that they had not been treated kindly by their last governess. alice sulked so much, and rose was so pert, that isabel found it difficult to keep her temper, and when tea was over, her head ached so severely, and she felt so tired and miserable, that she retired to her room, and locking herself in gave way to irrepressible emotion, while she thought that she should indeed be unhappy in her new position.
presently some one knocked at the door, but vexed at the interruption, and not wishing to be seen giving way to her feelings, isabel took no notice. as the knocking continued unanswered, a soft voice pleaded for admittance. on opening the door, she found it was emily, and not amy, as she expected.
"i hope you will excuse me," she said, "but not finding you in the school-room i came after you, as i knew that i should not have any other opportunity this evening."
isabel was very much confused, but emily sat down by her side, telling her how very much she felt for her, and how she hoped she would consider her a friend. "mrs. arnold wrote and told me all about you" she said, "and dear isabel i will do all in my power to make you happy."
but isabel only sobbed, "i can never be happy again--never."
"you must not say that, you must not think so," exclaimed emily. "you must come into the drawing-room with us, and that will cheer you up a bit. i know you will like papa. elm grove looks dreary now, but in summer it is delightful. then, i always get up early and go for a ramble before breakfast, if i can only get any one to go with me, and i feel sure you will go with me next summer. i think i shall breakfast with you, i can't wait for mama's late breakfast, but i would sooner have gone without altogether, than have taken it with miss manning. i only left school you know a few weeks ago, and i like a little fun. i know i make the children very outrageous sometimes, but then, you know i could not behave at all like a fashionable young lady in the evening, if i did not get rid of some of my wild spirits before hand. by-the-bye," she cried, laughing, "i believe you will have to teach me manners, miss massie pronounced me quite incorrigible, my sister is a perfect model according to her idea, but i could never be like grace, i think mamma has given up all thought of it."
"i don't know about teaching you manners, but i must try what i can do with alice and rose, they are sadly deficient even in politeness."
"ah, you have found that out already have you," cried emily laughing.
isabel colored, and murmured something about forgetting who she was speaking to. "o you needn't mind, i like people who say what they think" said emily, "besides that is just what papa says about them, but you must own that amy is a nice little thing, i don't think she could be rude or unkind."
"yes amy is a sweet child."
"it will not be quite so dull here next week, for everard is coming home. i do wish so much for you to see him, he is my idea of perfection as far as attainable in human nature. oh! he's so handsome, and such a dear nice fellow, i'm sure you will like him."
"perhaps you are not an impartial judge, i may not be able to see his perfections so clearly."
"you can't help seeing them, they are as clear as daylight," returned emily, warmly. "what do you think he asked me in his last letter--to tell him what sort of a gorgon the new governess was, so as i wrote to-day, i said she was beyond all description, and not to be compared with miss manning, so if he does not imagine something awful its very strange, (isabel did not look well pleased) i hope you wont mind; it was such a nice opportunity for a trick, but it is time i dressed for dinner, dear me how tiresome, and away she bounded. what a funny girl, thought isabel, i wonder if i shall like her, at all events she means to be kind.
