Hazel forgot her troubles, and with Miss Burges help she was always the centre, of some new sport or game; Cissy and Mabel being like a pair of attendant fairies, ready to be seized upon by Mr Canninge as the bearers of the prizes that were to be won.
I never saw George so full of spirits before, said Mrs Canninge to Rebecca Lambent as they sat in a garden-chair looking on.
I should say he will have a bad headache afterwards, replied that lady.
Oh, no, he is fond of athletics and that sort of thing. Charming young person, your new schoolmistress, Beatrice dear, she continued. Very ladylike and well-spoken.
Yes, a very well educated person, said Beatrice coldly.
The squires a brick, thats what he is, Betsey, said the host, wiping his forehead with his handkerchief, about five oclock. I tell you what, Im about tired out. Now, look here, you go in and get yourself a cup of tea, or youll be done up, and if youre as wise as I take you to be, youll put just a pinch of ody-wee in the cup. Itll be all over at six, and then well have a comfortable dinner.
But what are you going to do, Bill!
To do? Im going to fetch that girl in to have a cup of tea with you. Bless her, shes worked like a slave. No, I wont its all right, Ill take in her mother. Poor old lady, no one seemed to speak to her. Look at that now. Thats what I call a genuine English gentleman, Betsey. Here, hi! Mr Chute, thatll do; now come up to the house, let them play by themselves. I say, Betsey, this has been a day!
A day to be remembered, for Mr Chute was tightening his fists and scowling at one of the young Potts, wishing the while that he had a cane. Not that young Potts had been behaving so very badly, but his schoolmaster was annoyed, and some people when hurt look round at once for some one as a spleen-vent. He was suffering from the same pain that had sent a sting through Beatrice Lambent, and made her sister frown.
For just as Mr William Forth Burge had told his sister his determination, George Canninge, the principal landholder and personage of those parts, the newly-elected magistrate on the county bench, had gone up to Hazel Thorne, raised his hat and said quietly:
Miss Thorne, you look tired out. Will you allow me to take you into the house and get you some tea?
And she forgot herself, cried Beatrice Lambent passionately, as she paced her room that night Hazel Thornes self-forgetfulness consisted in acting, like any unconscious girl would under the circumstances. She gave the speaker a grateful look full of innocency, and, taking his proffered arm, walked with him into Miss Burges drawing-room, where she was received with smiles.
Chapter Eleven. Touching the Sensitive Plant
For what could have been more heinous than for a young person in her station in life, as Miss Beatrice afterwards said, to presume to take the squires arm, an arm that Beatrice looked upon as sacred, and thought quite polluted by the touch of one who was only a schoolmistress, and consequently not likely to possess feelings similar to her own?
All the same, though, Hazel did touch the sacred limb, and allowed herself to be taken into the drawing-room, which Mrs Canninge had just entered, and was now presiding at a tea-table.
Youll let me do that for you, Miss Burge, she had said. You must be tired out.
Well, really and truly, Mrs Canninge, my poor legs do ache to such an extent, said Miss Burge confidentially, that I feel amost ready to drop.
That you must, indeed, said Mrs Canninge, smiling, as the little body
toddled to a large cane arm-chair, and plumped herself down so vigorously that the cane chair uttered a loud protest, and after giving way in an elastic manner, kept on uttering little squeaks and creaks, somewhat after the fashion of Miss Feelier Potts, as it made efforts to recover itself.
Meanwhile little Miss Burge sat there smiling gratefully, and enjoying her rest, as she gently rocked herself to and fro rubbing her hands in regular twin motion backwards and forwards along her aching legs.
You see, Mrs Canninge and sugar, please three lumps. Yes, I always take cream, it do improve the tea so you see my brother takes so much interest in the schools, and hed set his mind upon the boys and girls enjoying themselves, that it would have been a sin and a shame not to have done ones best to help him; but, oh my! It has been a job.
Im sure you must have worked like a slave, Miss Burge, said Mrs Canninge, handing the tea, and we ought all to be very grateful to you and your brother.
Oh, it isnt me, my dear, said Miss Burge (fortunately neither Miss Lambent nor Beatrice was at hand to hear Mrs Canninge addressed as my dear) it is all my brother. He hasnt a bit of pride in him. He says, you know, Mrs Canninge, he first learned to read and write at Plumton School, and its been so useful to him that
Excuse me. Miss Burge, I have not my best glasses with me, is not this Miss Miss ?
Thorne, yes, Mrs Canninge, and its very kind of your son to bring the poor dear in to have some tea.