It is very kind of Mr Burge, said Hazel naïvely; and as he is so proud of the schools, pray assure him that I will spare no pains to get the girls well forward by the examination day.
I neednt tell him anything of the sort, said Miss Burge; he knows you will, and he told Mr Lambent that we ought to be very glad to have got such a mistress for our schools.
You are too partial, Miss Burge, said Hazel, smiling.
That I am not ! said the little lady in the most decisive of tones; and now I must go, and Im going to call in on your mamma, and try and cheer her up a bit, poor soul, for it must be very lonely for her while you are in the schools and, lor! if here aint the two Misses Lambent.
There was a very affectionate greeting at the door, and then Miss Burge went out, and the two Misses Lambent came in, looking very stiff and uncompromising as soon as they were alone with Hazel.
How do you do. Miss Thorne? said Miss Lambent in a very chilling way; and Miss Beatrice echoed her words, and finished their freezing as they fell.
Are you going to take a class, Beatrice? said Miss Lambent.
No, sister, I thought that I would say a few words to Miss Thorne, unless you would prefer speaking.
No, sister, I think you had better speak, said
Miss Lambent austerely; and tut tut tut! I extremely regret this! such a thing never occurred in the school before. Miss Thorne, I will not trouble my brother by making any report of this, but I must request you to preserve better discipline in the school.
Discipline, maam! I thought the girls were very quiet.
I must request that you do not speak to me, the vicars sister, in so haughty a tone, Miss Thorne.
I beg your pardon, maam; I wish to be respectful, said Hazel humbly.
But your ways are not respectful, and I must point out to you that both upon week-days and Sundays the behaviour of the girls has not been good. I distinctly saw that child putting out her tongue at me that girl Potts, I think, is her name.
I will certainly speak to the child, maam, said Hazel quietly, though a feeling of indignation made the blood flush to her cheeks.
I request that you do, and also punish her severely, Miss Thorne, continued Miss Lambent who, being wound up, felt that this was a favourable opportunity for going on striking.
And now, as I am speaking, I will make a few remarks to you upon a subject that I was about to leave to my sister.
I will speak to Miss Thorne upon that matter, sister, said Miss Beatrice.
As I am speaking to Miss Thorne, I will continue, sister, replied Miss Lambent. The fact is, Miss Thorne, my sister and I entertain the most sincere wish for your welfare.
Hazel bowed.
And it is only after mature deliberation that we have come to the conclusion that it is our absolute duty as Christian ladies to speak to you
Upon matters that very nearly concern your position as the schoolmistress
Of Plumton All Saints, said Miss Lambent. Excuse me, sister, I prefer speaking to Miss Thorne myself.
Hazel looked from one to the other, wondering what was the head and front of her offending.
The fact is, Miss Thorne, my sister and I sincerely wish most sincerely I may say wish that you may be successful here, and in due time say in due time if such an affair should be in progress, marry in accordance with your station in life and Hush, Miss Thorne! Do not speak, I insist. I see that you are growing angry, so I beg that you will be silent, and receive my words our words as being meant for your benefit.
I do not understand you, madam, said Hazel, in spite of the prohibition.
Then I will speak more plainly we will speak more plainly, Miss Thorne, and tell you that your conduct since you have been here has not been marked by the discretion that should be a decided feature in the acts of a young person in your position.
Madam, I !
Silence, Miss Thorne! cried Miss Beatrice; and the young mistresss cheeks were now aflame with indignation. I will finish, sister Rebecca, she continued. For your own sake we wish you to be more guarded, and to remember what is expected of a young person in your position. From the very first Sunday that you came. Miss Thorne, we have noted a tendency innocent enough, no doubt towards trying to attract the attention of the other sex.
Indeed, madam
Silence, Miss Thorne, and once more I beg that you will not adopt that haughty tone when addressing the vicars sisters.
Hazel remained silent, and just at that moment, as ill-luck had it, the door opened and Mr Chute stepped in, saw the ladies, and stepped out again.
You see, said Miss Beatrice with triumph in her tones, as the sisters exchanged meaning glances, while Hazel maintained an indignant silence, such things are not seemly in any schoolmistress, and certainly not in the mistress of Plumton All Saints School.
There was the gentleman on the first Sunday, said Miss Lambent cutting in so as to preclude her sister speaking; Mr Chute comes in a great deal too often; we did not at all approve of your conduct when Mr Canninge spoke to you at the school treat; and, taken altogether, my sister and I felt it to be our duty to