ITS DEVELOPMENT.
Next day there was much open wonder expressed concerning the absence of
any of the little bursts of excitement with which Mona Cameron and
Minnie Kimberley were wont to refresh the pupils of Miss Marsden's
Seminary for young Ladies. Some were even heard expressing
disappointment with the novel arrangement, and Mona, who seemed as
utterly at a loss to account for it as the rest, became rather piqued at
Minnie's serene imperturbability under her most potent thrusts, and was
fain to exercise her wit on some more vulnerable object. Minnie kept
closely to her work during lesson time, and even during the pauses
between classes was observed to sit quite still, attentively
contemplating the toe of her boot, and never once running over to
whisper to Mabel as she invariably did when she had something on her
mind.
Then, when lessons were over, and needlework began, she sat in her usual
place beside Mabel, but both appeared to be deeply interested in their
work, and did not exchange a word, although talking was quite allowable
during that time, and the privilege was usually taken advantage of fully
by Minnie.
This circumstance was construed by some to indicate that a quarrel had
taken place between the two friends, and was preying upon Minnie's mind,
which hypothesis, however, was quickly annihilated when the two walked
off together as usual, apparently on their usual terms, and in their
usual spirits.
Next day things stood in exactly the same position, and the girls were
beginning to get impatient for a solution of the mystery, but no
solution was forthcoming. Then came Saturday, on which day school was
not held, and the two friends were at liberty to discuss their project
in full.
They had arranged that the discussion was to take place at Mabel's home,
as Minnie's brothers were all at home on Saturday, and would be likely
to interfere with their intention of keeping the matter private.
Mabel was an only child, her father being a business man with whom the
world had not dealt too kindly. Her mother was dead, which circumstance
had first drawn Minnie towards her, for she also was motherless.
A sister of Mr. Chartres kept house for him, so that Mabel was at
liberty to spend as much time with her friend as she thought proper. She
would often have felt more comfortable if her aunt would have allowed
her to remain at home and render her some assistance with her household
duties, but her aunt was immoveable in her determination to allow no
interference with what she considered her special department, declaring
indeed that she could not perform her duties to her own satisfaction, or
her brother's comfort, if her mind was disturbed by having anyone to
direct or issue orders to. Thus it was that when Minnie appeared,
directly after breakfast, Mabel was at liberty to devote herself
entirely to her. They chatted on various topics of general interest
until Miss Chartres disappeared into the "lower regions" (as Minnie was
wont to designate the kitchen floor) on housekeeping duties intent, and
then they were free to bring forth the matter which was uppermost in
each of their thoughts.
"Well?" Interrogated Minnie, after a short silence.
"Well?" Repeated Mabel in the same tone.
Minnie laughed.
"Now, don't tease, Mabel!" she exclaimed, "you know I am in earnest, so
I won't have teasing--and please _don't_ be so awfully cautious: one
would think you delighted to make a wet blanket of yourself for my
especial discomfort and confusion."
"Not this 'one,' though," asserted Mabel, slipping her arm round Minnie,
who tried to get up a terrible frown but failed ignominiously.
"Well, then, tell me the result of your cogitations--you are to be Prime
Minister, you know."
"Then you must be Queen!" laughed Mabel.
"O, no, I am going to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, thank you, quite a
high enough post for me."
"My Right Honourable Friend is easily satisfied, truly, but I don't
think if I had the power of appointment I should entrust such an office
to you," Mabel remarked.
"You are pleased to be complimentary," returned Minnie, with a
ludicrous attempt at genteel sarcasm--and then, suddenly dropping her
assumed stiffness, she continued. "But you don't know what a genius I am
going to turn out in the region of finances, and I can assure you, you
will be astonished when I bring forward my first Budget."
"I am certain I shall, one way or other; you are continually astonishing
one with your ingenuity in various ways."
"Well, to my usual task then--for I have framed several astonishing
resolutions, which only await your sanction to become law--you see this
is quite a different form of government from any presently existing, so
you must not be astonished at the manner of its conduct."
"So I perceive," observed Mabel demurely.
"In the first place, then, you must tell me whether your further
consideration has confirmed your decision of Wednesday night?"
"Well, I must confess, that the more I thought of the thing, the more
difficult it seemed, and yet I am convinced more than ever of the
necessity of our taking it in hand as nobody else seems inclined to do
so. But how are we to begin?"
"That is just what we intend to consider."
"Of course, education does not seem to have wrought any great result
yet, for the children are compelled to go to school, yet they don't seem
to be influenced in any great degree morally by it. I suppose the reason
of that is that they don't know how to take advantage of it."
"I'll tell you what it is," said Minnie energetically, "Education is
just what they require, and the sort they get just now would probably
influence them in time. But we can't wait for that, and so we must do
our best to help it on, and try to get them to see the good of it, and
take advantage of it while they may; and the first step towards all this
is to win their hearts--we must begin with the children, and through
them we may reach the parents. It won't do to try any of the old methods
of reform, they're hardened in them all. Mrs. Merton and the missionary,
not to speak of the Episcopal Church curate, have all assailed them in
turn, with tracts, hymn books and Sunday-schools--not that I would for a
moment seem to despise these methods--only I think that in cases like
this they should be introduced judiciously, and when the people are in a
fit temper to receive them, and treat them with the respect they
deserve; instead of being, as it were, thrown at them just at a time,
when they will most probably not feel inclined to do anything but throw
them back, and if they can't exactly do that they do the thing next best
calculated to relieve their feelings--throw them in the fire. Now, I
don't see that this does any good, and I should not like our efforts to
be useless as theirs have been. We will take lessons from them and try
to avoid what seems to have been their great mistake--injudiciousness;
and perhaps showing a little too plainly that they considered them
heathen, and were determined to convert them at any cost."
Mabel laughed at Minnie's queer statement of the case, but was
constrained to admit that it was at least fair in the main, if a little
severe on the well-meant efforts of the persons referred to.
"Well, its quite clear we must take an entirely different course if we
wish to succeed," concluded Minnie, "and I hereby beg to propose as our
first course, a course of Popular Entertainments."
Mabel stared at her in amazement.
"Why, Minnie, are you crazy!" she exclaimed when she recovered her
breath.
"Well, no, not quite yet I hope," replied Minnie, enjoying the sensation
she had created, "But I suppose that was rather a big way to put it, I
don't wonder it took away your breath. The style of entertainment I have
in my head is a very small, innocent kind of affair, as you will
perceive when I tell you that they are to be carried out by ourselves,
and, moreover, that they are not to consist of anything more formidable
(for the present at anyrate) than the preparation of tea or coffee, and
the adjuncts pertaining thereunto."
"But how is it to be done?" asked Mabel, scarcely less mystified than
before, "It can't be done without money, and a good deal of money too."
"That's just what bothered me at first," Minnie replied, "Of course, I
knew I could get the money from papa if I asked him for it, and could
assure him it was for a good purpose, but I wasn't going to do that,
because, in the first place, I wished to keep the thing a secret between
ourselves till we see how it will work, and in the next place I didn't
want to take the money from papa at all; so I thought out a plan, but to
carry it out we _must_ take papa into our secret."
"Perhaps it would be as well to do that in any case," remarked Mabel,
"seeing it happens to be his work-people with whom we have to do, and I
daresay it is only fair and just that he should know about it. However,
let me hear the plan."
"You remember I told you I was laying past money for a sealskin jacket.
Papa thought I was too young to have one last year, but he promised me
that if I had a certain sum by my next birthday he would give me the
rest. I have saved a good deal, for I have done without some things--a
good many things--and given the money they would have cost to papa to
keep for me because I was always afraid I might use it for something
else. I should have, I think, about seven or eight pounds by this time,
which will, I am sure, with part of our pocket-money, and clever
management go a good way to start us fairly on our expedition, don't you
think so?"
"Why, yes, that is quite a fortune; but are you sure you won't be sorry
for it when your birthday comes and you can't have the jacket you've
wished for so long?"
"O, I suppose I _shall_ be sorry that I can't have the jacket, but that
won't matter much, I shall be so much more happy that it has been spent
in doing good that it will be recompense for any amount of jackets."
"But we must have some more definite plan than this to work upon, and
there will be no end of arrangements to be made. How about a place
where the entertainments may be held?"
"I've thought of that too," said Minnie, her eyes sparkling with
delight. "Such a glorious idea occurred to me yesterday, as I was coming
home; after I left you I went round by the Hollow--I was sorry I did not
think of it sooner, I might have gone along with you as far as
that--well, I noticed that one of the houses in the corner is not
occupied, and it struck me we might have that, as long as it is empty at
anyrate, to hold our meetings in. I am sure papa will consent."
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mabel, clapping her hands. "I noticed that
house also, and it did occur to me that it would be a promising spot,
but the idea of asking it, or even hinting at such a thing never entered
my mind."
"I am so glad that you like it. Now, confess that the exact direction in
which my genius lies has at last been revealed. I was sure you would
discover it some day."
"Pray, be more explicit, my talented friend," requested Mabel. "I am
doubtless very dull, but I should like to be quite certain about the
direction to which you alluded just now."
"Well I'm afraid I can't enlighten you very much," said Minnie, with a
look of comical dismay, "I am about as uncertain as yourself. I was just
trusting to your general stupidity not to go any deeper into the
subject, but simply to take my word for it."
"I think I won't cause you any further confusion by discussing the
matter more fully, but proceed to business. What do you think of taking
a walk down there this afternoon, and viewing the battlefield?"
"I am quite agreeable," responded Minnie, "and I shall speak to papa
to-night about our other arrangements. I must be off now, and dispose of
some of my lessons so that I may have time--I shall expect you about
four."
"Very well," agreed Mabel. "But I shall only have an hour to spare,
remember, I must be back by five."
"All right, we won't put off any time, you may count on my being ready."
And off she went with a light heart.
Mabel turned back and went in with a sigh.
"How bright and gay she is," said she to herself. "To look at her now,
one would think that a serious thought never entered her head, and yet
how full of good and unselfish thoughts that little head is, for all its
giddiness.
"She spoke just now of giving some of the blessings she had received to
others, to those who were thirsting for one drop, and did not guess that
I who stood so near her was even one of those. It would only trouble and
distress her to know how dark my mind is about these things which she
thinks I have known all about for years--aye, truly I _have_ known about
them since I knew anything, yet of what use has the knowledge been to
me. It's like the 'learned lumber' Pope speaks about--it's like
rummaging in a library without a light. O, will light such as Minnie
speaks about ever dawn in my heart? Will such a change as has beautified
and softened her life with such a sweet and gracious influence, ever
come near to touch mine? Minnie, my friend, you seek my aid to walk in
the path you think I know so well, but it is I who should lean on you. I
hold the scroll in my hand, but you have the guide in your heart." So
thinking she turned wearily from the window and began her studies.