Elizabeth was restless and uneasy the whole of the day that her mother
had taken her departure for Colonel Vincent's. The evening was wet and
gloomy; the young people could not, therefore, take their usual exercise
in the play-ground. After sitting some time with her sister and Miss
Arden, she sauntered into the school-room, to observe how they were
employed. Some of the young ladies were attending to their lessons for
the following day. One party had spread the road to happiness upon a
work-box; all anxious to attain the desired haven. Another young lady
was seated alone, joining the map of Europe. In a corner of the room,
apart from all her companions, Miss Bruce was reading the admirable
instructive tale "Display." Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, "My
dear, I thought you had read that book six months ago."
"O yes, ma'am; but I can read it over and over again: there is not a new
book now in the school."
"You mean," said Elizabeth, smiling, "that you have read them all. But
can you explain the word "Display?" for I think most young ladies are
partial to it, in one shape or another." A carriage now stopped at the
door; and Elizabeth exclaimed, "who is in that carriage?" Miss Grey, who
was near the window, raised herself upon a box, and looking over the
blind, cried, "Mrs. Adair, ma'am, and Miss Isabella Vincent."
Elizabeth hastened from the room, and met her mother at the hall door,
joyfully exclaiming, "O, my dear mother, this is an unexpected, welcome
pleasure! But how is Mrs. Vincent?"
"Composed and comfortable; the operation was performed yesterday: but it
was not my intention to desert you: how could you think so?"
The truth was, Mrs. Adair had called upon the physician, and begged that
he would inform her daughter that she would return in the evening: but
a press of engagements had prevented his visit to Jane, who now with joy
beheld her mother enter her chamber.
"I thought you would return to see me on my journey," she exclaimed;
"and you are returned, my dear mother. Blessed be this hour!"
Miss Arden and Miss Damer, from the hour they met in the summer-house,
were strict friends. Their capacities were similar, and they were at the
head of the different classes. On the days appointed for geography, the
young ladies were in a room called the study. Miss Arden had observed
that one of the servants, a respectable looking young woman, generally
contrived to enter the apartment, and busy herself with one thing or
another: but always looked, anxiously at the globes, or the maps, and
stopped a moment to listen, either to the teacher or the pupils. Miss
Arden noticed the circumstance to her friend; "I will certainly ask
Catherine," she said, "if she has any motive in attending to our
pursuits; there is something in her countenance that excites my
curiosity."
The first time she met her alone, she made the inquiry.
"I have, indeed, ma'am, a motive," said Catherine; "I would give all my
wages, could I but learn as you do."
"But of what use, Catherine, would learning be to you? You can read your
Bible; and it will shew you all that is necessary for you to know. Your
duty as a servant, and the way to heaven, the place where we all hope to
meet, when we have done with this world, and its cares."
"Ah, ma'am, I am not satisfied even with knowing this, though it is all
that a servant should know."
"I do not understand you, Catherine. Tell me why you wish to gain other
knowledge?"
"Because, ma'am, I am most wishful to be useful to my parents. They are
poor, and have a large family to bring up. If I could but open a little
school in our village, what a blessing should I be to them!"
"Well, Catherine," said Miss Arden, after considering a little, "I will
do what I can for you--I mean if Miss Damer approves; for I dare not
trust to my own judgment. Meet me in the school-room early to-morrow
morning, and I well tell you how it is to be."
When the friends met in the play-ground, they talked the subject over.
"There cannot, I think, be any thing wrong in doing good to a
fellow-creature," said Miss Damer, "therefore I think we may venture;
but we must rise an hour earlier than usual."
Catherine was delighted when she heard the result of their conference;
and, with many expressions of thankfulness, promised to leave a lamp at
their door.
The young ladies began the employment of teaching with alacrity. They
endeavoured to ground Catherine in those things that would be useful in
a village school. But geography her mind was bent upon, so Miss Arden
presented to her a book; likewise several little works, which she
thought would be useful.
One morning, however, they were surprised in the midst of their lessons.
"Begin that line again," said Miss Arden. Elizabeth had walked gently
into the room, and now stood by the table where the two young ladies
were seated, and Catherine standing. When they beheld her, they all
started, and looked aghast. "You are very early at your tasks, young
ladies! But I did not know that we had a new pupil. Pray when did she
arrive?"
"I beg you a thousand pardons, ma'am, for leading the young ladies to do
wrong! It was all my fault," said Catherine.
Miss Arden related the matter plainly as it was.
"I commend Catherine," said Elizabeth, "for her wish to serve her
parents; nor am I offended with you, young ladies, for wishing to serve
her. But you must beware that we are not to do a wrong thing, even with
the very best motives. There is always something mean in acting
clandestinely. Why could you not have been candid, and told me her
wish? You must not meet here again. Catherine, when you have leisure,
continue your lessons; and I will fix upon some other mode of
instructing you; at least a proper time, not by the light of a lamp."