THE CLAIM OF THE "ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT"
When Eleanor returned to school the following morning, she found that
what Miss Thompson "disliked" was, after all, of considerable
importance. Directly after opening exercises the principal sent for her
and asked the reason for her absence of the day before. On finding that
Eleanor had no plausible excuse, but had absented herself merely because
she felt like it, Miss Thompson thereupon delivered a sharp little
lecture on unnecessary absence, informing Eleanor that it was the rule
of the school to present a written excuse for absence, and that a verbal
excuse would not be accepted.
"I will overlook it this time, Miss Savell," Miss Thompson said,
"because you are not as yet thoroughly acquainted with the rules of this
school, but do not let it occur again. And I must also insist upon
punctuality in future. You have been late a number of times."
With these words the principal turned to her desk and resumed the
writing she had been engaged in when Eleanor entered.
For a second, Eleanor stood regarding Miss Thompson with angry eyes. No
one had ever before dared to speak sharply to her. She was about to tell
the principal that she was not used to being addressed in that tone, but
the words would not come. Something in the elder woman's quiet, resolute
face as she sat writing checked the wilful girl, and though she felt
deeply incensed at the reprimand, she managed to control herself and
walked out of the office with her head held high, vowing to herself that
Miss Thompson should pay for what Eleanor termed "her insolence."
All morning she sulked through her classes, and before closing time had
managed to incur the displeasure of every teacher to whom she recited.
"What ails her to-day?" whispered Nora to Jessica.
It was geometry hour, and Miss Ames, the geometry teacher, had just
reproved Eleanor for inattention.
Nora shook her head. She dared not answer, as Miss Ames was very strict,
and she knew that to be caught whispering meant two originals to work
out, and Nora hated originals.
When the bell rang at the close of the hour, Eleanor walked haughtily by
Miss Ames, giving her a contemptuous look as she passed that made the
teacher tighten her lips and look severe. Grace, who was directly
behind her, saw both the look and the expression on the teacher's face.
She felt worried for Eleanor's sake, because she saw trouble ahead for
her unless she changed her tactics. If Eleanor could only understand
that she must respect the authority of her various teachers during
recitation hours and cheerfully comply with their requests, then all
might be well. Since Miss Leece had left the High School at the close of
Grace's freshman year, she could not conscientiously say that she
disliked any of her teachers. They had been both kind and just, and if
Eleanor defied them openly, then she would have to take the
consequences. To be sure, Eleanor might refuse to go to school, but
Grace had an idea that, lenient as Miss Nevin was with her niece, she
would not allow Eleanor to go that far. Grace decided that she would
have a talk with Eleanor after school. It would do no harm and it might
possibly do some good.
She hurried down to the locker-room that afternoon in order to catch
Eleanor as she left school. She had just reached there when Eleanor
walked in, looking extremely sulky. She jerked her hat and coat from her
locker, hastily donned them, and, without looking at Grace, left the
room.
"She looks awfully cross," thought Grace. "Well, here goes," and she
hurried after Eleanor, overtaking her at the entrance to the school
grounds.
"What's the matter, Eleanor?" she asked. "Didn't you care to wait for
me?"
Eleanor looked at her with lowering brows. "I hate school," she said
vehemently. "I hate the teachers, and I hate Miss Thompson most of all.
Every one of those teachers are common, low-bred and impertinent. As for
your Miss Thompson, she is a self-satisfied prig."
"You must not say such things of Miss Thompson, Eleanor," said Grace
firmly. "She doesn't deserve them. She is one of the finest women I have
ever known, and she takes a warm interest in every girl in school. What
has she done that you should speak of her as you do?"
"She called me into her office this morning and made a whole lot of
fuss because I didn't have a written excuse for yesterday's absence,"
said Eleanor angrily. "When I told her that I stayed at home because
I felt inclined to do so, she almost had a spasm, and gave me another
lecture then and there, ending up by saying that it must not occur
again. I should like to know how she knew I was absent yesterday."
"Miss Thompson always knows when a girl is absent," replied Grace.
"The special teachers report to her every day. It is the rule of this
school for a girl to present her excuse at the office as soon as she
returns; then her name is taken off the absent list. If she is absent
the second day, then a messenger is sent to her home to find out the
cause. I suppose that when Miss Thompson looked over the list, she
remembered seeing you at opening exercises, so of course sent for
you."
"She is a crabbed old maid," said Eleanor contemptuously, "and I despise
her. I'll find some way to get even with her, and all the rest of those
teachers, too."
"You will never get along in school, Eleanor," answered Grace gently,
"if you take that stand. The only way to be happy is to----"
"Please don't preach to me," said Eleanor haughtily. "It is of no use.
I am not a child and I understand my own business thoroughly. When I saw
you girls the first day of school, I thought that you were full of life
and spirit, but really you are all goody-goodies, who allow those
teachers to lead you around by the nose. I had intended to ask Aunt
Margaret to take me out of this ridiculous school, for some of the
people in it make me tired, but I have changed my mind. I shall stay for
pure spite and show that stiff-necked principal of yours that I am a law
unto myself, and won't stand her interference."
"Stop a moment, Eleanor. I am going no farther with you," said Grace,
flushing, "but I should just like to say before I leave you that you are
taking the wrong view of things, and you'll find it out sooner or later.
I am sorry that you have such a poor opinion of myself and my friends,
for we cherish nothing but the friendliest feelings toward you."
With this, Grace walked away, feeling more hurt over Eleanor's rudeness
than she cared to show.
As she turned out of High School Street she heard a familiar call, and,
glancing up the street, saw her three chums waiting for her on the
corner.
"We saw you just as you tackled Eleanor," said Nora, "so we kept away,
for we thought after to-day's performances she wouldn't be in a very
good humor."
"What was the matter with her to-day?" asked Jessica curiously. "She
behaved like a bad child in English this morning, followed it up in
geometry; and Anne says that in rhetoric class Miss Chester lost all
patience with her and gave her a severe lecturing."
"I might as well tell you at once that Eleanor's opinion of us is far
from flattering," said Grace, half laughing, although there was a hurt
look on her face. "She says we are all goody-goodies and that we make
her tired. She also requested me to mind my own business."
"She said that to you? Just wait until the next time I see her,"
blustered Nora, "I'll tell her what I think of her."
"On the contrary, we must treat her better, if anything, than before,"
said Anne quietly. "Don't you remember we promised Mrs. Gray that we
would try to help her?"
"Yes, I remember all that; but I can't bear to have any one say horrid
things to Grace," grumbled Nora.
"What a queer girl she is," said Jessica. "Yesterday she treated us as
though we were her dearest friends, while to-day she scorns us utterly.
It's a case of 'blow hot, blow cold.'"
"That is because she has the artistic temperament," replied Anne,
smiling.
"You may say what you like about the artistic temperament," said Nora,
"but in my opinion it's nothing more nor less than just plain temper."