Poor Ella! in her happy innocence she did not know that she was as
surely leaving a trail by which she could be tracked, as did the child
in the story, who sprinkled a few ashes behind her from time to time as
she went through the wood. Poor girl! she did not even notice the
railway company's official, book in hand, taking the number of each cab,
and asking the drivers where they were to set down.
No, she was free this time; but she said those words with a strange
feeling of sadness as she leaned back. But the next minute she summoned
resolution to her aid, and sat gazing from the window at the hurry and
bustle around.
Crescent Villas, Regents-park, the residence of Mrs Saint Clair Marter,
was Ella's destination. By rights it was Mr Saint Clair Marter's
house, but his lady always spoke of it as her place; and as he dared not
contradict her, so the matter rested.
Ella entered a pleasantly-furnished hall neatly floorclothed, and with
groups of flowers and statuary, all in excellent taste. There was an
air of luxury and refinement in the place, which was, however, totally
spoiled by the tawdry livery of the footman, who muttered and grumbled a
good deal about having to lift in the boxes, to the great amusement of
cabby, who kindly advised him not to over-exert himself, for the reason
that good people were very scarce.
But the door was closed at last, and the footman departed to announce
the new-comer.
"Let her wait a bit!" said a sharp voice, as the door was held open; and
the "bit" the young traveller had to wait was about three-quarters of an
hour, for no earthly reason save that Mrs Saint Clair Marter wished, as
she said, "to teach her her place."
But at last there was the tinkling of a bell somewhere in the lower
regions; the footman ascended, entered what Ella supposed to be the
drawing-room, and then returned to say gruffly, "Now, miss, this way,
please!"
And Ella was shown into the presence of her new mistress.
As a rule, no doubt, a young lady engaged to act as governess in a
family would speak of the feminine head of that family as her employer,
or the lady whose daughter she instructed. She might easily find some
other term that would avoid that word which expresses the relation
between hirer and servant; but Mrs Saint Clair Marter always spoke of
herself as the mistress of the ladies she engaged to act as governess to
her children, and therefore we say that Ella was shown into the presence
of her new mistress.
Mrs Saint Clair Marter was a very diminutive lady, with a flat,
countenance, and very frizzly fair hair. She gave a visitor the idea of
having been a small negress carefully bleached or made "beautiful for
ever;" while the first glance told that, had she really been a sufferer
from the slave-trade, whatever others may have valued and sold her at,
her purchase at her own valuation would have been a ruinous speculation.
She was dressed in the height of ultra-fashion, and reclined upon a
couch perfectly motionless, evidently for fear of making creases; for
her dress was carefully spread out over the back and foot, with every
fold and plait arranged as may be seen any day behind plate glass at the
establishments of Messrs. Grant and Gask, Marshall and Snellgrove, or
Peter Robinson; and upon Ella's entrance, Mrs Marter inspected her for
full a minute through a large gold-rimmed eyeglass.
"Ah!" she said at last, with an expiration of the breath, and a look as
if she had just made a discovery, "you are the young person recommended
to me by Mrs Brandon?"
Ella bowed.
"Exactly. I have a good deal to say to you about the young ladies, but
I'm afraid my memory will not allow me to recall it at present. I
daresay, though, that I shall recollect a little from time to time."
Ella remained standing; for Mrs Marter, doubtless from having to recall
so much, entirely forgot to invite her dependent to a seat.
"I am very particular about my governesses, Miss Bedford," said the
lady; "and mind, I don't at all approve of their making friends of, or
associating with, the other servants. I expect, too, that the young
person I have in the house to superintend my children's education will
rise early. The young ladies' linen, of course, you will keep in order,
and assist the nurse in dressing them of a morning. Let me see, I think
Mrs Brandon said you understood German?"
"Yes," said Ella quietly.
"And Italian?"
"Yes," was the reply.
"French, and music, and singing, of course you know; but really I must
make a point of examining you in these subjects, for the trouble one has
with governesses is something terrible. They all profess to know so
much, and all the while they know next to nothing. Where were you
educated?"
"Principally at home," said Ella patiently.
"At home!" exclaimed Mrs Marter. "Dear me; I'm sorry to hear that. I
don't think much of home education. I ought to have seen you and talked
matters over; but I trusted entirely to Mrs Brandon, as you were so far
off. However, I suppose we must see how you get on."
"I will do my best to give you satisfaction," said Ella meekly, though
her heart sank the while she spoke.
"Yes, that's what Miss Tuggly said; and before she had been here a week,
she actually contradicted me to my face--before the young ladies, too.
Ah! there's another thing, too, I may as well say: Mr Marter likes to
be read to of an evening, and you will have to do that, for my lungs are
in such a state, that I cannot read half a page without a fit of
coughing. And of course you will have to come into the drawing-room
tidy; but mind, I don't approve of dress, and governesses imitating
their employers. I think it better to say these few words, so that
there may be no unpleasantness after."
Ella bowed again, and sought in her inward spirit for firmness to bear
all that might fall to her lot during the next twelve months.
"You may go now, Miss Bedford," said Mrs Marter, letting fall her great
eyeglass with a loud rattling of gold chain; and Ella turned to leave.
The next instant she was summoned back.
"O! really, Miss Bedford," exclaimed the lady, "that will never do!
Just what I feared when you told me of your home education. Not the
slightest deportment! Pray, how can you ever expect to teach young
ladies, when you do not know how to leave a room decently yourself?
Pray be careful for the future, whatever you do! A ladylike bearing is
so essential, as you must be aware! There, you may go now. Thomas will
show you to the schoolroom, and you may ask the upper housemaid to take
you to your bedroom, which, by the way, I visit myself once a week. I
say that as a hint respecting the way in which I expect it to be kept.
That will do, Miss Bedford."
Ella again turned to leave, but only to be staved once more.
"O, by the way, Miss Bedford, I have a great objection to my servants--I
mean, to those in my employ--having followers; I mean visitors. Of
course, upon some particular occasion, if I were asked, I should not say
no to your mother and father visiting you; but what I mean, Miss
Bedford, is that I do not allow young men followers."
Ella's face was now aflame, partly at the coarseness of the words,
partly at the remembrance of the way in which she had been visited while
at Mrs Brandon's; and she trembled as she thought of the consequences
of her retreat being discovered.
"I think that is all I have to say now," said Mrs Marter. "But stay:
the young ladies may as well be summoned before you go away. Have the
goodness to ring that bell."
Ella obeyed, and the result was the coming of the footman in drab and
scarlet, with dirty stockings, and an imperfectly-powdered head--that is
to say, it was snowy in front, and greasy and black in the rear.
"Let the young ladies know that I wish to see them directly, Thomas,"
said the lady.
"Yes, mum," said Thomas, who, on turning, winked at Ella, not from
impertinence, but from an ignorant desire to be upon friendly terms.
Five minutes of utter silence now ensued, when there was a distant
squeal, a rush of feet, then a noise as of some one falling downstairs,
followed by a loud howl.
"Bless me--those children!" said Mrs Marter faintly; and directly after
the young ladies came tumbling into the room.
Volume 2, Chapter XV.