Ella Bedford might well be excused for looking with astonished eyes at
the three juveniles to whom she was expected to teach deportment in
connection with music and language--British and foreign; for the first
that presented herself was a square-shaped child of about six, very
red-eyed and smudgy from the application of a pair of grubby fists to
remove the tears not yet dry, evidently on account of the absence of a
pocket-handkerchief, which absence was also plainly otherwise
manifested.
Number two, about a year and a half older, was a young lady gifted with
a perpetual sniff, in which she indulged as she stood and stared at the
new governess, an operation she was abetted in by number three, a young
lady of ten, with tousley hair, and an inclination to rub one ear with a
bony bare shoulder, which was continually hitching itself out of the
loose shoulder-straps, and rising up as its owner gave herself a writhe,
and then lolled against the drawing-room table, which creaked audibly at
the infliction.
"This, my dears," said Mrs Marter, pointing at Ella with her gold
eyeglass, and speaking in an imposing showman-like voice, as if she was
exhibiting some new curiosity--"this, my dears, is Miss Bedford, your
new governess. Eleonora, you may shake hands with her."
Thus adjured, Eleonora, the eldest and tousley of head, gave her
shoulder a hitch out of the straps, and sulkily held out a hand
elegantly veined and marbled from the want of saponaceous applications.
"Alicia, you may shake hands with your new governess," said Mrs Marter
again, evidently addressing the second daughter, who did not move.
"Alicia, did you hear me? Go and shake hands with your new
instructress."
"Sha'n't?" said Alicia, twisting her feet about so as to loosen a shoe,
and sniffing directly afterwards in a defiant manner.
"What do I hear?" exclaimed Mrs Marter. "Go correctly, and shake hands
with Miss Bedford!"
"Shan't!" said Alicia, tucking her hands behind her, and sniffing again
abundantly, as she, to show her dislike to governesses in general, made
what is termed "a face" at the new-comer--that is to say, she contracted
the skin of her little snub nose, half-closed her eyes, and lolled out
her tongue in a most prepossessing manner; though Ella, not being of the
medical profession, could very well have dispensed with the last
attention.
"Alicia, I've told you before that that is very coarse and vulgar," said
Mrs Marter mildly, for the young lady's back being turned, she did not
see the physiognomical contortions. "You must not say `sha'n't!' but,
if you do not wish to shake hands with Miss Bedford: `I would rather
not,' or, `I do not wish to do so.'--Selina, my darling, you will do as
mamma tells you--won't you? Now, my love, you go and shake hands with
your new governess."
Ella took a step forward, and held out her hand, when mamma's darling's
face contracted, and directly after she spat fiercely at the new-comer,
and then ran howling behind the sofa.
"Naughty Seliny--naughty Seliny!" said Mrs Marter. "You see, Miss
Bedford, you are strange to them yet. They will know you better soon."
"I sha'n't do no lessons," said Alicia defiantly; "and I've burnt my
book."
"Fie, fie!" said Mrs Marter sweetly.
"Licy pushed me downstairs, mar," said the darling behind the sofa.
"No, I didn't," shouted Alicia; "she tumbled."
"There's a big story!" cried Eleonora. "She put her hands on her back,
mar, and pushed her as hard as she could--"
Smack!
"Boo--boo--bo--oh!"
Before Miss Eleonora had finished her sentence, her sweet sister had
smitten her upon the mouth so sharply, that her lip bled, and she burst
forth into a loud howl.
"There, my dears, I cannot have this to-day.--Miss Bedford, be kind
enough to see them into the schoolroom.--There, it's of no use, Selina;
if you will not go, you must be carried.--There, for goodness' sake,
Miss Bedford, what are you thinking about? Take her up in your arms and
carry her."
Ella obeyed; for Miss Selina had refused to leave the room, clinging
tightly to mamma's skirts till she was carried off, fighting furiously,
and slapping and scratching at her bearer's face in such a way that,
could Charley Vining have been a spectator, he would have been frantic.
"Never mind her scratching," said the eldest girl; "she always does like
that. This way."
And in a few moments more Ella was able to deposit her precious charge
in the schoolroom, where, set free, the sweet innocent revenged herself
again by spitting, till the upper housemaid was summoned, and led Ella
to her own room.
"I pity you, miss, I do," said the woman kindly. "You're no more fit to
manage them young rips than nothing. They're spoilt in the
drawing-room, and encouraged in everything."
"Thank you," said Ella gently; "you mean kindly, I am sure; but pray say
no more. Let me find it out by degrees."
"Well, that's best, certainly, miss," said the woman, who eagerly
assisted her to take off her things, and then hurried down to help get
up the luggage; while Ella--did she break down and burst into weak
tears?
No; smiling sadly, she determined to bear the burden that was to be
hers, and nerved herself for the coming battle; so that when the
housemaid returned and helped uncord the luggage, she was rewarded with
a sweet and cheerful smile, which was repeated when she said she would
go down and make Miss Bedford a cup of tea.
Ten minutes later, when, after coaxing the kettle to boil with a few
pieces of bundle London fire-wood, she was making that infusion that is
considered by the fair sex to be a balm and refreshment for every pain
and fatigue, she expressed herself loudly to her fellow-servants, to the
effect that "that was quite an angel they had got upstairs. But it's my
belief," she added, "that the poor thing don't know what she's got to
put up with."
Volume 2, Chapter XVI.