It was a busy morning with Hazel Thorne as she took her place in the
large schoolroom, feeling that her responsibilities had now commenced in
earnest. For there were no ladies to take classes now, the assistance
coming from a pupil-teacher and four or five girls as monitors, against
one and all of whom Feelier Potts entertained a deadly hatred, for the
simple reason that she had been passed over, and they had all been
chosen in her stead.
The discipline of the school had been fairly maintained, but Hazel was
not long in finding out that there were plenty of young revolutionary
spirits waiting their opportunity to test the strength of the new
mistress, nor in seeing that Miss Feelier Potts would be one of the
leaders in any small insurrectionary movement that might take place.
There was plenty to do that first morning--to feel the way, as it were;
to find out what had been going on; how it was done; what the girls
knew, and the hundred other little difficulties that a strange mistress
would have to deal with on taking possession of a new post.
Monday morning too, and there were the school pence to be paid--hot,
moist, sticky pennies, that had been carried generally in hot, moist,
sticky hands. These had to be received and noted, and the excuses
listened to as well.
"Mother hadn't got no change's morning, teacher"--"Pay next week,
teacher"--"Mother says, teacher, as there's four on us, she oughtn't to
pay more'n thruppens"--"Mother 'll call and pay when she comes by."
Then there was Sarah Ann Simms' case. Sarah Ann had not brought her
penny, and the book showed that she had not brought it the week before,
nor the month before; in fact, it seemed as if Sarah Ann was in debt for
her schooling from the time she had commenced.
Upon Sarah Ann being questioned, she didn't know nothink, only that
mother--who appeared to be ready to set all school rules, regulations,
and laws at defiance--said she shouldn't pay.
Hazel Thorne was pondering upon this crux, when there was a tap at the
door, and Mr Samuel Chute entered, smiling to say "Good morning."
"I thought I'd just drop in, and see if there was anything I could do,"
he said, upon shaking hands, after which he wiped the hand he had used
upon his fair hair. "It's very awkward coming first to a school," he
went on, "and if you'll only send for me, or ask for anything, you shall
have it directly. I hope you've got plenty of chalk."
Hazel believed there was plenty, and promised to send and ask for
assistance if any was required, wishing heartily the while that her
visitor would go; but although it was evident through the thin partition
that the boys were enjoying themselves in their master's absence, Mr
Chute seemed in no hurry to depart.
"You'll have some trouble, I daresay," he continued, rubbing his hands
together, and looking contemplatively at Hazel. "Some of the girls are
like their brothers in my school. The young Potts' are a terrible
nuisance."
"I daresay I shall be able to manage them by degrees," replied Hazel--
"Are you sure you have plenty of chalk?"
"I think there is an abundance of school necessaries."
"Oh, no! Oh dear, no!" said Mr Chute, with a pitying smile. "You'll
find lots of things wanting. They're very stingy over them; and if it
wasn't for old Burge, I don't know what we should do. You are sure you
have plenty of chalk?"
"Please, teacher, there's a whole boxful in the cupboard," said Miss
Potts.
"Silence! How dare you speak when you are not asked?" said Mr Chute
fiercely; and Miss Potts began to hurry away, terribly alarmed, back to
her place, but watched her opportunity to turn and squint horribly at
the visitor, to the great delight of the other girls--especially of Ann
Straggalls the fat, who, poor girl, seemed to suffer from an infirmity;
for no sooner did she see anything mirth-provoking than she exploded
loudly, no matter where she was, into a boisterous laugh--a laugh that
was a constant source of trouble to her; for which she had suffered
endless punishments, besides having been ordered three times out of
church by Miss Rebecca Lambent, who would rise spectrally above the red
curtains of the organ-loft, and stand pointing at the door till the
trembling girl had gone.
Ann Straggalls horrified Hazel upon this occasion by giving vent to one
of her explosions, and then turning purple as she tried to hide her
face.
"Ah, you'll have to punish her," said Mr Chute. "Oh, by-the-way, Miss
Thorne--"
"If he would only go!" thought Hazel, for the girls were getting very
lively and boisterous, seeing their teacher's attention taken off, and
catching a little of the infection from beyond the partition shutters.
"I say, you'll have a deal of trouble over the school pence"--Mr Chute
was a prophet in this case, though he did not know it--"they'll try all
sorts of plans to get out of paying--a few of them will; but don't you
be imposed upon by their excuses. It's only a penny a week, you know.
There's the Simms's never will pay, and they ought to be turned out of
the schools, for it isn't fair for some children to pay and some not, is
it?"
"Of course not," replied Hazel. "Oh, why won't he go? Surely he must
see that my time is wanted."
Just then the noise in the boys' school became furious, and Mr Chute
made an effort to let his rebellious subjects know that, though
invisible in body, he was present with them in spirit, by going on
tiptoe across the school and rapping on one of the sliding shutters
sharply with his knuckles.
The effect was magical, and he came back triumphant.
"That's how I serve them," he said, with a self-satisfied smirk. "They
know I won't stand any nonsense; and, I say, Miss Thorne, if you hear me
using the cane, don't you take any notice, you know. It's good for them
sometimes. You'll have to use it yourself."
"I hope not," said Hazel quietly; and she glanced towards the door.
"Ah, but you will," he said, laughing, and in profound ignorance of the
fact that Feelier Potts was imitating his every action for the benefit
of her class, even to going across and pretending to tap at the
partition.
"I believe in kindness and firmness combined, Mr Chute."
"So do I," he said, as if lost in admiration. "That's exactly what I
said to Lambent; and I say, Miss Thorne, just a friendly word, you know.
You back me up and I'll back you up; don't you stand any nonsense from
Lambent and those two. They're always meddling and interfering."
"Those two?" said Hazel, thinking of Ophelia Potts and Ann Straggalls.
"Yes; Rebecca and Beatrice, Lambent's sisters, you know. Rebel and
Tricks we call them down here. They're as smooth as can be to your
face, and they go and make mischief to Lambent. You must have your eyes
open, for they're always telling tales. Beatrice is going to marry the
young squire at Ardley, at least she wants to, and Rebecca wants old
Burge, but he can't see it."
"You really must excuse me now, Mr Chute," said Hazel. "I have so much
to do."
"Yes, so have I," he said pleasantly; but he did not stir. "You are
sure you have plenty of chalk?"
"Oh yes, plenty."
"And slate-pencil? I believe the little wretches eat the slate-pencil,
so much of it goes."
"I will send for some if I want it," said Hazel; "I must go now to those
classes."
"Yes, of course, but one minute. My mother wants to be introduced to
your mother, as we are to be neighbours, you know, and if there's
anything household you want, mind you send for it."
"Yes, certainly, Mr Chute."--Oh, I wish he would go!
"May I bring my mother in to-night to see you?"
"Not to-night, please, Mr Chute; we are hardly settled yet."
"No, of course not. Well, good-bye; I _must_ go now."
He held out his hand.
For some time past Miss Lambent and her sister had been waiting. They
had entered the boys' school to leave a message, and for a while their
presence had acted as a brake upon the spirits of the young gentlemen;
but waves of noise soon began to rise and fall, growing louder as the
time went on.
"Master's in the girls' school," one of the boys had said. "Should he
fetch him?"
"No, boy; go on with your lessons," said Miss Beatrice; and she
exchanged glances with her sister. Then they settled themselves to
wait, standing like a pair of martyrs to circumstances, listening to the
increasing noise, and at last marching together out of the boys' school
and towards the girls'.
"Henry had better send for Mr Chute, and give him a good talking to,"
said Miss Lambent.
"I formed my own impressions yesterday," said Miss Beatrice. "These
proceedings only endorse them. She will never do for Plumton."
"Never!" said Miss Rebecca; and after an inquiring look, given and
taken, the sisters entered the girls' school, to find Miss Feelier Potts
standing up, gazing pensively at Ann Straggalls, as she held and pressed
her hand in perfect imitation of the action of Mr Samuel Chute, who was
taking a farewell of the new mistress as if he were going on a long
voyage--never to return.