'I am sure much ought to be done. It is mere waste to have two
separate schools, when a master can bring the children on so much
better in the higher subjects.'
'Mrs. Merrifield and the rest of us are inclined to think that what
stands highest of all with us is endangered by mixed schools,' said
Mr. Doyle.
'Oh!' Arthurine opened her eyes; 'but education does all _THAT_!'
'Education does, but knowledge is not wisdom. Susan Merrifield's
influence has done more for our young women than the best class
teaching could do.'
'Oh, but the Merrifields are all so BORNES and homely; they stand in
the way of all culture.'
'Indeed,' said the Vicar, who had in his pocket a very favourable
review of MESA's new historical essay.
'Surely an old-fashioned squire and Lady Bountiful and their very
narrow daughters should not be allowed to prevent improvement,
pauperise the place, and keep it in its old grooves.'
'Well, we shall see what you think by the time you have lived here
long enough to be eligible for--what?'
'School manager, guardian of the poor!' cried Arthurine.
'We shall see,' repeated the Vicar. 'Good-morning.'
He asked Bessie's leave to disclose who MESA was.
'Oh, don't!' she cried, 'it would spoil the fun! Besides, mamma
would not like it, which is a better reason.'
There were plenty of books, old and new, in Bessie's room, magazines
and reviews, but they did not come about the house much, unless any
of the Rockstone cousins or the younger generation were staying
there, or her brother David had come for a rest of mind and body.
Between housekeeping, gardening, parish work, and pottering, Mrs.
Merrifield and Susan never had time for reading, except that Susan
thought it her duty to keep something improving in hand, which
generally lasted her six weeks on a moderate average. The Admiral
found quite reading enough in the newspapers, pamphlets, and
business publications; and their neighbours, the Greville family,
were chiefly devoted to hunting and lawn tennis, so that there was
some reason in Mrs. Arthuret's lamentation to the Vicar that dear
Arthurine did so miss intellectual society, such as she had been
used to with the High School mistresses--two of whom had actually
been at Girton!
'Does she not get on with Bessie Merrifield?' he asked.
'Miss Bessie has a very sweet face; Arthurine did say she seemed
well informed and more intelligent than her sister. Perhaps
Arthurine might take her up. It would be such an advantage to the
poor girl.'
'Which?' was on Mr. Doyle's tongue, but he restrained it, and only
observed that Bessie had lived for a good many years in London.
'So I understood,' said Arthurine, 'but with an old grandmother, and
that is quite as bad as if it was in the country; but I will see
about it. I might get up a debating society, or one for studying
German.'
In the meantime Arthurine decided on improving and embellishing the
parish with a drinking fountain, and meeting Bessie one afternoon in
the village, she started the idea.
'But,' said Bessie, 'there is a very good supply. Papa saw that
good water was accessible to all the houses in the village street
ten years ago, and the outlying ones have wells, and there's the
brook for the cattle.'
'I am sure every village should have a fountain and a trough, and I
shall have it here instead of this dirty corner.'
'Can you get the ground?'
'Oh, any one would give ground for such a purpose! Whose is it?'
'Mr. Grice's, at Butter End.'