Hester's journey had really proved wonderfully agreeable. She had taken
a great fancy to the little old ladies who had fussed over her and made
themselves pleasant in her behalf. She felt herself something like a
heroine as she poured out a little, just a little, of her troubles into
their sympathising ears; and their cheerful remarks with regard to
school and school-life had caused her to see clearly that there might be
another and a brighter side to the gloomy picture she had drawn with
regard to her future.
But during the drive of two and a half miles from Sefton to Lavender
House, Hester once more began to feel anxious and troubled. The Misses
Bruce had gone off with some other passengers in a little omnibus to
their small villa in the town, but Lavender House was some distance off,
and the little omnibus never went so far.
An old-fashioned carriage, which the ladies told Hester belonged to Mrs
Willis, had been sent to meet her, and a man whom the Misses Bruce
addressed as "Thomas" helped to place her trunk and a small portmanteau
on the roof of the vehicle. The little girl had to take her drive
alone, and the rather ancient horse which drew the old carriage climbed
up and down the steep roads in a most leisurely fashion. It was a cold
winter's day, and by the time Thomas had executed some commissions in
Sefton, and had reached the gates of the avenue which led to Lavender
House, it was very nearly dark. Hester trembled at the darkness, and
when the gates were shut behind them by a rosy-faced urchin of ten, she
once more began to feel the cruel and desolate idea that she was going
to prison.
They drove slowly down a long and winding avenue, and, although Hester
could not see, she knew they must be passing under trees, for several
times their branches made a noise against the roof of the carriage. At
last they came to a standstill. The old servant scrambled slowly down
from his seat on the box, and, opening the carriage-door, held out his
hand to help the little stranger to alight.
"Come now, missy," he said in cheering tones, "come out, and you'll be
warm and snug in a minute. Dear, dear! I expect you're nearly froze
up, poor little miss, and it _is_ a most bitter cold night."
He rang a bell which hung by the entrance of a deep porch, and the next
moment the wide hall door was flung open by a neat maid-servant, and
Hester stepped within.
"She's come," exclaimed several voices in different keys, and proceeding
apparently from different quarters. Hester looked around her in a
half-startled way, but she could see no one, except the maid, who smiled
at her and said--
"Welcome to Lavender House, miss. If you'll step into the porter's room
for one moment, there is a good fire there, and I'll acquaint Miss
Danesbury that you have arrived."
The little room in question was at the right-hand side of a very wide
and cheerful hall, which was decorated in pale tints of green, and had a
handsome encaustic-tiled floor. A blazing fire and two lamps made the
hall look cheerful, but Hester was very glad to take refuge from the
unknown voices in the porter's small room. She found herself quite
trembling with shyness, and cold, and an indescribable longing to get
back to Nan; and as she waited for Miss Danesbury and wondered fearfully
who or what Miss Danesbury was, she scarcely derived any comfort from
the blazing fire near which she stood.
"Rather tall for her age, but I fear, I greatly fear, a little sulky,"
said a voice behind her; and when she turned round in an agony of
trepidation and terror, she suddenly found herself face to face with a
tall, kind-looking, middle-aged lad and also with a bright gipsy-looking
girl.
"Annie Forest, how very naughty of you to hide behind the door! You are
guilty of disobedience in coming into the room without leave. I must
report you, my dear; yes, I really must. You lose two good conduct
marks for this, and will probably have thirty lines in addition to your
usual quantity of French poetry."
"But she won't tell on me, she won't, dear old Danesbury," said the
girl; "she couldn't be so hard-hearted, the precious love, particularly
as curiosity happens to be one of her own special little virtues! Take
a kiss, Danesbury, and now, a you love me you'll be merciful!" The girl
flitted away, and Miss Danesbury turned to Hester, whose face had
changed from red to pale during this little scene.
"What a horrid, vulgar, low-bred girl!" she exclaimed with passion, for
in all the experiences of her short life Hester had never even imagined
that personal remarks could be made of any one in their very presence.
"I hope she'll get a lot of punishment--I hope you are not going to
forgive her," she continued, for her anger had for the time quite
overcome her shyness.
"Oh, my dear, my dear! we should all be forgiving," exclaimed Miss
Danesbury in her gentle voice. "Welcome to Lavender House, love; I am
sorry I was not in the hall to receive you. Had I been, this little
_rencontre_ would not have occurred. Annie Forest meant no harm,
however--she's a wild little sprite, but affectionate. You and she will
be the best friends possible by-and-by. Now, let me take you to your
room; the gong for tea will sound in exactly five minutes, and I am sure
you will be glad of something to eat."
Miss Danesbury then led Hester across the hall and up some broad, low,
thickly-carpeted stairs. When they had ascended two flights, and were
standing on a handsome landing, she paused.
"Do you see this baize door, dear?" she said. "This is the entrance to
the school part of the house. This part that we are now in belongs
exclusively to Mrs Willis, and the girls are never allowed to come here
without leave. All the school-life is lived at the other side of this
baize door, and a very happy life I assure you it is for those little
girls who make up their minds to be brave and good. Now kiss me, my
dear, and let me bid you welcome once again to Lavender House."
"Are you our principal teacher, then?" asked Hester.
"I? oh dear, no, my love. I teach the younger children English, and I
look after the interests and comforts of all. I am a very useful sort
of person, I believe, and I have a motherly heart, dear, and it is a way
with little girls to come to me when they are in trouble. Now, my love,
we must not chatter any longer. Take my hand, and let us get to your
room as fast as possible."
Miss Danesbury pushed open the baize door, and instantly Hester found
herself in a different region. Mrs Willis's part of the house gave the
impression of warmth, luxuriance, and even elegance of arrangement. At
the other side of the door were long, narrow corridors, with snow-white,
but carpetless floors, and rather cold, distempered walls. Miss
Danesbury, holding the new pupil's hand, led her down two corridors, and
past a great number of shut doors, behind which Hester could near
suppressed laughter and eager, chattering voices. At last, however,
they stopped at a door which had the number "32" written over it.
"This is your bedroom, dear," said the English teacher, "and to-night
you will not be sorry to have it alone. Mrs Willis received a telegram
from Susan Drummond, your room-mate, this afternoon, and she will not
arrive until to-morrow."
However bare and even cold the corridors looked, the bedroom into which
Hester was ushered by no means corresponded with this appearance. It
was a small, but daintily-furnished little room. The floor was carpeted
with green felt, the one window was hung with pretty draperies, and two
little, narrow, white beds were arranged gracefully with French
canopies. All the furniture in the room was of a minute description,
but good of its kind. Beside each bed stood a mahogany chest of
drawers. At two corresponding corners were marble washhand-stands, and
even two pretty, toilet tables stood side by side in the recess of the
window. But the sight that perhaps pleased Hester most was a small
bright fire which burnt in the grate.
"Now, dear, this is your room. As you have arrived first you can choose
your own bed and your own chest of drawers. Ah, that is right, Ellen
has unfastened your portmanteau; she will unpack your trunk to-night,
and take it to the box-room. Now, dear, smooth your hair and wash your
hands. The gong will sound instantly. I will come for you when it
does."