CHAPTER III

MissLeechspenttheirdayseitheronthedefensive,preparingfortheseunprovokedassaults,orinthestateofcollapsewhichfollowedtheregularlyrecurringdefeat,andbothfoundtheirlivesaburdentoogreattobeborne. Therewasapreliminaryscuffleofwashingandbrushing,andthenLettymarchedintothedrawing-room,heratlasunderherarmanddeepsuspiciononherface.Butnoblandandtreacherousexaminerwasvisible,coveringhispreliminarymovementswithghastlypleasantriesonlyhermotherandherprettyaunt. "Where'sStralsund?"theycriedtogether,assheopenedthedoor. Lettystoppedshortandstared."What'sthat?"sheasked. "It'saplace—aplaceinGermany." "Letty,doyoumeantotellmethatyoudon'tknowwhereStralsundis?"askedSusie,inavoicethatwouldhavebeenofthunderifithadbeenbigenough."DoyoumeantosaythatafterallthemoneyIhavespentonyoureducationyoudon'tknowthat?" Wasthisanewformoftorture?Wasshetofindtheexaminingspiritlurkingeveninthefamiliarandhithertoharmlessformsofhermotherandheraunt?Sheopenlyshowedherdisgust."Ifit'saplace,it'sinthisatlas,"shesaid,"andifthisisgoingtobeanexamination,Idon'tthinkit'sfairandifit'sagame,Idon'tlikeit."Andshethrewheratlasunceremoniouslyontothenearestchairforthoughhermothercouldforcehertodomanythings,shecouldnever,somehow,forcehertoberespectful. "Whatahorrorthechildhasoflessons!"criedSusie."Don'tbesosilly.WeonlywanttoseeifyouknowwhereStralsundis,that'sall." "Telluswhereitis,Letty,"saidAnnacoaxingly,kneelingdowninfrontofthechairandopeningtheatlas."LetusfindthemapofGermanyandlookforit.Why,youdidGermanyforyourlastexam.—youmusthaveitallatyourfingers'ends." "Itdidn'tstaythere,then,"saidLettymoodilybutshewentovertoAnna,whowasalwayskindtoher,andbegantoturnoverthewell-thumbedpages. Oh,whatrecollectionslurkedinthosedirtycorners!Surelyitishardonapersonoffourteen,whoisasfondofenjoyingherselfasanybodyelse,tobemadetowrestlewithmapsupstairsinadrearyroom,whenthesunisshining,andthevoicesofthechildrenpassingcomeupjoyouslytotheprisonwindows,andalltheworldisoutofdoors!Lettythoughtso,andMissLeechthoughtithardonapersonofthirty,andeachtriedtoconsoletheother,butneitherknewhow,fortheircaseseemedveryhopeless.Didnotunendingvistasofclassesandlecturesstretchawaybeforeandbehindthem,dottedatintervals,oh,sofrequent!withtheblackspotsofexaminations?WasnotthepavementofGowerStreet,andKensingtonSquare,andofallthosedistrictswheregirlscanbelecturedintowisdom,quitewornbytheirpatientfeet?Andthentheaccomplishments!Oh,whatalifeitwas!Amancametwiceaweekandinsistedonteachinghertofiddleahighlynervousman,whojerkedherelbowandrappedherknuckleswithhisbowwheneversheplayedoutoftune,whichwasallthetime,andmadebitterremarksofakillinglysarcasticnaturetoMissLeechwhenshestumbledovertheaccompaniments.OnWednesdaystherewasadancingclass,whereapinchedyoungladyplayedthepianowiththeenergyofdespair,andahotandagilemasterwithundulyturned-outtoestaughtthegirlstheLancers,earninghisbreadinthesweatofhisbrow.Healsowassarcastic,butheclothedhissarcasmsinthegarbofkindlyfun,laughinggentlyatthemhimself,andexpectinghispupilstolaughtoowhichtheydiduneasily,forthefunwasofapersonalnature,evokedbytheclumsinessorstupidityofoneorotherofthem,andnoneknewwhenherownturnmightnotcome.ThelessonendedwithwhathecalledtheMarchofGraceroundtheroom,eachgirlbyherself,nomusictodrownthenoisehershoesmadeonthebareboards,theotherslookingon,andthemastermakingcomments.ThismarchwasterribletoLetty.Allhernightmareswereconnectedwithit.Shewasapodgy,dull-lookinggirl,fatandpaleandawkward,andhermothermadeherwearcheapshoesthatcreaked."MissEstcourthasnewshoesonagain,"thedancingmasterwouldsay,gentlysmiling,whenLettywaswellonherwayroundtheroom,cutofffromallhumanaid,consciousofeveryinchofherbody,desperatelytryingtobegraceful.Andeverybodytitteredexceptthevictim."Youknow,MissEstcourt,"hewouldsayateverysecondlesson,"thereisasayingthatcreakingshoeshavenotbeenpaidfor.Ibegyourpardon?Didyousaytheyhadbeenpaidfor?MissEstcourtsaysshedoesnotknow."Andhewouldturntohisotherpupilswithashrugandagentlesmile. OnSaturdayafternoonstherewerethePopularConcertsatSt.James'sHalltobegoneto—Susieregardedthemaseducational,andsubscribed—andLetty,whoalwayshadchilblainsonherfeetinwinter,sufferedtorturestryingnottorubthemforassurelyasshemovedonefootandbegantorubtheotherwithit,howevergently,fierceenthusiastsintherowinfrontwouldturnonher—oldgentlemenofanotherwisehumaneappearance,raptladieswitheyeglassesandlooseclothes—andsh-shherwithfurioushissingsintoimmobility."Oh,Letty,tryandsitstill,"MissLeech,whodreadedpublicity,wouldimploreinawhisperbutwhothathasnothadthemcanknowthetortureofchilblainsinsidethickboo