CHAPTER XXV. THE LITTLE COUNTESS.

anygoodschool?” “ThereisLucy’splace—MadameBeck’s.” “MissSnoweisinaschool?” “Iamateacher,”Isaid,andwasrathergladoftheopportunityofsayingthis.ForalittlewhileIhadbeenfeelingasifplacedinafalseposition.Mrs.BrettonandsonknewmycircumstancesbuttheCountandhisdaughterdidnot.Theymightchoosetovarybysomeshadestheirhithertocordialmannertowardsme,whenawareofmygradeinsociety.Ispokethenreadily:butaswarmofthoughtsIhadnotanticipatednorinvoked,rosedimatthewords,makingmesighinvoluntarily.Mr.Homedidnotlifthiseyesfromhisbreakfast-plateforabouttwominutes,nordidhespeakperhapshehadnotcaughtthewords—perhapshethoughtthatonaconfessionofthatnature,politenesswouldinterdictcomment:theScotchareproverbiallyproudandhomelyaswasMr.Homeinlook,simpleinhabitsandtastes,Ihaveallalongintimatedthathewasnotwithouthisshareofthenationalquality.Washisapseudopride?wasitrealdignity?Ileavethequestionundecidedinitswidesense.WhereitconcernedmeindividuallyIcanonlyanswer:then,andalways,heshowedhimselfatrue-heartedgentleman. Bynaturehewasafeelerandathinkeroverhisemotionsandhisreflectionsspreadamellowingofmelancholymorethanamellowing:introubleandbereavementitbecameacloud.HedidnotknowmuchaboutLucySnowewhatheknew,hedidnotveryaccuratelycomprehend:indeedhismisconceptionsofmycharacteroftenmademesmilebuthesawmywalkinlifelayratherontheshadysideofthehill:hegavemecreditfordoingmyendeavourtokeepthecoursehonestlystraighthewouldhavehelpedmeifhecould:havingnoopportunityofhelping,hestillwishedmewell.Whenhedidlookatme,hiseyewaskindwhenhedidspeak,hisvoicewasbenevolent. “Yours,”saidhe,“isanarduouscalling.Iwishyouhealthandstrengthtowininit—success.” Hisfairlittledaughterdidnottaketheinformationquitesocomposedly:shefixedonmeapairofeyeswidewithwonder—almostwithdismay. “Areyouateacher?”criedshe.Then,havingpausedontheunpalatableidea,“Well,Ineverknewwhatyouwere,noreverthoughtofasking:forme,youwerealwaysLucySnowe.” “AndwhatamInow?”Icouldnotforbearinquiring. “Yourself,ofcourse.Butdoyoureallyteachhere,inVillette?” “Ireallydo.” “Anddoyoulikeit?” “Notalways.” “Andwhydoyougoonwithit?” Herfatherlookedat,and,Ifeared,wasgoingtocheckherbutheonlysaid,“Proceed,Polly,proceedwiththatcatechism—proveyourselfthelittlewiseacreyouare.IfMissSnoweweretoblushandlookconfused,IshouldhavetobidyouholdyourtongueandyouandIwouldsitoutthepresentmealinsomedisgracebutsheonlysmiles,sopushherhard,multiplythecross-questions.Well,MissSnowe,whydoyougoonwithit?” “Chiefly,Ifear,forthesakeofthemoneyIget.” “Notthenfrommotivesofpurephilanthropy?PollyandIwereclingingtothathypothesisasthemostlenientwayofaccountingforyoureccentricity.” “No—no,sir.RatherfortheroofofshelterIamthusenabledtokeepovermyheadandforthecomfortofminditgivesmetothinkthatwhileIcanworkformyself,Iamsparedthepainofbeingaburdentoanybody.” “Papa,saywhatyouwill,IpityLucy.” “Takeupthatpity,MissdeBassompierretakeitupinbothhands,asyoumightalittlecallowgoslingsquatteringoutofboundswithoutleaveputitbackinthewarmnestofaheartwhenceitissued,andreceiveinyourearthiswhisper.IfmyPollyevercametoknowbyexperiencetheuncertainnatureofthisworld’sgoods,IshouldlikehertoactasLucyacts:toworkforherself,thatshemightburdenneitherkithnorkin.” “Yes,papa,”saidshe,pensivelyandtractably.“ButpoorLucy!Ithoughtshewasarichlady,andhadrichfriends.” “Youthoughtlikealittlesimpleton.Ineverthoughtso.WhenIhadtimetoconsiderLucy’smannerandaspect,whichwasnotoften,Isawshewasonewhohadtoguardandnotbeguardedtoactandnotbeserved:andthislothas,Iimagine,helpedhertoanexperienceforwhich,ifshelivelongenoughtorealizeitsfullbenefit,shemayyetblessProvidence.Butthisschool,”hepursued,changinghistonefromgravetogay:“wouldMadameBeckadmitmyPolly,doyouthink,MissLucy?” Isaid,thereneededbuttotryMadameitwouldsoonbeseen:shewasfondofEnglishpupils.“Ifyou,sir,”Iadded,“willbuttakeMissdeBassompierreinyourcarriagethisveryafternoon,IthinkIcananswerforitthatRosine,theportress,willnotbeveryslowinansweringyourringandMadame,Iamsure,willputonherbestpairofglovestocomeintothesalontoreceiveyou.” “Inthatcase,”respondedMr.Home,“Iseenosortofnecessitythereisfordelay.Mrs.Hurstcansendwhatshecallsheryounglady’s‘things’afterherPollycansettledowntoherhorn-bookbeforenightandyou,MissLucy,Itrust,willnotdisdaintocastanoccasionaleyeuponher,andletmeknow,fromtimetotime,howshegetson.Ihopeyouapproveofthearrangement,CountessdeBassompierre?” TheCountesshemmedandhesitated.“Ithought,”saidshe,“IthoughtIhadfinishedmyeducation—” “Thatonlyproveshowmuchwemaybemistakeninourthoughts.Iholdafardifferentopinion,asmostofthesewillwhohavebeenauditorsofyourprofoundknowledgeoflifethismorning.Ah,mylittlegirl,thouhastmuchtolearnandpapaoughttohavetaughttheemorethanhehasdone!Come,thereisnothingforitbuttotryMadameBeckandtheweatherseemssettling,andIhavefinishedmybreakfast—” “But,papa!” “Well?” “Iseeanobstacle.” “Idon’tat