Boarding School: Familiar conversations between a governess and her pupils.

by Augusta Huiell Seaman

  "And what is fashion, my dear?"

  "Oh, nothing--nothing, ma'am, but doing as we please: we seldom sawMadame except in evening parties."

  "Then to whom were you indebted for instruction?"

  "To our masters, ma'am," said Miss Vincent, in a tone of surprise. "AtMadame La Blond's we were instructed in all the sciences; in the natureof valves; the specific gravity of bodies; the astonishing properties ofmagnetic steel; and how many thousand miles the sun was from the earth."

  "And perhaps you were told, by what means Archimedes burned the ships ofMarcellus, at the siege of Syracuse?"

  "O no, ma'am; but we learned the art of memorizing by hieroglyphics.This formed a part of our morning exercises."

  "Pray, my dear," said Elizabeth very gravely, "can you repeat themultiplication table throughout?"

  Miss Vincent hesitated. "I know very little, ma'am, of figures: ourstudies were in general of the highest order. But it was a charmingseminary! We had no particular rules; we could go to rest, or rise whenwe pleased; and favourites were always asked to dance with selectparties in an evening."

  "I seriously regret," said Elizabeth, "that we have robbed Madame LaBlond of so amiable a pupil."

  "Madame, I assure you, ma'am, lamented it. She told Papa I was thechief ornament of her school. But he was very angry,--I don't know why;but he questioned me so closely, that I might as well have been before acourt-martial. Indeed I am certain he would have ordered me, had I beena private soldier, to the triangle, merely because I said that Madamedespised people in trade."

  "And your Papa really vindicated trade!"

  "Oh, ma'am, the Colonel has strange plebeian notions. I never saw him soangry as he was when I told him that we--I mean ladies of a certainrank--had been the means of sending a merchant's daughter from school,by styling her 'Miss Thimbleton,' and 'the little seamstress.' Hermamma had the meanness, I may say the impertinence, to send vulgar checkmuslin to be made into a frock, at Madame La Blond's! We took care,however, to break the needles, and burn the thread."

  "I hope you have finished your remarks: be pleased, now, to listen tome. In consequence of the close intimacy that exists between ourfamilies, I pass over your presuming manner this morning; butrecollect," said Elizabeth with firmness, "that it shall never berepeated. If you dare to disobey, expect punishment. From this time youare never to speak to me, unless I ask a question. Now play the lesson Iproposed."

  CHAPTER V.

  Mrs. Adair had selected from the first class four young ladies, toregulate the younger pupils. They were to hear them repeat their lessonsbefore they entered the school-room; they were likewise to mark theerrors in their exercises, and endeavour, not only to instruct butamuse.

  It has been said that by teaching others we gain knowledge ourselves.Miss Damer was fully aware of this truth; all her leisure time,therefore, was devoted to the young people under her care. She had onlythree, and they had very different abilities: Miss Bruce's capacity wasbright, but she loved to defer all to the last moment; there was amixture of good sense and childishness in her character, and she waswarm and impetuous. Isabella Vincent had moderate abilities, but a verypersevering temper; whatever she had to learn, she laboured at it withher whole heart, and her disposition was placid and amiable. Miss Greywas a clever girl; she had been at an excellent school, and wasproficient in most of the minor branches of education. She was fond ofexercising her ingenuity to amuse her companions. One evening she hadcollected a party round her, intending to divert them with newgrammatical exercises.

  "Now, ladies," she cried, as she held a paper in her hand, "are you allready, all prepared to listen and to learn? Miss Isabella Vincent, whatare you doing? I am certain you do not mean to attend."

  "If she will not attend," said Miss Damer, stepping into the circle, "Iam quite prepared--"

  "Oh, Miss Damer, are _you_ here?" cried Miss Bruce: "we shall have nofun now! I thought you were in the drawing-room."

  "Cheerfulness is one thing, fun another; but when they both cometogether, they are often noisy companions so we must do without themhere."

  "But we did not think you would come to us this evening," said MissGrey. "Oh, do, Miss Damer, leave us to ourselves one half hour."

  "First let me read the paper you are trying to conceal."

  "You will only think it nonsense," said Miss Grey; "but don't be angry,I beg, for it was only for our diversion."

  Miss Damer began to read:

  'Mrs. Adair, substantive proper.'

  "Very improper to take this liberty." 'Singular number, feminine gender,indicative mood, perfect tense; face, mind, and figure, in thesuperlative degree.--Miss Warner inclining to the acute accent.'

  "But what is she?" asked Miss Damer.

  "A noun proper, certainly, and of the singular number."

  'Miss Cotton, demonstrative pronoun; compare _good_, and she is in thesuperlative degree.

  'Miss Hilton, voice semi-vowels; in the primitive order by nature,governed by a queer looking definite article.

  'Miss Vincent, manner the imperative mood; self, first person singular;mind, imperfect tense; eyes, positive; voice, in the superlative degree;nose, the interrogative point.

  'Miss Bruce, an interjection, or an interrogative.'

  "True," said Miss Damer, "particularly where books are concerned."

  "Well, I do love books!" said Miss Bruce; "I do think I could readevery one in Mr. Chiswell's shop without being tired. Have you a new oneto lend me, Miss Damer?"

  "If you say all your lessons well, and are good this week, I will lendyou a very amusing and instructive tale."

  "But what is the title?" asked Miss Bruce.

  "It is one word, meaning a mark of folly in young ladies. But I mustfinish the grammatical exercise."

  'Miss Rothman, a section sufficiently curved.'

  "You should not have made this remark, Miss Grey. When you ridiculedeformity you shew a want of feeling; and, what is of more consequence,you prove that you treat with contempt the works of your Creator. MissRothman's talents, and amiable temper, we cannot too highly prize."

  'Miss Russel, an index to point out disagreeables; make her an article,and she will prove a bad one of the definite order.'

  'The little Rhymer, a brace; and Miss Wise, a verb neuter.

  'Miss Damer, auxiliary verb, or substantive proper; first personsingular, face--' Miss Darner stopped a moment, and then went on with,'Miss Jane Adair,--temper, syntax; consisting of concord and government;speech, a preposition; voice, liquids; face, mind, and figure, in thesuperlative degree; as the verb to be loved, second person singular,indicative mood, present tense, to myself and others. The remainder,excepting Miss Arden, may be classed with mutes, crotchets, irregularverbs, quotations, and parallels.'

  "I wish," cried Isabella, "I could write exercises, or a theme, orsomething, I don't care what."

  "And what is to prevent you, my dear?"

  "Oh, nothing at all, Miss Damer, if I could but tell what to write."

  "Tell how the world was made," said Miss Bruce, "that would be a verygood subject."

  "I cannot do that, I am sure! I do not know what stars are made of,they twinkle so; nor what makes flowers look so pretty, and smell sosweet; nor where the wind comes from, or what it is: it touches me, butI cannot touch it."

  "You have never read 'Evenings at Home,'" said Miss Bruce, "or you wouldknow that 'wind is but a quantity of air put into violent motion.'"

  "But what is the air? Tell me this."

  "A clear thin fluid, certainly, and the earth is a vast ball; it wouldsoon break its bounds, were it not attracted by the sun."

  "But who preserves it in its regular motion?" asked Miss Damer.

  "Oh, Miss Damer," exclaimed Miss Bruce, "all the stars, and the moon,and the trees, and all that we behold had but one to make them, and oneto support them--the Great Almighty Maker, who gave me my voice tospeak, my mind to think, and my eyes to look at the wonders of hisworks."

  "I wish I kn
ew how I speak, and look, and think," said Isabella.

  "My dear little girl," said Miss Damer, "very wise people are ignorantin many things. Learn to be good: it is the best knowledge."

  "I do say my prayers every night and morning, and I'm sure I love papaand mamma dearly, and I try to love every body."

  "This is one way certainly to be good, if you obey your parents as wellas love them, and think of your prayers when you are repeating them."

  "I am sure, Miss Damer, I should love you, you are so good. I nevercould learn my lessons without you assisted me."

  "Because you are a dunce," said Miss Bruce.

  "We shall see who will be the best girl and the best scholar, 'thebright and idle one,' or my little friend, with 'patience andperseverance.'"

  CHAPTER VI.

  A carriage and four, as it is styled, stopping suddenly at the gate,caused a little bustle. Amongst Mrs. Adair's pupils, some were ready tolook, and others to exclaim, "who can they be?" "what a beautiful girl!"and "what a nice little boy! but I fear he is lame!" "Oh, look! do lookat that queer old lady following them out of the carriage! How oddly hernose is turned! and what a droll bonnet!" "I wonder whether they willdine with us!" "I should like to know who they are."

  While these exclamations were uttered, Miss Vincent pursued other meansof gaining intelligence of the new comers. She stole softly into thehall, and screened herself from observation, in a narrow passage leadingto the store-room. The next moment she beheld a tall girl, an elderlylady, and a little boy ushered into the parlour. She listened to heartheir names announced, but in vain. As she was returning to theschool-room, the hall door was opened by Elizabeth. She hastilyretreated into the passage: but betrayed herself by stumbling over astand of plants, that had been placed there, till they could beconveniently removed.

  Elizabeth, hearing the noise, quickly stepped towards the passage, andperceiving her pupil, said very coolly:

  "Botanizing, my dear! I fear you require light upon the subject; ifthere is any rare, very curious plant, give it the name of 'CarolineVincent,' unless you prefer 'the Spy detected.'"

  Mortified at the discovery, Miss Vincent hastened to the school-room,her face flushed with vexation; and as she rushed past Miss Damer, whowas standing near the door, exclaimed, "go out of my way, can't you?"

  "Certainly! But what has alarmed you so?"

  Jane now entered the room; and Miss Russel, who had been leaning throughthe window, hastily turned to Miss Vincent, and exclaimed, "I dobelieve, Caroline, there is a coronet upon the carriage! but I cannotmake out either the strawberry leaves or the balls." Jane mildlyreproved her for leaning through the window, contrary to the rules ofthe school.

  The moment she had quitted the room Miss Russel exclaimed, "Theseteachers give themselves strange airs!"

  "You should speak with more respect of Mrs. Adair's daughter, I think,"said Miss Damer; "excepting in fortune, Miss Jane Adair is superior toany person here."

  "But you will allow that she is a teacher, I hope."

  "And does it lessen her merit? If any particular class of females areworthy of respect, surely ladies who instruct young people are entitledto it; they are the guardians of morals and of manners. But in everyschool there are one or two ungrateful ones."

  "Hear the oracle!" cried Miss Vincent. "Another Daniel come tojudgment!"

  "Rude manners and loud words do not intimidate me," said Miss Damer,with modest firmness. "I again repeat, that a person who can instruct usin any one branch of education is entitled to--"

  "What?" asked Miss Vincent imperiously.

  "Deference. More I cannot urge, to a young lady who has been at MadameLa Blond's. But I must not say more: for I should not deserve this,"extending her medal towards Miss Vincent, "were I to be the promoter ofquarrels."

  Miss Vincent hastily caught the medal, broke the ribbon, and threw themacross the room, exclaiming, "it is these baubles that make you soinsolent!"

  The young ladies with one accord flew to the medal. Miss Arden however,was the fortunate person. On securing it, and returning it to hercompanion, she said, "accept this symbol of peace from my hand, my dearfriend. As for Miss Vincent, I just view her as the passengers in themail coach viewed the fly, for she makes herself equally ridiculous."

  "It is a pity that Miss Vincent is the daughter of so brave a man!"cried Miss Cotton. "Who would suppose that one of our greatest heroeswas her father!"

  "Father! how vulgar!" returned Miss Russel. "Pray who is your papa, MissCotton, that you presume to give yourself these airs, and speak in thismanner?"

  "My papa, Miss Russel, is a plain country gentleman, and I may say withtruth that he reigns in the hearts of his children, and has taught themto 'honour and obey their father and their mother, that their days maybe long in the land.' But you fashionable young ladies, 'who press tobear such haughty sway,' are exempt from this code, for there is noexpress command to honour _pas_ and _mas_."

  "I hope Mrs. Adair will never give another medal," said Miss Damer.

  "You deserved it," cried Miss Cotton with warmth, "and I hope you willalways be rewarded for excelling, in every thing you attempt."

  "A person must be envious indeed," said Miss Arden, "who can for amoment feel hurt at another being rewarded!"

  "Had they your temper," cried Miss Cotton, "envy would indeed beunknown; but medals of merit, as they are styled, certainly createstrife."

  "But heroes, poets, and artists are distinguished by many proofs ofregard," observed Miss Arden; "why should we be against a reward tomerit here?"

  "You do not consider," said Miss Cotton, "great men, have great minds;but we have very little ones."

  "I can only say, I pity any one with a malicious temper: and a personmust have one, indeed, who can envy Miss Damer; for she never provokesto anger, or gives offence."

  "And pray how are you to answer for Miss Damer?" asked Miss Vincent.

  "I wonder you ask this question," returned Miss Arden. "From the firstday I came into this house I had reason to dread you; and love, andesteem, Miss Damer. Though I was a stranger to every one, you made me asubject of ridicule;--but I will not tell you of all your unkindness."

  "Pray how long have you been, in studying this set speech?"

  "Only whilst you were setting your face to look contemptuously."

  "Wonderful! I could not have supposed that a creole had wit! But Iforget, you are the heiress of a rich nabob! Pray to what black knight,or noble emperor, are you allied?"

  "Oh, fie! fie! how can you be so insolent!" cried Miss Damer.

  "Miss Vincent's words do not trouble me: they have lost their power; lether be as severe as she pleases. If she could not display her talent insatire, we should say she was the simple one of Mrs. Adair's school:there are drones and dunces every where."

  "My dear Miss Arden, let us cease all disputes," said Miss Cotton; "MissVincent and her friend are the most suitable persons to be together,when they are in a quarrelsome mood: let us forbear speaking to them."

  "Cotton would make an admirable methodist parson," cried Miss Vincent.

  "I wish I could return the compliment; for a good method leads to properconduct."

  CHAPTER VII.

  The young ladies had always to write an extract from one of thesermons they had heard at church on the sabbath day. In thisexercise of memory Miss Damer particularly excelled; the mostdifficult sermon she could transcribe almost word for word. This hadexcited the spirit of envy in Miss Vincent. The week after thedispute upon the medal, when Miss Damer opened her book, wherein shehad written a sermon with extreme neatness, she found every line soscrawled, that one word could not be distinguished from another.Surprised at this proof of secret malice, she involuntarily gave thebook to Miss Cotton, who was seated by her. Mrs. Adair, however,desired to look at it. After examining every page, she said, and atthe same time fixed her eyes upon Miss Vincent, "I pity the younglady who has done this; she has betrayed one of the meanest passionsof the human mind." She now looked a
nxiously round the room; "I seefew countenances," she added, "where envy reigns.

  "Miss Vincent, had you ever this book in your hand? speak in amoment--yes, or no: I want no other word!"

  "No, ma'am; I never had the book in my hand, I can declare with truth."

  "Miss Bruce, is this your work? for I know you are a little busy-body."

  "O no, ma'am! I would not blot any lady's book for the world."

  Mrs. Adair now turned to Miss Arden: "my dear, have you been amusingyourself with your companion's book?"

  "No, ma'am."

  "The mystery, I think, will soon be explained: and I fear I shall findthat there has been more artifice than truth in a young lady'sassertion. Come hither, Isabella, I wish to speak to you."

  Little Isabella's features betrayed confusion and terror: and as sheslowly walked up the room, she burst into tears. "Do not be afraid,"said Mrs. Adair, in a soothing tone of voice, "I am not angry with you.Tell me plainly how it was. What did your sister say to you?"

  "O, ma'am, she said--O dear, I wish I were at home--"

  "Come, speak the truth, my dear. You know you are one of my best littlegirls. Tell me how you were led into this error. Speak openly, and donot be afraid."

  "I have not done it--I mean, I have--O dear, where is mamma?"

  "Happy at home, I make no doubt. But were papa and mamma here, it wouldmake no difference, for I must have the truth. Did you mark this book?"

  "O dear, yes, ma'am! but I would not have done it, but I must do it. O,sister, you know--you do know--and you will pinch me so! Do, dear, goodMrs. Adair, tell her not to pinch me, for I know I shall scream!"