A Fancy of Hers

by Horatio Alger, Jr.

  "No doubt you are right," said Mabel. "I put myself in your hands. Make me half a dozen dresses such as you think I ought to have. There is only a week, but you can hire extra help."

  The dresses were ready in time. They were plain for the heiress, but there was still reason to think that Miss Frost would be better dressed than any of her predecessors in office, partly because they were cut in the style of the day, and partly because Mabel had a graceful figure, which all styles became. Though Mary Bridgman, who knew Granville and its inhabitants, had some misgivings, it never occurred to Mabel that she might be considered overdressed, and the two trunks, which led Mrs. Slocum to pronounce her a "vain, conceited sort," really seemed to her very moderate.

  At half past eight in the morning after Miss Frost's arrival in Granville Ben Hadley called at the hotel and inquired for the new school teacher.

  "I guess you mean Miss Frost," said the landlord.

  "I don't know what her name is," said Ben. "Dad wants her to come round and be examined."

  Ben was a stout boy, with large capacities for mischief. He was bright enough, if he could only make up his mind to study, but appeared to consider time spent over his books as practically wasted. Physically and in temperament he resembled his father more than his mother, and this was fortunate. Mrs. Hadley was thin lipped and acid, with a large measure of selfishness and meanness. Her husband was pompous, and overestimated his own importance, but his wife's faults were foreign to his nature. He was liked by most of his neighbors; and Ben, in his turn, in spite of his mischievous tendencies, was a popular boy. In one respect he was unlike his father. He was thoroughly democratic, and never put on airs.

  Ben surveyed Miss Frost, whom he saw for the first time, with approval, not unmingled with surprise. She was not the average type of teacher. Ben rather expected to meet an elderly female, tall and willowy in form, and wearing long ringlets. Such had been Miss Jerusha Colebrook, who had wielded the ferule the year before.

  "Are you the school teacher?" asked Ben dubiously, as they left the hotel.

  Mabel smiled. "I suppose," said she, "that depends on whether I pass the examination."

  "I guess you'll pass," said Ben.

  "What makes you think so?" asked Mabel, amused.

  "You look as if you know a lot," answered Ben bluntly.

  "I hope appearances won't prove deceptive," said Mabel. "Are you to be one of my scholars?"

  "Yes," replied Ben

  "You look bright and quick."

  "Do I?" said Ben. "You can't always tell by looks," he added, parodying her own words.

  "Don't you like to study?" Mabel inquired.

  "Well, I don't hanker after it. The fact is," said Ben in a burst of confidence, "I'm a pretty hard case."

  "You say so because you are modest."

  "No, I don't; the last teacher said so. Why, she couldn't do nothing with me."

  "You begin to alarm me," said Mabel. "Are there many hard cases among the scholars?"

  "I'm about the worst," said Ben candidly.

  "I'm glad to hear that."

  "Why?" asked Ben, puzzled.

  "Because," said Mabel, "I don't expect to have any trouble with you."

  "You don't?" said Ben, surprised.

  "No, I like your face. You may be mischievous, but I am sure you are not bad."

  Ben was rather pleased with the compliment. Boy as he was, he was not insensible to the grace and beauty of the new teacher, and he felt a thrill of pleasure at words which would scarcely have affected him if they had proceeded from Jerusha Colebrook.

  "Do you feel interested in study?" Mabel continued.

  "Not much," Ben admitted.

  "You don't want to grow up ignorant, do you?"

  "Of course I want to know something," said Ben.

  "If you improve your time you may some time be chairman of the School Committee, like your father."

  Ben chuckled. "That don't take much larnin'," he said.

  "Doesn't it? I should think it would require a good scholar."

  Ben laughed again. "Perhaps you think my father knows a good deal?" he said interrogatively.

  Ben seemed on the brink of a dangerous confidence, and Mabel felt embarrassed.

  "Certainly," said she.

  "He don't," said Ben. "Don't you ever tell, and I'll tell you something. He got the minister to write out the questions he asks the teachers."

  "I suppose the minister was more used to it," said Mabel, feeling obliged to proffer some explanation.

  "That ain't it," said Ben. "Dad never went to school after he was twelve. I could cipher him out of his boots, and he ain't much on spelling, either. The other day he spelled straight s-t- r-a-t-e."

  "You mustn't tell me all this," said Mabel gravely. "Your father wouldn't like it."

  "You won't tell him?" said Ben apprehensively, for he knew that his father would resent these indiscreet revelations.

  "No, certainly not. When does school commence, Ben?"

  "Tomorrow morning. I say, Miss Frost, I hope you'll give a good long recess."

  "How long have you generally had?"

  "Well, Miss Colebrook only gave us five minutes. She was a regular old poke, and got along so slow that she cut us short on recess to make it up."

  "How long do you think you ought to have?" asked Mabel.

  "Half an hour'd be about right," said Ben.

  "Don't you think an hour would be better?" asked Mabel, smiling.

  "May be that would be too long," Ben admitted.

  "So I think. On the other hand I consider five minutes too short. I will consult your father about that."

  "Here's our house," said Ben suddenly. "Dad's inside waiting for you."

  Squire Hadley received Mabel with an impressive air of official dignity. He felt his importance on such occasions. "I am glad to see you, Miss Frost," he said.

  "Are there any other teachers to be examined?" asked Mabel, finding herself alone.

  "The others have all been examined. We held a general examination a week ago. You need not feel nervous, Miss Frost. I shall give you plenty of time."

  "You are very considerate, Squire Hadley," said Mabel.

  "I will first examine you in arithmetic. Arithmetic," here the Squire cleared his throat, "is, as you are aware, the science of numbers. We regard it as of primary -- yes, primary importance."

  "It is certainly very important."

  "I will -- ahem -- ask you a few questions, and then give you some sums to cipher out. What is a fraction, Miss Frost?"

  Squire Hadley leaned back in his chair, and fixed his eyes prudently on that page of the arithmetic which contained the answer to the question he had asked. Mabel answered correctly.

  "You have the correct idea said the Squire patronizingly, "though you ain't quite got the phraseology of the book."

  "Definitions vary in different arithmetics," said Mabel.

  "I suppose they do," said the Squire, to whom this was news. To him arithmetic was arithmetic, and it had never occurred to him that there was more than one way of expressing the same thing.

  Slender as was his own stock of scholarship, Squire Hadley knew enough to perceive, before going very far into the text book, that the new school teacher was well up in rudimentary mathematics. When he came to geography, however, he made an awkward discovery. He had lost the list of questions which the minister had prepared for him. Search was unavailing, and the Squire was flustered.

  "I have lost my list of questions in geography," he said, hesitatingly.

  "You might think of a few questions to ask me," suggested Mabel.

  "So I can," said the Squire, who felt that he must keep up appearances. "Where is China?"

  "In Asia," answered Mabel, rather astonished at the simple character of the question.

  "Quite right," said the Squire, in a tone which seemed to indicate surprise that his question had been correctly answered. "Where is the Lake of Gibraltar?"

  "I suppose you mean the St
raits of Gibraltar?"

  "To be sure," said the Squire rather uneasily. "I was -- ahem! thinking of another question."

  Mabel answered correctly.

  "Where is the River Amazon?"

  "In South America."

  Squire Hadley had an impression that the Amazon was not in South America, but he was too uncertain to question the correctness of Mabel's answer.

  "Where is the city of New York situated?" he asked.

  Mabel answered.

  "And now," said the Squire, with the air of one who was asking a poser, "can you tell me where Lake Erie is located?"

  Even this did not overtask the knowledge of the applicant.

  "Which is farther north, New York or Boston?" next asked the erudite Squire.

  "Boston," said Mabel.

  "Very well," said the Squire approvingly. "I see you are well up in geography. I am quite satisfied that you are competent to teach our grammar school. I will write you a certificate accordingly."

  This the Squire did; and Mabel felt that she was one step nearer the responsible office which she had elected to fill.

  "School will begin tomorrow at nine," said the Squire. "I will call round and go to school with you, and introduce you to the scholars. I'll have to see about a boarding place for you."

  "Thank you," said Mabel, "but I won't trouble you to do that. I will stay at the hotel for a week, till I am a little better acquainted. During that time I may hear of some place that I shall like."

  Squire Hadley was surprised at this display of independence.

  "I apprehend," he objected, "that you will find the price at the hotel too high for you. We only pay seven dollars a week, and you would have to pay all of that for board."

  "It will be for only one week, Squire Hadley," said Mabel, "and I should prefer it."

  "Just as you say," said the Squire, not altogether satisfied. "You will be the first teacher that ever boarded at the hotel. You wouldn't have to pay more'n three dollars at a private house."

  "Of course that is a consideration," said Mabel guardedly.

  As she left the Squire's house and emerged into the road she heard steps behind her. Turning, she saw Ben Hadley.

  "I say, Miss Frost, was you examined in geography?" he asked.

  "Yes, Ben."

  "Did dad ask you questions off a paper?"

  "No; he couldn't find the paper."

  I thought so," said Ben grinning.

  "Do you know what became of it?" asked Mabel, with sudden suspicion.

  "Maybe I do and maybe I don't," answered Ben, noncommittally. "What sort of questions did dad ask you?"

  "Wait till school opens," answered Mabel, smiling; "I will ask you some of them there."

  "Did he really and truly examine you in geography out of his own head?" asked Ben.

  "Yes, Ben; he didn't even open a book."

  "Good for dad!" said Ben. "I didn't think he could do it."

  "It is quite possible that your father knows more than you give him credit for," said Mabel.

  "Guess he must have remembered some of the questions," thought Ben.

  In the course of the day the list of geographical questions found its way back to Squire Hadley's desk.

  "Strange I overlooked it," he said.

  Perhaps Ben might have given him some information on the subject.

  Chapter 3

  The Granville schoolhouse was not far from the center of the village. It was wholly without architectural ornament. The people of Granville, it must be admitted, were severely practical, and were not willing to spend a dollar in the interest of beauty. Their money was the result of hard labor, and frugality was not to be wondered at. In a commercial community architecture receives more attention.

  The schoolhouse was two stories in height, and contained two schools. The primary school, for children under eight, was kept in the lower room. The grammar school, for more advanced scholars, which Mabel Frost had undertaken to teach, occupied the upper portion of the building.

  As Mabel approached the schoolhouse, escorted by Squire Hadley, she noticed, a few rods in advance, a tall, slender woman, with long ringlets falling over a pair of narrow shoulders.

  "That lady is your colleague, Miss Frost," said the Squire.

  "My colleague?" repeated Mabel, in a tone of inquiry.

  "Yes; she keeps the primary school."

  "Indeed! Then there is another school besides mine!"

  "To be sure. Miss Clarissa Bassett teaches the youngest children."

  "Is she -- does she live here?"

  "Yes; she has taught the same school for fifteen years. All your scholars began with her."

  "Then she isn't a very young lady?"

  "Clarissa," replied the Squire, with that familiarity which is common in small villages, "must be thirty five, though she only owns up to twenty five," added he, chuckling. "Might spile her matrimonial prospects if she confessed her real age."

  "Fifteen years a teacher!" said Mabel enthusiastically. "Miss Bassett ought to feel proud of such a term of service. How much good she has done!"

  "Well, I dunno," said Squire Hadley, whose practical mind conceived of no other motive for teaching than the emolument to be derived from it. "Clarissa wanted to teach the grammar school -- the same that you're a goin' to teach; but we didn't think she was qualified to teach advanced scholars."

  "And you preferred me before a teacher of fifteen years' experience!" said Mabel, with unaffected humility. "I am afraid, Squire Hadley, you will find that you have made a mistake."

  "You are a better scholar than Clarissa, Miss Frost. She knows enough to teach the little ones, but -- -- "

  "She has fifteen years' experience, and I have none," interrupted Mabel.

  "You wouldn't be willing to change schools with her?" suggested the Squire, with mild satire.

  "Yes, I would," said Mabel promptly.

  "She don't get but six dollars a week -- a dollar less than you."

  "I don't care for that."

  "The deestrict wouldn't be satisfied," said the Squire, in a decided tone. Mabel was an enigma to him. "They wouldn't be willing to have Clarissa teach the older pupils," he repeated.

  By this time they had reached the schoolhouse. Some twenty pupils were outside, most of them Mabel's future scholars. Miss Bassett had paused in the entry, and awaited the arrival of Squire Hadley and her fellow teacher. She had a thin face, and that prim expression regarded as the typical characteristic of an old maid. It had been her lot to see the companions of her early days sail off, one after another, on the matrimonial sea, while she had been left neglected on the shore. She had even seen some of her pupils -- mere chits, as she called them -- marry, while their teacher, with all her experience of life, was unappropriated.

  "Miss Frost," said Squire Hadley, with a wave of his hand toward Clarissa, "let me make you acquainted with Miss Bassett, who has kept our primary school for fifteen years with general acceptance and success."

  "You ought to be regarded as a public benefactor, Miss Bassett," said Mabel cordially.

  "I was very young when I commenced teaching," said Miss Bassett, rather uneasy at the allusion to her term of service.

  "I am a beginner," said Mabel. I shall be glad to have an experienced teacher so near to me, to whom I can refer in cases of difficulty."

  Clarissa, who had been prejudiced against Mabel, because, although so much younger, she had been placed over the other's head, was flattered by this acknowledgment of inferiority.

  "I shall be very glad to give you any help in my power, Miss Frost," she said. "You will excuse me now; I must go in and look after my young pupils."

  Miss Frost followed Squire Hadley up stairs to the scene of her future labors.

  The room itself was an average country schoolroom. It had accommodations for about fifty scholars. The desks, on the boys' side, were covered with ink spots of all shapes and sizes, and further decorated with an extensive series of jackknife carvings. Mabel's neatness was
rather offended by these things, which she took in in her first general survey. It was not much like any school that she had ever attended; but a private academy for girls differs essentially from a country schoolroom for both sexes.

  "I see most of the scholars are here," said Squire Hadley.

  Mabel looked around the room. Between forty and fifty scholars, varying in age from eight to sixteen, were seated at the desks. At her entrance, they had taken seats previously selected. For the most part she liked their appearance. Several looked mischievous, but even they were bright eyed and good natured. All eyes were fixed upon her. She felt that she was being critically weighed in the balance by these country boys and girls.

  "I wonder what are their impressions of me," she thought. "I wonder if they suspect my inexperience!"

  The children did not pronounce judgment at once. Their first impressions were favorable. They were surprised by the sight of so attractive a teacher. Mabel did not look like a school mistress -- certainly not like Clarissa Bassett. Ben Hadley had told his friends something of her, and had even spoken in enthusiastic terms.

  "She's as pretty as a picture," he had told them. "I bet she won't be an old maid."

  The boys, in particular, had their curiosity excited to see her and judge for themselves. Now that they saw her they fully coincided with Ben's opinion. They were still regarding their new teacher when Squire Hadley broke the silence.

  "Scholars," he said, clearing his throat, and assuming the attitude of an orator, "I have great pleasure in introducing to you your new teacher, Miss Frost. I have examined Miss Frost," he proceeded, in a tone of importance, "and I find that she is thoroughly competent to lead you in the flowery paths of learning." (This was a figure on which the Squire rather prided himself.) "She comes to us highly recommended, and I have no doubt you will all like her. As chairman of the committee," (here the Squire's breast expanded with official pride), "I have tried to obtain for you teachers of the highest talent, without regard to expense." (Had the Squire forgotten that Mabel was to receive only seven dollars a week?) "I trust -- the town trusts -- that you will appreciate what we are doin' for you. We want you to attend to your studies, and work hard to secure the blessin's of a good education, which is the birthright of every citizen. I will now leave you in charge of your teacher, and I hope you will study to please her."