ThestagerumbledalongthemainstreetofGranville,anddrewupinfrontoftheonlyhotelofwhichthevillagecouldboast.Thedriverdescendedfromhisthrone,andcomingroundtothesideopenedthedoorandaddressedtheonlypassengerremainingwithin.
\"Wheredoyouwanttogo,miss?\"Agirl\'sfacelookedoutinquiringly.\"Isthisthehotel?\"sheasked.\"Yes,miss.\"
\"I
willgetouthere,\"shesaidquietly.
Therewereafewloungersonthepiazza,whichextendedalongthewholefrontofthebuilding.Asshedescendedwithalightandspringystep,disregardingtheprofferedaidofthedriver,theyeyedhercuriously.
\"Whoisshe,Abner?\"askedTimothyVarnumofthedriver,asthestrangerenteredthehouse.
\"I
reckonshe\'sthenewschoolteacher,\"saidAbner;\"IheardSquireHadleysayshewasexpectedtoday.\"
\"Wheredoesshecomefrom?\"
\"YorkState,somewhere.Idon\'tjustlyknowwhere.\"
\"Lookslikeacitygal.\"
\"Mebbe,thoughIdon\'tthinkitwouldpayacitygaltocometoGranvilletoteach.\"
Unconsciousofthecuriositywhichherappearancehadexcited,thegirlenteredtheopenentryandpaused.Amiddleagedwoman,evidentlythelandladyoftheinn,speedilymadeherappearance.\"Goodafternoon,miss,\"shesaid.
\"ShallIshowyoutoaroom?\"
\"Thankyou,\"saidthestranger,gratefully.\"Ishallbeverygladifyouwill.Theridehasbeenwarmanddusty.Mytrunksareonthestage——\"
\"Allright,miss,I\'llhavethemsentup.Ifyou\'llfollowmeupstairs,I\'llgiveyouaroom.\"
Sheledthewayintoafrontroom,veryplainlyfurnished,butwithapleasantviewofthevillagefromthewindows.\"Ithinkyouwillfindeverythingyourequire,\"shesaid,preparingtogo.\"Supperwillbereadyinhalfanhour,butyoucanhaveitlaterifyouwish.\"
\"I
shallbeready,thankyou.\"
Leftalone,thestrangersankintoawoodenrockingchair,andgazedthoughtfullyfromthewindow.
\"Well,Ihavetakenthedecisivestep,\"shesaidtoherself.\"Itmaybeamadfreak,butImustnotdrawbacknow.InsteadofgoingtoNewportortoEurope,Ihavedeliberatelyagreedtoteachthegrammarschoolinthisoutofthewaycountryplace.Iamwhollyunknownhere,anditishardlylikelythatanyofmyfriendswillfindmeout.ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIshallmakemyselfuseful——perhaps.Orwillmyexperimentendinfailure?Thatisaquestionwhichtimealonecansolve.\"
Sherose,andremovinghertravelingwraps,preparedforthetable.
Thenewcomer\'stwotrunkswerebeingremovedfromthestagewhenMrs.Slocumpassed,onherwaytothestore.Beingnaturallyofawatchfulandobservantturnofmind,thisworthyoldladymadeitherbusinesstofindoutallthatwasgoingoninthevillage.
\"Whosetrunksarethem,Abner?sheasked,inavoicehighpitchedeventoshrillness.
\"Theybelongtotheyoungladythat\'sstoppin\'inthehotel.Shecameinonthestage.\"
\"Who\'sshe?\"
\"I
don\'tknowanymore\'nyoudo,\"saidAbner,whoknewMrs.Slocum\'sfailing,andwasnotanxioustogratifyit.
\"There\'shernameonacard,\"saidtheoldladytriumphantly,pointingtooneofthetrunks.\"Ihain\'tgotmyglasseswithme.Justreaditoff,willyou?\"
ProbablyAbnerhadalittlecuriosityofhisown.Atalleventshecompliedwiththeoldlady\'srequest,andreadaloud:
\"MISSMABELFROST,Granville,N.H.\"
\"Youdon\'tsay!\"ejaculatedMrs.Slocum,inatoneofinterest.
\"Why,it\'sthenewschoolteacher!Whatsortofalookingwomanisshe?\"
\"I
didn\'tnoticeher,partic\'lar.Shelookedquitelikealady.\"
\"Areboththemtrunkshern?\"
\"Yes,ma\'am.\"
\"Whatonairthdoesshewantwithtwotrunks?saidMrs.Slocum,disapprovingly.Mustbefondofdress.Ihopesheain\'tgoin\'tolarnourgalstoputonfinery.\"
\"Mebbeshe\'sgotherbooksinoneof\'em,\"suggestedAbner.
\"A
wholetrunkfulofbooks!Landsakes!Youmustbecrazy.Nobodybutaministerwouldwantsomanybooksasthat.An\'it\'saclearwastefortheparsontobuysomanyashedoes.Ifhedidn\'tspendsomuchmoneythatway,hiswifecoulddressalittlemoredecent.Why,theman\'sgotatleasttwoorthreehundredbooksalready,andyethe\'salwayswantin\'tobuymore.\"
\"I
guesshiswifewouldn\'twantthetrunksforherclothes,\"suggestedAbner.
\"Youareright,\"saidMrs.Slocum,nodding.\"IdeclareI\'msickandtiredofthatoldbombazineshe\'sworntochurchthelastthreeyears.A
strangermightthinkwestintedtheminister.\"
\"Precisely,Mrs.Slocum,\"saidavoicebehindher.That\'smyopinion.\"
\"Oh,Dr.Titus,isthatyou?\"saidtheoldlady,turning.
\"Whatisleftofme.I\'vebeenmakingcallsalltheafternoon,andI\'musedup.Soyouthinkwearestintingtheminister?\"
\"No,Idon\'t,\"saidMrs.Slocum,indignantly.\"Ithinkwepayhimhandsome.Fivehundreddollarsayearandadonationpartyismore\'nsomeofusget.\"
\"Delivermefromthedonationparty!\"saidthedoctorhastily.
\"Ilookuponthatasoneoftheminister\'strials.\"
\"I
s\'poseyouwillhaveyourjoke,doctor,\"saidMrs.Slocum,notverywellpleased.\"Itellyouadonationpartyisagreathelpwherethere\'safamily.\"
\"Perhapsitis;butIamgladitisn\'tthefashiontohelpdoctorsinthatway.\"
Dr.
Tituswasafreespokenman,andalwayshadbeen.Hispracticewasonlymoderatelylucrativebutitwaswellknownthathepossessedacompetency,andcouldlivecomfortablyifallhispatientsdesertedhim;sonoonetookoffensewhenheexpressedhereticalnotions.HehadaheartysympathyforMr.Wilson,theCongregationalminister,whooffendedsomeofhisparishionersbyanoutwardaspectofpovertyinspiteofhismunificentsalaryoffivehundreddollarsayear.
\"Thedoctor\'sgotqueernotions,\"mutteredMrs.Slocum.\"Ifhetalksthatway,mebbetheministerwillgetdiscontented.ButasIsaytoDeaconSlocum,there\'smoretobehad,andyoungermen,too.Isometimesthinktheminister\'soutlivedhisusefulnesshere.Ayoungmanmightkinderstirupthepeoplemore,andmake\'emfeelmoreconvictedofsin.ButImustgoandtellthefolksaboutthenewschoolteacher.I\'dliketoseewhatsortsheis.\"
Mrs.
Slocum\'scuriositywasgratified.OnherwaybackfromthestoreshesawMissFrostsittingattheopenwindowofherchamberinthehotel.
\"Looksasifshemightbeproud,\"mutteredtheoldlady.\"Fondofdress,too.Idon\'tbelieveshe\'lldoforGranville.\"
AlthoughMrs.SlocumwasinahurrytogethomeshecouldnotresistthetemptationtocallatSquireHadley\'sandlethimknowthattheschoolteacherhadarrived.SquireBenjaminHadleywasthechairmanoftheSchoolCommittee.
EitherofthetwoGranvilleministerswouldhavebeenbetterfittedfortheoffice,buttheMethodistswereunwillingtoelecttheCongregationalminister,andtheMethodistministerwasopposedbymembersoftheotherparish.SoSquireHadleywasappointedasthecompromisecandidate,althoughhewasamanwhowouldprobablyhavefounditextremelydifficulttopassthemostlenientexaminationhimself.Hehadleftschoolattwelveyearsofage,andcircumstanceshadpreventedhisrepairingthedefectsofearlyinstruction.
Thereweretimeswhenhewastroubledbyasecretsenseofincompetence——
notablywhenhewascalledupontoexamineteachers.Hehadmanagedtomeetthisemergencyrathercleverly,ashethought,havingpersuadedMr.Wilsontodrawupforhimaseriesofquestionsinthedifferentbranches,togetherwiththecorrectanswers.Withthisassistancehewasabletoacquithimselfcreditably.
\"Can\'tstayaminute,Squire,\"saidMrs.Slocum,standingonthebroad,flatdoorstone.\"IthoughtI\'djeststopan\'tellyetheschoolteacherhascome.\"
\"Whereisshe?\"askedtheSquire,inatoneofinterest.
\"Sheputupatthehotel.Iwastherejestnow,andsawhertwotrunks.Ratherhightonedforaschoolteacher,Ithink.Wedon\'tneedtwotrunksforourclothes,Mrs.Hadley.\"
\"Youngpeopleareterribleextravagantnowadays,\"saidMrs.Hadley,atallwoman,withathin,hatchet-likeface,andasharpnose.Itwasn\'tsowhenIwasyoung.\"
\"That\'sagoodwhileago,Lucretia,\"saidtheSquire,jokingly.
\"You\'reolderthanIam,\"saidtheladytartly.\"Itdon\'tbecomeyoutosneeratmyage.\"
\"I
didn\'tmeananything,Lucretia,\"saidherhusbandinanapologetictone.
\"Didyouseethewoman,Mrs.Slocum?\"askedMrs.Hadley,condescendingtoletthematterdrop.
\"I
jestsawherlookingoutofthewindow,\"saidMrs.Slocum.\"Lookslikeavain,conceitedsort.\"
\"Verylikelysheis.Mr.Hadleyengagedherwithoutknowin\'anythin\'abouther.\"
\"Youknow,Lucretia,shewashighlyrecommendedbyMaryBridgmanintheletterIreceivedfromher,\"theSquiremildlyprotested.
\"MaryBridgman,indeed!\"hiswiferetortedwithscorn.\"Whatdoessheknowofwho\'sfittoteachschool?\"
\"Well,wemustgiveherafairshow.I\'llcallroundtothehotelaftertea,andseeher.\"
\"It\'sherplacetocallhere,Ishouldsay,\"saidtheSquire\'swife,influencedbyadesiretoseeandjudgethestrangerforherself.
\"I
willtellhertocallheretomorrowmorningtobeexamined,\"saidtheSquire.
\"Whathourdoyouthinkyou\'llapp\'int?\"askedMrs.Slocum,withavagueideaofbeingpresentonthatoccasion.
TheSquirefathomedherdesign,andanswereddiplomatically,\"Ishallhavetofindoutwhenit\'llbemostconvenientforMissFrost.\"
\"Herconvenience,indeed!\"ejaculatedhiswife.\"IshouldsaythattheSchoolCommittee\'sconveniencewasmoreimportantthanhers.Likeasnotsheknowsmoreaboutdressthanshedoesaboutwhatyou\'veengagedhertoteach.\"
\"Whereisshegoingtoboard?\"askedMrs.Slocum,withunabatedinterestintheimportanttopicofdiscussion.
\"I
can\'ttellyet.\"
\"I
s\'poseshe\'dliketoliveinstyleatthehotel,soshecanshowoffherdresses.\"
\"Itwouldtakeallherwagestopayforboardthere,\"saidtheSquire.
\"MebbeImighttakeher,\"saidMrs.Slocum.\"Icouldgiveherthebackroomovertheshed.\"
\"I
willmentionittoher,Mrs.Slocum,\"saidtheSquirediplomatically,andMrs.Slocumhurriedhome.
\"Youdon\'treallyintendtorecommendMrs.Slocum\'sasaboardingplace,Benjamin?\"interrogatedhiswife.\"Idon\'tthinkmuchoftheteacheryou\'vehired,butshe\'droasttodeathinthatstivedupbackroom.Besides,Mrs.Slocumistheworstcookintown.Herbreadisabominable,andIdon\'twonderherfolksarealwaysailing.\"
\"Don\'tbeuneasyaboutthat,Lucretia,\"saidtheSquire.\"IfMissFrostgoestoMrs.Slocum\'stoboard,it\'llhavetobeonsomebodyelse\'srecommendation.\"
Thenewschoolteacherwassittingatthewindowinherroom,supperbeingover,whenthelandladycameuptoinformherthatSquireHadleyhadcalledtoseeher.
\"HeisthechairmanoftheSchoolCommittee,isn\'the?\"askedthestranger.
\"Yes,miss.\"
\"ThenwillyoubekindenoughtotellhimthatIwillbedowndirectly?\"
SquireHadleywassittinginarockingchairinthestiffhotelparlor,whenMissFrostentered,andsaidcomposedly,\"Mr.Hadley,Ibelieve?\"
Sheexhibitedmoreselfpossessionthanmighthavebeenexpectedofoneinherposition,inthepresenceofofficialimportance.Therewasnottheslightesttraceofnervousnessinhermanner,thoughshewasawarethattheportlypersonbeforeherwastoexamineintoherqualificationsforthepostshesought.
\"I
apprehend,\"saidSquireHadley,inatoneofdignitywhichhealwaysputonwhenheaddressedteachers,\"IapprehendthatyouareMissMabelFrost.\"
\"Youarequiteright,sir.Iapprehend,\"sheadded,withaslightsmile,\"thatyouarethechairmanoftheSchoolCommittee.\"
\"Youapprehendcorrectly,MissFrost.ItaffordsmegreatpleasuretowelcomeyoutoGranville.\"
\"Youareverykind,\"saidMabelFrostdemurely.
\"Itisaresponsible,office——ahem!——thatofinstructorofyouth,\"saidtheSquire,withlaboredgravity.
\"I
hopeIappreciateit.\"
\"Haveyouever——ahem!——taughtbefore?
\"Thiswillbemyfirstschool.\"
\"This——ahem!——isagainstyou,butItrustyoumaysucceed.\"
\"I
trustso,sir,\"
\"Youwillhavetopassanexaminationinthestudiesyouaretoteach——
beforeME,\"saidtheSquire.
\"I
hopeyoumayfindmecompetent,\"saidMabelmodestly,\"I
hopeso,MissFrost;myexaminationwillbesearching.Ifeelitmydutytothetowntobeverystrict.\"
\"Wouldyouliketoexaminemenow,Mr.Hadley?\"
\"No,\"saidtheSquirehastily,\"no,no——Ihaven\'tmypaperswithme.Iwilltroubleyoutocometomyhousetomorrowmorning,atnineo\'clock,ifconvenient.\"
\"Certainly,sir.MayIaskwhereyourhouseis?\"
\"Myboyshallcallforyouinthemorning.\"
\"Thankyou.\"
Mabelspokeasifthisterminatedthecolloquy,butSquireHadleyhadsomethingmoretosay.
\"I
thinkwehavesaidnothingaboutyourwages,MissFrost,\"heremarked.
\"Youcanpaymewhateverisusual,\"saidMabel,withapparentindifference.
\"Wehaveusuallypaidsevendollarsaweek.\"
\"Thatwillbequitesatisfactory,sir.\"
SoonafterSquireHadleyhadleftthehotelMabelFrostwentslowlyuptoherroom.
\"SoIamtoearnsevendollarsaweek,\"shesaidtoherself.
\"Thisiswealthindeed!\"Chapter2
Itistimetoexplainthatthenewschoolteacher\'snamewasnotMabelFrost,butMabelFrostFairfax,andthatshehadsoughtasituationatGranvillenotfromnecessitybutfromchoice——indeedfromsomethingverymuchlikeawhim.Herswasadecidedlycuriouscase.Shehadalltheadvantagesofwealth.Shehadyouth,beauty,andrefinement.Shehadtheentreetothemagicinnercircleofmetropolitansociety.Andyettherewasinheraneverpresentsenseofsomethinglacking.
Shehadgrownwearyoftheslaveryoffashion.Youngasshewas,shehadbeguntoknowitshollowness,itsutterinsufficiencyastheobjectofexistence.Shesoughtsometruerinterestinlife.Shehadfailedtosecurehappiness,shereasoned,becausethusfarshehadlivedonlyforherself.Whyshouldshenotlive,inpartatleast,forothers?Whynottakehershareoftheworld\'swork?
Shewasanorphan,andhadalmostnofamilyties.Theexperimentthatshecontemplatedmightbeanoriginalandunconventionalone,butshedeterminedtotryit.
Butwhatcouldshedo?
Itwasnatural,perhaps,thatsheshouldthinkofteaching.Shehadbeenfortunateenoughtograduateataschoolwheretheusefulaswellastheornamentalreceiveditsshareofattention,andhernaturalgifts,aswellasstudioushabits,hadgivenherthefirstplaceamongherschoolmates.
ThesuggestionthattheopportunityshesoughtmightbefoundinGranvillecamefromtheMaryBridgmantowhomSquireHadleyreferred.Marywasadressmaker,bornandrearedinGranville,whohadcometoNewYorktoestablishherselfthereinherlineofbusiness.MabelFairfaxhadforyearsbeenoneofhercustomers,and——assometimeshappenswithsocietygirlsandtheirdressmakers——hadmadeheraconfidante.AndsoithappenedthatMarywasthefirstpersontowhomMissFairfaxtoldherresolutiontodosomethinguseful.
\"Buttellme,\"sheadded,\"whatshallIdo?Youarepractical.
Youknowmewell.WhatamIfitfor?\"
\"I
hardlyknowwhattosay,MissFairfax,\"saidthedressmaker.\"Yourtrainingwouldinterferewithmanythingsyouarecapableofdoing.Icandobutonething.\"
\"Andthatyoudowell.\"
\"I
thinkIdo,\"saidMary,withnofalsemodesty.\"Ihavefoundmypathinlife.Itwouldbetoohumbleforyou.\"
\"Nottoohumble.Idon\'tthinkIhaveanyprideofthatkind;butInevercouldtoleratetheneedle.Ihaven\'tthepatience,Isuppose.\"
\"Wouldyouliketeaching?\"
\"I
havethoughtofthat.ThatiswhatIam,perhaps,bestfittedfor;butIdon\'tknowhowtogoaboutit.\"
\"Wouldyoubewillingtogointothecountry?\"
\"I
shouldpreferit.IwishtogosomewherewhereIamnotknown.\"
\"Thenitmightdo,\"saidMary,musingly.
\"Whatmightdo?\"
\"Letmetellyou.IwasbornawayupinthenorthernpartofNewHampshire,inasmallcountrytown,withnoparticularattractionsexceptthatitliesnotfarfromthemountains.Ithasneverhadmorethanaveryfewsummervisitors.OnlyyesterdayIhadaletterfromGranville,andtheymentionedthatthecommitteewerelookingoutforateacherforthegrammarschool,whichwastobeginintwoweeks.\"
\"Theverything,\"saidMabelquickly.\"DoyouthinkIcouldobtaintheplace?\"
\"I
don\'tthinkanyonehasbeenengaged.Iwillwriteifyouwishmeto,andseewhatcanbedone.\"
\"I
wishyouwould,\"saidMabelpromptly.
\"Doyouthink,MissFairfax,youcouldbecontenttopassthesummerinsuchaplace,workinghard,andperhapswithoutappreciation?\"
\"I
should,atallevents,beatwork;Ishouldfeel,forthefirsttimeinmylife,thatIwasofusetosomebody.\"
\"Thereisnodoubtofthat.Youwouldfindagooddealtobedone;toomuch,perhaps.\"
\"Bettertoomuchthantoolittle.\"
\"IfthatisyourfeelingIwillwriteatonce.Haveyouanydirectionstogiveme?\"
\"Sayaslittleaspossibleaboutme.Iwishtobejudgedonmyownmerits.\"
\"ShallIgiveyourname?\"
\"Onlyinpart.LetmebeMabelFrost.\"
ThuswasthewayopenedforMabel\'sappearanceinGranville.MaryBridgman\'srecommendationprovedeffectual.\"Shewaseducatedhere;sheknowswhatwewant,\"saidSquireHadley;andheauthorizedtheengagement.
Whenthematterwasdecided,apracticaldifficultyarose.ThoughMabelhadanabundantwardrobe,shehadlittlethatwassuitedfortheschoolmistressofGranville.
\"Ifyouweretowearyourlastseason\'sdresses——thoseyoutooktoNewport,\"saidMaryBridgman,\"youwouldfrighteneverybodyatGranville.Therewouldbenoendofgossip.\"
\"Nodoubtyouareright,\"saidMabel.\"Iputmyselfinyourhands.MakemehalfadozendressessuchasyouthinkIoughttohave.Thereisonlyaweek,butyoucanhireextrahelp.\"
Thedresseswerereadyintime.Theywereplainfortheheiress,buttherewasstillreasontothinkthatMissFrostwouldbebetterdressedthananyofherpredecessorsinoffice,partlybecausetheywerecutinthestyleoftheday,andpartlybecauseMabelhadagracefulfigure,whichallstylesbecame.ThoughMaryBridgman,whoknewGranvilleanditsinhabitants,hadsomemisgivings,itneveroccurredtoMabelthatshemightbeconsideredoverdressed,andthetwotrunks,whichledMrs.Slocumtopronouncehera\"vain,conceitedsort,\"reallyseemedtoherverymoderate.
AthalfpasteightinthemorningafterMissFrost\'sarrivalinGranvilleBenHadleycalledatthehotelandinquiredforthenewschoolteacher.
\"I
guessyoumeanMissFrost,\"saidthelandlord.
\"I
don\'tknowwhathernameis,\"saidBen.\"Dadwantshertocomeroundandbeexamined.\"
Benwasastoutboy,withlargecapacitiesformischief.Hewasbrightenough,ifhecouldonlymakeuphismindtostudy,butappearedtoconsidertimespentoverhisbooksaspracticallywasted.Physicallyandintemperamentheresembledhisfathermorethanhismother,andthiswasfortunate.Mrs.Hadleywasthinlippedandacid,withalargemeasureofselfishnessandmeanness.Herhusbandwaspompous,andoverestimatedhisownimportance,buthiswife\'sfaultswereforeigntohisnature.Hewaslikedbymostofhisneighbors;andBen,inhisturn,inspiteofhismischievoustendencies,wasapopularboy.Inonerespecthewasunlikehisfather.Hewasthoroughlydemocratic,andneverputonairs.