"No, mother."

Mrs Thorne sighed, as she always did at the word "mother."

"Did I--I--tell you that I had had a letter from Mr Geringer?"

"No," said Hazel quickly. "Surely you are not corresponding with him?"

"Oh, no, my dear; I only answered his letters."

"Answered his letters?"

"Yes, my dear; he said he was coming down to see us, if I would give my consent, and of course I did."

"Oh, mother, dear mother, how could you be so foolish?"

"Foolish, Hazel?"

"Yes, dear. He must not come. I could not see him. Why can he not leave me here in peace?"

"I--I--will not be spoken to like this by my own child!" cried Mrs Thorne. "It is cruel; it is wicked of you, Hazel. You not only degrade me to this terrible life, but you speak to me as if I were so much dirt under your feet. It is cruel; it is disgraceful; it is base."

"Mother, dear mother," cried Hazel, whose face was aflame with mortification.

"No, no, don't touch me; don't come near me; I cannot bear it. Foolish?

What have I done that Heaven should have given me such a cruel child?"

By this time Hazel's arms were round her mother's neck, and her cheek laid upon her bosom, but it was long before Mrs Thorne would consent to the embrace, and leave off sobbing and wringing her hands.

"When you might be rolling in your carriage, and have every luxury in the land."

"But I want us to be independent, dear. We might be so happy here."

"Happy?" exclaimed Mrs Thorne, with a hysterical laugh. "Happy--here?"

At last after similar scenes she would grow weary and forgive her child for her cruelty, and there would be a little peace, giving Hazel an opportunity to attend to some domestic work, and to devote an hour to the teaching of her little sisters; but there would be tears shed at night, and a prayer offered up for strength and patience to conquer in the end.

The school affairs went steadily on, and the girls settled down and began to forget the excitement of Mr William Forth Burge's party. That gentleman called once during school-hours, shook hands very warmly, and stopped talking till Hazel thought he would never go.

Miss Burge came regularly on week-days and pet.i.tioned to be allowed to take a cla.s.s sometimes--a pet.i.tion that was of course granted, but not with very satisfactory results, for poor little Miss Burge's discipline was of the very mildest nature, and as she preferred taking the cla.s.s that held Miss Feelier Potts and Ann Straggalls, the attention of the mistress had to be very frequently called to maintain order.

"I really don't know how you do it, my dear, I don't indeed," said the little lady; "the girls all like you, and yet they seem afraid of you as well. I declare I quite shrink from you when you look so stern."

"I hope you like me as well, Miss Burge," said Hazel, smiling.

"That I do indeed, my dear, and so does my brother. He's always talking about you. I declare, my dear, I'm quite surprised sometimes to find how much he thinks about you."

"It is very kind of Mr Burge," said Hazel naively; "and as he is so proud of the schools, pray a.s.sure him that I will spare no pains to get the girls well forward by the examination day."

"I needn't tell him anything of the sort," said Miss Burge; "he knows you will, and he told Mr Lambent that we ought to be very glad to have got such a mistress for our schools."

"You are too partial, Miss Burge," said Hazel, smiling.

"That I _am not_!" said the little lady in the most decisive of tones; "and now I must go, and I'm going to call in on your mamma, and try and cheer her up a bit, poor soul, for it must be very lonely for her while you are in the schools and, lor! if here ain't the two Misses Lambent."

There was a very affectionate greeting at the door, and then Miss Burge went out, and the two Misses Lambent came in, looking very stiff and uncompromising as soon as they were alone with Hazel.

"How do you do. Miss Thorne?" said Miss Lambent in a very chilling way; and Miss Beatrice echoed her words, and finished their freezing as they fell.

"Are you going to take a cla.s.s, Beatrice?" said Miss Lambent.

"No, sister, I thought that I would say a few words to Miss Thorne, unless you would prefer speaking."

"No, sister, I think you had better speak," said Miss Lambent austerely; "and--tut--tut--tut! I extremely regret this! such a thing never occurred in the school before. Miss Thorne, I will not trouble my brother by making any report of this, but I must request you to preserve better discipline in the school."

"Discipline, ma'am! I thought the girls were very quiet."

"I must request that you do not speak to me, the vicar's sister, in so haughty a tone, Miss Thorne."

"I beg your pardon, ma'am; I wish to be respectful," said Hazel humbly.

"But your ways are not respectful, and I must point out to you that both upon week-days and Sundays the behaviour of the girls has not been good.

I distinctly saw that child putting out her tongue at me--that girl-- Potts, I think, is her name."

"I will certainly speak to the child, ma'am," said Hazel quietly, though a feeling of indignation made the blood flush to her cheeks.

"I request that you do, and also punish her severely, Miss Thorne,"

continued Miss Lambent who, being wound up, felt that this was a favourable opportunity for going on striking.

"And now, as I am speaking, I will make a few remarks to you upon a subject that I was about to leave to my sister."

"I will speak to Miss Thorne upon that matter, sister," said Miss Beatrice.

"As I am speaking to Miss Thorne, I will continue, sister," replied Miss Lambent. "The fact is, Miss Thorne, my sister and I entertain the most sincere wish for your welfare."

Hazel bowed.

"And it is only after mature deliberation that we have come to the conclusion that it is our absolute duty as Christian ladies to speak to you--"

"Upon matters that very nearly concern your position as the schoolmistress--"

"Of Plumton All Saints," said Miss Lambent. "Excuse me, sister, I prefer speaking to Miss Thorne myself."

Hazel looked from one to the other, wondering what was the head and front of her offending.

"The fact is, Miss Thorne, my sister and I sincerely wish--most sincerely I may say--wish that you may be successful here, and in due time--say in due time--if such an affair should be in progress, marry in accordance with your station in life and--Hush, Miss Thorne! Do not speak, I insist. I see that you are growing angry, so I beg that you will be silent, and receive my words--our words--as being meant for your benefit."

"I do not understand you, madam," said Hazel, in spite of the prohibition.