BensurveyedMissFrost,whomhesawforthefirsttime,withapproval,notunmingledwithsurprise.Shewasnottheaveragetypeofteacher.Benratherexpectedtomeetanelderlyfemale,tallandwillowyinform,andwearinglongringlets.SuchhadbeenMissJerushaColebrook,whohadwieldedtheferuletheyearbefore.
\"Areyoutheschoolteacher?\"askedBendubiously,astheyleftthehotel.
Mabelsmiled.\"Isuppose,\"saidshe,\"thatdependsonwhetherIpasstheexamination.\"
\"I
guessyou\'llpass,\"saidBen.
\"Whatmakesyouthinkso?\"askedMabel,amused.
\"Youlookasifyouknowalot,\"answeredBenbluntly.
\"I
hopeappearanceswon\'tprovedeceptive,\"saidMabel.\"Areyoutobeoneofmyscholars?\"
\"Yes,\"repliedBen\"Youlookbrightandquick.\"
\"DoI?\"saidBen.\"Youcan\'talwaystellbylooks,\"headded,parodyingherownwords.
\"Don\'tyouliketostudy?\"Mabelinquired.
\"Well,Idon\'thankerafterit.Thefactis,\"saidBeninaburstofconfidence,\"I\'maprettyhardcase.\"
\"Yousaysobecauseyouaremodest.\"
\"No,Idon\'t;thelastteachersaidso.Why,shecouldn\'tdonothingwithme.\"
\"Youbegintoalarmme,\"saidMabel.\"Aretheremanyhardcasesamongthescholars?\"
\"I\'mabouttheworst,\"saidBencandidly.
\"I\'mgladtohearthat.\"
\"Why?\"askedBen,puzzled.
\"Because,\"
saidMabel,\"Idon\'texpecttohaveanytroublewithyou.\"
\"Youdon\'t?\"saidBen,surprised.
\"No,Ilikeyourface.Youmaybemischievous,butIamsureyouarenotbad.\"
Benwasratherpleasedwiththecompliment.Boyashewas,hewasnotinsensibletothegraceandbeautyofthenewteacher,andhefeltathrillofpleasureatwordswhichwouldscarcelyhaveaffectedhimiftheyhadproceededfromJerushaColebrook.
\"Doyoufeelinterestedinstudy?\"Mabelcontinued.
\"Notmuch,\"Benadmitted.
\"Youdon\'twanttogrowupignorant,doyou?\"
\"OfcourseIwanttoknowsomething,\"saidBen.
\"IfyouimproveyourtimeyoumaysometimebechairmanoftheSchoolCommittee,likeyourfather.\"
Benchuckled.\"Thatdon\'ttakemuchlarnin\',\"hesaid.
\"Doesn\'tit?Ishouldthinkitwouldrequireagoodscholar.\"
Benlaughedagain.\"Perhapsyouthinkmyfatherknowsagooddeal?\"hesaidinterrogatively.
Benseemedonthebrinkofadangerousconfidence,andMabelfeltembarrassed.
\"Certainly,\"saidshe.
\"Hedon\'t,\"saidBen.\"Don\'tyouevertell,andI\'lltellyousomething.Hegottheministertowriteoutthequestionsheaskstheteachers.\"
\"I
supposetheministerwasmoreusedtoit,\"saidMabel,feelingobligedtoproffersomeexplanation.
\"Thatain\'tit,\"saidBen.\"Dadneverwenttoschoolafterhewastwelve.Icouldcipherhimoutofhisboots,andheain\'tmuchonspelling,either.Theotherdayhespelledstraights-t-r-a-t-e.\"
\"Youmustn\'ttellmeallthis,\"saidMabelgravely.\"Yourfatherwouldn\'tlikeit.\"
\"Youwon\'ttellhim?\"saidBenapprehensively,forheknewthathisfatherwouldresenttheseindiscreetrevelations.
\"No,certainlynot.Whendoesschoolcommence,Ben?\"
\"Tomorrowmorning.Isay,MissFrost,Ihopeyou\'llgiveagoodlongrecess.\"
\"Howlonghaveyougenerallyhad?\"
\"Well,MissColebrookonlygaveusfiveminutes.Shewasaregularoldpoke,andgotalongsoslowthatshecutusshortonrecesstomakeitup.\"
\"Howlongdoyouthinkyououghttohave?\"askedMabel.
\"Halfanhour\'dbeaboutright,\"saidBen.
\"Don\'tyouthinkanhourwouldbebetter?\"askedMabel,smiling.
\"Maybethatwouldbetoolong,\"Benadmitted.
\"SoIthink.OntheotherhandIconsiderfiveminutestooshort.Iwillconsultyourfatheraboutthat.\"
\"Here\'sourhouse,\"saidBensuddenly.\"Dad\'sinsidewaitingforyou.\"
SquireHadleyreceivedMabelwithanimpressiveairofofficialdignity.Hefelthisimportanceonsuchoccasions.\"Iamgladtoseeyou,MissFrost,\"hesaid.
\"Arethereanyotherteacherstobeexamined?\"askedMabel,findingherselfalone.
\"Theothershaveallbeenexamined.Weheldageneralexaminationaweekago.Youneednotfeelnervous,MissFrost.Ishallgiveyouplentyoftime.\"
\"Youareveryconsiderate,SquireHadley,\"saidMabel.
\"I
willfirstexamineyouinarithmetic.Arithmetic,\"heretheSquireclearedhisthroat,\"is,asyouareaware,thescienceofnumbers.Weregarditasofprimary——yes,primaryimportance.\"
\"Itiscertainlyveryimportant.\"
\"I
will——ahem——askyouafewquestions,andthengiveyousomesumstocipherout.Whatisafraction,MissFrost?\"
SquireHadleyleanedbackinhischair,andfixedhiseyesprudentlyonthatpageofthearithmeticwhichcontainedtheanswertothequestionhehadasked.Mabelansweredcorrectly.
\"YouhavethecorrectideasaidtheSquirepatronizingly,\"thoughyouain\'tquitegotthephraseologyofthebook.\"
\"Definitionsvaryindifferentarithmetics,\"saidMabel.
\"I
supposetheydo,\"saidtheSquire,towhomthiswasnews.Tohimarithmeticwasarithmetic,andithadneveroccurredtohimthattherewasmorethanonewayofexpressingthesamething.
Slenderaswashisownstockofscholarship,SquireHadleyknewenoughtoperceive,beforegoingveryfarintothetextbook,thatthenewschoolteacherwaswellupinrudimentarymathematics.Whenhecametogeography,however,hemadeanawkwarddiscovery.Hehadlostthelistofquestionswhichtheministerhadpreparedforhim.Searchwasunavailing,andtheSquirewasflustered.
\"I
havelostmylistofquestionsingeography,\"hesaid,hesitatingly.
\"Youmightthinkofafewquestionstoaskme,\"suggestedMabel.
\"SoIcan,\"saidtheSquire,whofeltthathemustkeepupappearances.\"WhereisChina?\"
\"InAsia,\"answeredMabel,ratherastonishedatthesimplecharacterofthequestion.
\"Quiteright,\"saidtheSquire,inatonewhichseemedtoindicatesurprisethathisquestionhadbeencorrectlyanswered.\"WhereistheLakeofGibraltar?\"
\"I
supposeyoumeantheStraitsofGibraltar?\"
\"Tobesure,\"saidtheSquireratheruneasily.\"Iwas——ahem!
thinkingofanotherquestion.\"
Mabelansweredcorrectly.
\"WhereistheRiverAmazon?\"
\"InSouthAmerica.\"
SquireHadleyhadanimpressionthattheAmazonwasnotinSouthAmerica,buthewastoouncertaintoquestionthecorrectnessofMabel\'sanswer.
\"WhereisthecityofNewYorksituated?\"heasked.
Mabelanswered.
\"Andnow,\"saidtheSquire,withtheairofonewhowasaskingaposer,\"canyoutellmewhereLakeErieislocated?\"
Eventhisdidnotovertasktheknowledgeoftheapplicant.
\"Whichisfarthernorth,NewYorkorBoston?\"nextaskedtheeruditeSquire.
\"Boston,\"saidMabel.
\"Verywell,\"saidtheSquireapprovingly.\"Iseeyouarewellupingeography.Iamquitesatisfiedthatyouarecompetenttoteachourgrammarschool.Iwillwriteyouacertificateaccordingly.\"
ThistheSquiredid;andMabelfeltthatshewasonestepnearertheresponsibleofficewhichshehadelectedtofill.
\"Schoolwillbegintomorrowatnine,\"saidtheSquire.\"Iwillcallroundandgotoschoolwithyou,andintroduceyoutothescholars.I\'llhavetoseeaboutaboardingplaceforyou.\"
\"Thankyou,\"saidMabel,\"butIwon\'ttroubleyoutodothat.I
willstayatthehotelforaweek,tillIamalittlebetteracquainted.DuringthattimeImayhearofsomeplacethatIshalllike.\"
SquireHadleywassurprisedatthisdisplayofindependence.
\"I
apprehend,\"heobjected,\"thatyouwillfindthepriceatthehoteltoohighforyou.Weonlypaysevendollarsaweek,andyouwouldhavetopayallofthatforboard.\"
\"Itwillbeforonlyoneweek,SquireHadley,\"saidMabel,\"andIshouldpreferit.\"
\"Justasyousay,\"saidtheSquire,notaltogethersatisfied.
\"Youwillbethefirstteacherthateverboardedatthehotel.Youwouldn\'thavetopaymore\'nthreedollarsataprivatehouse.\"
\"Ofcoursethatisaconsideration,\"saidMabelguardedly.
AsshelefttheSquire\'shouseandemergedintotheroadsheheardstepsbehindher.
Turning,shesawBenHadley.
\"I
say,MissFrost,wasyouexaminedingeography?\"heasked.
\"Yes,Ben.\"
\"Diddadaskyouquestionsoffapaper?\"
\"No;hecouldn\'tfindthepaper.\"
I
thoughtso,\"saidBengrinning.
\"Doyouknowwhatbecameofit?\"askedMabel,withsuddensuspicion.
\"MaybeIdoandmaybeIdon\'t,\"answeredBen,noncommittally.
\"Whatsortofquestionsdiddadaskyou?\"
\"Waittillschoolopens,\"answeredMabel,smiling;\"Iwillaskyousomeofthemthere.\"
\"Didhereallyandtrulyexamineyouingeographyoutofhisownhead?\"askedBen.
\"Yes,Ben;hedidn\'tevenopenabook.\"
\"Goodfordad!\"saidBen.\"Ididn\'tthinkhecoulddoit.\"
\"Itisquitepossiblethatyourfatherknowsmorethanyougivehimcreditfor,\"saidMabel.
\"Guesshemusthaverememberedsomeofthequestions,\"thoughtBen.
InthecourseofthedaythelistofgeographicalquestionsfounditswaybacktoSquireHadley\'sdesk.
\"StrangeIoverlookedit,\"hesaid.
PerhapsBenmighthavegivenhimsomeinformationonthesubject.
Chapter3
TheGranvilleschoolhousewasnotfarfromthecenterofthevillage.Itwaswhollywithoutarchitecturalornament.ThepeopleofGranville,itmustbeadmitted,wereseverelypractical,andwerenotwillingtospendadollarintheinterestofbeauty.
Theirmoneywastheresultofhardlabor,andfrugalitywasnottobewonderedat.Inacommercialcommunityarchitecturereceivesmoreattention.
Theschoolhousewastwostoriesinheight,andcontainedtwoschools.Theprimaryschool,forchildrenundereight,waskeptinthelowerroom.Thegrammarschool,formoreadvancedscholars,whichMabelFrosthadundertakentoteach,occupiedtheupperportionofthebuilding.
AsMabelapproachedtheschoolhouse,escortedbySquireHadley,shenoticed,afewrodsinadvance,atall,slenderwoman,withlongringletsfallingoverapairofnarrowshoulders.
\"Thatladyisyourcolleague,MissFrost,\"saidtheSquire.
\"Mycolleague?\"repeatedMabel,inatoneofinquiry.
\"Yes;shekeepstheprimaryschool.\"
\"Indeed!Thenthereisanotherschoolbesidesmine!\"
\"Tobesure.MissClarissaBassettteachestheyoungestchildren.\"
\"Isshe——doesshelivehere?\"
\"Yes;shehastaughtthesameschoolforfifteenyears.Allyourscholarsbeganwithher.\"
\"Thensheisn\'taveryyounglady?\"
\"Clarissa,\"repliedtheSquire,withthatfamiliaritywhichiscommoninsmallvillages,\"mustbethirtyfive,thoughsheonlyownsuptotwentyfive,\"addedhe,chuckling.\"Mightspilehermatrimonialprospectsifsheconfessedherrealage.\"
\"Fifteenyearsateacher!\"saidMabelenthusiastically.\"MissBassettoughttofeelproudofsuchatermofservice.Howmuchgoodshehasdone!\"
\"Well,Idunno,\"saidSquireHadley,whosepracticalmindconceivedofnoothermotiveforteachingthantheemolumenttobederivedfromit.
\"Clarissawantedtoteachthegrammarschool——thesamethatyou\'reagoin\'toteach;butwedidn\'tthinkshewasqualifiedtoteachadvancedscholars.\"
\"Andyoupreferredmebeforeateacheroffifteenyears\'experience!\"
saidMabel,withunaffectedhumility.\"Iamafraid,SquireHadley,youwillfindthatyouhavemadeamistake.\"
\"YouareabetterscholarthanClarissa,MissFrost.Sheknowsenoughtoteachthelittleones,but——\"
\"Shehasfifteenyears\'experience,andIhavenone,\"interruptedMabel.
\"Youwouldn\'tbewillingtochangeschoolswithher?\"suggestedtheSquire,withmildsatire.
\"Yes,Iwould,\"saidMabelpromptly.
\"Shedon\'tgetbutsixdollarsaweek——adollarlessthanyou.\"
\"I
don\'tcareforthat.\"
\"Thedeestrictwouldn\'tbesatisfied,\"saidtheSquire,inadecidedtone.Mabelwasanenigmatohim.\"Theywouldn\'tbewillingtohaveClarissateachtheolderpupils,\"herepeated.
Bythistimetheyhadreachedtheschoolhouse.Sometwentypupilswereoutside,mostofthemMabel\'sfuturescholars.MissBassetthadpausedintheentry,andawaitedthearrivalofSquireHadleyandherfellowteacher.Shehadathinface,andthatprimexpressionregardedasthetypicalcharacteristicofanoldmaid.Ithadbeenherlottoseethecompanionsofherearlydayssailoff,oneafteranother,onthematrimonialsea,whileshehadbeenleftneglectedontheshore.
Shehadevenseensomeofherpupils——merechits,asshecalledthem——
marry,whiletheirteacher,withallherexperienceoflife,wasunappropriated.
\"MissFrost,\"saidSquireHadley,withawaveofhishandtowardClarissa,\"letmemakeyouacquaintedwithMissBassett,whohaskeptourprimaryschoolforfifteenyearswithgeneralacceptanceandsuccess.\"
\"Yououghttoberegardedasapublicbenefactor,MissBassett,\"saidMabelcordially.
\"I
wasveryyoungwhenIcommencedteaching,\"saidMissBassett,ratheruneasyattheallusiontohertermofservice.
\"I
amabeginner,\"saidMabel.Ishallbegladtohaveanexperiencedteachersoneartome,towhomIcanreferincasesofdifficulty.\"
Clarissa,whohadbeenprejudicedagainstMabel,because,althoughsomuchyounger,shehadbeenplacedovertheother\'shead,wasflatteredbythisacknowledgmentofinferiority.
\"I
shallbeverygladtogiveyouanyhelpinmypower,MissFrost,\"shesaid.\"Youwillexcusemenow;Imustgoinandlookaftermyyoungpupils.\"
MissFrostfollowedSquireHadleyupstairstothesceneofherfuturelabors.
Theroomitselfwasanaveragecountryschoolroom.Ithadaccommodationsforaboutfiftyscholars.Thedesks,ontheboys\'side,werecoveredwithinkspotsofallshapesandsizes,andfurtherdecoratedwithanextensiveseriesofjackknifecarvings.Mabel\'sneatnesswasratheroffendedbythesethings,whichshetookininherfirstgeneralsurvey.Itwasnotmuchlikeanyschoolthatshehadeverattended;butaprivateacademyforgirlsdiffersessentiallyfromacountryschoolroomforbothsexes.
\"I
seemostofthescholarsarehere,\"saidSquireHadley.
Mabellookedaroundtheroom.Betweenfortyandfiftyscholars,varyinginagefromeighttosixteen,wereseatedatthedesks.Atherentrance,theyhadtakenseatspreviouslyselected.Forthemostpartshelikedtheirappearance.
Severallookedmischievous,buteventheywerebrighteyedandgoodnatured.
Alleyeswerefixeduponher.Shefeltthatshewasbeingcriticallyweighedinthebalancebythesecountryboysandgirls.
\"I
wonderwhataretheirimpressionsofme,\"shethought.\"Iwonderiftheysuspectmyinexperience!\"
Thechildrendidnotpronouncejudgmentatonce.Theirfirstimpressionswerefavorable.Theyweresurprisedbythesightofsoattractiveateacher.Mabeldidnotlooklikeaschoolmistress——certainlynotlikeClarissaBassett.BenHadleyhadtoldhisfriendssomethingofher,andhadevenspokeninenthusiasticterms.
\"She\'sasprettyasapicture,\"hehadtoldthem.\"Ibetshewon\'tbeanoldmaid.\"
Theboys,inparticular,hadtheircuriosityexcitedtoseeherandjudgeforthemselves.NowthattheysawhertheyfullycoincidedwithBen\'sopinion.TheywerestillregardingtheirnewteacherwhenSquireHadleybrokethesilence.
\"Scholars,\"hesaid,clearinghisthroat,andassumingtheattitudeofanorator,\"Ihavegreatpleasureinintroducingtoyouyournewteacher,MissFrost.IhaveexaminedMissFrost,\"heproceeded,inatoneofimportance,\"andIfindthatsheisthoroughlycompetenttoleadyouintheflowerypathsoflearning.\"ThiswasafigureonwhichtheSquireratherpridedhimself.\"Shecomestoushighlyrecommended,andIhavenodoubtyouwillalllikeher.Aschairmanofthecommittee,\"heretheSquire\'sbreastexpandedwithofficialpride,\"Ihavetriedtoobtainforyouteachersofthehighesttalent,withoutregardtoexpense.\"HadtheSquireforgottenthatMabelwastoreceiveonlysevendollarsaweek?\"I
trust——thetowntrusts——thatyouwillappreciatewhatwearedoin\'foryou.
Wewantyoutoattendtoyourstudies,andworkhardtosecuretheblessin\'sofagoodeducation,whichisthebirthrightofeverycitizen.Iwillnowleaveyouinchargeofyourteacher,andIhopeyouwillstudytopleaseher.\"
TheSquiresatdown,anddrawinganampleredhandkerchieffromhispocketwipedhisbrowwithsomecomplacency.Hefeltthathisspeechwasasuccess.Hehadnotstumbled,ashesometimesdid.Hefeltthathehaddonecredittohisposition.
\"NowImustgodowntoMissBassett\'sschool,\"headded,risingtogo.\"Imustsayafewwordstoherscholars.MissFrost,Iwishyousuccessinyour——ahem!——veryresponsibletask.\"
\"Thankyou,sir.\"
TheampleformoftheSquirevanishedthroughtheclosingdoor,andMabelwasleftfacetofacewithhernewresponsibilities.Foramomentshewasnervous.Sheknewlittleoftheroutineofacountryschool,andfeltlikeacivilianwhowithoutaparticleofmilitarytrainingfindshimselfsuddenlyincommandofaregiment.
\"I
wonderwhatIoughttodofirst,\"shethought,insomeperplexity.ShewouldhaveconsultedSquireHadleyonthispointhadshenothesitatedtorevealherutterlackofexperience.
WhileglancingabouttheroominanundecidedwayshedetectedBenHadleyslylypreparingtoinsertapinintotheanatomyoftheboynexthim.Thisgaveheranidea.
\"BenHadley,pleasecometothedesk,\"shesaidquietly.
Benstartedguiltily.Hedecidedthattheschoolteacherhadseenhim,andwasabouttocallhimtoaccount.Hisfaceworeahalfdefiantlookashemarcheduptothedesk,theobservedofallobservers.Allthescholarswereonthequivivetolearnthepolicyofthenewadministration.Thissummonsseemedratheraboldmove,forBenwasgenerallyregardedastheheadoftheopposition.Notfrommalice,butfromroguery,hegavesuccessiveteachersmoretroublethananyotherscholar.Hadthenewschoolmistressfoundthisout,andwassheabouttoarraigntherebelasherfirstactofpower?SuchwasBen\'ssuspicion,as,withhisheaderect,hemarcheduptotheteacher\'sdesk.
TohissurpriseMissFrostmethimwithafriendlysmile.
\"Ben,\"saidshepleasantly,\"youareoneoftheoldestscholars,andtheonlyonewhomIknow.Areyouwillingtohelpmeorganizetheschool?\"
Benwas,astonished.Thatsuchaproposalshouldbemadetohim,thearchrebel,wasmostunexpected.
\"Guessshedon\'tknowme,\"hethought.Butyethefeltflattered;
evidentlyhewasapersonofsomeconsequenceintheeyesofthenewteacher.
\"I\'llhelpyouallIcan,MissFrost,\"hesaidheartily.
\"Thankyou,Ben,Ifeltsureyouwould,\"saidMabel,withquietconfidence.\"Isupposethefirstthingwillbetotakethenamesofthescholars.\"
\"Yes,MissFrost;andthenyousort\'emintoclasses.\"
\"Tobesure.Howmanyclassesaretheregenerally?\"
\"Well,therearethreeclassesinreading,andtwoinarithmetic,andtwoingeography.\"
\"ThatisjusttheinformationIwant.Now,Ben,Iwillaskyoutogoaboutwithme,andtellmethenamesofthescholars.\"
Butbeforeenteringuponthisformality,Mabel,forthefirsttimeinherlife,madeaspeech.
\"Scholars,\"shesaid,\"Iamastrangertoyou,butIhopeyouwillcometoregardmeasyourfriend.Iamheretohelpyouacquireaneducation.
Iamsureyouallwishtolearn.Thereisagreatsatisfactioninknowledge,anditwillhelpyou,bothboysandgirls,tobecomeusefulmenandwomen,andacquityourselvescreditablyinanypositionswhichyoumaybecalledupontofill.Iamnotsowellacquaintedwiththemethodofcarryingonacountrygrammarschoolasmostofmypredecessors,havingmyselfbeeneducatedinthecity.Ihave,therefore,askedBenHadleytoassistmeinorganizingtheschool,andpreparingforwork.\"
Thescholarsreceivedtheannouncementwithsurprise.ItpresentedBentotheminanovelcharacter.Theywaitedwithinteresttoseehowhewouldacquithimselfinhisnewoffice.
BenaccompaniedMissFrostfromdesktodesk,andgreatlyfacilitatedhertaskbyhissuggestions.Atlengththenamesofallthescholarsweretaken.
\"NowImustarrangetheclasses,\"saidMabel,withincreasedconfidence.\"Haveyouanyadvicetogive,Ben?\"
\"You\'dbetteraskthefirstclasstocomeup,\"suggestedheryoungassistant.\"Thenyou\'llknowexactlywhobelongtoit.\"
\"Thatwillbethebestplan,\"saidMabel;andshefollowedhisadvice.
Benlefthersideandtookhisplaceintheclass.Hescannedtheclass,andthensaid:\"MissFrost,there\'soneboyherewhobelongsinthesecondclass.\"
AtthisrevelationaboystandingnextbutonetoBenshowedsignsofperturbation.
\"Whoisit?\"askedtheteacher.
\"JohnCotton.\"
\"Doyoubelongtothisclass,John?\"
\"I
oughtto;Iknowenough,\"saidhesullenly.
\"Todayyouwillobligemebytakingyourplaceinthesecondclass.InafewdaysIcandecidewhetheryouareabletogowiththisclass.\"
Johnretired,discontented,buthopeful.