登陆注册
15445900000026

第26章 Chapter VI. Sydney Teaches.

Mrs. Presty had not very seriously exaggerated the truth, when she described her much-indulged granddaughter as "a child who had never been accustomed to wait for anything since the day when she was born."

Governesses in general would have found it no easy matter to produce a favorable impression on Kitty, and to exert the necessary authority in instructing her, at the same time. Spoiled children (whatever moralists may say to the contrary) are companionable and affectionate children, for the most part--except when they encounter the unfortunate persons employed to introduce them to useful knowledge. Mr. and Mrs. Linley (guiltily conscious of having been too fond of their only child to subject her to any sort of discipline) were not very willing to contemplate the prospect before Miss Westerfield on her first establishment in the schoolroom. To their surprise and relief there proved to be no cause for anxiety after all. Without making an attempt to assert her authority, the new governess succeeded nevertheless when older and wiser women would have failed.

The secret of Sydney's triumph over adverse circumstances lay hidden in Sydney herself.

Everything in the ordinary routine of life at Mount Morven was a source of delight and surprise to the unfortunate creature who had passed through six years of cruelty, insult, and privation at her aunt's school Look where she might, in her new sphere of action, she saw pleasant faces and heard kind words. At meal times, wonderful achievements in the art of cookery appeared on the table which she had not only never tasted, but never even heard of. When she went out walking with her pupil they were free to go where they pleased, without restriction of time--except the time of dinner. To breathe the delicious air, to look at the glorious scenery, were enjoyments so exquisitely exhilarating that, by Sydney's own confession, she became quite light headed with pleasure. She ran races with Kitty--and nobody reproved her.

She rested, out of breath, while the stronger child was ready to run on--and no merciless voice cried "None of your laziness; time's up!" Wild flowers that she had never yet seen might be gathered, and no offense was committed. Kitty told her the names of the flowers, and the names of the summer insects that flashed and hummed in the hillside breezes; and was so elated at teaching her governess that her rampant spirits burst out in singing.

"Your turn next," the joyous child cried, when she too was out of breath. "Sing, Sydney--sing!" Alas for Sydney! She had not sung since those happiest days of her childhood, when her good father had told her fairy stories, and taught her songs. They were all forgotten now. "I can't sing, Kitty; I can't sing." The pupil, hearing this melancholy confession, became governess once more.

"Say the words, Syd; and hum the tune after me." They laughed over the singing lesson, until the echoes of the hills mocked them, and laughed too. Looking into the schoolroom, one day, Mrs.

Linley found that the serious business of teaching was not neglected. The lessons went on smoothly, without an obstacle in the way. Kitty was incapable of disappointing her friend and playfellow, who made learning easy with a smile and a kiss. The balance of authority was regulated to perfection in the lives of these two simple creatures. In the schoolroom, the governess taught the child. Out of the schoolroom, the child taught the governess. Division of labor was a principle in perfect working order at Mount Morven--and nobody suspected it! But, as the weeks followed each other, one more remarkable circumstance presented itself which every person in the household was equally quick to observe. The sad Sydney Westerfield whom they all pitied had now become the pretty Sydney Westerfield whom they all admired. It was not merely a change--it was a transformation. Kitty stole the hand-glass from her mother's room, and insisted that her governess should take it and look at herself. "Papa says you're as plump as a partridge; and mamma says you're as fresh as a rose; and Uncle Randal wags his head, and tells them he saw it from the first. I heard it all when they thought I was playing with my doll--and I want to know, you best of nice girls, what you think of your own self?"

"I think, my dear, it's time we went on with our lessons."

"Wait a little, Syd; I have something else to say."

"What is it?"

"It's about papa. He goes out walking with us--doesn't he?"

"Yes."

"He didn't go out walking with me--before you came here. I've been thinking about it; and I'm sure papa likes you. What are you looking in the drawer for?"

"For your lesson books, dear."

"Yes--but I haven't quite done yet. Papa talks a good deal to you, and you don't talk much to papa. Don't you like him?"

"Oh, Kitty!"

"Then do you like him?"

"How can I help liking him? I owe all my happiness to your papa."

"Do you like him better than mamma?"

"I should be very ungrateful, if I liked anybody better than your mamma."

Kitty considered a little, and shook her head. "I don't understand that," she declared roundly. "What do you mean?"

Sydney cleaned the pupil's slate, and set the pupil's sum--and said nothing.

Kitty placed a suspicious construction of her own on her governess's sudden silence. "Perhaps you don't like my wanting to know so many things," she suggested. "Or perhaps you meant to puzzle me?"

Sydney sighed, and answered, "I'm puzzled myself."

同类推荐
  • 大乘四斋日

    大乘四斋日

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 张协状元

    张协状元

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 三身梵赞

    三身梵赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 淞故述

    淞故述

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh

    The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 林门风云

    林门风云

    异界穿越,林家普通弟子竟打造最强神器,可惜最后陨落,且看主角在异界的风云
  • 生活的硬壳

    生活的硬壳

    黄家一家人的喜怒哀乐和生活哲学,没有狗血只有治愈。希望重新唤起大家对真善美的向往和追求。
  • 蓝蔷薇血族的女儿

    蓝蔷薇血族的女儿

    在十海边缘的架空大陆艾戈兰匹亚斯上血魔以及兽人和人类、精灵、夏亚进行了数年的战争,最终由人类精灵和夏亚组成的深林联盟击败了血魔和兽人组成的黑血联盟,封印了血魔第一始祖的灵魂把血魔一族悉数赶回了下界之门。故事开篇发生在这场席卷大陆上所有种族的战争结束后五百年,表面安澜的大陆实际则暗潮涌动,血与火的洗礼中种族的命运将会走向何方...
  • 超神之光

    超神之光

    凌荒半立空中,大声喝道:“我要让人类的足迹遍布五座神秘之山!”“我要让人类的战舰遍布七大深邃之洋!”“我要将人类的旗帜插在九颗暗黑之树上!”
  • 冥梦译

    冥梦译

    一个新的边界,一个阵法的修炼,掀起一场善与善之间的战争!一个为高三拼搏的男生,是如何一步一步把阵法修炼强大的!
  • 盟约之上巳节

    盟约之上巳节

    农历三月初三,盟约领袖东皇前往天庭参加蟠桃盛宴,人间秩序就由盟约其他成员管理。百无聊赖的苏凌意外在上巳节前夕加入盟约......
  • 错杀99次:娇媚杀手妻

    错杀99次:娇媚杀手妻

    “我的小娇妻,你在干什么?”月黑风高,某男笑吟吟的站在磨刀霍霍的娇妻身后。“干什么?杀你...啊...”某小娇妻不耐烦地回了句,一滞,发现身后的男人...——————“喂,你要想娶老娘,先把老娘外面一堆烂桃花给我掐了,否则,别想娶。”某女恶狠狠道“啧,烂桃花真不少,风流债欠的比我还多。”某男似笑非笑,捏了捏某女的鼻尖,“你再不同意,就要未婚先孕了,桃花我自会处理。”
  • 社会主义市场经济论

    社会主义市场经济论

    本书系统地研究了社会主义市场经济理论和实践的发展,主要内容由三部分构成。第一部分,清晰地勾画了马克思主义关于社会主义市场经济理论的发展线索;第二部分,全面论述了构成社会主义市场体制基本框架的五大制度的基本理论和实践发展;第三部分,系统分析了提高发展对外开放水平和处理好对内经济关系的一系列问题。
  • 进高僧传表

    进高僧传表

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 肇论疏

    肇论疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。