At the same moment Constance Channing was traversing the Boundaries, on her way to Lady Augusta Yorke’s, where she had, some days since, commenced her duties. It took her scarcely two minutes to get there, for the houses were almost within view of each other. Constance would willingly have commenced the daily routine at an earlier hour. Lady Augusta freely confessed that to come earlier would be useless, for she could not get her daughters up. Strictly speaking, Lady Augusta did not personally try to get them up, for she generally lay in bed herself.
“That is one of the habits I must alter in the children,” thought Constance.
She entered, took off her things in the room appropriated to her, and passed into the schoolroom. It was empty, though the children ought to have been there, preparing their lessons. Fanny came running in, her hair in curl-papers, some bread and butter in her hand.
“Carry has not finished her breakfast, Miss Channing,” quoth she. “She was lazy this morning!”
“I think some one else was lazy also,” said Constance, gently drawing the child to her. “Why did you come down half-dressed, my dear?”
“I am quite dressed,” responded Fanny. “My frock’s on, and so is my pinafore.”
“And these?” said Constance, touching the curl-papers.
“Oh, Martha got up late, and said she had no time to take them out. It will keep in curl all the better, Miss Channing; and perhaps I am going to the missionary meeting with mamma.”
Constance rang the bell. Martha, who was the only maid kept, except the cook, appeared in answer to it. Lady Augusta was wont to say that she had too much expense with her boys to keep many servants; and the argument was a true one.
“Be so kind as to take the papers out of Miss Fanny’s hair. And let it be done in future, Martha, before she comes to me.”
Gently as the words were spoken, there was no mistaking that the tone was one of authority, and not to be trifled with. Martha withdrew with the child. And, just then, Caroline came in, full of eagerness.
“Miss Channing, mamma says she shall take one of us to the missionary meeting, whichever you choose to fix upon. Mind you fix upon me! What does that little chit, Fanny, want at a missionary meeting? She is too young to go.”
“It is expected to be a very interesting meeting,” observed Constance, making no reply to Miss Caroline’s special request. “A gentleman who has lived for some years amongst the poor heathens is to give a history of his personal experiences. Some of the anecdotes are beautiful.”
“Who told you they were?” asked Caroline.
“Mr. Yorke,” replied Constance, a pretty blush rising to her cheek. “He knows the lecturer well. You would be pleased to hear them.”
“It is not for that I wish to go,” said Caroline. “I think meetings, where there’s nothing but talking, are the dullest things in the world. If I were to listen, it would send me to sleep.”
“Then why do you wish so much to attend this one?”
“Because I shall wear my new dress. I have not had it on yet. It rained last Sunday, and mamma would not let me put it on for college. I was in such a passion.”
Constance wondered where she should begin. There was so much to do; so much to alter in so many ways. To set to work abruptly would never answer. It must be commenced gradually, almost imperceptibly, little by little.
“Caroline, do you know that you have disobeyed me?”
“In what way, Miss Channing?”
“Did I not request you to have that exercise written out?”
“I know,” said Caroline, with some contrition. “I intended to write it out this morning before you came; but somehow I lay in bed.”
“If I were to come to you every morning at seven o’clock, would you undertake to get up and be ready for me?” asked Constance.
Caroline drew a long face. She did not speak.
“My dear, you are fifteen.”
“Well?” responded Caroline.
“And you must not feel hurt if I tell you that I should think no other young lady of that age and in your position is half so deficient as you are. Deficient in many ways, Caroline: in goodness, in thoughtfulness, and in other desirable qualities; and greatly so in education. Annabel, who is a year younger than you, is twice as advanced.”
“Annabel says you worry her into learning.”
“Annabel is fond of talking nonsense; but she is a good, loving child at heart. You would be surprised at the little trouble she really gives me while she makes a show of giving me a great deal. I have so much to teach you, Caroline—to your mind and heart, as well as to your intellect—that I feel the hours as at present arranged, will be insufficient for me. My dear, when you grow up to womanhood, I am sure you will wish to be loving and loved.”
Caroline burst into tears. “I should do better if mamma were not so cross with me, Miss Channing. I always do anything that William Yorke asks me; and I will do anything for you.”
Constance kissed her. “Then will you begin by rising early, and being ready for me at seven?”
“Yes, I will,” answered Caroline. “But Martha must be sure to call me. Are you going to the meeting this afternoon?”
“Of course not,” said Constance. “My time now belongs to you.”
“But I think mamma wishes you to go with us. She said something about it.”
“Does she? I should very much like to go.”
Lady Augusta came in and proffered the invitation to Constance to accompany them. Constance then spoke of giving the children the extra two hours, from seven to nine: it was really necessary, she said, if she was to do her duty by them.
“How very conscientious you are!” laughed Lady Augusta, her tone savouring of ridicule.
Constance coloured almost to tears with her emotion. “I am responsible to One always, Lady Augusta. I may not make mine only eye-service.”
“You will never put up with our scrambling breakfast, Miss Channing. The boys are so unruly; and I do not get up to it half my time.”
“I will return home to breakfast. I should prefer to do so. And I will be here again at ten.”
“Whatever time do you get up?”
“Not very early,” answered Constance. “Hitherto I have risen at seven, summer and winter. Dressing and reading takes me just an hour; for the other hour I find plenty of occupation. We do not breakfast until nin............