Volume I Part 24 (1/2)
Rushmere to let Dorothy attend an evening school, for an hour, three times during the week, without making any mystery about it.
She was not aware, as Dorothy was, of the stubborn obstinacy of his character, which, combined with old hereditary prejudices, made him a very difficult person to deal with.
She found the yeoman in the big hall, putting in rake handles, to be ready against they were wanted, for the day was cold and rough without, and the old man was one who always made a boast of taking time by the forelock.
He would have made a fine study for the pencil of Wilkie or Gainsborough. His regular but strongly marked features, reflecting the energy with which he pursued his employment; his cheeks ruddy with exertion; and his snow-white hair falling in long wavy curls upon his ample shoulders.
Pincher was sitting erect upon his haunches beside him, dividing his attention between his master and watching the progress he made in his work; and the frisking of Dolly's kitten, Rory, who was playing with the tail of his demure-looking mother, who lay sleeping upon the hearth.
”Always busy, neighbour Rushmere,” said Mrs. Martin, stepping briskly up to the old man. ”It would be a wonder to find you napping.”
”Aye, ma'am, lazy folk are no good,” he replied, looking up and shaking hands with her. ”What brings you out this cold day? It's not weather for women folk. Some money, I suppose, to be collected for the church.
Parsons are capital at that work. When they can't come themselves, they send their wives.”
”They know how difficult it is for an Englishman to say nay to a woman,”
and Mrs. Martin rubbed her cold hands and laughed.
”You are just right, ma'am, I never could resist their sweet voices--not I. From youth to age I have allers found women my best friends. G.o.d bless 'em. But let us come to the point at once. What do you want o'
me? What am I expected to disburse?”
”Neither silver nor gold this time.”
”Well, now, that's something uncommon. Surely you never came out this wintry day for the pleasure o' seeing an old man at work.” He looked at her with a shrewd twinkle in his clear blue eyes, as if he suspected that her visit was not wholly disinterested.
”I want you to allow Dorothy Chance to a.s.sist me in teaching in the Sunday-school, which is to go into operation in a few weeks. Her industrious habits and good character, which is well-known to the parish, eminently qualify her for instructing the young people of her own cla.s.s. Will you permit her to take a share in the good work?”
”No, a' will not,” said the old man, a frown gathering upon his broad forehead; and he applied the spoke-shave with great vigour to the rake-handle in his grasp.
”Who is to do her work at home, while she is drumming the A B C into the heads of children, whom G.o.d never meant to know B from a bull's foot. If you want money, I'll gi' that, but not the time o' my servant, that's more nor money's worth to me.”
Dorothy, who was standing on the hearth, from which she had been diligently sweeping the pile of shavings the farmer had scattered over it, winced at this. It was the first time she had ever heard the name of servant applied to her, by her foster parents. She thought it unkind and cruel, and her dark eyes flashed with a sudden fire, that dried up the gathering tears.
Mrs. Martin, however, nothing daunted by this rebuff, and beginning to understand something of the character of the man with whom she had to deal, replied with the greatest coolness.
”I spoke to you, Mr. Rushmere as Dorothy's father, not as her master. I thought that her welfare was as dear to you as that of your own child; and if report says true, she has been a good dutiful daughter to you.”
”Yes, I ha' naught to complain of on that score.” This was said with a dogged air of sullen resistance.
”Well, then, my friend, you surely will not deny her the privilege of joining in a Christian duty, and deprive her of the advantage of improving her scanty education. Such a course would be injurious to her, and would reflect no credit on you.”
”I don't allow a parson's wife to preach to me about my duty, or to interfere wi' my family matters,” said Rushmere, dryly. ”Politics and religion are subjects which belong o' right to men; women allers make a mess o' it, when they meddle wi' what they don't understand.”
Mrs. Martin, amused with the vehemence with which the old man spoke out his mind, replied, with a smile.
”You will allow, however, Mr. Rushmere, that women have souls to be saved as well as men, and that a little education is necessary for them, to enable them to teach their own children. The religious instruction which a boy receives at his mother's knee, generally clings to him through life; and often is the silent monitor restraining him from the commission of great crimes in after years, when the most eloquent preaching from the pulpit has produced little moral change in his character. To teach poor ignorant children to read the Bible, to learn their duty to G.o.d and man, and to be contented with the state of life in which His good providence has placed them, is surely to confer upon them a great benefit. I have visited dying people in this parish, who barely knew their right hand from their left, who had never been taught to pray, and lived without a knowledge of Christ or of G.o.d, in the world.
Now, it is not our intention to make scholars of such poor people, but to teach them how to become good Christians.”
”That sounds sensible like,” mused the farmer. ”You're a clever woman, Mrs. Martin. Aye, a cleverer woman than I thought you. But Dorothy wants instruction in such matters herself. How can she teach others?”
”I am willing and anxious to fit her for this task. Let her come to me for an hour--only one short hour--three times during the week, and I will spare no pains to improve her education, and make her an excellent teacher.”