Part 5 (1/2)
Minnie turned, and with a firm step and fast beating heart walked back into the schoolroom.
Mona did not seem to notice her but went on.
”Yes, isn't it fun! Quite a romance I'm sure! A sort of juvenile Mrs.
Fry or some person of that stamp, converting the heathen down in Hollowmell.”
”O, hus.h.!.+” whispered some one, as Minnie walked straight into their midst, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng, but her cheeks pale as marble.
”I do not know what you may mean to insinuate by calling me Methodist as you did just now. It may either be that you intend it as a term of reproach to me, or as a mark of disrespect to the worthy body of people who bear that name--”
”You hear her!” Interrupted Mona with a laugh, ”you hear her defending them. Didn't I tell you so?”
”I mean to say,” continued Minnie, ignoring the interruption, ”that if you mean by calling me Methodist that I profess to go about continually doing good, you are mistaken. Until now, I have not as you hinted, made any profession at all, but I am not ashamed to own that I consider it the n.o.blest thing in life, to be good and to do good, and if by taking the name of Methodist I might the better attain that object I should be happy to do so.”
”Ah!” replied Mona with a sneer, as no one else spoke, ”it is quite affecting I'm sure, to hear you say so. I should not be at all surprised if that good-looking Methodist Minister from Canningate, had something to do with these novel notions. I heard he had evinced great interest in the heathen of Hollowmell.”
Minnie's pale cheeks flushed with indignation, and for a moment she forgot everything but Mona's cruel insinuation.
”It is certainly flattering to know you take such an interest in my proceedings,” she began, angrily, then checking herself hastily, she continued in a softer tone: ”I don't know why you should say such a thing of me, Mona. What I have done (and the motive I had for keeping it secret, was because it was so little), I have done from a simple wish to make my life of some use, and benefit my father's tenants.”
Mona smiled derisively but did not speak.
”I do not fear to say I am a Christian,” continued Minnie, turning to the other girls after a short pause. ”Even in spite of Mona's sarcasm, and though I do often come short of what one bearing that name should be, I am not the less determined to persevere in my endeavours to make these failures as few and far between as possible; and that any one here will intentionally attempt to frustrate these efforts I cannot believe.”
”That is a challenge directed to me, I suppose,” observed Mona laughing disagreeably.
”For shame, Mona!” cried one of the girls with warmth. ”Your sharpness is no match for Minnie's earnestness, I am sure all here think so!” and she turned to the rest for confirmation.
”Yes, yes!” cried several voices enthusiastically.
”And I, for one,” continued the young lady who had spoken, ”though I cannot give as good an account of myself, either in words or actions as Minnie can, would have no objection to doing some good too, and if she will accept my help, I shall be glad to render it such as it is.”
Minnie thanked her with tears in her eyes, and accepted her offer with simple grat.i.tude, whereupon several of the others also volunteered their aid, and some who lived too far away to render actual a.s.sistance begged to know if there was no way in which they could help.
Minnie had by this time explained the plan of working adopted by Mabel and herself, which was received with expressions of unmixed approval by all, with the exception of Mona, who sat silently during their conversation with her head bent over her work.
Mabel appeared in the midst of their discussion, and was greatly surprised to learn the subject of it. She, however, entered heartily into the debate, and a plan was quickly sketched out whereby the eager desire displayed by all present to join in the work was to be satisfied.
Mabel was all this while wondering how their doings at Hollowmell had come to be known among the girls, but no one explained, and even after Minnie and she were on their way home, Minnie spoke no word in explanation of this strange circ.u.mstance.
On the following day, of course, she received a full account from one of those who had been present, and her love and respect for her friend increased tenfold on becoming acquainted with the part she had played on the occasion.
”She is a true heroine,” thought Mabel when left to herself again, ”I don't understand how she can do things like that. I am sure if they were required of me I could not do them. Why is there such a difference between us? She seems to do everything so well, though she is just newly conscious that there are things like this to do, and I have been acquainted with the fact all my life. I am distracted by doubts and fears--I, who have known the reality of G.o.d's love and goodness so long, and she, who only a few weeks ago wakened up to that reality, is able to rest in it without question or misgiving. Ah! that is the difference, I only know of its existence, while she feels it--breathes it--lives in it.”
Just then her meditations were broken in upon by Minnie herself who ran in, exclaiming breathlessly, ”O, I am so glad you're here early, I did so want to have a chat with you before the school commenced!”
”All right,” replied Mabel, who had been occupied during her reflections in slowly unlacing her boot. She now set about the task with right good will, and was soon ready; but Minnie was quicker, and was already in the inner room, depositing the books of both in their respective desks when Mabel came in. Minnie turned to address some remark to her on the subject of her dilatoriness, and then for the first time her eye was caught by a paper fastened upon the opposite wall with a pin. It was a large paper, and had notice printed in large capitals on the top.
Beneath was written in Mona Cameron's beautiful writing the following advertis.e.m.e.nt:--