Part 49 (1/2)

”Thank you,” said Beth, and went off straight away.

Mrs. Caldwell would have liked to have followed her, and given her a good beating, as in the old days, had she dared. Her harshness, however, had much the same effect upon Beth that a beating used to have; it shut her up in herself, and deprived her of the power to take her mother into her confidence.

Harriet followed her to her room. ”Whativer 'ave you been doin'?” she exclaimed. ”You're draggled from top to toe, and your Sunday dress too!”

”I got caught by the tide,” said Beth; ”and I'm done.”

”Just you get into bed, then,” said Harriet; ”and I'll fetch you up some tea when she goes out. She's off in a moment to Lady Benyon's.”

”Bless you, Harriet!” Beth exclaimed. ”I read in a book once that there is no crime but has some time been a virtue, and I am sure it will be a virtue to steal me some tea on this occasion, if it ever is.”

”Oh, all's fair in love and war,” Harriet answered cheerfully, as she helped Beth off with her boots; ”and you and yer ma's at war again, I guess.”

”Seems like it,” Beth sighed. ”But stay, though. No, you mustn't steal the tea. I promised Aunt Victoria. And that reminds me. There's some still left in her little canister. Here, take it and make it, and have some yourself as a reward for the trouble. Hot tea and toast, an you love me, Harriet, and to save my life. I've had nothing but salt water since breakfast.”

When Beth went downstairs next morning, her mother scowled at her.

”What did you mean by telling me you had been at Fairholm yesterday?”

she asked.

”I meant to tell you where I had been,” Beth answered impertinently.

”I saw your Aunt Grace Mary last night, and she told me she had not seen you.”

”Well, Aunt Grace Mary is a good size,” Beth rejoined, ”but she doesn't cover the whole estate.”

Mrs. Caldwell flushed angrily. ”You're an ill-conditioned girl, and will come to a bad end, or I'm much mistaken,” she exclaimed.

”With the help of my relations, it's likely,” Beth retorted.

Her mother said no more until breakfast was over, and then she ordered her peremptorily to get out her lessons.

”Oh, lessons!” Beth grumbled. ”What's the use of the kind of lessons _I_ do? I'm none the better for knowing that Henry VIII. had six wives, nor the happier, nor the richer; and my wit and wisdom certainly don't increase, nor my manners improve, if you speak the truth.”

Mrs. Caldwell changed countenance. If Beth rebelled against the home-teaching, what would happen about the money that Jim was enjoying? Upon reflection, her mother saw she was making a mistake.

”I think,” she began in a conciliatory tone, ”you are right perhaps.

You had better not do any lessons this morning, for I am sure you cannot be well, Beth, or you would never speak to your mother in such a way.”

”Well, I'm sorry, mamma,” Beth rejoined in a mollified tone. ”But you know I cannot stand these everlasting naggings and scoldings. They make me horrid. I'm pugnacious when I'm rubbed the wrong way; I can't help it.”

”There, there, then; that will do,” Mrs. Caldwell replied. ”Run out and amuse yourself, or have a rest. You take too much exercise, and tire yourself to death; and then you are _so_ cross there is no speaking to you. Go away, like a good child, and amuse yourself until you feel better.”

Beth went back to her own room at once, only too glad to escape and be alone. She was not well. Every bone in her body ached, and her head was thumping so she had to lie down on her bed at last, and keep still for the rest of the day. But her mind was active the whole time, and it was a happy day. She expected nothing, yet she was pleasurably satisfied, perfectly content.

The next morning at eleven there was service in the church at the end of the road. Beth and her mother had been having the usual morning misery at lessons, and both were exhausted when the bell began to ring. Beth's countenance was set sullen, and Mrs. Caldwell's showed suppressed irritation. The bell was a relief to them.

”Can I go to church?” Beth asked.

Her mother's first impulse was to say no, out of pure contrariness; but the chance of getting rid of Beth on any honourable pretext was too much of a temptation even for her to withstand. ”Yes, if you like,” she answered ungraciously, after a moment's hesitation; ”and get some good out of it if you can,” she added sarcastically.