Part 19 (2/2)
”Don't put that agen me,” said Mrs. Miles, ”for I wouldn't be nothing else if you was to pay me fifty pounds down. There, now, I can't speak squarer than that!”
Just at that moment the farmer's voice was heard announcing that the trap was ready. Betty hugged Mrs. Miles, and was followed out of the farm-kitchen by the excited dogs.
The next minute they were driving in the direction of the Court, and Betty was put down just outside the heavy wrought-iron gates. ”Good-bye, Farmer Miles,” she said, ”and take my best thanks. I am coming again to see those darling dogs. Good-bye, dears, good-bye.”
She pressed a kiss on each very rough forehead, pa.s.sed through the little postern door, heard the dogs whining behind her, did not dare to look back, and ran as fast as she could to the house. She was quite late for the midday dinner; and the first person she met was Miss Symes, who came up to her in a state of great excitement. ”Why, Betty!” she said, ”where have you been? We have all been terribly anxious about you.”
”I went out for a walk,” said Betty, ”and----”
”Did you go beyond the grounds? We looked everywhere.”
”Oh yes,” said Betty. ”I couldn't be kept in by rails or bars or anything of that sort. I am a free creature, you know, Miss Symes.”
”Come, Betty,” said Miss Symes, ”you have broken a rule; and you have no excuse, for a copy of the rules of the school is in every sitting-room and every cla.s.sroom. You must see Mrs. Haddo about this.”
”I am more than willing,” replied Betty.
Betty felt full of courage, and keen and well, after her morning's adventure. Miss Symes took Betty's hand, and led her in the direction of Mrs. Haddo's private sitting-room. That good lady was busy over some work which she generally managed to accomplish at that special hour. She was seated at her desk, putting her signature to several notes and letters which she had dictated early that morning to her secretary. She looked up as Betty and Miss Symes entered.
”Ah, Miss Symes!” said Mrs. Haddo. ”How do you do, Betty? Sit down. Will you just wait a minute, please?” she added, looking up into the face of her favorite governess. ”I want you to take these letters as you are here, and so save my ringing for a servant. Get Miss Edgeworth to stamp them all, and put them into their envelopes, and send them off without fail by next post.”
A pile of letters was placed in Miss Symes's hands. She went away at once; and Mrs. Haddo, in her usual leisurely and gracious manner, turned and looked at Betty.
”Well, Betty Vivian,” she said kindly, ”I have seen you for some time at prayers and in the different cla.s.srooms, and also at chapel; but I have not had an opportunity of a chat with you, dear, for several days. Sit down, please, or, rather, come nearer to the fire.”
”Oh, I am so hot!” said Betty.
”Well, loosen your jacket and take off your hat. Now, what is the matter? Before we refer to pleasant things, shall we get the unpleasant ones over? What has gone wrong with you, Betty Vivian?”
”But how can you tell that anything has gone wrong?”
”I know, dear, because Miss Symes would not bring you to my private sitting-room at this hour for any other reason.”
”Well, I don't think anything has gone wrong,” said Betty; ”but Miss Symes does not quite agree with me. I will tell you, of course; I am only longing to.”
”Begin, dear, and be as brief as possible.”
”I had a headache this morning, and went to lie down,” began Betty.
”Miss Symes wanted me to stay lying down until dinner-time, but afterwards she gave me leave to go out when I had been in my room for an hour. I did so. I went as far as that bit of common of yours.”
”Our 'forest primeval'?” said Mrs. Haddo with a gracious smile.
”Oh, but it isn't really!” said Betty.
”Some of us think it so, Betty.”
Betty gave a curious smile; then with an effort she kept back certain words from her lips, and continued abruptly, ”I got to the end of the common, and there was a railing----”
<script>