Chapter 17 Betty Vivian by L. T. Meade
A TURNING-POINT
After this exciting day matters seemed to move rather languidly in the school. Betty was beyond doubt in low spirits. She did not complain; she did not take any one into her confidence. Even to her sisters she was gloomy and silent. She took long walks by herself. She neglected no duty--that is, no apparent duty--and her lessons progressed swimmingly. Her two great talents--the one for music, the other for recitation--were bringing her into special notice amongst the different teachers. She was looked upon by the educational staff as a girl who might bring marked distinction to the school. Thus the last few days of that miserable week passed.
On Tuesday evening Miss Symes had a little talk with Mrs. Haddo.
"What is it, dear St. Cecilia?" asked the head mistress, looking lovingly into the face of her favorite teacher.
"I am anxious about Betty," was the reply.
"Sit down, dear, won't you? Emma, I have been also anxious. I cannot understand why that notice was put up on the blackboard, and why Betty has left the club. Have you any clue, dear?"
"None whatsoever," was Miss Symes's answer. "Of course I, as a teacher, cannot possibly question any of the girls, and they are none of them willing to confide in me."
"We certainly cannot question them," said Mrs. Haddo. "But now I wish to say something to you. Betty has been absent from evening prayers at the chapel so often lately that I think it is my duty to speak to her on the subject."
"I have also observed that fact," replied Miss Symes. "Betty does not look well. There is something, beyond doubt, weighing on her mind. She avoids her fellow-pupils, whereas she used to be, I may almost say, the favorite of the school. She scarcely speaks to any one now. When she walks she walks alone. Even her dear little sisters are anxious about her; I can see it, although they are far too discreet to say a word. Poor Betty's little face seems to me to grow paler every day, and her eyes more pathetic. Mrs. Haddo, can you not do something?"
"You know, Emma, that I never force confidences; I think it a great mistake. If a girl wishes to speak to me, she understands me well enough to be sure I shall respect every word she says; otherwise, I think it best to allow a girl of Betty Vivian's age to fight out her difficulties alone."
"As her teacher, I have nothing to complain of," said Miss Symes. "She is just brilliant. She seems to leap over mental difficulties as though they did not exist. Her intuition is something marvellous, and she will grasp an idea almost as soon as it is uttered. I should like you to hear her play; it is a perfect delight to teach her; her little fingers seem to be endowed with the very spirit of music. And then that delightful voice of hers thrills one when she recites aloud, as she does twice a week in my recitation-class. As a matter of fact, dear Mrs. Haddo, I am deeply attached to Betty; but I feel there is something wrong just now."
"A turning-point," said Mrs. Haddo. "How often we come to them in life!"
"God grant she may take the right turning!" was Miss Symes's remark. She sat silent, gazing gloomily into the fire.
"It is not like you, Emma, to be so despondent," said the head mistress.
"I cannot help feeling despondent, for I think there is mischief afoot and that Betty is suffering. I wonder if----"
At that moment there came a tap at the door. Mrs. Haddo said, "Come in," and Mr. Fairfax entered.
"Ah," said Mrs. Haddo, "you are just the very man we want, Mr. Fairfax! Please sit down."
Mr. Fairfax immediately took the chair which was offered to him. "I have come," he said, "to speak to you and to Miss Symes with regard to one of your pupils--Betty Vivian."
"How strange!" said Mrs. Haddo. "Miss Symes and I were talking about Betty only this very moment. Can you throw any light on what is troubling her?"
"No," said Mr. Fairfax. "I came here to ask if you could."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know in my capacity as chaplain different things come to my ears; but I am under a promise not to repeat them. I am, however, under no promise in this instance. I was walking through the shrubbery half-an-hour ago--I was, in fact, thinking out the little address I want to give the dear girls next Sunday morning--when I suddenly heard a low sob. I paused to listen; it was some way off, but I heard it quite distinctly. I did not like to approach--you understand one's feeling of delicacy in such a matter; but it came again, and was so very heartrending that I could not help saying, 'Who is there? Is any one in trouble?' To my amazement, a girl started to her feet; she had been lying full-length, with her face downwards, on the damp grass. She came up to me, and I recognized her at once. She was Betty Vivian. There was very little light, but I could see that she was in terrible distress. She could scarcely get out her words. 'It is lost!' she said--'lost! Some one has stolen it!' And then she rushed away from me in the direction of the house. I thought it my duty to come and tell you, Mrs. Haddo. The girl's grief was quite remarkable and out of the common. The tone in which she said, 'It is lost--lost!' was tragic."
Mrs. Haddo sat very still for a minute. Then she said gently, "Would you rather speak to her, or shall I?"
"Under the circumstances," said Mr. Fairfax, "it is only right for me to say something more. Betty Vivian came to see me some days ago, and said that she had been expelled from the Specialities; and she asked me if, under such conditions, she ought to attend evening prayers in the chapel. I begged for her full confidence. She would not give it."
"And what did you say about evening prayers?"
"I said that was a matter between her own conscience and God. I could not get anything further out of her; but since then you may have observed that she has hardly attended chapel at all."
"I certainly have noticed it," said Miss Symes.
Mrs. Haddo did not speak for a minute. Then she said in an authoritative voice, "Thank you, Mr. Fairfax; I am deeply obliged to you for having come to me and taken me so far into your confidence. Emma, will you ask Betty to come to me here? If she resists, bring her, dear; if she still resists, I will go to her. Dear Mr. Fairfax, we must pray for this child. There is something very seriously wrong; but she has won my heart, and I cannot give her up. Will you leave me also, dear friend, for I must see Betty by herself?"
Miss Symes immediately left the room. The clergyman shortly afterwards followed her example.
Of all the teachers, Miss Symes was the greatest favorite in the upper school. She went swiftly through the lounge, where the girls were usually to be found at this hour chatting, laughing, amusing themselves with different games; for this was the relaxation-hour of the day, when every girl might do precisely what she liked. Miss Symes did not for a moment expect to find Betty in such an animated, lively, almost noisy group. To her amazement, however, she was attracted by peals of laughter; and--looking in the direction whence they came, she perceived that Betty herself was the center of a circle of girls, who were all urging her to "take-off" different girls and teachers in the school.
Betty was an inimitable mimic. At that very moment it seemed to Miss Symes that she heard her own voice speaking--her own very gentle, cultivated, high-bred voice. Amongst the girls who listened and roared with laughter might have been seen Sarah Butt, Sibyl Ray, and several more who had only recently been moved to the upper school.
"Now, please, take-off Mademoiselle. Whoever you neglect, please bestow some attention on Mademoiselle, dear Betty!" cried several voices.
Betty drew herself up, perked her head a little to one side, put on the very slightest suspicion of a squint, and spoke in the high-pitched, rapid tone of the Frenchwoman. She looked her part, and she acted it.
"And now Fräulein--Fräulein!" said another voice.
But before Betty could change herself into a stout German Fräulein, Miss Symes laid a quiet hand on her shoulder. "May I speak to you for a minute, Betty?"
"Why, certainly," said Betty, starting and reddening faintly.
"Oh, dear St. Cecilia," exclaimed several of the girls, "don't take Betty from us now! She is such fun!"
"I was amusing the girls by doing a little bit of mimicry," said Betty. "Miss Symes, did you see me mimicking you?"
"I both saw and heard you, my dear. Your imitation was excellent."
"Oh, please, dear St. Cecilia, don't say you are hurt!" cried Sarah Butt.
"Not in the least," said Miss Symes. "The gift of mimicry is a somewhat dangerous one, but I don't think Betty meant it unkindly. I would ask her, however, to spare our good and noble head mistress."
"We begged of her to be Mrs. Haddo, but she wouldn't," said Sibyl.
"Come, Betty," said Miss Symes. She took the girl's hand and led her away.
"What do you want with me?" said Betty. The brilliance in her eyes which had been so remarkable a few minutes ago had now faded; her cheeks looked pale; her small face wore a hungry expression.
"Mrs. Haddo wants to see you, Betty."
"Oh--but--must I go?"
"Need you ask, Betty Vivian? The head mistress commands your presence."
"Then I will go."
"Remember, I trust you," said Miss Symes.
"You may," answered the girl. She drew herself up and walked quickly and with great dignity through the lounge into the great corridor beyond, and so towards Mrs. Haddo's sitting-room. Here she knocked, and was immediately admitted.
"Betty, I wish to speak to you," said Mrs. Haddo. "Sit down, dear. You and I have not had a chat for some time."
"A very weary and long time ago!" answered Betty. All the vivacity which had marked her face in the lounge had left it.
But Mrs. Haddo, who could read character so rapidly and with such unerring instinct, knew that the girl was, so to speak, on guard. She was guarding herself, and was under a very strong tension. "I have something to say to you, Betty," said Mrs. Haddo.
Betty lowered her eyes.
"Look at me, my child."
With an effort Betty raised her eyes, glanced at Mrs. Haddo, and then looked down again. "Wait, please, will you?" she said.
"I am about to do so. You are unhappy."
Betty nodded.
"Will you tell me what is the matter?"
Betty shook her head.
"Do you think it is right for you to be unhappy in a school like mine, and not to tell me--not to tell the one who is placed over you as a mother would be placed were she alive--what is troubling you?"
"It may be wrong," said Betty; "but even so, I cannot tell you."
"You must understand," said Mrs. Haddo, speaking with great restraint and extreme distinctness, "that it is impossible for me to allow this state of things to continue. I know nothing, and yet in one sense I know all. Nothing has been told me with regard to the true story of your unhappiness, but the knowledge that you are unhappy reached me before you yourself confirmed it. To-night Mr. Fairfax found you out of doors--a broken rule, Betty, but I pass that over. He heard you sobbing in the bitterness of your distress, and discovered that you were lying face downwards on the grass in the fir-plantation. When he called you, you went to him and told him you had lost something."
"So I have," answered Betty.
"Is it because of that you are unhappy?"
"Yes, because of that--altogether because of that."
"What have you lost, dear?"
"Mrs. Haddo, I cannot tell you."
"Betty, I ask you to do so. I have a right to know. I stand to you in the place of a mother. I repeat that I have a right to know."
"I cannot--I cannot tell you!" replied Betty.
Mrs. Haddo, who had been seated, now rose, went over to the girl, and put one hand on her shoulder.
Betty shivered from head to foot. Then she sprang to her feet and moved a little away. "Don't!" she said. "When you touch me it is like fire!"
"My touch, Betty Vivian, like fire!"
"Oh, you know that I love you!" sobbed poor Betty.
"Prove it, then, dear, by giving me your confidence."
"I would," said Betty, speaking rapidly, "if that which is causing me suffering had anything at all to do with you. But it has nothing to do with you, Mrs. Haddo, nor with the school, nor with the girls in the school. It is my own private trouble. Once I had a treasure. The treasure is gone."
"You would, perhaps, like it back again?" said Mrs. Haddo.
"Ah yes--yes! but I cannot get it. Some one has taken it. It is gone."
"Once again, Betty, I ask you to give me your confidence."
"I cannot."
Mrs. Haddo resumed her seat. "Is that your very last--your final--decision, Betty Vivian?"
"It is, Mrs. Haddo."
"How old are you, dear?"
"I have told you. I was sixteen and a half when I came. I am rather more now."
"You are only a child, dear Betty."
"Not in mind, nor in life, nor in circumstances," replied Betty.
"We will suppose that all that is true," answered Mrs. Haddo. "We will suppose, also, that you are cast upon the world friendless and alone. Were such a thing to happen, what would you do?"
Betty shivered. "I don't know," she replied.
"Now, Betty, I cannot take your answer as final. I will give you a few days longer; at the end of that time I will again beg for your confidence. In the meanwhile I must say something very plainly. You came to this school with your sisters under special conditions which you, my poor child, had nothing to do with. But I must say frankly that I was unwilling to admit you three into the school after term had begun, and it was contrary to my rules to take girls straight into the upper school who had never been in the lower school. Nevertheless, for the sake of my old friend Sir John Crawford, I did this."
"Not for Fanny's sake, I hope?" said Betty, her eyes flashing for a minute, and a queer change coming over her face.
"I have done what I did, Betty, for the sake of my dear friend Sir John Crawford, who is your guardian and your sisters' guardian, and who is now in India. I was unwilling to have you, my dears; but when you arrived and I saw you, Betty, I thanked God, for I thought that I perceived in you one whom I could love, whom I could train, whom I could help. I was interested in you, very deeply interested, from the first. I perceived with pleasure that my feelings towards you were shared by your schoolfellows. You became a favorite, and you became so just because of that beautiful birthright of yours--your keen wit, your unselfishness, and your pleasant and bright ways. I did an extraordinary thing when I admitted you into the school, and your schoolfellows did a thing quite as extraordinary when they allowed you, a newcomer, to join that special club which, more than anything else, has laid the foundation of sound and noble morals in the school. You were made a Speciality. I have nothing to do with the club, my dear; but I was pleased--nay, I was proud--when I saw that my girls had such discernment as to select you as one of their, I might really say august, number. You took your honors in precisely the spirit I should have expected of you--sweetly, modestly, without any undue sense of pride or hateful self-righteousness. Then, a few days ago, there came a thunderclap; and teachers and girls were alike amazed to find that you were no longer a member. By the rules of the club we were not permitted to ask any questions----"
"But I, as a late member, am permitted to tell you this much, Mrs. Haddo. I was, and I think quite rightly, expelled from the club."
"Betty!"
"It is true," answered Betty.
"And you will not tell me why?"
"No more can I tell you why than I can explain to you what I have lost."
"Betty, my poor child, there is a mystery somewhere. I am deeply puzzled and terribly distressed. This is Wednesday evening. This day week, at the same hour, I will send for you again and ask for your full and absolute confidence. If you refuse to give it to me, Betty, I will not expel you, my child; but I must send you from Haddo Court. I have an old friend who will receive you until I can get into communication with Sir John Crawford, for the sort of mystery which now exists is bad for the school as a whole. You are intelligent enough to perceive that."
"Yes, Mrs. Haddo, I am quite intelligent enough to perceive it." Betty stood up as she spoke.
"Have you anything more to say?"
"Nothing," replied Betty.
"This day week, then, my child. And one word before we part. The chapel where Mr. Fairfax reads prayers--where God, I hope, is worshiped both in spirit and in truth--is meant as much for the sorrowful, the erring, the sinners, as for those who think themselves close to Him. For, Betty, the God whom I believe in is a very present Help in time of trouble. I want you to realize that at least, and not to cease attending prayers, my dear."
Betty bent her head. The next minute she went up to Mrs. Haddo, flung herself on her knees by that lady's side, took her long white hand, kissed it with passion, and left the room.