To all of these, Clemence replied in the affirmative, and, as before, in obedience to a request in the imperative mode, to favor them with a specimen of her musical ability, went forward and took a seat at the piano.
She could not help looking her surprise, when the gentleman rose politely to turn her music. She had not been accustomed to such little attentions of late, though, in the past, she would have expected them, and treated them as a matter of course. She noticed the gentleman was handsome and distinguished-looking, with kind, grave eyes, and a smile that illumined his intellectual face like a gleam of sunshine. His age might have been thirty, possibly thirty-five.
Clemence"s performance seemed to give satisfaction, although she did not play as well as usual. After a few more questions, the lady asked the gentleman if she had not better engage the services of this young person at once.
"By all means," he said with emphasis; "I have no doubt that the young lady will give perfect satisfaction."
Clemence again felt grateful for his kindness. She had learned to appreciate and value a word of sympathy or encouragement. Poor child!
she received few enough of them now.
"Very well, you can come to-morrow. The children have been for some time without a teacher, and I wish them to commence upon a course as soon as possible."
Then, after a few remarks, and the mention of a salary, which seemed princely to Clemence, she was shown to the door by a liveried servant, and found herself walking homeward anxious to communicate this joyful intelligence to her mother.
"I declare, it"s a burning shame," said the motherly landlady, on being told of her success--"a real lady like you; it"s dreadful to think of."
"Why, Mrs. Mann," said Clemence, in dismay, "I thought you would be pleased. Only six hours of work each day, and I can have so much time to spend with mamma. I consider myself a wonderfully fortunate girl. The salary, too, is so liberal, that I can afford now to get the comforts that our dear invalid is pining for."
"Well, I don"t want to discourage you, dear," said Mrs. Mann. "You are a good girl, Clemence Graystone. The Lord"s on your side, and He"ll take care of you, if you trust Him, as He has watched over all the ups and downs of my life, till I"m an old woman. It"s the poor, and friendless, and desolate that He pities and loves, and He will protect you, my darling, wherever you may be, if you only trust to His guidance."
"I believe that, Mrs. Mann," said Clemence, "and it"s the one thought that keeps me from repining at my hard lot. I believe, too, that "the Lord helps those who help themselves," and I don"t mean to sit down in idleness."
"Heaven grant you prosperity," said the good woman. "Now go and comfort the mother, for she needs it sadly."
Work proved, as Clemence had antic.i.p.ated, a real blessing. Some of the happiest hours she had known, since her deep affliction, were pa.s.sed in the school-room with her young charges. She felt now as if she was of some use in the world, and when, after the lessons were finished, she went home to the fond mother, who awaited her coming, she realized, with thankfulness, that, through her exertions, want had been kept from the door, and the uncomplaining invalid supplied with the comforts, and even luxuries, to which she had been accustomed.
Sometimes a pleasant face looked in upon them, and "Uncle Will" was hailed with delight by Alice and Gracie Vaughn. At first, Clemence was cool and distant, but the cordial kindness of his manner won upon her, and she soon grew to value the friendship thus strangely formed. The kind word and beaming smile were very grateful to the weary girl. Ah, how little do the favored ones of this world know of the influence of one little act of kindness, or one pleasant word, ever so carelessly spoken. Many a poor, weak mortal has been kept from wrong-doing by a word fitly spoken, and others have gone down and been lost forever, from yielding to the thought that none cared for them, either for their weal or woe. There is not a day, nor an hour, but that somewhere throughout the length and breadth of the land, large sums of money are expended for charitable objects, and yet there are those who, for the want of a friendly hand to aid them to follow the right way, have crept away, and rid themselves of a life that had become insupportable. Persons of sensitive feelings, wounded by the indifference of those, who, from their professions, they should, expect only sympathy and forbearance, have suffered and died, and "gave no sign." This is a world of misery, and the few who know nothing of its trials, should thank G.o.d that they have been kept from an experimental knowledge of what life really is to thousands of their fellow-creatures, who, like themselves, are accountable beings, and with the same capacity for enjoyment or suffering. Indeed, none of us are always happy. We all have our hours of trial, when even the strongest-hearted will falter, and the dreamless slumber of the grave seem so sweet to our world-weary spirits. When it seems so hard to say, "Thy will be done," perhaps Death enters and robs us of some earthly idol. We see the dear one droop and die. It may be some dear, innocent babe G.o.d has transplanted. We watch its tiny life go out; see the sweet mouth quiver with the dying struggle, the strained, eager gaze mutely asking relief that we cannot give. We try to think it is well, but in place of submission, there are rebellious thoughts. Yes, we have all striven and suffered, groping, mayhap, in the darkness of unbelief. G.o.d, give us strength to resist and conquer! But,
"Never so closely does pain fold its wings, But the white robe of sympathy"s near it, And each tear that the dark hand of misery wrings, Brings the touch of a blessing to cheer it."
"Courage! weary-hearted one;" G.o.d knows what is the best for us in this life, and has promised a glorious reward for those who are faithful, in that life which is to come.
Mrs. Vaughn, the lady who had engaged Clemence"s services, was a widow in affluent circ.u.mstances. She spent but little time with her children, leaving them to the care of the nurse and governess. She rarely entered the school-room, and even when she did honor Clemence with her presence, paused long enough to give her more than a glance of her proud, beautiful face. She expressed supreme satisfaction with Clemence"s mode of instruction, and the children worshipped their young teacher.
With all her care and responsibility, had it not been for her anxiety in her mother"s behalf, this long, golden summer would have been one long to be remembered for its simple pleasures and calm enjoyments. The days pa.s.sed quickly.
"Can it be possible," said Clemence to herself one day, as she took her hat and shawl, and put them on absently, "that I have been in Mrs.
Vaughn"s employment three months?" She looked at the crisp bank notes that lay in her hand, in payment of her first quarter"s salary. "I consider myself a young lady of some importance, or, perhaps, I should say "young woman," now that I am a working member of society." She laughed aloud at her own thoughts. "Well, I am proud of the privilege,"
she mused, "and can take pleasure in the thought that I am an "independent unity," I never felt so strong-minded in my life."
A tawdry, ill-kempt female figure was shuffling slowly by the stately Vaughn mansion, as Clemence tripped down the steps, and two envious black eyes noted the happy smile upon her face.
"How d"ye do, Miss Graystone," said a harsh voice. "Ain"t too big to speak to a body, are you, cause you happen to be among "ristocrats?"
Clemence turned and immediately recognized Mrs. Bailey, an elderly woman, who lodged beneath the same humble roof to which her own straitened circ.u.mstances had consigned her with her parent.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Bailey," she said politely, "I did not observe you before."
"He! he!" giggled the old lady spitefully, "my eyes are sharp, if I am old. May be, now, if I was a fine gentleman, like the one with yonder lady, I would not be so easily overlooked?"
She stretched out her long arm, and looking in the direction in which she pointed, Clemence beheld, to her horror and dismay, Mrs. Vaughn, and beside her the gentleman who had been so kind to her, and had seemed to take such a friendly interest in her success with her little pupils.
They had not yet been observed, and there was still time for the mortified girl to make her escape unseen. The first impulse of her mind was to excuse herself to her eccentric companion, and turn quickly a convenient corner.
"But," she thought, "I should hurt this good woman"s feelings, and lose my own self-respect by such a course. Clemence Graystone, what are these people to you, that you should do a cowardly act for fear of them."
She raised her head proudly, and gave, perhaps, a more than usually distant bend of the head to the gentleman"s respectful bow. The lady gave her only a stare of astonishment, and they had scarcely pa.s.sed, when she heard these words distinctly:
"How shocking! _Did_ you see that horrid creature with Miss Graystone?
It must be her mother. I declare, if I had have known she had such low relations, I never would have engaged her."
"Gracia, hush! I entreat you, Miss Graystone will overhear you."
If Clemence"s face crimsoned at the words, the one beside her became absolutely livid with rage. Mrs. Bailey had once been a beauty, and the black eyes that now glowed with baleful fire, had, in years gone by, glanced languishingly upon scores of admiring swains. But there was now nothing left of fortune, fair looks, or friends, but a bitter memory that rankled in the woman"s heart. Realizing that her own youth had flown, she hated all that was young, and lovely, and pure, as a reproach to her mis-spent life. She was a keen observer of people, too, in her strange way, and had read upon the ingenuous face before her, the momentary temptation to shun her unwelcome society.
The delicacy of Clemence"s manner, instead of arousing her grat.i.tude, had the effect which it sometimes has upon people who realize their own inferiority, and she resolved to wound her where she guessed a young girl"s feelings were peculiarly sensitive.
Ignoring the remarks which she had heard Mrs. Vaughn making upon her own appearance, she turned and gazed over her shoulder, as the pair ascended the steps and entered the door, through which Clemence had but just pa.s.sed.
"Why, they"re goin" into the same house you came out of, Miss Graystone!
Who be they, now?"
Clemence informed her that the lady was Mrs. Vaughn, to whose children she gave instruction, and the gentleman was Mr. Wilfred Vaughn, the step-brother of her late husband.
"No, is it?" said Mrs. Bailey; "ain"t he a handsome man?" studying the girl"s face closely.
Clemence agreed with her in thinking Mr. Vaughn a handsome and distinguished looking gentleman.
"Is he married?" was the next question.
Clemence replied in the negative.
"Be you much acquainted with him?" queried her tormentor.
"But very little," was the laconic reply.
"Well, let me give you a little advice, young lady," said Mrs. Bailey, after a disagreeable silence of some minutes. "I have seen more of the world than you have, and think it is my duty to warn you of your danger.
Don"t have too much to say to this fine gentleman. Nothing is so becoming to a young woman as modesty." (It was truly wonderful how Mrs.
Bailey had come to learn in her old age, that of which she had seemed deplorably ignorant in her youth, and valued modesty the more as she had less occasion to call it into requisition.) "Men of his wealth and social position never want any good of poor girls like you; that is why I wish to warn you, for I think you are a good, deserving sort of a person, that means well, and if you profit by my instructions, you will avoid a lifetime of misery. Don"t let any foolish idea of securing a rich husband, enter your head. Submit patiently to the poverty that must always be your portion. Be industrious, sober and discreet, and I dare say, you may find some honest young man, bye-and-bye, who will want such a wife to help him turn an honest penny, and lay up something for a rainy day. Not that I think there is the least danger, unless you are forward enough to put yourself in this gentleman"s way, because men think so much of beauty, that plain girls like you are most always apt to be overlooked, but my conscience would reprove me if I did not warn you. Remember my advice! Listen to no flatteries; permit no nonsense to be poured into your ears, and shun, as you would contagion, the deceitful wiles of man."
She waved her hand majestically to Clemence, and disappeared up the dark staircase, for they had, by this time, reached home.
Hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry, the young girl went in search of her mother and kind Mrs. Mann, to confide her troubles, feeling sure of their cordial sympathy.
It is just possible that there was the least perceptible haughtiness in the calm "good morning," with which Clemence next met Mr. Vaughn. In spite of the remembrance of his many cordial kindnesses, the malicious insinuations of Mrs. Bailey had produced an impression on her mind, which she could not disregard.
"It is too true, she thought, bitterly. Alas! for the unprotected and helpless of my s.e.x, men of wealth and position rarely offer an honorable suit to women of a lower standing in society. I will have as little as possible to say to this fine gentleman."