At nine o"clock Violet took up the history, and began to read the neglected lesson of yesterday, while Bertha paid earnest attention to every word, after which she gave a very clear account of what she had heard.
She then went to her practice without a word of objection, and performed her work faithfully, after which her other lessons were taken up as usual.
All during the day she was obedient and respectful, and when the lessons were completed, Violet, with a tenderer feeling for her than she had yet experienced, read her the most charming story that she could find.
By the middle of the afternoon Mr. Lawrence paid them a visit, and finding his daughter in a sunnier mood than usual, looked the pleasure he felt.
He told them that he had come to take them to drive in Central Park, and a few minutes after they were rolling rapidly out toward that beautiful spot, behind a pair of handsome bays.
That evening, just before it was time for Bertha to retire, she stole softly to Violet"s side, wound her arms about her neck, and, peering eagerly into her face, shyly remarked:
"Miss Huntington, your eyes do not look "sorry" tonight."
"No, indeed, dear; they ought to look very bright and happy, after such a delightful day as we have had," Violet answered.
"It has been a good day, hasn"t it?" Bertha questioned, laying her head fondly on her teacher"s shoulder.
"Yes, and all days will be "good days," if we do right," was the gentle response, as Violet pa.s.sed her arm around the child and drew her closer to her.
"I wonder, Miss Huntington, if you will get to love me by and by,"
Bertha said, wistfully, after a little pause.
"I love you now, dear," was the sweet-voiced a.s.surance.
"Truly."
"Yes, truly and dearly," and a soft kiss emphasized the statement.
"But----"
"But what, Bertha?"
"You didn"t love me yesterday."
"Oh, yes, I did, my dear child."
"How could you? It did not seem like love when you were so--so stern and set."
"I certainly should not have shown love for you it I had allowed you to have your own way."
"Shall you always be so?"
""So"--how?"
"Why, set--determined."
"I hope I shall always be firm enough to do what is right, dear."
"Is it right to make little girls do what they do not want to?"
"Yes, if what they wish to do is wrong."
"Don"t you ever say "yes," when you have once said "no," Miss Huntington?"
"I do not mean to, Bertha, for I am afraid that a certain little girl, whom I know, would not trust or respect me if I should," Violet answered, gravely.
"I love you," said the child, impulsively, and Violet felt that she had won no mean victory, and the one influence of which would be felt as long as she retained her present position.
Those three simple, earnest words told her that, by continuing firm during their recent contest, she had gained an influence and hold upon the young girl"s heart that she would never lose, and she resolved to persevere in the course she had laid out for herself.
It was easy to resolve when her pupil was in such a delightful mood, but it was not so easy to execute, and Violet had to exercise all the patience and self-control of which she was possessed, for during the next few weeks there were several repet.i.tions of willfulness and obstinacy on the part of her pupil, although she never held out so long again and was more easily conquered each time.
She finally seemed to realize that her governess meant just what she said--that sooner or later she must yield her the obedience which she demanded; and after a while it became evident to Violet that she was really trying to conquer her antagonistic disposition, and was truly anxious to please her.
There were many struggles and many failures, for over-indulgence had pampered her disposition and fostered a selfishness which was not easily mastered; but the strong will was now being bent in the right direction, and the fruits of firmness and decision were making themselves manifest; while, as Violet was always patient and gentle, tender in reproof, and sympathetic whenever Bertha manifested sorrow, the child gradually grew to love her almost to idolatry.
Six months after the young teacher took up her abode in that elegant home, one would hardly have recognized the docile, obedient child, and every one in the house marveled at the change in her.
Study grew delightful to her; she made rapid progress in her music, and became so gentle and courteous to the servants, so affectionate and companionable with her father, that she was like a sunbeam in the house.
CHAPTER XXIV.
VIOLET MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT.
Violet"s life became more and more pleasant as time went on. Her pupil continued to make marked and steady progress in her studies, while in music she was becoming wonderfully proficient. She also grew more cheerful and equable in temperament, and Mr. Lawrence was constantly congratulating himself upon having secured such a treasure for a governess.
He was not long in discovering, also, that she was a very cultivated young woman and exceedingly companionable as well, for, while Violet was conscientious in the discharge of her duties toward her charge, she did not neglect any opportunity to improve herself.
She took up a course of reading which could not fail to expand her mind and enlarge her views of life; kept herself informed regarding pa.s.sing events, while she devoted the greater portion of her evenings, after Bertha had retired, to music, both vocal and instrumental.
No one who had known her in the old days in Cincinnati would have believed it possible that she could have changed in so short a time from a careless girl into this self-contained yet gracious woman, who charmed every one with her sweet dignity, her beautiful face, and cultured conversation, and Mr. Lawrence was not slow to appreciate his good fortune in having so lovely a woman in his home.
"She would grace the highest position in the land," he told himself, one night, when, at his request, she had presided over his table at a select dinner party, bearing herself with so much ease and grace, and displaying so much tact, that he was charmed and his guests eloquent in their praises of her.
From that time he began to show her, in a quiet way, numberless little attentions. If he heard her express a desire, it was unostentatiously gratified within twenty-four hours. If she mentioned a book or picture, it appeared as if by magic--the one among the collection upon Bertha"s shelves, the other somewhere upon the walls of her sitting-room, while every day the choicest of flowers found their way, by some unseen agency, to the little table which was devoted to Violet"s especial use.
Once or twice every week Mr. Lawrence would come home to luncheon, bringing opera or theater tickets for a matinee, and though Bertha and the housekeeper were always included in these pleasures, for form"s sake, it was evident that the gentleman was most anxious to contribute to the enjoyment of the fair governess, for he always managed to ascertain her preference, and in this way Violet had opportunity to hear the best histrionic and musical talent.
Every pleasant afternoon he would plan a drive or a visit to some picture-gallery or museum of art for her and Bertha, who, notwithstanding her imperfect sight, enjoyed listening to a description of the beautiful and interesting things about her, while it was something new and delightful to have her papa such a devoted and faithful attendant.
One day, for a change, they drove out to one of the reservoirs which supply New York city with water.
Violet had been unusually happy all the week; her pleasant life, the kind care and attention so constantly thrown around her, all contributed to make the world seem a very delightful place once more, even though its chief joy and light for her had been removed.