Mrs. Grundy's Victims

Preface

. -*®<- This is the first preface I have ever written ; my reason for previous abstention being my belief that a preface is usually that part of a book which nobody reads, or upon which adverse critics hang the criti cisms which are applicable to no other part of the work before them. The following considerations are responsible for my present perpetration of so unpopular an institution. Firstly, I think it' desirable to explain that this true tale of real life is written because I saw the need of a candid and realistic picture of some of our social evils. Without a knowledge of the bodily disease he is called in to cure, a physician is of little avail to the patient, and it is my hope that by exposing to young women the dangers and pitfalls which await them when cast on the world, I may be the means of help ing them to avoid or cure the moral ills which are Preface.

VIII usually attributed to natural depravity, but for which sheer ignorance of the world is responsible. Had the heroines of my story but been aware of the traps likely to be set for them, their career in life would have been bereft of much suffering and dis grace. I appeal to my readers — is it not time that we ceased to pander to the debasing tendencies of the age by confounding Ignorance with Innocence ? Is it not true that much of our social trouble is due to the fact that Ignorance makes ready victims of thousands who would otherwise have proved useful and honoured members of society ? I have also a second reason for an outspoken pre face. It has been pleasantly insinuated that Prudes, Bigots, and Dunderheads are so sure to find fault with my exposure of, and allusions to, certain pitfalls for the unwary, that a little extra douche on account of the preface can't make much difference.

Now I prefer to believe that the tribes of Prudes, Bigots, and Dunderheads are almost extinct, and that the picture of real life here introduced to the reader will receive credit for being what it is — an attempt, undertaken from the purest motives, to enlighten and forewarn Preface. IX young girls and their guardians. That those who are thus forewarned may prove themselves to be also forearmed is the earnest hope of THE AUTHOR. London, 26th fanuary, 1893. CONTENTS. -d®€- CHAP. -A-_. I. A DANGEROUS TONGUE . . . . 13 II. ADRIFT IN LONDON .... 28 III. IN THE DEVIL'S TOILS .... 43 IV. PURSUED BY DEMONS . . . . 58 V. THE ARK OF REFUGE .... 73 VI. THE SWEATING FIEND . . .- 89 VII. WILL-O'-THE-WISP . . . . 107 VIII. A MAIDEN ALL FORLORN . . .123 IX. betrayed! . . . . 140 X. THE FRIEND IN NEED . . 155 XI.

QUEER SALVATION . . . ■ l73 XII. THE WITNESS FROM THE DEAD . . 189 XIII. THE DEVIL'S HANDMAID . . . 206 XIV. "FOR THEIR SINS SHALL FIND THEM OUT" . 225 XV. PARADISE.— CONCLUSION . . .240

Chapter I

A DANGEROUS TONGUE. " I ASSURE you it is quite true. I have it from the best authority. Their origin is most disreputable. Captain Forest was certainly their father, but as his first wife did not die until two years after he married the lady who subsequently became the mother of these girls, they have neither legal nor moral status. " Of course their mother must have known all about the first wife ; and with such a father and mother, how can you expect the two girls to be moral and respectable? Naturally, I am sorry for them, but still, you know, one owes a duty to Society, and pain ful as it is for me to do so, I think it necessary to put you on your guard." " Certainly ! It is only right that I should know these things. Dear, dear ! whoever . would have !3 thought it? Both Amy and Eva seemed to be such sweet, innocent girls.

But that only shows how deep they are, to manage to conceal their true nature like that. You are quite sure there is no mistake ? " " Oh, perfectly sure. I have a friend at Greenly who knew the first Mrs. Forest, and who grows very 'indignant every time she thinks of the wrongs the poor creature endured. She was left penniless, while her husband was lavishing caresses and luxuries upon another woman and her illegiti mate offspring." " Oh, how dreadful ! I really cannot tolerate the sight of those deceitful girls after this ! I will give them a quarter's salary, and they shall go at once. I only hope that neither Bertie nor any of his friends have got entangled with them. That would be too shocking." " Perhaps it would be better for you to say that you propose sending the children to school, or something of the sort.

They may not be quite so bad as their parents, and it would hardly do for it to be known that you have been har bouring people like that. Don't you think it would be best not to give the real reason for dismissing them? It would save you a lot of unpleasantness." "Yes, you are right. I must do the thing as quietly as possible, and I only hope that they have done no irreparable mischief." The speakers are Mrs. Pinkard and Mrs. Gull, and the conversation takes place in the glaring, pretentious drawing-room of the latter. Mr. Gull at one time propelled a fishmonger's barrow, and cried his wares lustily. Being gifted with more than his due modicum of impudence, cunning, and unscrupulousness, he had in him the making of a man ' of means, the more especially as he did not lack either perseverance or that most valuable qualification of all — tact.

A man of his abilities was lost as a costermonger, so he turned his attention to the turf, as afford ing better scope for his peculiar talents. He had not escaped the accusation of welching, but, never theless, he throve and prospered until he was able to take a handsome villa, in which he in stalled his still more handsome wife, ex-barmaid, and, if report spoke truly, the result of a liaison between a cavalry officer and a ballet girl. Mrs. Gull had, however, quite as much worldly cunning as her husband, and never steered on the side of truth when professing to confide some of the family antecedents to the friends whom her money brought around her. Recognising the advisability of having some profession to acknowledge before the world, of more respectable standing than that of bookmaker, Mr. Gull started business as a Government contractor, and as he never scrupled either to use bad materials, or to adopt the sweating system, he was always able to satisfy the Govern ment, which does not mind how its subjects fare, so long as it can grind all contracts down to the lowest ebb, in order to have the more money wherewith to support a lot of titled and untitled loafers, whose genuine claims and services are alike nil.

Being of such unimpeachable morality and respect ability themselves, it behoves Mr. and Mrs. Gull to be exceedingly particular as to the kind of people whom they condescend to patronise or associate with. Hence Mrs. Gull's ready resolve to dismiss the two orphan girls who have for twelve months fulfilled the respective duties of governess and lady help so admirably. The son with whom she hopes neither of the Misses Forest has contrived to get up an entangle ment is a lad of seventeen, not at all a bad sort of youth, considering his origin, and likely to make a man of metal and principle some day, providing he does not get spoilt. Fortunately for him, he has been sent to a public school, where sharp and wholesome correctives to home mannerisms are unsparingly administered. Since he only spends his vacations at home, and is looked upon by both Amy and Eva Forest as a mere boy, his mother's apprehensions regarding the condition of his heart may be regarded as unfounded.

With Mrs. Pinkard we have little more to do. She is but one unit of a sadly too numerous class of people, whose main object in life seems to be to do all the harm they can by raking up or inventing scandals, and by disseminating all the injurious gossip they can come across. She and her class are very well known under the general appellation of " Mrs. Grundy," who has not inaptly been denounced as " the devil's best handmaid " by people who have ample proof of the mischief wrought by the weapons she uses. Amy Forest, all unconscious of the doom pre paring for her, is sitting in the schoolroom, one child upon her knee, the other perched upon a high chair near her, and both of them trying their best to overcome the difficulties of simple subtraction. " I have it," at last cries Victoria Maude, " I am sure this is right, Miss Amy.

Now then, we want the fairy tale you promised us." " All in good time, my pet," smiles Amy. " I must first see if your sum is really right, and then we shall have to wait for Violetta." But Violetta's task is soon completed also, and B then the happy children hang entranced on the words of their gentle governess, who has such a happy knack of combining instruction and pleasure in their most fascinating form, that her pupils hardly know where the one ends and the other begins, and their progress has of late been quite remarkable. Presently tea is brought into the schoolroom, and as Victoria has a fancy for presiding at table to-day, Amy indulges her whim, finding much amusement in the child's quaint sayings and doings. The three look perfectly happy and contented, and their enjoyment is complete when Eva joins them and announces that she has come to take tea with them.

" Mrs. Gull has visitors, and I have seen the tea sent into the drawing-room. Cook has the dinner already well under way, and I may give myself a little holiday of an hour or two." " A holiday, indeed," laughs Amy. " You don't call it a holiday when you bring a pile of sewing with you ? " " Oh, that is only some table linen that wants hemming. Good hand-stitching is nicer than machine work for those things, and, even if I am working at that, it is still a nice holiday to be able to listen to your chatter." This answer seems to be somewhat provocative of surprise, for Violetta exclaims wonderingly — " How nice you are to say that, Miss Eva. I am sure you are dojng it just to please us. Miss Morton always used to be impatient and angry with us, and she used to say that there was nothing so miserable as living in a schoolroom with stupid children.

Do you think we are stupid ? " " Not at all, my darling," answers Eva, brightly. " You see, we all love each other, and that makes all the difference." Tea over, Eva busily employs herself at the linen, while Amy teaches the two little girls how to embroider a tea-cosy which they are intending to surprise mamma with on her birthday, and the time passes very merrily and happily until the appearance of the nursemaid proclaims the hour for retiring. Eva is folding up her work preparatory to going to superintend some household operations downstairs. Amy begins to clear up the litter that the children have made, and the latter are just being led reluctantly from the room, when the servant remembers that she has a message to deliver. " Oh, please, Miss Forest," she says, "the mistress wants to see you down in the drawing-room at once."

Eva is conscious of having, done her' duty with her whole heart and soul, and* no misgivings assail her as she proceeds to obey the summons she has just received. On the contrary, she has achieved such marvels in the way of clever management lately, that she is not sure that some special acknowledgment of her efforts is not going to be made, for, with all her faults, and they are multitudinous, Mrs. Gull is never niggardly in money matters, and is in the habit of rewarding the diligence of her servants with appropriate and well-chosen presents. But a glance at Mrs. Gull's severely 'indignant features causes a little thrill of dismay to run through Eva's heart, for • she sees at once that it is not praise, but censure, that she has to expect. "My business, Miss Forest, is very brief," Mrs. Gull begins, " and I will not trouble you to sit down.

It • has come to my knowledge that you and your sister are not exactly the proper kind of persons to have in my house. I have, therefore, sent for you to let you know that I wish to dispense with your services henceforth. You will receive a cheque this evening in lieu of a quarter's notice, and I desire you to leave us not later than to morrow morning." "You cannot mean to be so cruel," protests the dismayed girl. "Tell me where we have failed in our duties, and you shall see that we will do our very best to please you." " I do not say that you have failed in your duties,'' replies Mrs. Gull, coldly ; " I simply say that I do not look upon you as proper persons to have charge of my house and children. You will, therefore, consider yourselves dismissed." " But what have we done ? " is Eva's very natural inquiry, to which she only receives an answer virtually repeating what has just been told her.

" Do you know, Mrs. Gull, that by dismissing us without notice, you deprive us of all chance of getting another appointment ? People will think we have done something dreadful. You cannot be so merciless. At least let us remain another term, until we can get other situations, for, as you know, we have no home." " I cannot help that," is Mrs. Gull's cold, hard reply. " I have my own reputation as well as yours to think of, and I see no special hardship in the case. On the contraiy, I am going to pay you well for work which I do not intend to exact from you, and I repeat that I can brook no delay in your departure." As Mrs. Gull says this, she ends the interview by sweeping from the room, and Eva is left standing the picture of hopeless despair, for she fully understands the seriousness of the blow which has been struck at her, and the terrible import of being cast adrift, without the usual notice, and without a character.

She forebodes only too truly that Mrs. Gull will not send them away with references of such a satisfactory nature as will aid them in procuring another appointment. When, a little later, she staggers into the bedroom which she and Amy share in common, the latter is horror-stricken at the terrible change one brief quarter of an hour has wrought in her sister's appearance. " Oh, my darling," she cries, apprehensively. " What is it ? Are you ill ? " and she hastily springs forward to support Eva, who appears to be on the point of fainting. It is some time be fore the latter can do anything but sob her grief out on her alarmed sister's shoulder, but she is at last able to say : " We are ordered to leave this house to-morrow. Mrs. Gull says that we are not fit persons to be A Dangerous Tongtte. 23 in it, but will give no other reason for dismissing us."

Amy is dismayed, that is evident, but she is by no means so overwhelmed as Eva. " There must be some mistake," she says, slowly. " We have always given such satisfaction, or at least we have thought so, and nothing but some very grave fault would justify any one in casting the stigma of an instantaneous dismissal upon us. What does Mrs. Gull say we have done ? " " That is just it," Sobs Eva, " she says that we have not failed in our duty, but she will give me no other explanation." " But I mean to have one," says Amy, hotly. " She surely does not think that we will submit to be robbed of livelihood and reputation, without some adequate reason being give.n. Here, you must lie down and let me bathe your forehead with some Florida water, and then I will see what madam has to say to me." " It is of no use, Amy.

Her . heart is as hard as adamant. She even professes to be doing us a favour, by paying us another term's salary." So says Eva, but Amy is less yielding than her sister, and, after seeing the latter more com posed, she goes boldly downstairs, and seeing Mrs. Grumes Victitns. 24 her mistress in the dining-room, where dinner is about to be served, she at once commences the attack, not deterred by the fact that Mr. Gull has come home, and has already ensconced him self in the post of honour at the head of the table. " My sister tells . me," she says, addressing her self to the lady of the house ; " my sister tells me, Mrs. Gull, that" you have dismissed us both, although you can find no fault with our behaviour ; and that you profess to have discovered that we are not fit and proper persons to be in your house.

Will you kindly tell me what you mean by that ? and if anyone has said anything against us, will you be good enough to give me the names of your informants, so that we may refute their calumnies ? " She looks a splendid creature as she confronts the whilom barmaid, and the latter is not so arro gantly self-possessed in her presence as she was with the more gentle Eva. " Really," she says, with a vain attempt to assume a dignified demeanour ; " I must say that your manner is* impertinent, and that I feel glad to have discovered your true character before much mischief has been done." " And pray what do you call ' my true character ? ' " demands Eva. " Your true character — I have it on good authority — is that of a low, scheming adventuress. So take that, madam," snaps the lady, as she would call herself, whereupon Mr. Gull thinks it time to intervene, and irascibly asks his wife to explain what she' means, and not keep the dinner waiting.

But neither Mr. Gull's snarls, nor Amy's just demands, can compel Mrs. Gull to give satisfactory replies to the questions asked of her, and the unhappy girl retires at last, not utterly broken down like Eva, but stormily rebellious at the injustice done her. Nevertheless, she sees no way. out of her trouble, and straightway sets about making the best of it by endeavouring to cheer her less sturdy-tempered sister. Mr. and Mrs. Gull, left to themselves, talk the matter out over their dinner. " You see," says the latter, " I am compelled to do it, or that horrid Mrs. Pinkard would set all sorts of nasty reports out about us. I have to be very ex clusive, for fear people should suspect that we have not always been well off. You know you told me to do all in my power to conciliate any body that could either advance or mar your cause, and Mrs. Pinkard's tongue can work such mischief, that I verily believe she could keep you out of Parliament, for she would not hesitate to Mrs. Grundys Victims. 26 invent unpleasant antecedents for us, if we vex her at all.

I shall tell her to-morrow how I esteem her opinion, and how glad I am that she put me on my guard against these adventuresses. As she has less money than tongue, a timely present of anything she may chance to admire to-morrow, while we are out together, will complete her con quest, and at the same time secure you the votes of her husband and his set." " I see," muses Mr. Gull, " one has to look at the thing from all sides. Still, it seems a pity to sacrifice these girls to Mrs. Pinkard's scandalmonger ing propensities." " To your social advancement, you mean," corrects his wife, "and you forget how inconvenient it will be for me to lose them, and how difficult it will be to replace them soon. My self-sacrifice counts for nothing,- I suppose." "Oh, well, you are as anxious to be a big body as I am myself, and to talk about your self-sacrifice is all bosh.

It's a pity Mrs. Pinkard either saw or heard anything about your governess and lady help. They are two deuced fine girls, and I think either you or myself had better keep an eye on them. They are too handsome to be set adrift in the world without a character and without a protector." But Mr. Gull has, all unconsciously, converted Mrs. Gull from a passive, into an active enemy of the pretty sisters. Her friend has been right, after all, she thinks. There is something disreputable about these girls, for the poison has actually begun to work in Mr. Gull himself. No wonder their fate is now sealed irrevocably, for what mercy was a jealous woman ever known to possess ?

Chapter II. Adrift In London

The remainder of the evening is spent by Amy and Eva in packing, and wondering what will be the best thing for them to do on the morrow. As it is impossible to secure situations at once, they find it necessary to look out for a temporary home, and are comforted by the reflection that there is a Governesses' Home in London, where they can obtain board and lodgings at a moderate rate until they are able to make other arrangements. The children have gone to bed, and will not know until morning that they are to lose their beloved governess and her kind sister. Mr. Gull has sent to both governess and lady help a cheque representing the full value of the remainder of this term and the whole of the next, supple mented by a fair allowance for board during a corresponding period, and accompanied by a request for their signatures to the receipts for the money.

Amy writes a short note, and sends it with the receipts, asking that a reference be permitted to them in view of possible future employers, but the request is ignored, and our heroines quit the house next morning practically characterless. The parting with the children has been cruelly painful, and the servants are in a state of re pressed mutiny. But they are too well off to risk offending the mistress, and such remarks as they have to make are made when she is out of earshot. It does not take long for the cab which has been summoned to drive to the station, and fifteen minutes more sees the girls in Liverpool Street, whence another cab is directed to con vey them to the Governesses' Home. The streets are thronged with traffic, and a block occurs in several places, but their destination is reached at last, and Amy, having paid the cabman and seen their luggage deposited in the hall, seeks an interview with the lady principal, and inti mates that she and her sister wish to live in the establishment, en pension, until they obtain fresh situations.

" Yes," says Mrs. Browne, the lady superinten- Mrs. Grundys Victims. 30 dent, " we have a nice little sitting-room and bedroom to spare, which I have no doubt will suit you. Our terms are exceedingly moderate, and we can board and lodge you both for 30s. per week." " I am very glad," is Amy's comment, " for we must necessarily economise for a time. Will you kindly see that our luggage is taken upstairs, while I inform my sister of the arrangement we have made." " Just one moment first," puts in the lady super intendent. " It is only a form, you know, but we have found it necessary to observe it. You say you have just left situations. Will you please show me your references, more particularly the one you will have received from your last em ployers ? " Amy feels her heart turn sick within her, and her emotion must have partly shown itself upon her face, for Mrs. Browne looks suspiciously at her, and her manner loses just a little of its urbanity.

"I am very sorry," stammers Amy, "but I have no references to show you." " Indeed ! " is Mrs. Browne's comment, given with raised eyebrows, " that is unfortunate. But perhaps you' did not think of it, and may easily remedy this matter?" " I am afraid not," Amy replies, anxiously. " Mrs. Gull refused to permit us to refer to her." " In that case, you must have done something serious, to provoke her displeasure. Do you mind telling me why you left Mrs. Gull ? " The question is reasonable enough, but even while Amy falters an answer to she effect that she does not know the reason of their dismissal, she feels how stupid and untrue such an answer must seem to such a woman as Mrs. Browne, and is almost prepared for her next words. " I am exceedingly sorry," she says, " but our rules forbid me to accept any boarders whose character and antecedents are not beyond suspicion.

You must excuse me if I am compelled to regard your story as a somewhat doubtful one. I regret that we cannot accommodate you, and will now wish you good-morning, as my time is fully occupied by my duties." Amy knows that it would be perfectly useless to appeal to this stern woman, who can p< rhaps hardly be blamed for her conduct in this maiter, as upon her shoulders rests the responsibility of preserving the reputation of her institution, and it is necessarythat she should be very careful as to whom she admits. Mrs. ' Grundys Victims. 32 But it is terribly hard for the sisters, who, until a year ago, never suppossd it would be necessary for them to earn their own livelihood. Their mother had been dead for some time, but their father, a hale, strong man in the prime of life, bade fair to live many years, had not the tragedy occurred which is ever dreaded by those whose beloved ones go down to the sea in ships.

Close" upon the news of his loss came the knowledge that their future subsistence must be of their own earning, as their household furniture was their only possession, and the house in which they lived so expensive that it must be given up at once. The furniture was sold by auction, of course for a fraction of what it originally cost, and by the time they had settled what few current liabilities there were, paid for a suitable mourning outfit, and seen to the erection of a granite obelisk to the memory of their beloved father, they had not very many pounds left. There were plenty of people who considered it worse than folly to spend the greater portion of their money upon a useless monument, and who prudently took the opportunity of being permanently offended with the Misses Forest because they would not listen toreason in the matter, but obstinately insisted upon paying a last tribute of affection to their ill-fated father.

To the friends who had thus seasonably become estranged, the girls could not turn for help and counsel, neither could they either solicit or accept anything at the hands of Captain John Forest, their father's brother, as there had for many years been an estrangement between the two, of which Amy and Eva did not know the reason. But it was sufficient for them that their father had for bidden them to hold intercourse at any time with John Forest and his family, and they did not con sider their present friendless condition a sufficient reason for setting their father's wishes at naught. They were anxious to obtain some situation which would enable them to live together, but people were averse to engaging girls who had not been out before, and their stock of money was nearly exhausted, when they were at last success ful in pleasing Mrs. Gull, who engaged them on the recommendation of the vicar's wife, a lady who soon afterwards passed over to the great majority herself.

And so it has come about that they positively do not know what to do, or where to turn, when they find the door of the Home closed against c them. Almost as soon as Amy has confided this new dilemma to Eva, their luggage is being transferred from the hall to the pavement, and they are compelled to go out with it at once, if they wish to avoid the risk of losing it. Eva cannot keep the tears out of her eyes, but Amy shows a brave front, and promptly hails a passing cab. " But where are you going to order the man to take us to ? " inquires Eva. " To Waterloo Station," is the answer, which serves at the same time as an order to the cabman, who has just driven up. The man touches his hat, lifts the luggage on to the cab, sees the ladies seated inside, and in a few seconds more they are on their way to Waterloo, Eva's tears having been banished by her surprise at Amy's business-like actions.