The Romance of Mary Sain, etc

Front matter

THE KOMANCE OF MAEY SAIN Mary Sain THE ROMANCE OF MARY SAIN BY C. H. COCHEAN-PATEICK WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. SHUTE LONDON J. S. VIRTUE & CO., Limited, 26, IVY LANE PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. CONTENTS. CHAP. PACE I. " Coming Events cast their Shadows before " 1 H. The New Governess 17 UT. TnE Murrays of Morven .... 36 IV. The "Times" Newspaper .... 53 V. Cousin Edward 08 VI. Miss Sain's Persecution 83 VLT. The Beginning of Trouble .... 100 VHI. Miss Sain's Proposition and its Eesults . 113 IX. The Atlantic Ocean 123 X. The Locket 137 XI. Miss Sain's Story 157 XLT. Miss Sain's Story {continued) . . . .179 XHI. Poor Miss Sain 197 XIV. The Meeting 214 XV. Conclusion LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Mabt Sain Frontispiece. " BeFOEE I COULD STAET TO MT EeET AND THROW BACK MT Deess ... A TALL Ladt ..." .

To face page 17 " Deive to the Station to meet youe Papa" . ,, ,, 6_ )» Jl "Miss Sain lat sobbing across her Bed" . ,, ,, 129 " I saw Effie's wicked Intentions and did mt best to thwaet them " ,, „ 151 " I FotraD I could not walk ■without Assistance " ,, „ 178 "I threw Myself into Miss Sain's Arms" . ,, „ 202 "We -were both very unhappy in those Days" ,, „ THE ROMANCE OF MARY SAIN.

Chapter I

" COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." It was in the beautiful month of May of 188 — that we realised for the first time that the vague threat of a Governess, so long held over our devoted heads, was soon to become a dire reality. I, Constance Murray Mitchell, eldest daughter of the Eev. Adam Mitchell and Florence Murray of Otterdale, his wife, rose that morning as I imagined in very good time, but the warning bell rang before I had finished plaiting my hair, so I had no time to think of keeping it smooth and glossy. It was so very rough and untidy, when I looked in the foot square of dim glass we termed our mirror, that to conceal deficiencies I had to tie on the piece of brown ribbon meant only for use on high days and holidays. The tying of the bow made me late for prayers. a THE ROMANCE OP MARY SAIN.

My being late made mamma cross. Knowing mamma was cross made me nervous, and being nervous I put my hand up to my face and placed my forefinger between my lips and against my teeth, which position, although not elegant, has the effect of calming my nerves. A leaf of the Bible required to be turned over, and I moved away my hand from my mouth for that purpose. I swear I had no intention of moisten ing my finger in order to facilitate the act ; but un fortunately for me mamma was looking straight at me, and I saw by the horror in her face what her thoughts were on the subject. This increased my embarrassment to such a degree that I had to bring my thumb to the assistance of my forefinger, and actually ruffle the page before I could get it separated from its fellow. With an awful feeling of impending doom I rose from my knees, and said good morning to both parents.

Mamma's kiss was cold and short, and she began at once : " Really, Constance, you seem to take a pleasure in acquiring vulgar tricks. I think it is done on purpose to vex me." To prevent the tears in my eyes being seen, I turned away my head. " And your hair, child ! " exclaimed mamma • " COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 3 " what a state it is in. I never saw anything like it. Do you think it neat and becoming ? I call it fine and tawdry, and that is what no gentlewoman ever is. You must do it again — " " After breakfast," suggested papa. " Yes, and before you begin your lessons, now remember," went on mamma. " Effie ! what do I see ? Have you no hands 1" as the unfortunate Effie attempted to draw in her chair with her foot. I hoped this diversion would have saved me further annoyance • but mamma only waited till she had laid out the tea, and began again.

" It is high time that some one was procured to whose orders you will have to pay better attention than you do to my words. I hope the lady who is coming will keep strict rule over you, and I may as well warn you that any failure in deference to her will be punished most severely by papa and me. It is disgraceful that my daughters have not better manners than Farmer Davidson's ! Indeed, I think Polly and Meggy would conduct themselves with more propriety than you do. I speak to you all, but I blame Constance the most, because she is the eldest, and ought to set a good example to her younger sisters." Effie and Dolly looked scared, and I only prevented a burst of sobs by setting my face into a hard and sullen expression. Papa, who did not enjoy such scenes, said kindly, " You will all become elegant and accomplished young women when this English lady comes.

Won't you, girls?" " Yes, papa," cried the other two. I could not speak, but looked gratefully at him. " I hope so, but I should advise the reformation to commence now," said mamma. " Dolly, don't put such large pieces into your mouth. Euphemia, sit up. Constance, if you have finished with your knife, lay it down." Oh, if mamma had only said kindly, " Conny, dear, do try to remember all those little things to please me," how hard I would have tried ; but the constant fault-finding only irritated me, and I felt injured by the sarcastic tones, and the insinuation that I did it on purpose. I was nearly fifteen, the most sensitive and the most badgered age of womankind. I neither moved, nor spoke, nor got up, nor sat down, without in curring adverse criticism. I was told to be unconscious, and yet never allowed to forget my own awkward existence.

I felt a woman, and looked a child. When mamma said, carelessly, " If you have finished, children, you may go," it was in great indignation that I retired to re-arrange my horrid hair. My dress " COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 5 caught in the hinge of the door, and, unwilling to draw attention to myself by opening the door again, I tried to pull out the cloth by main force. It took time and strength, and I could not help hearing mamma say, "I hope we shall hear of a governess to-day, for I fear these girls will run wild together." " They are but lassies yet," said papa. " But still, habits formed now are habits formed for life," replied mamma. When I heard this I felt myself blush, and tearing away my dress hastily, I ran upstairs. We were really then to have a governess, a stranger to be beside us from morning to night, whom we must obey implicitly, and who might make herself as nasty as ever she liked, and yet we dared neither complain nor appeal from her harsh verdicts.

It was too hard. I was so anxious to tell the others my news that I did my plaits both well and quickly, and flew to the schoolroom. I found Effie learning her French verb, and Dolly looking over her spelling. How they both started when I said, " So our governess is coming to-morrow — perhaps." "Oh, what a shame!" cried Dolly, "and I have been so good for a week. I have neither let the door slam, nor kicked it open, nor eat with my knife, nor done anything since last Thursday, when I broke the cracked saucer by pouring my tea into it the night papa and mamma were out at dinner ; and now we are to have a detestable — " "Do be quiet a moment, Doll. She can't be coming to-morrow, Con, for her room is not quite ready, the carpet is not made even," observed the practical Euphemia. " Who told you ?

" And then I unburdened my tale. "It's too bad," sobbed Dolly, throwing her spelling book on the floor. " But I won't learn anything from her, that I am determined on ; and let us all be as naughty as possible, and then mamma will have to send her away again." "And get another worse one in her place," said Effie. " No, that won't do ; it will be better to learn everything as fast as possible, and get rid of her as soon as we can." " That may do for you and Conny, but although I know as much as either of you, nobody will believe it, and I will have to go on learning these horrid lessons over and over again for seven years at least. It's too bad. It's all Conny's fault, too, that we are getting a governess now, if she had not been late for prayers, and brushed her hair nicely, and — " replied Dolly, beginning to whimper again.

" COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 7 " Nonsense, Doll, if you don't attend to your lessons you will have to go on learning for ten years instead of seven. If we are all very good and forget nothing, and have no bad marks, she may not come after all," returned Euphemia. But we were too excited to attend to this excellent advice, and settle steadily to our work ; so when Miss Evans did arrive there were sundry bad marks awarded to us all. We were so much amused by hearing our teacher innocently speaking of what we were to study together months hence that we did not mind the impositions. It was so novel and delightful a sensation to know what she did not, that we smiled over our misfortunes. We had not long to triumph, for the same afternoon mamma sent for her, and she spoke no more to us of the future.

Nothing was said to us, of course ; but when a Times arrived next morning mamma smiled significantly to papa, and kept it unopened by her plate. I was anxious to know what the newspaper had to do with our concerns, but dared not show any curiosity. Aunt Constance came over to dinner and had a long conference with mamma, no doubt about our governess, as we were all banished from the room. An old woman came for wine for a sick daughter, and I offered to tell mamma, in the hope of picking up some information. All I overheard of the conversa tion, however, was Aunt Constance saying : " And when I go to London next week I could see any of them you thought — " It was very tantalizing ! The newspaper was lying open before aunt, but whenever I came near it mamma called out to me to go back to the old woman and ask more particulars of the girl's illness.

The old body was very loquacious, and anxious not only to tell me about Kirstie's symptoms, but also what she had suffered from last winter herself, and what had carried off her poor man two years ago at the harvest time ; and as I was thinking more of our new governess than her past misfortunes, I daresay I mixed the cases up a little. Anyhow, mamma could make nothin.; out of mv lono; and confused statement of facts, so she went out to the porch, accompanied by Aunt Constance, to interrogate the woman herself. I was left alone with the newspaper, and ran at once to the table on which it was spread. The first words I saw was, " Wanted, an English governess, for a quiet family in Scotland. A small salary but comfortable home offered. Apply by letter to Mrs. Mitchell, The Manse, Enternock, N.B." So that mystery was solved.

Letters came pourino in from all parts of the world, as if we wanted fifty " COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 9 governesses instead of one, and there were daily con sultations with Aunt Constance before she left, but we heard nothing, and no one came. We all behaved exceedingly well and got into no scrapes, and Miss Evans began to pick up her spirits, when day after day passed and there was no second summons to the drawing-room. An old lady, Mrs. Lawson, came to call on Saturday while I was sitting with mamma. She was a person I disliked extremely, for she was always offering dis agreeable advice, and had been the first person to speak of our strong Scotch accent, and to advise an English governess to counteract it. Her own accent was nearly as bad as Miss Evans', but, of course, in a person of her age that was of no consequence ; it is only in young people that such things are intolerable.

" Ah, Miss Conny, busy at your books I see ; well, I wish I had had your advantages !" she said, in her aggravating way, as if I did not make proper use of my opportunities simply because I had them and she had not ; and then she turned to mamma and winked knowingly as she added, " How does your search for the white crow get on, Mrs. Mitchell 1 " " Oh, as well as can be expected, considering the rarity of the article, Mrs. Lawson. I have a letter from my aunt to-day, which I will show you. It has puzzled me considerably. I would be glad to know your opinion of it," replied mamma, handing a thick envelope to her visitor. Mrs. Lawson read the long letter with many nods and smiles and interjectory remarks, such as " Well, this is queer ! Quite a romance ! I fear there is a young man in the background ! . . .

It's the very thing you wanted if — if — it's all right. . . . Miss Murray takes the sensible view of it," &c, &c. " I will give you a holiday from your French con versation to-day, Constance, so take Euphemia and Dolly a walk to the farm, but do not let the children spoil their new frocks by any foolish pranks. You may ask when the chickens will be ready," mamma said at last, just when I was hoping I was forgotten, and would hear the whole story. It was too bad, to be sent away like a naughty child in order to allow Mrs. Lawson to talk at her ease about my governess, while I, the principal person con cerned, had to be kept in the dark. I was actually quite grown up in all but name, and mamma often said if I had not sense now I never should have it. I am never considered too young to do anything that is disagreeable, but just because it is the custom to keep girls in the schoolroom till seventeen at least, I "coming events cast their shadows before." 11 must be treated as a child till then.

I am sure I am much better able to decide a difficult point than Mrs. Lawson ; vulgar old woman that she is ! How I hated her when she said, with her underbred chuckle, " Run away to your plays, Missy, your ma and I will do better without your company for a wee while." I never smiled nor ran, but walked slowly and gravely to the door. I wondered who else in the parish would be told all about it ; even the woman at the farm said, as she handed me a cup of milk, " So you are getting an English governess, I hear, Miss." I had great pleasure in replying with a smile, " I have not heard anything about it, Mrs. Davidson," which was the actual truth, and rather flabbergasted the worthy woman. Mrs. Lawson, however, was fated to give me more information against her will, for her curiosity in our concerns was so great that she returned in a few days, and without noticing, or caring, that I was at the piano looking out my music before commencing to practise, exclaimed, " Have you got her ?

" " Yes," returned mamma in a half whisper. " Aunt was so much pleased with her appearance and manners." " Well, I am glad ! It would have seemed to me like a tempting of Providence to let such a chance for the girls escape one. It may be just a fancy," hissed back Mrs. Lawson, only making her words more audible in her efforts to soften them, then nodding her head at me, she added : " Have you told them ? " " Not yet," answered mamma aloud ; and then called me to her, and told me that an English lady, a Miss Sain, had been so kind as to agree to come all the way from London to teach us, and she hoped we would be attentive and courteous, and give as little trouble as possible. I wonder who invented conventionality ; because I was only fifteen and considered a child, it was necessary for mamma to pretend, and me to affect, to believe that Miss Sain was going to teach us for love, and that the small salary and comfortable home was no object.

As if she would have been a governess if she could have been anything else. I could not say I was happy to hear it, I dared not say I was sorry, so I only repeated, " An English lady, mamma ? " " Yes, and my aunt says she is one of the most accomplished young ladies she has ever met ; and we must all remember she is leaving all her friends and " COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 13 coming among strangers, and try to make her feel as much at home as possible." This rather softened me, as it was an appeal to my generosity, so I said heartily, " I will do my best, mamma ? May I tell the others ? " Permission being granted, I called them to come downstairs, and told them as I hurried them into the drawing-room. Both Effie and Dolly received the information with a burst of tears. " What silly children !

" cried Mrs. Lawson ; "if you were poor Miss Sain now, you might cry at the pros pect of leaving home, and going hundreds of miles away to teach little girls, who cry when they hear of her kindness." " We never asked her to come. We don't want her," sobbed Dolly. " But your mamma, who knows what is best for you, has asked her, and she has consented to come ; so you must dry your eyes and rub up your lessons. If you stop crying I will take you home with me now, and give you some of my nice pre served ginger, and also scraps to make your dolls' cloaks." Dolly, mean little wretch, went away quite con soled. Effie and I had to arrange the schoolroom, paste together our tattered music, and re-cover our books ; and very hot and tired and cross we became over the business. " I cannot see," said Effie, doggedly, while we washed our grimy hands and brushed our dusty hair, " that we are bound to obey a governess.

It's not in the Bible. Parents are the only persons mentioned, and I cannot see that that means anybody who is older than you, or whom your parents choose to put over you. I don't believe they can give their authority to any one else, or if they do, they must relinquish it altogether. You can't give a thing away and keep it too, can you ? " Effie often puzzled me, although I was so much older. She was not twelve years old, and was the quietest, and supposed to be the best behaved of us all ; yet she had the wildest notions, which she con fided only to us, and never mentioned openly. Some of Essie's questions and suggestions trouble me to this day. On the present occasion I answered in dismay, " No, certainly not ; but w7hat do you mean to do ? " "What other people do ; but I don't give in to it.

I may obey Miss Sain to save trouble, and because she can teach me things I want to know ; but not because she has the right to make me," Effie replied, calmly. "COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE." 15 " Well, but that all comes to the same thing in the end. You obey her, although you know you need not," I said, rather crossly. " But the principle is different ; and an action is nothing, you know, in comparison to the motive from which it is done," was the dignified answer I received. I had nothing to say to the argument except, " Let us go down to tea, I am dreadfully tired." Dolly declared that a greater fuss could not have been made if we had expected the Queen of Sheba, instead of Miss Sain, to pay us a visit. The whole house was turned topsy-turvy, and all tasteful articles were conveyed to her room.

Mrs. Lawson made her self very busy, and suggested among other things that, as we were such big girls, we should burn or give away our toys, in order that Miss Sain might have the cupboard for her books. I had not played with my doll for years, and yet, I must confess, I loved the dear old thing — I suppose from long association with pleasant hours — and could not bear to think of rough, heedless hands pulling her to pieces, and laughing at her old-fashioned dress ; so I was im mensely relieved when mamma substituted a little bookcase of our own, and left our toys undisturbed. I felt exceedingly nervous the night before the day on which we expected our new governess. What would she think of my manners, if she were the fine lady Aunt Murray described her to be ? I had never realised before what great need I had for improvement in minor particulars.

With Miss Evans I felt nearly as superior in polish as inferior in knowledge. Poor Miss Evans, I felt quite sorry to bid her good bye, and vexed to think I had laughed so much at her funny ways. a tall lady " Before I could start to my feet and throw back my dress

Chapter II. The New Governess

Next morning was very sunny, and I hoped it would prove a good omen. Papa had to go to Glendun to visit a dying man, so it was arranged that mamma and I would walk to the Enternock Station to meet Miss Sain, who was expected to arrive by the noonday train. I went out to revel in my last hours of freedom. The sun was intolerably hot, and I would have had to go to the top of the house for my hat, and run the risk of being seen and sent off to do something unpleasant ; so, sooner than do so, I turned the skirt of my frock over my head. This is a very common practice among our peasantry in wet weather, but certainly not a lady-like feat. I was seated on a clump of roots, watching the station road, in case of any one approaching and dis covering me in my original sunshade, when I heard the back gate clang, and before I could start to my feet and throw back my dress, a sharp and yet o drawling voice beside me said : " Will you be so good as to inform me if this is Enternock House ?"

The speaker was standing on the gravel path ; she was a tall lady, dressed all in black, and wore an enormous crinoline and very long skirts. She had finely - cut features, large eyes of changing hue, and glistening under her large plumed hat were coils of golden hair. I, blushing, stammered out, " Yes." She passed me without another word, walked to the front door, and rang the bell. I followed meekly, admiring exceedingly her way of walking, it was like the motion of a boat, and re minded me of all the pretty things said about the gliding gondolas in Yenice, although I never saw a gondola except in my dreams. I knew it must be Miss Sain, but how did she get here, and where did she come from ? I had little doubts of her identity ; fine unknown ladies did not walk about here, for any new arrival in the neighbourhood was known and published immediately.

While waiting for the door to be opened, she turned round and looked over the hills with a sad, wistful expression, and I noticed strange purple semi-circles under her eyes. She did not seem to see me, although I was standing a few yards distant. Peggy'opened the door, and stared at the fair vision before her in silent wonder. The lady turned round and said abruptly, but in the same measured tones that had struck me when she spoke to me, " I am Miss Sain. Is Mrs. Mitchell at home ? " I heard Peggy, still holding the door in her hand, interrogate, " the go-ver-niss . " and Miss Sain reply, in a tone of surprise, " Yes. Is Mrs. Mitchell at home ? " and Peggy return in her unconcerned manner, " Ou, aye. Come ben ; " adding audibly to herself, " Losh ! peety me ! " and then the black figure glided in, and I was left to discover what my opinion was of our teacher, model, friend.

She was handsome, she was fashionable, she was mysterious, arriving in this unlooked-for manner ; so far good, but I decided then and there that we should never be friends. The unfortunate circumstances of our first meeting could never be forgotten by either of us ; I would always be ashamed in her presence, and she must despise me in her heart. She was older, also, than I expected to find her, and perfectly self-possessed ; I might admire, I must envy, and would probably end by hating her. She, the poor, sad, friendless stranger, was at home ; while I, who meant to be kind and patronizing and grown-up in manner, was embarrassed and ill at ease, and felt like a naughty child detected in a fault. I resolved I would not go indoors, to be made more uncomfortable ; I would hide somewhere ; I would pretend to be asleep.

Accordingly, I threw myself in an artistic attitude against a tree and closed my eyes. I quite agree with the gifted author who says some where that surprises are always disagreeable. If Miss Sain had not surprised us by appearing at the front door, but had come like an ordinary mortal by the train, I might have gone up to her frankly and welcomed her home to Enternock, and carried her bag for her, and pointed out all the local beauties as we walked together from the station ; but now, alas ! all was lost, and we must be enemies, and make each other miserable for life. " Miss Con-nay, Miss Con-nay," shouted Peggy, and disturbed my reverie. She did not take the trouble to come down the path and see me asleep, but stood screaming at the front door. It was too provoking ! But after a moment's consideration, I started, and came in a dignified manner up the path.

" The leddy's come, Miss Connay, and the mistress wants ye," cried Peggy at the top of her voice, as soon as I came in sight ; then, sinking her tones, she added confidentially, as I reached the house, " I hae seen two or three governisses, but never ane to match yon leddy. Sic-a-na hat, and sic-a-na gait ; sic-a-na voice, and sic-a-na goun ! My certies, if yon's a governiss, I hae nae objection to be ane mesel ! " " Oh, Peggy ! " I laughed. " What kind of a governess would you make ? " " What for no ? My auntie's dochter, she's a governiss wi' a leddy ayont Glasky. She was eddi cated in Edinborough no less, in the Norval schools ; but I preferred respec'able service," returned the undaunted Peg. Our colloquy was broken by hearing a stir in the drawing-room, Peggy vanished, and I stood still, as mamma and Miss Sain walked out of the room together.

Miss Sain smiling and talking, and quite at her ease, mamma responding, and apparently quite delighted with her. How could I advance gracefully and welcome the stranger ? It was impossible. I bit my lip and looked down without venturing either speech or movement. "Constance!" and mamma's voice was so wrathful, it made me quake. No doubt she thought I was displaying my unfortunate temper already to my governess. Miss Sain, who had been looking over my head all the time, now smiled and came forward saying, " One of my pupils, I suppose ? How d'ye do, Miss Mitchell ? I had no idea I was to have the pleasure of a pupil so nearly grown up." She made a motion as if to kiss me, and then changed her mind, and shook hands instead, looking into my eyes with her own lovely ones. I did not know whether to be gratified or the reverse by her apparent forgetfulness of our previous meeting, and I could not guess from her manner whether the want of recognition was real or pretended.