jeremy-第12章

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be　compelled　to　sympathise。　The　children　were　not　unfeeling；　but
they　hated　the　Jampot's　sulks；　and　while　she　waited　in　the　nursery；
longing　for　a　word　or　movement　of　affection；　but　wearing　a　face　of
stony　disapproval；　they　stood　awkwardly　beholding　her；　and　aching
for　her　to　go。　She　was　the　more　unapproachable　in　that　she　wore　her
Sunday　silks　and　a　heavy　black　bonnet　with　shiny　rattling　globes　of
some　dark　metal　that　nodded　and　becked　and　bowed　like　live　things。
Hamlet；　who　had；　of　course；　always　hated　the　Jampot；　barked　at　this
bonnet　furiously；　and　would　have　bitten　at　it　had　it　been　within　his
reach。　She　had　meant　to　leave　them　all　with　little　sentences　about
life　and　morals；　but　the　noise　of　the　dog；　the　indifference　of　the
children；　and　the　general　air　of　impatience　for　her　departure
strangled　her　aphorisms。　Poor　Jampot！　She　was　departing　to　a　married
sister　who　did　not　want　her；　and　would　often　tell　her　so；　her
prospects　in　life　were　not　bright；　and　it　is　sad　to　think　that　no
inhabitant　of　the　Orange　Street　house　felt　any　sorrow　at　the　sight
of　the　last　gesticulating　wave　of　her　black　bonnet　as　she　stepped
into　the　old　mouldy　Polchester　cab。

〃The　King　is　deadlong　live　the　King！〃　The　Jampot　as　a　power　in　the
Cole　family　has　ceased　to　be。

The　day　following　the　Jampot's　departure　offered　up　the　news　that；
for　the　first　time　in　the　history　of　the　Coles；　there　was　to　be　a
governess。　The　word　〃governess〃　had　an　awful　sound；　and　the　children
trembled　with　a　mixture　of　delight　and　terror。　Jeremy　pretended
indifference。

〃It's　only　another　woman；〃　he　said。　〃She'll　be　like　the　Jampot
only；　a　lady；　so　she　won't　be　able　to　punish　us　as　the　Jampot
could。〃

I　expect　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Cole　had　great　difficulty　in　finding
anyone　who　would　do。　Thirty　years　ago　governesses　were　an　incapable
race；　and　belonged　too　closely　either　to　the　Becky　Sharp　or　the
Amelia　type　to　be　very　satisfactory。　It　was　then　that　the　New　Woman
was　bursting　upon　the　scene；　but　she　was　not　to　be　found　amongst　the
governesses。　No　one　in　Polchester　had　learnt　yet　to　cycle　in
rational　costume；　it　was　several　years　before　the　publication　of
〃The　Heavenly　Twins；〃　and　Mr。　Trollope's　Lilys　and　Lucys　were　still
considered　the　ideal　of　England's　maidenhood。　Mrs。　Cole；　therefore；
had　to　choose　between　idiotic　young　women　and　crabbed　old　maids；　and
she　finally　chose　an　old　maid。　I　don't　think　that　Miss　Jones　was　the
very　best　choice　that　she　could　have　made；　but　time　was　short。
Jeremy；　aided　by　Hamlet；　was　growing　terribly　independent；　and　Mr。
Cole　had　neither　the　humour　nor　the　courage　to　deal　with　him。　No；
Miss　Jones　was　not　ideal；　but　the　Dean　had　strongly　recommended　her。
It　is　true　that　the　Dean　had　never　seen　her；　but　her　brother；　with
whom　she　had　lived　for　many　years；　had　once　been　the　Dean's　curate。
It　was　true　that　he　had　been　a　failure　as　a　curate；　but　that　made
the　Dean　the　more　anxious　to　be　kind　now　to　his　memory；　heMr。
Joneshaving　just　died　of　general　bad…temper　and　selfishness。

Miss　Jones；　buried　during　the　last　twenty　years　in　the　green　depths
of　a　Glebeshire　valley；　found　herself　now；　at　the　age　of　fifty；
without　friends；　without　money；　without　relations。　She　thought　that
she　would　be　a　governess。

The　Dean　recommended　her；　Mrs。　Cole　approved　of　her　birth；　education
and　sobriety；　Mr。　Cole　liked　the　severity　of　her　countenance　when
she　came　to　call；　and　she　was　engaged。

〃Jeremy　needs　a　tight　hand；〃　said　Mr。　Cole。　〃It's　no　use　having　a
young　girl。〃

〃Miss　Jones　easily　escapes　that　charge；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel；　who　had
met　her　in　the　hall。

The　children　were　prepared　to　be　good。　Jeremy　felt　that　it　was　time
to　take　life　seriously。　He　put　away　his　toy　village；　scolded　Hamlet
for　eating　Mary's　pincushion；　and　dragged　out　his　dirty　exercise…
book　in　which　he　did　sums。

〃I　do　hate　sums！〃　he　said；　with　a　sigh；　regarding　the　hideous
smudges　of　thumbs　and　tears　that　scored　the　page。　〃I　shall　never
understand　anything　about　them。〃

〃I'll　help　you；〃　said　Mary；　who　was　greatly　excited　at　the　thought
of　a　governess。　〃We'll　do　them　together。〃

〃No　we　won't；〃　said　Jeremy；　who　hated　to　be　dependent。

〃I'll　learn　it　myselfif　only　the　paper　didn't　get　dirty　so
quickly。〃

〃Mother　says；〃　remarked　Helen；　〃that　she's　had　a　very　hard　life；　and
no　one's　ever　been　kind　to　her。　'She　wants　affection；'　Mother　says。〃

〃I'll　give　her　my　napkin…ring　that　you　gave　me　last　Christmas；
Mary；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃You　don't　mind；　do　you？　It's　all　dirty　now。　I
hope　Hamlet　won't　bark　at　her。〃

Hamlet　was　worrying　Mary's　pincushion　at　the　moment；　holding　it
between　his　paws；　his　body　stretched　out　in　quivering　excitement；
his　short；　〃snappy〃　tail；　as　Uncle　Samuel　called　it；　standing　up
straight　in　air。　He　stopped　for　an　instant　when　he　heard　his　name；
and　shook　one　ear。

〃Mother　says；〃　continued　Helen；　〃that　she　lived　with　a　brother　who
never　gave　her　enough　to　eat。〃

Jeremy　opened　his　eyes。　This　seemed　to　him　a　horrible　thing。

〃She　shall　have　my　porridge；　if　she　likes；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　like
it　very　much。　And　I'll　give　her　that　chocolate　that　Mr。　Jellybrand
sent　us。　There's　still　some；　although　it's　rather　damp　now；　I
expect。〃

〃How　silly　you　are！〃　said　Helen　scornfully。　〃Of　course；　Mother　will
give　her　anything　she　wants。〃

〃It　isn't　silly；〃　said　Jeremy。　〃Perhaps　she'll　want　more　than　she
really　wants。　I　often　do。〃

〃Oh；　you！〃　said　Helen。

〃And　if　for　ever　so　long；〃　said　Jeremy；　〃she　hasn't　had　enough　to
eat；　she'll　want　twice　as　big　meals　now　as　other　peopleto　make
up。〃

〃Mother　says　we've　got　to　remember　she's　a　lady；〃　said　Helen。

〃What's　the　difference；〃　asked　Jeremy；　〃between　a　lady　and　not　a
lady？〃

〃Oh；　you　are！〃　said　Helen。　〃Why；　Aunt　Amy's　a　lady；　and　Rose　isn't。〃

〃Rose　is　nicer；〃　said　Jeremy。

Miss　Jones　had；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　lied　to　Mrs。　Cole　in　one
particular。　She　had　told　her　that　〃she　had　had　to　do　with　children
all　her　life；〃　the　fact　being　that　on　several　occasions　some　little
cousins　had　come　to　stay　with　herself　and　her　brother。　On　these
occasions　the　little　cousins　had　been　so　paralysed　with　terror　that
discipline　had　not　been　difficult。　It　was　from　these　experiences
that　Miss　Jones　flattered　herself　that　〃she　understood　children。〃

So　audacious　a　self…confidence　is　doomed　to　invite　the　scornful
punishment　of　the　gods。

Miss　Jones　arrived　upon　a　wet　January　afternoon；　one　of　those
Glebeshire　days　when　the　town　sinks　into　a　bath　of　mud　and　mist　and
all　the　pipes　run　water　and　the　eaves　drip　and　horses　splash　and
only　ducks　are　happy。　Out　of　a　blurred　lamp…lit　dusk　stumbled　Miss
Jones's　cab；　and　out　of　a　blurred　unlit　cab　stumbled　Miss　Jones。

As　she　stood　in　the　hall　trying　to　look　warm　and　amiable；　Mrs。
Cole's　heart　forsook　her。　On　that　earlier　day　of　her　visit　Miss
Jones　had　looked　possible；　sitting　up　in　Mrs。　Cole's　drawing…room；
smiling　her　brightest；　because　she　so　desperately　needed　the
situation；　and　wearing　her　best　dress。　Now　she　was　all　in　pieces；
she　had　had　to　leave　her　little　village　early　in　the　morning　to
catch　the　village　bus；　she　had　waited　at　wayside　stations；　as　in
Glebeshire　only　one　can　wait；　the　world　had　dripped　upon　her　head
and　spattered　upon　her　legs。　She　had　neuralgia　and　a　pain　in　her
back；　she　had　worn　her　older　dress　because；　upon　such　a　day；　it
would　not　do　to　travel　in　her　best；　and　then；　as　a　climax　to
everything；　she　had　left　her　umbrella　in　the　train。　How　she　could　do
such　a　thing　upon　such　a　day！　Her　memory　was　not　her　strongest
point；　poor　lady；　and　it　was　a　good　umbrella；　and　she　could　not
afford　to　buy　another。　Perhaps　they　would　find　it　for　her；　but　it
was　very　unlikely。

She　had　had　it　for　a　number　of　years。

She　was　a　little　woman；　all　skin　and　bone；　with　dried　withered
cheeks；　a　large　brown　nose　and　protruding　ears。　Her　face　had　formed
severe　lines　in　self…defence　against　her　brother；　but　her　eyes　were
mild；　and　when　she　smiled　her　mouth　was　rather　pleasantly　pathetic。

〃Oh；　she'll　never　do；〃　thought　Mrs。　Cole；　as　she　looked　at　her
dripping　in　the　hall。

〃I　can't　think　how　I　forgot　it；　said　the　poor　lady；　her　mind　fixed
upon　her　umbrella。　〃They　said　that　perhaps　they　would　find　it　for
me；　but　there　was　a　man　in　my　carriage；　I　remember；　who　will　most
certainly　have　taken　itand　it　was　a　nice　one　with　a　silver
handle。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　said　Mrs。　Cole　cheerfully；　〃I'm　sure　they'll　find　it。
You　must　come　up　to　the　nurseryor　the　schoolroom　I　suppose　we　must
call　it　now；　there's　a　lovely　fire　there；　and　we'll　both　have　tea
with　the　children　to…day；　so　as　to　feel　at　home；　all　of　us；　as
quickly　as　possible。〃

What　Miss　Jones　wanted　was　to　lie　down　on　a　bed　in　a　dark　room　and
try　and　conquer　her　neuralgia。　The　thought　of　a　lighted　nursery
filled　her　with　dismay。　However；　first　impressions　are　so　important。
She　pulled　herself　together。

The　children　had　heard　the　arrival；　they　waited　in　a　bunch　by　the
fire；　their　eyes　partly　fixed　on　the　door；　partly　on　the　strawberry
jam　that　they　were　allowed　to…day　as　a　treat　in　the　new　governess's
honour。　Hamlet；　his　eyes　and　ears　also　upon　the　door；　expecting
perhaps　a　rat；　perhaps　Aunt　Amy；　sat　in　front　of　the　group；　its
bodyguard。

〃She's　in　the　hall；〃　said　Helen；　〃and　now　Mother's　saying：　'Do　take
off　your　things。　You　must　be　wet；'　and　now　she's　saying：　'You'll
like　to　see　the　children；　I　expect；'　and　now〃

There　they　were；　standing　in　the　doorway；　Mrs。　Cole　and　Miss　Jones。
There　followed　a　dismal　pause。　The　children　had　not　expected　anyone
so　old　and　so　ugly　as　Miss　Jones。　Hamlet　did　not　barknothing
occurred。

At　last　Mrs。　Cole　said：　〃Now；　children；　come　and　say；　'How　do　you
do？'　to　Miss　Jones。　This　is　Helen；　our　eldestthis　Maryand　this
Jeremy。〃

Miss　Jones　did　a　dreadful　thing。　In　her　eagerness　to　be　pleasant　and
friendly　she　kissed　the　girls；　and　then；　before　anyone　could　stop
her；　kissed　Jeremy。　He　took　it　like　a　man；　never　turning　his　head
nor　wiping　his　mouth　with　his　hand　afterwards；　but　she　might　have
seen　in　his　eyes；　had　she　looked；　what　he　felt　about　it。

She　said：　〃I　hope　we　shall　be　happy　together；　dears。〃

The　children　said　nothing；　and　presently　they　all　sat　down　to　tea。




II


It　was　unfortunate　that　there　was　so　little　precedent　on　both　sides。
Miss　Jones　had　never　been　a　governess　before　and　the　children　had
never　had　one。　Of　course；　many　mistakes　were　made。　Miss　Jones　had
had　a　true　admiration　for　what　she　used　to　call　〃her　brother's
indomitable　spirit；〃　her　name　for　his　selfishness　and　bad　temper。
She　was　herself　neither　selfish　nor　bad…tempered；　but　she　was
ignorant；　nervous；　over…anxious；　and　desperately　afraid　of　losing
her　situation。　She　had　during　so　many　years　lived　without　affection
that　the　wells　of　it　had　dried　up　within　her；　and　now；　without　being
at　all　a　bad　old　lady；　she　was　simply　preoccupied　with　the　business
of　managing　her　neuralgia；　living　on　nothing　a　week；　and　building　to
her　deceased　brother's　memory　a　monument；　of　heroic　character　and
self…sacrifice。　She　was　short…sighted　and　had　a　perpetual　cold；　she
was　forgetful　and　careless。　She　had；　nevertheless；　a　real　knowledge
of　many　things；　a　warm　heart　somewhere　could　she　be　encouraged　to
look　for　it