There was a good deal of conversation about it at the Vicarage, where it became known through a visit paid by Rebecca and Beatrice to the school, and their coming back scandalised at finding it in charge only of the pupil-teachers, who explained the reason of Hazel’s absence, and that she had sent a message to Mr Chute, asking him if he would raise one of the shutters, and give an eye occasionally to the girls’ school, which was, however, in so high a state of discipline now that the pupil-teachers were able to carry it on passably well.
“And of course Mr Chute has done so?” said Miss Lambent.
“No, please ’m; he said he had plenty to do with his own school,” replied one pupil-teacher.
“And he wouldn’t do anything of the sort,” said the other.
“What a disgraceful state of affairs, Beatrice!” exclaimed Miss Lambent; and the sisters hurried away to acquaint their brother with the last piece of news.
“I suppose, with a person of her class, one can only expect the same conduct that one would receive from a servant,” said Beatrice acidly.
“I do not understand you, Beatrice,” said her brother.
“I mean, Henry, that now she has resigned or received her dismissal, we shall only get the same amount of inattention that one would from a discharged servant.”
“For my part,” said the vicar, “I think that Miss Thorne is being hardly dealt with.”
“Absurd, Henry!” said Miss Lambent. “We cannot say a word to you but you take Miss Thorne’s part.”