Straight forward; or, walking in the light

by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

At this time, however, she never even alluded to the subject, but chatted pleasantly of matters at home, and at which Emily felt grateful for her forbearance. She hoped that Delia would go out and leave her alone fur a few minutes, but no such thing occurred, and the breakfast bell rang before she had quite made up her mind what to do. So the previous preparations for the day's duties and trials was again lost.

Things had by this time fallen nearly into their usual train, in which, though as all the girls had not yet returned, it was impossible to arrange the classes accurately. When will parents learn that it is quite as important to their daughters as to their sons, to return regularly and promptly to their duties? Boys are for the most part sent back to school, or college, on the very day of the opening, but girls are allowed to linger at home for two, three, or four days, or even a week or two after the school commences, to the great annoyance of the teachers and their own equal disadvantage. Mrs. Pomeroy had waged war on this custom for years, but with little success, and there were always at least half a dozen behind hand to produce confusion in classes, and vexation to teachers. On this occasion it was Mr. Fletcher's Latin class which clashed with Mr. Hugo's French, and of course Mr. Fletcher gave way to the stranger till matters could be arranged.

"I am glad the Latin was put aside," said Almira to Emily, as they gathered up their books, and went down together to the lecture room. "I would not miss this first recitation for any thing—it will be so odd to write French to a gentleman. Do you know I don't think Mr. Fletcher likes him very much!"

Emily had somehow received the same impression, though she could not tell how, and she asked her companion what made her think so. But Almira would not tell, only she did not believe he did. The large class was assembled in the lecture room, quite filling the raised seats in front of the apartment, before Mr. Hugo made his appearance. Some of the girls were looking over their lessons, some were occupied with their personal appearance, some simpering and giggling in that indescribable flutter which characterizes a certain style of young women (and some who are not so young) when there is a prospect of seeing a strange individual of the male sex. Delia sat on one of the front seats, quite composed and collected, though Emily thought she had rather more color than usual.

Punctually at the striking of the clock the Professor made his appearance, and mounted the platform without seeming in the least disconcerted by the array of young ladies. He did look slightly annoyed when Mrs. Pomeroy came in and seated herself upon one of the back benches, and he glanced at her in no very friendly way from under his bushy eyebrows. But the head of Minerva over the clock was not more impenetrable than Mrs. Pomeroy, and as she calmly took out her knitting, as though she had quite made up her mind to hear the lesson through, Mr. Hugo had no alternative but to proceed.

The lesson began with a general examination upon the principles of French Grammar, especially the verbs, that having been Mademoiselle's great hobby. The young ladies did themselves much credit, and Mr. Hugo not only professed himself satisfied, but paid a graceful compliment to their former teacher. He then dictated while they wrote, (an admirable plan by the way,) and then requested to see the exercises.

Only three young ladies beside Delia and Emily were prepared in this part of the lesson, and to the surprise of every body, one of these was Annette. She blushed visibly as she gave in her paper, but looked pleased at receiving a kind "very well, Annette!" from Mrs. Pomeroy, while Bella whispered to Lucy, who sat beside her, "You were right, after all. We shall see her a good French scholar yet."

Mr. Hugo glanced at all the papers, said they were very neatly written, and that he would return them the next morning; requested the young ladies to be particular in endorsing their names on the outside of their exercises, to prevent mistakes, and dismissed the class with a bow. His method of teaching seemed admirable, and as his manners were quiet and gentlemanly, Mrs. Pomeroy decided that she had done very well in engaging him, and said as much to Mr. Fletcher.

"I have seen so little of him that I am not prepared to judge, at present," was Mr. Fletcher's reply. "I cannot say, however, that I am pleased with the expression of his face."

Though Mrs. Pomeroy often asked Mr. Fletcher's opinion upon matters connected with the school, she was not apt to attach much importance to it, unless it coincided with her own. Mr. Fletcher had advised her to learn more of Mr. Hugo before engaging him, but she had thought the recommendation quite satisfactory which he had brought from his late employer in L., and his manners and accent were those of a gentleman. She could not help thinking that some of Mr. Fletcher's distrust of him arose from annoyance at his advice having been disregarded, and hinted es much, but Mr. Fletcher only smiled, and made no reply.