The next day after school when I was putting the books away and trying to fight off the depression which had beset me when two more pupils had told me that morning that they were leaving at the end of the term, Margot arrived.
She had run all the way from the Manor and was breathless. I made her sit down and gave her a glass of my mother’s tonic which she had said was good for depression, and not until Margot had drunk it would I listen to her.
Then she told me that she had gone to Sir John and told him.
“I thought he. would die of shock. He seemed to think that although we were lovers and had planned to marry it was quite impossible that we could have behaved in what he called “this irresponsible way” He didn’t believe me at first. He thinks I am quite innocent and believe that babies are found under gooseberry bushes. He kept saying: “It cannot be so. It is a mistake. My dear Margot, you are such a child” I told him I was old enough to have a baby and to do beforehand that which was necessary to produce one. The way he looked at me! I could have laughed if I had not been a little frightened. Then he said what I knew he would.
“I must tell your parents at once.” So you see, Minelle, what you have done. Through your advice we have brought about the very thing we wanted to avoid. “
“It was impossible to avoid it, Margot. How could you keep such a secret from them? It’s not as though it is merely a matter of having a baby. After its birth the baby will be there. How could you cope with that … without their knowing.”
She shook her head.
Then she looked at me steadily, her enormous dark eyes like brilliant lamps in her pale face.
“I dread facing him,” she said.
I could well believe that, and I did my best to comfort her. Her nature was such that she could be in the depth of despair and shortly afterwards sparkle with joie de vivre. She laughed a good deal but there was often hysteria in that laughter and I knew she was terrified of her father.
She did not leave for France at the appointed time. She came to the schoolhouse to tell me that her father was coming to England and that she was to stay at the Manor until he arrived. She had now assumed an air of bravado, but i wondered how deep it went. Poor Margot! She was in great trouble.
It was Mrs. Manser who told me that the Comte had arrived at the Manor.
“I reckon,” she said, ‘that he has come to take Mademoiselle home.
She’ll have a talking-to and no mistake. Imagine the Comte’s rage at his daughter going off with a groom! “
“I can well imagine it.”
“My word! He’s a gentleman who has a high opinion of himself. You’ve only got to see him riding round to know that. And his daughter thinking she was going to marry James Wedder! I never heard the like.
It don’t do, you know. God put you where you are and that’s where you should stay to my mind. “
I was in no mood to listen to her homilies and when she invited me back to supper I pleaded too much school work.
“How’s the school going, Minelle?” Her forehead was creased into lines of anxiety but her mouth betrayed a certain satisfaction. In her opinion it was not right for women to be anything but wives and the less profitable the school was the sooner I should come to my senses.
She wanted to see her Jim settled with a wife of her choice (and oddly enough I was that) and little ones running about the farm, learning to milk cows and feed the hens. I smiled, picturing my mother’s distaste.
Soon after Mrs. Manser had gone a messenger came from the Manor. My presence was requested there and Sir John and Lady Derringham would be pleased if I came without delay. It was almost a summons.
I thought it must be something to do with the departure from the school of Maria and Sybil. Perhaps they were not going to see the term through but were leaving at once With some trepidation I realized that the Comte would be there. But it seemed hardly likely that I I crossed the lawn, passed the sun-di hall. One of the footmen told me that for me in the blue drawing-room and he without delay. He opened the door and saw Sir John standing with his back to leaped and started to pound uncomfor
I was at the window, looking out.
“Ah, Miss Maddox,” said Sir John.
The Comte swung round and bowed.
“I dare say you wonder why we have here,” said Sir John.
“It concerns this Marguerite. The Comte has a propositior I am going to leave you with him that He indicated a high-backed chair faci sat down.
As the door shut on Sir John, the Co window seat and folding his arms re gar “Since, Mademoiselle Maddox, you’s little better than I speak yours, it might this conversation in French. I want you the nature of my proposal.”
“If I should fail to understand I shall A faint smile touched his lips. Mademoiselle, for you are very know led tres sing affair of my daughter. What shame … for our noble house.”
“It is certainly unfortunate.”
He spread his hands and I noticed ag ring and the exquisite white lace at th “I do not intend to allow it to be moi need. I must tell you that I have no soi one who may well have to carry on ou must prevent that.
But first she must p tard . this son of a groom. He shal name. “
I reminded him that the child might be “Let us hope it will be so. A daughter But first we must consider what must must be born in obscurity. I can arra will go to a place. I shall find for her. St. This or That … and she will have a companion with her.
Marguerite will be a widow in some distress because her young husband was killed in an accident. Her kind cousin is looking after her. The child will be born, put with foster parents, and Marguerite will return to her home and it will be as though this unfortunate matter had never happened. “
“It seems an easy solution.”
“Not so easy. It will need some planning. I do not like these secrets in families. This is not the end of the matter … with a child who will be there for the rest of its life. You see, Mademoiselle, I am very uneasy.”
That I understand, of course. “
“You are a very understanding young woman. I knew it from our first meeting.” A smile touched his lips and he was silent for a few moments. Then he went on: “You are puzzled, I can see. You wonder where you come into this. Now I will tell you. You will be the cousin.”
“What cousin?”
“Marguerite’s cousin, naturally. You will accompany her to the place I shall find for you. You will look after her, be with her, make sure she does not act foolish again-and I shall know that she is in good hands.”
I was so astonished that I stammered: “It … it’s impossible.”
“Impossible! That is a word I do not like. When people say to me Impossible, I then decide that I will show it to be possible.”
“I have my school.”
“Ah, your school. That saddens me. I hear it is not doing as well as it should.”
“What do you mean?”
He spread his hands and somehow managed to convey that he was distressed by my misfortunes while the curve of his lips showed that he found my plight amusing . and a little gratifying. This is a time for frank speaking,” he said.
“Mademoiselle Maddox, I have my need. You have yours. What will you do when the school becomes a liability rather than an asset, eh? Tell me that.”
There is no question of that arising. “
“Oh come, did I not ask for plain speaking? If you will forgive my bluntness, you are not the mature figure your mother was. People hesitate. Shall I send my daughters to a school where the Principal … the only teacher … is little more than a girl herself? Look what happens. One pupil runs off with a groom.