“I think the first things would always come first,” said Clemence.
“There does not seem much good in a home, if you have to leave it,” said her brother.
“I suppose there is no help for it, for a boy,” said Lesbia, resting her eyes on them in acceptance of their point of view. “In Clemence’s case there may be more freedom of choice. She can depend upon Miss Petticott in solitude, if it is preferred. And if Miss Petticott will accept the responsibility.”
“She would be lonely by herself,” said Maria.
“The trap was right in your path,” said her husband.
“No, Roderick, I do not set traps,” said Lesbia. “Maria presumably meant what she said, and there is truth in it. Or do you say there is not?”
“I want both my children in their home. Sefton can go on with his tutor until his time for a public school. They have a right to each other’s companionship, and a girl has a right to her father’s roof.”
“Well, that is one side of things,” said Lesbia, on a more cordial note. “So let us leave it at that. And I shall be interested in the result of the experiment. For that it must be said to be. Everything is grist to my mill, as I have said, in the sphere of preparation for life.”
“Did you know that your brother was to be a governess with the rest of them?” said Mr. Firebrace to the children.
“You do not address the children of your own accord more than twice a year,” said Maria.
“Perhaps that would be about the number of times.”
“How do you mean, Grandpa?” said Clemence.
“Music mistress at his uncle’s school.”
“Music master,” said Sefton.
“No, I meant what I said, my boy.”
“Then will he be there when I am there?”
“Yes, I thought you would be glad to hear that,” said Maria. “It will make a background for you. There will be someone to appeal to, if anything goes wrong.”
“Then he will have to acknowledge the relationship,” said Oliver.
“And why should he not do that?”
“Well, I shall have to play the piano for the hymn at prayers.”
“How did you know?” said Juliet. “I am so relieved. I was wondering if Lucius would dare to tell you, or if it would devolve upon me.”
“Why should I mind his playing?” said Sefton. “He plays at home.”
“There is no reason to mind,” said Maria.
“You little know what you say,” said her stepson.
“I do not suppose he will give me any reasons when he comes home.”
“No, I do not suppose he will.”
“What is all this mystery?” said Maria, in an exasperated manner. “Why should not school be an open and natural life, like any other?”
“Like what other?” said Mr. Firebrace.
“Do not try to be suggestive, Grandpa. It is not a thing you can do. I could give Maria some reasons, and I shall know some more when I return. And some of the life is natural. Perhaps that is why it cannot be open. It could not be both.”
“I hate to feel there is so much that does not go into words,” said his stepmother.
“It does throw a shadow. And it must remain dark, sinister and hovering. And it is over innocent lives. But there is no need for Grandpa to hint that it is over lives like our own. As if they were innocent.”
“Well, what about this question of school, Roderick?” said Maria, in a weary tone. “Shall we put it to the vote? To go or not to go? Hands up, those in favour!”
No hand was raised and Maria looked round in doubt.
“No, no, I am aloof,” said Lesbia, shaking her head. “I have given my opinion. It must be taken for what it is worth. I do not give it a second time.”
“Of course Lucius and I cannot vote for having an extra boy,” said Juliet. “And Lucius is never in favour of anything. He cannot let his personality go to pieces.”
“I am in your position, Miss Firebrace. I am aloof,” said Miss Petticott. “Our minds do seem to work on the same lines.”
“I am against their going,” said Sir Roderick. “I do not mind giving the opinion a second and a third time.”
“I vote in favour of it,” said Oliver. “The results may afford me some amusement. I expect it will have some results.”
“I give the casting vote, also in favour,” said Mr. Firebrace. “When I have a family of governesses, it is not for me to stand in their light.”
“Then the ayes have it,” said Maria. “I have not voted myself, but no one has noticed that.”
“A note of dignified sadness,” said Oliver. “When Sefton goes wrong at school, it will come to his mind. There must be something to do that.”
“It has been settled all the time,” said his father. “And I ask that we shall not continue to assume it is not. And I hope they will not stay long.”
“I should not think they will. The results of their going are to amuse me; and if they stay long, I do not see how they could.”
“Well, I am tired of the riddles and mysteries,” said Maria. “They give such a shallow touch to everything.”
“That is a hard saying and meant to be one,” said Oliver. “I thought they gave a subtle touch, and I still think it.”
“What do the people who are most concerned, think of its being settled?” said Lesbia, in a quiet tone.
“I knew it was,” said Clemence.
“Why did we think it was not?” said Sefton.
“That I cannot tell you,” said his father.
“I do not know that it is settled now,” said Lesbia, laughing. “I shall be prepared for either event. And it will not make so much difference, as long as we know in time.”
“It will make a good deal of difference to us,” said Clemence.
“I should not be so half-hearted, if I ran a school,” said Maria.
“Well, your methods would be more direct,” said her husband.
“Which kind of method do you think best?” said Oliver to Clemence, noticing her look.
“There does not seem to be much difference. All methods are direct really. It is not as if we could not see the indirect ones working.”
The parents suppressed amusement, or seemed to do so, and Maria put her arms about her children and guided them to the door, as though they had been sufficiently stimulated by adult company. Lesbia kept her eyes on Clemence as long as the latter was in hearing.
“Clemence has no social intercourse except with older people,” she said, as if she could deduce this.
“The two children are very good friends,” said Miss Petticott.
“Yes, but her brother’s companionship cannot lead her beyond a certain point,” said Lesbia, turning fully to the speaker and continuing under the protection. “Not beyond considering the effect of her words, and speaking with a sense of being listened to. It leaves her helpless there.” She dropped her voice and seemed to speak to herself. “And helplessness merits help.”
“She is not at all behind her age, Miss Firebrace.”
“No, the growth has been normal, but with the gaps resulting from the lack in the environment.”
“I always think the gaps are the best part of education,” said Sir Roderick, who thought this, or thought of it, for the first time.
“Well, I daresay we could all show plenty of them,” said Lesbia. “We will not make the lists.”
“I thought it was a mistake to do so,” said Oliver.
“Lucius has more gaps than anyone,” said Juliet. “Some people might think he was almost wholly a gap. But it is dangerous to copy him.”
“It is always a mistake to copy the peculiarities of a work of art,” said Oliver. “And that is what people do. But as they cannot copy the merits, what is their choice?”
“And gaps would be particularly easy to copy,” said Juliet.