human
I want to speak to you all alone, said Mrs. Haddo.
gpt
You realize, of course, Emma, how fully I trust you?
human
You have always done so, dear Mrs. Haddo,
gpt
Well, now, I am going to trust you more fully still. You noticed, or perhaps you did not, that Sir John Crawford, Fanny's father, called to see me yesterday?
human
Fanny herself told me, replied Miss Symes.
gpt
I found the poor, dear child in floods of tears. Sir John Crawford is going to India immediately, and Fanny says she is not likely to see him again for a year.
human
We will cheer her up all we can, said Mrs. Haddo.
gpt
I have many schemes for next Christmas which will, I am sure, give pleasure to the girls who are obliged to stay here. But time enough for all that later on. You know, of course, Emma, that there are three vacancies in the upper school?
human
Caused by the absence of the dear young Maitlands, replied Miss Symes.
gpt
I cannot tell you how much we miss them.
human
We do miss them, said Mrs. Haddo, who paused and looked attentively at Miss Symes.
gpt
I don't suppose, she continued,
human
I think I know most of their characters, said Miss Symes;
gpt
Is anything wrong?
human
Why do you ask me, Emma? Have you--noticed anything?
gpt
Yes, certainly. I have noticed that you are troubled, dear friend; and Mary Arundel has also observed the same.
human
But the girls--the girls have said nothing about it?
gpt
No; but young girls cannot see as far into character as older people can.
human
Well, now, said Mrs. Haddo,
gpt
I will be frank with you. What I say to you, you can repeat to Mary Arundel. I feel proud to call you both my flag lieutenants, who always hold the banner of high principle and virtue aloft, and I feel certain you will do so to the end. Emma, Sir John Crawford came to see me yesterday on a very important matter; and, partly to oblige him, partly because of an old memory, partly also because it seemed to me that I must trust and hope for the best in certain emergencies, I have agreed to do what I never did before--namely, to take three girls into the school--yes, into the upper school, in place of the three Maitlands. These girls are called Betty, Sylvia, and Hester Vivian. They are the nieces of that dear woman, Beatrice Vivian, who was educated at this school years ago. I expect them to arrive here on Monday next. In the meantime you must prepare the other girls for their appearance on the scene. Do not blame me, Emma, nor look on me with reproachful eyes. I quite understand what you are thinking, that I have broken a rule which I have always declared I would never break--namely, I am taking these girls without having first interviewed them. Such is the case. Now, I want you, in particular, to tell Fanny Crawford that they are coming. Fanny is their cousin. Sir John is their guardian. Sir John knows nothing whatever about their disposition, but I gather from some conversation which I had with him last night that Fanny is acquainted with them. Observe, dear, how she takes the news of their coming. If dear Fanny looks quite happy about them, it will certainly be a rest to my mind.
human
Oh, I will talk to her, said Miss Symes, rising.
gpt
And now, please, dear Mrs. Haddo, don't be unhappy. You have done, in my opinion, the only thing you could do; and girls with such high credentials must be all right.
human
I hope they will prove to be all that is desirable, said Mrs. Haddo.
gpt
You had better have a talk with Miss Ludlow with regard to the rooms they are to occupy. Poor children! they are in great trouble, having already lost both their parents, and are now coming to me because their aunt, Miss Vivian, has just died. It might comfort them to be in that large room which is near Fanny's. It will hold three little beds and the necessary furniture without any crowding.
human
Yes, it would do splendidly, said Miss Symes.
gpt
I will speak to Miss Ludlow. I suppose, now, I ought to return to my school duties?