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Updated: May 20, 2025
Fan was up early next morning the ringing concert of the orchard, so different from the dull rumble of the streets, had chased away sleep, and all desire to sleep and punctually at eight o'clock she came down to breakfast. Mr. Churton alone was in the room, looking as usual intensely respectable in his open frock-coat, large collar, and well-brushed grey hair.
Her mornings, from nine till one o'clock, were spent with her teacher, and occasionally they went for a walk after dinner; but as a rule they were not together during the last half of the day. After school hours Miss Churton would hand over her pupil, not unwillingly, to her mother, and, if the state of the weather did not prevent, she would go away alone with her book to Eyethorne woods.
Churton, silent and pale, walked at her side, turning from time to time a troubled look at the dark proud face, and wondering what its stormy expression might mean. "Fan," said Miss Starbrow, without even a glance at the lady at Fan's side, "my time is nearly up, and I wish to have three or four minutes alone with you before saying good-bye."
Before Miss Churton had finished welcoming Fan, Miss Starbrow, looking at her watch and directly addressing the elder lady, said in a cold voice: "I think it would be as well if Miss Affleck could leave us for a few minutes, and I will then finish what I had begun to say." Miss Churton looked inquiringly at her, then turned again to Fan. "Will you come with me to the garden?" she said.
Churton made no reply for some time, but the news disturbed her greatly. Much as she felt for Fan, she could not help thinking also of her own sad case; for after the last quarter had come, with no word from Miss Starbrow, she had taken it for granted that Fan was to stay another year with her.
Even when the other was standing by her side, curiously regarding her still pale face, she made no sign, but after one troubled glance remained with eyes cast down. "Are you not tired of being alone with nature yet, Fan?" said Miss Churton, with a smile, and placing her hand on the girl's neck. "Oh no, Miss Churton; it is so pleasant to be here!" she replied.
But if you ever take a fancy for such subjects it will always be a comfort to know that you may dive down as deeply as you like without knocking your head on the bottom. I mean that you will never get to know too much for Miss Churton, who knows more than all the professors put together." "Do you think she will be nice?" said Fan, wandering from the subject. "Nice! That depends on your own taste.
He was very unobtrusive in the house, except at intervals, when he would rebel against his wife and say shocking things and screech at her. But when cold weather came, then poor Mr. Churton took an extra amount of alcohol for warmth, and the spirit and cold combined brought on a variety of ailments which sometimes confined him for days to his bedroom.
"I think I can answer any question, Miss Churton, unless it is about how we lived at home before Miss Starbrow took me to live with her. She wishes me not to speak of that, but to forget it." Constance listened with softening eyes, wondering what that sorrowful past had been, which had left no trace on the sweet young face.
There was not much conversation. Miss Churton was rather pale and subdued in manner, speaking little. Fan was shy and ill at ease at this her first meal in the house. Mrs. Churton alone seemed inclined to talk, and looked serene and cheerful; but whether the late scene in the drawing-room had been more transient in its effects in her case, or her self-command was greater, she alone knew.
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