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The next day, sharp at nine o'clock, the young people who were to form Miss Tredgold's school entered the new schoolroom. It was suitably and prettily furnished, and had a charming appearance. Large maps were hung on the walls; there was a long line of bookshelves filled partly with story books, partly with history books, and partly with ordinary lesson books.
"Pauline, dear, we can't wait any longer," said Miss Tredgold's voice. "I must go," said Pauline. "Tell me afterwards." "Whisper," said Penelope, pulling her hand. "I have got it. The deep-blue top and the light-blue stones and the goldy middle I have it all. And I can tell Aunt Sophy, and show it, and I will if if you don't tell me about " "About what?"
As to Betty, she was in the most extraordinary way brought over absolutely to Miss Tredgold's part of the establishment. Miss Tredgold not only raised her wages on the spot, but paid her every farthing that was due in the past.
The upshot of it all was that on the following day a very large and very shabby bedroom was got ready after a fashion for Miss Tredgold's arrival; and John, the sole factotum of the establishment the man who cleaned the boots and knives, and swept up the avenue, removed the weeds from the flower-beds, cleaned the steps whenever they were cleaned, and the windows whenever they were cleaned appeared on the scene, leading a tumble-down, knock-kneed pony harnessed to a very shabby pony-cart.
Chalk sauntered slowly through the narrow by-ways of Binchester. He read all the notices pasted on the door of the Town Hall and bought some stamps at the post-office, but the morning dragged slowly, and he bent his steps at last in the direction of Tredgold's office, in the faint hope of a little conversation. To his surprise, Mr. Tredgold senior was in an unusually affable mood.
Tredgold's eyes of which the girl knew nothing. He stood at the doorway watching the rain. "Come inside," said Miss Drewitt, in a trembling voice. "You might be struck." Mr. Tredgold experienced a sudden sense of solemn pleasure in this unexpected concern for his safety. He turned and eyed her. "I'm not afraid," he said, with great gentleness.
She saw it distinctly, despite the fact that her clear, grey eyes were fixed dreamily on a spot some distance above his head. She sat in her room upstairs after the visitors had gone, thinking it over. The light was fading fast, and as she sat at the open window the remembrance of Mr. Tredgold's conduct helped to mar one of the most perfect evenings she had ever known.
There she hastily put on her best clothes. They were very simple, but, under Miss Tredgold's regime, fairly nice. She was soon attired in a neat white frock; and an old yellow sash of doubtful cleanliness and a bunch of frowsy red poppies were folded in a piece of tissue paper. Pauline then slipped on her sailor hat.
"No," she said, at last, with obvious reluctance. Mr. Tredgold's countenance cleared and his eyes softened. "I suppose you admit that your father has got it?" said the girl, noting these signs with some disapproval. "How did he get it?" Mr. Tredgold shook his head. "If those three overgrown babes find that treasure," he said, impressively, "I'll doom myself to perpetual bachelorhood."
Notwithstanding, therefore, Miss Tredgold's startling announcement with regard to Nancy King, they slept soundly; and the next morning when nine o'clock struck they all appeared in the schoolroom, their persons neat, their hair carefully brushed, and each pair of eyes beaming with intelligence.
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