Mistress of Mellyn Read Online Free PDF

you to be happy here. Miss Leigh. We all want that.”
    ” Thank you. I suppose,” I went on, ” the first thing to do is to get Alvean to bed. It must be past her bedtime.”
    Celestine smiled. ” You are right. Indeed it is. She usually has her milk and biscuits in the schoolroom at half past seven. It is now well past eight. But tonight I will look after her. I suggest that you return to your room, Miss Leigh. You must be weary after your journey.”
    Before I could speak Alvean cried out: “No, Celestine. I want her to.
    She’s my governess. She should, shouldn’t she? “
    A hurt look immediately appeared in Celestine’s face, and Alvean could not repress the triumph in hers. I felt I understood. The child wanted to feel her own power; she wanted to prevent Celestine from superintending her retirement simply because Celestine wished so much to do it.
    ” Oh, very well,” said Celestine. ” Then there’s no further need for me to stay.”
    She stood looking at Alvean as though she wanted her to beg her to stay, but Alvean’s curious gaze was all for me.
    ” Good night,” she said flippantly. And to me: ” Come on. I’m hungry.”
    ” You’ve forgotten to thank Miss Nansellock for bringing you back,” I told her.
    ” I didn’t forget,” she retorted. ” I never forget anything.”
    ” Then your memory is a great deal better than your manners,” I said.
    They were astonished—all of them. Perhaps I was a little astonished myself. But I knew that if I were going to assume control of this child I should have to be firm.
    Her face flushed and her eyes grew hard. She was about to retort, but, not knowing how to do so, she ran out of the room.
    “There!” said Mrs. Polgrey.
    “Why, Miss Nansellock, it was good of you” — ” Nonsense, Mrs. Polgrey,” said Celestine. ” Of course I brought her back.”
    ” She will thank you later,” I assured her.
    ” Miss Leigh,” said Celestine earnestly, ” it will be necessary for you to go carefully with that child. She has lost her mother … quite recently.” Celestine’s lips trembled. She smiled at me. ” It is such a short time ago and the tragedy seems near. She was a dear friend of mine.”
    ” I understand,” I replied. ” I shall not be harsh with the child, but I can see she needs discipline.”
    ” Be careful, Miss Leigh.” Celestine had taken a step closer and laid a hand on my arm. ” Children are delicate creatures.”
    ” I shall do my best for Alvean,” I answered.
    ” I wish you good luck.” She smiled and then turned to Mrs. Polgrey. “I’ll be going back now. I want to get back before dark.”
    Mrs. Polgrey rang the bell and Daisy appeared.
    ” Take Miss to her room, Daisy,” she commanded. ” And has Miss Alvean got her milk and biscuits?”
    ” Yes, M’am,” was the answer.
    I said good night to Celestine Nansellock, who inclined her head. Then I left with Daisy.
    I went into the schoolroom where Alvean sat at a table drinking milk and eating biscuits. She deliberately ignored me as I went to the table and sat beside her.
    ” Alvean,” I said, ” if we’re going to get along together, we’d better come to an understanding. Don’t you think that would be advisable?”
    ” Why should I care?” she replied curtly.
    ” But of course you’ll care. We shall all be happier if we do.”
    Alvean shrugged her shoulders. ” If we don’t,” she told me brusquely, “you’ll have to go. I’ll have another governess. It’s of no account to me.”
    She looked at me triumphantly and I knew that she was telling me I was merely a paid servant and that it was for her to call the tune. I felt myself shiver involuntarily. For the first time I understood the feelings of those who depended on the goodwill of others for their bread and butter.
    Her eyes were malicious and I wanted to slap her.
    “It should be of the greatest account,” I answered, ” because it is far more pleasant to live in harmony than in discord