Trial and Triumph CHAPTER 9.
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A week went by without Mrs. Barker having heard anything more of Mary Lynn, and then two ladies called and spoke of her. They were acquaintances of Mrs. Barker.
"Did not a young girl, named Mary Lynn, apply to you for the situation of governess to your children?" asked one of them.
"I had such an application," was replied.
"You did not take her?"
"No. I was warned not to do so."
"By whom?"
"The warning came anonymously; but it was of a character that made it, on my part, an act of prudence not to bring her into my house."
"If anyone has made evil accusations against her, they are false," said the lady who had first spoken.
"From a personal knowledge of Mary," added the other lady. "I can unhesitatingly affirm the same thing. A purer minded, better girl, I am sure cannot be found; and, as the governess and friend of your children — you would have in her a treasure. Strange, that any should seek to injure one in her friendless and needy condition."
"I can conceive of no motive for such an act," said Mrs. Barker.
"Whatever the motive may have been, it was conceived in a spirit that stamps its author as a debased wretch!"
"You speak in a positive manner," said Mrs. Barker.
"Why should we not?" answered one of the ladies. "We knew Mary well, in her better days, and take some blame to ourselves for letting misfortune remove her so entirely from our observation and circle of friendship."
"May she not have changed since her mother's misfortunes? Adversity is a severe trial."
"In her case, it has but consumed the dross — and made finer the gold. You know Mrs. May, the sister of Mary's father."
"By character."
"We have just seen her and had a long conversation with her on the subject, and she says that a more cruel and malicious slander was never uttered, than that by which someenemy in disguise has sought to injure her niece. Of Mary, she speaks with a tenderness of feeling that is really touching to hear. A better, truer-hearted, purer-minded girl — she affirms that she has never known."
"Who could have written that letter?" asked Mrs. Barker. "Does Mary suspect the author?"
"She does."
"Has she named the person?"
"She declines doing this."
"Why so?"
"She might be mistaken, and will not therefore utter her suspicions, lest an innocent person be injured."
"You believe," said Mrs. Barker, after reflecting for some moments, "that Mary Lynn is worthy of confidence in every way, and that I can introduce her into my family and among my children with perfect safety?"
"We do," was unhesitatingly replied.
One of the ladies added, "Were I in need of a governess, most gladly would I take her, and think myself highly favored in obtaining a person so worthy of all confidence, respect, and esteem."
"You speak warmly," said Mrs. Barker, smiling.
"We do," was answered, "because we are in earnest in the matter. Depend upon it, you will never have cause to regret the entrance of Mary Lynn into your family."
"I must take a little time for reflection," said Mrs. Barker. "This puts quite a new face on the matter. As for Miss Lynn, I must own that I was very much biased in her favor. A number of applicants for the situation have since presented themselves; but none pleased me. If all is right with Mary, no one could suit me so well."
"All is right with her; of that, you may rest fully assured," answered the ladies.
"I will take until tomorrow to think over the matter," returned Mrs. Barker, "and if I come to a favorable conclusion, will send for her."
When Mrs. Barker mentioned what she had heard to her husband, he reflected for a short time, and then said —
"Let us take her. There is a mystery in this affair that I would like to see cleared up. I can't get over the fact of her charging the authorship of that letter upon Emerson."
"Why should he write it?" asked Mrs. Barker.
"Just the question, of all others, that I would like to have answered. He avers before Heaven, that he does not know her. If he does know her, and has a personal interest in keeping her out of our family, he has lied, to say the least of it; and that is enough for me. The man who can call Heaven to witness that he speaks truth, while giving utterance to a lie — must have a very depraved heart. But worse than this, the man who, to effect some personal end, can stab the reputation of an innocent, friendless girl — is a wretch of the basest kind. Yes, yes; by all means send for Miss Lynn. I am fully satisfied with the endorsement of the ladies who have interested themselves in her behalf. She may prove to our house, a protecting angel. And I truly believe she will."
Without further delay, a servant was sent to Mary Lynn with a note, asking her to call immediately. Without hesitation, Mary obeyed the summons. She was very pale, and looked as if from a recent bed of sickness, which might almost be said to be true, for the shock occasioned by the unexpected reception she had met at Mrs. Barker's, for a time completely prostrated her.
"Have you been ill?" asked Mrs. Barker, kindly, upon receiving Mary.
Tears came into the young girl's eyes. She tried to make an audible reply, but her lips quivered so that she could give no utterance to words.
"I believe I acted hastily, Mary, in the matter of that letter. I am now convinced that it made false charges against you."
"Oh, ma'am!" exclaimed Mary, "it was a base and cruel slander!"
"Of that I am now convinced," said Mrs. Barker. "But do you not know from whence it originated?"
Mary's eyes sunk to the floor, and she remained silent.
"You charged, by implication," and Mrs. Barker looked steadily at the countenance of Mary, "a young man named Philip Emerson, with the authorship. Why was this?"
"I was half beside myself. I hardly knew what I was doing ma'am," returned Mary.
"It was a serious matter to charge an act like that upon a young man, who solemnly avers that he does not know you."
"It was," answered Mary, now lifting her eyes to the face of Mrs. Barker, and speaking more calmly. "But, as I said, just now, I scarcely knew what I was doing. I was under a great and bewildering excitement. Try and forget that painful scene, as I wish myself to forget it."
But Mrs. Barker was by no means satisfied with this, and tried to press the subject farther. Mary, however, was altogether disinclined to answer her questions, and the lady, seeing this, deemed it but right to forbear.
"I have sent for you," she then said, "not only to express my entire conviction that you have been wronged, but to show my sincerity in the matter, by again offering you the situation of governess in my family. Are you still prepared to accept the place?"
"I did not expect this," returned Mary, exhibiting some emotion.
"No one has applied whom I like so well," said Mrs. Barker.
"I don't know," said Mary, with considerable hesitation in her manner, and speaking partly to herself — "that I ought to come."
"Why not?" quickly inquired the lady.
It was some time before Mary spoke. She then said,
"Upon reflection, I am satisfied that I ought not to refuse your offer, which will enable me to support my mother and keep my sister Agnes at school. In accepting it, I will take a liberty which you may think altogether out of place. If so, deny my request without hesitation. I would like one hundred dollars advanced on my salary."
"You need the money very much?"
"For a special purpose I do. Oh, ma'am, you do not know what a weight the possession of that sum would enable me to remove from my mind! Nothing but the intolerable pain occasioned by the pressure, and the panting desire I have for its removal, could tempt me to prefer so untimely a request. In fact, with the weight I speak of resting upon me, I do not feel competent to the performance of the duties I have just agreed to enter upon."
There was that in the manner of the young girl, which Mrs. Barker could not resist, and she promised, unhesitatingly to furnish the sum she required.
On the next day, Mary Lynn became an inhabitant of Mr. Barker's family. The children placed under her care, seemed to love her from the first moment, and to come under her gentle influence as by the power of an irresistible attraction. There was about her a sphere of goodness which all felt. No one was more drawn towards her than Mr. Barker, who, from recently occurring circumstances, was led to observe her closely, and thus to perceive the indications of her real character.
"Yes, it was a base attempt to injure an innocent girl," said he to Mrs. Barker, a week after Mary had entered the family; "and I sincerely hope that the wrong meditated may fall upon the head of the injurer. What could have been the motive for such an act?"
"It is not improbable," replied Mrs. Barker, "that someone who desired the situation, and who ascertained that Mary had procured it, took this method of removing her out of her way. This has occurred to me as the most probable explanation of the circumstance."
"I never thought of that," remarked Mr. Barker, and his tone of voice expressed the relief of mind occasioned by the suggestion. "Yes — that may be the true explanation. Still, I cannot cease to think of the fact that she accused Emerson. Why should she have done this?"
"She says that she was so bewildered that she did not know what she was doing. And I can readily believe that such might be the case. So unexpected and serious a charge, would naturally shock and bewilder the mind."
"Very true. Well, I hope it is all so — that Emerson is in no way concerned in the business."
"I do not think he is. Indeed, the more I reflect on the subject, the more fully convinced am I, that he is not," said Mrs, Barker. "I am afraid that your prejudices against the young man are too strong."
"Perhaps they are. Still, I cannot help them. But your suggestion as to the authorship of that letter, greatly relieves my mind. It is certainly the most reasonable one."
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