CHAPTER XIII
THE TURNING POINT OF HER LIFE
Mrs. George's opinion of Sarah's violin-playing proved to be the turningpoint of her life as a violin-player. A few days later, when Mr. andMrs. Stubbs had returned from Dieppe, she gave a large afternoonreception, to which Sarah took her violin, and played--her best. And thevisitors--elegant ladies and gentlemen--crowded round the child, andwould have turned her head with praises, had it not been such a sensiblelittle head that they had no sort of effect upon it.
"They talked such a lot," she said to her aunt afterwards, "that I feltfrightened at first; but I found that they didn't really know much aboutit, for one of my strings got flat, and they praised that more thananything."
But her aunt, Mrs. Stubbs, was proud enough and elated enough for adozen violin-players, and she stood beside Sarah, explaining who she wasand how she was going to have lessons from the best master they couldget, until Mrs. George felt sick to think that her grand friends shouldknow "that dreadful woman" was a relation of hers.
"Sarah, my dear, Lady Golladay wishes you to play again. Somethingpathetic."
So Sarah tuned up again, and Mrs. Stubbs was silent.
"She _can't_ talk when the child is playing," murmured Mrs. George toher husband. "Do take her down to have some tea or something, and keepher as long as you can--anything to keep her out of sight."
"All right," he answered, and immediately that Sarah's melody came to anend, followed by a burst of applause, he offered his arm to hissister-in-law, and begged her to go with him and have some refreshments.
This reception completely opened Mrs. Stubbs's eyes, and she went backto London strangely impressed with a belief that Sarah was not only agenius, but a new fashion. She gave a party, too--not an afternoonparty, for she wanted her husband to be there, and he was never at homebefore six o'clock. No, it was not an afternoon, but an evening party,at which the elder children were all present, and at which Sarah played.
And then Sarah began with her violin lessons, and worked hard, veryhard. Mrs. George wrote from Brighton that she would provide all thenew music she required, and that her Uncle George enclosed a sovereignfor herself.
So time went on. Sarah had two lessons a week, and improved daily inher playing. Tom went back to school, and Johnnie with him, andFlossie's turbulent spirit became a good deal subdued, though she neverforgot to keep Sarah reminded that she was "Princess Sarah of Nowhere."
The weeks rolled into months, and months into years. Miss Clark wentaway and got married--to May's mingled sorrow and delight, and toFlossie's unfeigned and unutterable disgust--for Mrs. Stubbs chose alady to fill her place, who was what she called "a strictdisciplinarian," and Flossie had considerably less freedom and fun thanshe had aforetime. For Miss Best had not only a strong mind and astrong will, but also a remarkably strong body, and seemed able to be onthe alert at all times and seasons. She had, too, not the smallestobjection to telling tales in school or out of it. The slightestinfringement of her rules was visited with heavy punishment in the formof extra lessons, and the least attempt to shirk them was reported toheadquarters immediately. In fact, Miss Best was a power, a power to befelt and feared, and Flossie did both accordingly.
Of all her pupils, Sarah was Miss Best's favourite. In her sherecognised the only worker. May was good-tempered, and possessed theblessing of a placid and dignified disposition; but May's capacity forlearning was not great, and Miss Best soon found that it was no usetrying to drive her a shade faster along the royal road to knowledge.She went at a willing jog-trot; she could not gallop because she had notthe power. With Flossie it was different. Flossie had brilliantcapacities which she would not use. Miss Best was determined that sheshould use them and exert them. Flossie was equally determined that shewould not; and so for the first few months life in the Stubbs'sschoolroom was a hand-to-hand fight between Flossie and Miss Best; andMiss Best came off winner.
Yet, though she got the better of Flossie and made her work, she nevergave her the same place in her heart that she gave to Sarah, who workedwith all her heart and soul, because she was impressed with the ideathat if she only worked hard enough she might be a great woman one day.
And as she was a favourite with Miss Best, so was she a favourite withSignor Capri, the master who taught her the violin. He was quick torecognise the true artist soul that dwelt within her, and gave her allthe help that lay in his power; in fact, Sarah was his favourite pupil,his pet, and he put many chances of advancement toward her greatambition in her way.
Sarah was his favourite pupil.]
For instance, many times he took her out with him to play at concertsand private houses, so that she might grow accustomed to playing beforean audience of strangers and also that she might become known.
And known very soon Sarah was, and welcomed to many a noble house forthe sake of the exquisite sounds she was able to draw from the stringsof the Amati. Besides that, Sarah was a very pretty child, and, as shegrew older, was an equally pretty girl. She never had that gawkylegginess which distinguishes so many girls in their teens--there wasnothing awkward about her, nothing rough or boisterous. All hermovements were soft and gentle; her voice was sweet, and her laugh verymusical, but not loud; and with her tall, slim figure, and the great,grey, earnest eyes looking out from under the shining masses of sunnyhair, she was, indeed, an uncommon-looking girl, and a great contrast tothe young Stubbses, who were all short, and inclined to be stout, andhad twine-coloured hair, and pale, pasty complexions; though, in spiteof that, they all had, like their mother, a certain bonniness which madethem pleasant looking enough.
Sarah had been nearly four years living at Jesamond Road, where Mrs.Stubbs's home was, when May "came out." May was then nearly eighteen,and just what she had been when Sarah first saw her--placid,good-tempered, and obliging, not very quick in mind, nor yet in body;willing to take advantage of every pleasure that came in her road, butnot willing to give herself the smallest trouble that other people mighthave pleasure too. She was very different to Flossie, who was a regularlittle spitfire, and had neither consideration for, nor fear of,anything on earth, except Miss Best, whom she detested, but whom shedared not openly defy; if she had dared, Flossie would have done it.
As for Tom, he was beyond the control of anybody in that house,excepting his father. He was wilder, rougher, more unmerciful, and moreimpudent than ever; and whenever Tom's holidays drew near, Sarah used toquake for fear lest her precious Amati should not survive the visit; andinvariably she carried it to the cupboard in Miss Best's room forsafety. Happily, into that room Master Tom did not presume to put evenso much as the tip of his nose.