CHAPTER VIII.
A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.
'No, my dear, I am determined that Mabel shall not go with her sister toMrs. Maitland's juvenile party. You over-ruled my wish yesterday, andsuffered her to go to the Gardens, and I think you have been properlypunished for that' (alluding to the sleeves). 'To-day I insist on havingmy way. It is most painful to me to see, as I cannot help doing, thatthrough your weakness of character, or want of discipline, Mabel hasgrown up to be a plague to us, instead of a comfort.'
This unwelcome truth was uttered by Mr. Ellis before he left home on themorning after the visit to the Gardens; and he added, before he left theroom:
'I am very glad that your sister, Aunt Mary, is coming home this week,for I intend to ask her as a particular favour to take Mabel under hercare. I wish we had sent her to Oak Villa twelve months ago; we mighthave been spared much trouble.'
This parting rebuke and warning had the usual effect of making Mrs.Ellis very nervous; she could not bear the thought of communicating theill news it contained to Mabel. She had come to have almost a childishdread of the girl's temper, yet she knew well that her husband's mandatemust be obeyed. There could no greater trial come to Mabel, at least soshe thought, than to deprive her of the pleasure of this visit; and theindulgent mamma shrunk with great pain from the task, which had beenimposed upon her: yet there was no escape.
As the girls had finished breakfast and left the room before their papawent out, they of course had not heard his disagreeable intimation, andthey were now in their own rooms, looking over their dresses.
'What will you do, Mabel?' inquired Julia, 'about your silk frock? Youcannot possibly wear it to-day; it is quite spoiled in front with thetea. I know mamma did not notice it last night, though she and papa wereso angry about your wearing it, and about the sleeves too.'
'Now just mind your own business, if you please,' said the uncourteousMabel. 'I hear,' she added, 'that papa has gone out, so I shall go downand coax mamma to get a dress for me. I have seen plenty of prettydresses in the shop windows, some of them very cheap; I dare say shewon't object to buy me one.'
After the delivery of this speech Mabel hastily left the room, and, asshe had expected, found her mamma still seated in the breakfast-room,but looking very sad.
She had not, however, at all _expected_ to hear the unwelcome truthwhich had now to be told, and which greeted her on the first mention ofa new dress.
'You need not trouble yourself about a new dress, my dear Mabel,' saidher mother, sorrowfully. 'Your papa says, that he will not allow you togo with your sister to Mrs. Maitland's party.'
'Not to go!' exclaimed the astonished girl; 'and do _you_, mamma, saythat I am not to go?' she inquired, actually stamping her foot in rage.
'_I_ have no say in the matter, Mabel,' replied her mother; 'your papa'swill must be obeyed. He thinks that it is my fault that you are so proudand wilful, and he has made up his mind to send you next week to youraunt Mary, where you will be taught and disciplined, and he hopes intime become a sensible girl, like your cousin Clara.'
'Mamma, mamma!' exclaimed the passionate girl, with vehemence, 'I hateClara, and Aunt Mary too. I would rather die than go and live at OakVilla, with that cross-grained old aunt and stupid cousin.'
'Mabel,' said Mrs. Ellis, greatly shocked at hearing such expressions,'it is very wicked of you to give way to your passion, and to make suchunjust remarks as you have made, both of your aunt and cousins. Neitheris your aunt cross, nor your cousin Clara stupid; though cross if theywere, you would still be obliged to submit to your papa's decision.Remember,' continued Mrs. Ellis, 'you have brought the trouble uponyourself, and you have been repeatedly warned of the consequences if youdid not amend. Now it is too late, for I am persuaded that nothingeither you or I could say would alter your papa's determination.'
A passionate burst of tears was all the reply that the humbled, but notpenitent, Mabel, could make. She sat herself down on a low stool, andcovering her face with her hands, continued to cry and sob, in spite ofthe kind remonstrances of her mamma, and even of her promises tointercede for her. Mabel knew that what her mother had before stated wasquite true, and that all intercession with papa now would be in vain;and she was too much absorbed in selfish sorrow to care anything, evenif she thought anything, of the pain she was giving to her poor mother,though she well knew that any trouble of mind increased the malady withwhich that lady was affected. Her own mortification, her own bitterdisappointment, it was the thought of these that kept the sluices ofsorrow open such an unreasonable time; and when Julia, on coming intothe room, went to speak some words of comfort to her sister, shereceived a blow on the face which made her nose bleed, though certainlyit was not intended, for the passionate girl was not aware of Julia'sclose proximity, as she threw out her hand only to indicate that shewanted no condolence.
This accident, however, had the beneficial effect, for a time, ofturning the current of Mabel's ideas from self. She was indeed shockedto see what she had done, though kind-hearted Julia made light of theblow, and declared it did not pain her at all.
'I am sure you must all hate me--I think everybody hates me,' criedimpetuous Mabel; 'but I didn't mean to hurt you, Julia, and I am very,very sorry for what I have done.'
'Oh, I know you are,' replied her sister; 'don't think anything moreabout it. And don't cry any more, dear; I can't bear to see you cry;'and she added in a whisper, 'It makes mamma ill.'
This little episode had done more to convince Mrs. Ellis of the wisdomof her husband's plan, with regard to his daughter Mabel, than all thathe had said previously on the subject; and she made up her mind to offerno opposition to anything he might propose. Coming to this conclusion,she dismissed Mabel and Julia, under the plea that it was absolutelynecessary that she should remain quiet for a time.