The Black Opal by Victoria Holt

pupils, Estella and Carmel. “
    She had a lovely smile which lighted her face into some thing like beauty.
     
    “Hello,” she said easily.
    “I do hope we shall get on well together. I feel sure we shall.” Her eyes rested on me. Estella might have been scowling slightly. I had taken an immediate liking to Miss Carson and I felt sure she had to me.
    I went off to get Adeline. She was in her room, looking rather bewildered and frightened. I guessed she had heard Estella giving her version of what the new governess would be like.
    I said: “You are to come and meet Miss Carson, Adeline. I think she is very nice. There is nothing frightening about her. I feel sure you are going to like her.”
    Adeline was easily influenced one way or another. She brightened and looked relieved.
    I was so pleased by the way in which Miss Carson greeted Adeline. She had obviously heard of her disabilities. She took both her hands and smiled warmly.
    “I am sure you and I are going to get along very well, Adeline,” she said.
    Adeline nodded cheerfully, and I noticed how pleased the doctor was looking.
    “Well, we’ll leave you to unpack. Miss Carson,” said Nanny briskly.
    “Then, as the doctor says, the girls can show you the schoolroom.”
    “Say in half an hour?” said Miss Carson.
    “Yes, they can come to you then. Would, you like a cup of tea? I will get Mrs. Barton to send one up to your room.”
    “That would be very welcome, thank you,” said Miss Carson, and we left her then.
    “I think she’s all right,” I said.
    Estella’s eyes narrowed.
    “There are such things as wolves in sheep’s clothing,” she said.
    “She’s not a wolf,” cried Adeline.
    “I like her.”
    Estella put on a look of worldly impatience.
    “It means she might not be what she seems,” she said darkly.
     
    Estella was determined to resent her. She had not wanted a governess.
    She would have liked to go away to school, where girls could have lots of fun. They slept in dormitories and had midnight feasts, and here we were with a silly old governess.
    Adeline and I felt differently. Miss Carson knew exactly how to treat Adeline: she was very patient with her and instead of dreading lessons, Adeline looked forward to them. She was developing a slavish devotion to Miss Carson:
    she constantly contrived to be where the governess was, and when we went for walks, she insisted on holding Miss Carson’s hand and was happiest when she was near her.
    Moreover, Miss Carson was high on my list of favourite people. She was warm-hearted and showed a particular kindness to those who most needed it. Adeline had quite blossomed since her arrival.
    I knew the doctor was aware of this and it made him very happy. He now made a habit of coming in to listen to lessons and took far more interest in them than he had when Miss Harley was in control.
    On one occasion, when I was in the garden. Miss Carson was there too and we sat together and talked. Miss Carson always seemed so interested in other people that it was easy to talk to her. I was able to explain how I had never felt like a member of the family except when Uncle Toby was there and the reason why was that I did not really belong. I explained how Tom Yardley had found me under the azalea bush.
    “You see,” I said, ‘my mother didn’t want me, so she left me there.
    Most mothers love their babies. “
    “I am sure your mother loved you,” she said.
    “I think she probably left you there because she loved you so much and wanted you to have a better life than she could give you. In Commonwood House, there would be people to look after you, to feed you well, to care for you. And there was a doctor in the house too.”
     
    I was surprised that my mother should have left me because she loved me. It was an idea which hadn’t occurred to me before.
    “But I always felt they didn’t really want me,” I explained.
    “Nanny thought I should have been sent to an orphanage or the workhouse. They might