Chapter 12
In the months that followed, Hope kept increasing her abilities as a teacher. Her youth, which could have been, had she been less a woman and a teacher, a detriment, was, instead, a plus factor.
The students, seeing in her an understanding of their problems moved to her and opened like rose buds open to an invigorating spring rain.
Taking full advantage of the situation, Hope worked a miracle with them and encouraged them to accept education, something that many of them had resisted for so long, as a thing of importance and excitement.
But they were not the only ones who gained by it all. Hope too was learning. She learned, among other things as she went along with them, that teaching could be as much a pleasure for the teacher as for the students. With a wild, exciting enthusiasm, she developed a love for teaching that knew no bounds.
Although she had committed herself to staying at the school for an undetermined length of time, she knew with a positive instinct, that there would come a day when she would forsake the comfort of Miss Carter's establishment for a school somewhere that would call for an exertion of every bit of strength and ability she had.
Where or what it would be, she had no idea, but instinct told her that she had to keep improving in order to prepare for that moment when it arrived and when she would be able to recognize it.
While she worked and learned, she continued saving her money. Because there was almost no expense involved in living at the school, almost everything she earned was added to her savings. It was as if an inner voice told her that a new challenge was waiting for her and she had to prepare for it not just with education and experience, but with savings, strength and determination.
Near the end of the term, Miss Carter summoned her to an intimate evening conference that she knew was another command performance. Not knowing whether it was to be a sexual or an educational one, Hope took the precaution of bathing and perfuming her body so that she would be prepared. As a result of her experience at the school, she knew she was more than prepared in the event that the meeting would be of an intellectual nature.
The moment she walked into the private suite of the headmistress, Hope knew that while sexual activities well could follow eventually, the woman wanted to talk of more serious things.
The thought pleased her. There had been more than a fill of sexual activity and, while she still enjoyed every moment of it, Hope now looked forward to more challenging things.
"What has this term at the school meant to you, Hope?" the headmistress asked.
"Miss Carter, that is probably the one question I am not able to answer. There has been so much, I have learned so much, I fear I can't put it all into words that simply."
"Excellent, Hope," the headmistress answered with a smile that convinced Hope that she had given the correct answer. "That is exactly what I hoped you would say in reply to my question. Do you feel you are better or worse for the time you spent here?"
"Oh, Miss Carter, so much better that I cannot find the words to describe it."
"You keep giving me the right answers, dear. Perhaps I should stop now."
"Please do not, Miss Carter. If I have learned as much here as I think I have, then I should be able to answer your questions without difficulty."
"In that case, Hope, only one question remains. I find that you have learned more in one term here than many teachers learn in a lifetime. Will you remain here next term with all you have learned, or do you wish to go elsewhere ? "
"Miss Carter," Hope looked at her directly, honestly, "if I were as intelligent as you give me credit for, then it would be simple for me to answer that question. As it is, I truly do not know the answer. I feel I will return for the next term, but I respect and admire you too much to make that a promise."
"Thank you for that too, Hope. Every question you answer for me convinces me more and more that I chose wisely in selecting you for this school. I wish I were wise enough to find a way to keep you forever."
It was a conversation that could lead only into the area of embarrassment and confusion. Aware of that fact, Elizabeth took the only recourse that was open to her. Instead of more conversation, she drew Hope into her arms and caressed her as her knowing mouth found Hope's receptive one in a passionate, prolonged kiss.
It proved to be the right answer. Instead of trying for the right thing to say, Hope merely kissed in return with the same degree of passion. Each understood what the other meant so that the remainder of the evening was completely without a trace of difficulty.
"Do you want me to bring my servant in, Hope, or shall I ignore him and spend the night with you alone?"
"Please, Miss Carter," Hope whispered in reply, "let the two of us manage without him this time."
"I will on condition that you do not again call me Miss. It seems much too formal for what we can have this evening as just two women alone."
"Thanks, Elizabeth darling. I guess that was the very best thing you could say to me. I can't think of anything I would rather hear you say."
"There is just something about you, you sweet darling, that makes me want to say the right thing. That's strange, you know. Until you came here, I reigned as queen of all I surveyed. You changed all that and I can't say that I mind it at all."
"Please, Elizabeth, don't say such things. You picked me up when I was less than nothing and gave me every chance to make something of myself. Please do not demean it all. You are still the strongest, most wonderful person I've met in all my life."
"It seems, dear," Elizabeth said with a loving smile, "that we are going to spend the entire night saying honest, pleasant things to each other. Surely we could do better."
"When I came here, dear," Hope said with feeling, "it was you who taught me so many things. Let us see if after all your gentle teaching, I am able to do something to let you know that I have learned something."
With a smile, Hope stood in front of her mentor while she stripped her clothes away until she was naked. With a smile, she stood there waiting for the woman to do, demand or say what she pleased.
"Wait for me, darling," Elizabeth whispered, "I want to take all my clothes off and meet you as an equal in the act of love. I once taught you, but now there is nothing left for me to teach. You have learned all and now all we can do is share with each other."
While the older woman undressed, Hope thought of only how much she had learned from her and how much she had let go of the old, narrow world to reach out and embrace one that was so much broader and more interesting.
Both naked then, they moved into each other's warm, hungry embrace. It was no longer teacher and student as it had been, now it was two women who met on equal terms to give and take what they wanted.
They fell onto the couch because it was there and a more comfortable playground on the wide bed was too far away.
They made passionate love for a long, wonderful time, then drifted off into warm sleep in the comfort of strong, warm bodies pressed together in the aftermath of love.