***In Adeline Sergeant's poignant tale "An Unsuitable Friendship," we are transported to the world of Margaret Adair and Janetta Colwyn, two girls from vastly different backgrounds whose unexpected bond challenges the rigid social norms of their time. Margaret, a beauty and heiress, embodies the grace and privilege of high society, while Janetta, a talented but humble music governess, navigates life with resilience and determination despite her modest means. Their friendship, forged in the halls of a prestigious girls' school, defies the expectations and prejudices of their peers and elders, particularly the formidable Miss Polehampton. Through the lens of this unlikely companionship, Sergeant explores themes of class, ambition, and the innate human need for connection and understanding.

                An Unsuitable Friendship

Janetta was the music governess—a brown little thing of no particular importance, and Margaret Adair was a beauty and an heiress, and the only daughter of people who thought themselves very distinguished indeed; so that the two had not, you might think, very much in common, and were not likely to be attracted one to the other. Yet, in spite of differing circumstances, they were close friends and allies; and had been such ever since they were together at the same fashionable school where Miss Adair was the petted favorite of all, and Janetta Colwyn was the pupil-teacher in the shabbiest of frocks, who got all the snubbing and did most of the hard work. And great offense was given in several directions by Miss Adair's attachment to poor little Janetta. 

"It is an unsuitable friendship," Miss Polehampton, the principal of the school, observed on more than one occasion, "and I am sure I do not know how Lady Caroline will like it." 

Lady Caroline was, of course, Margaret Adair's mamma. 

Miss Polehampton felt her responsibility so keenly in the matter that at last she resolved to speak "very seriously" to her dear Margaret. She always talked of "her dear Margaret," Janetta used to say, when she was going to make herself particularly disagreeable. For "her dear Margaret" was the pet pupil, the show pupil of the establishment: her air of perfect breeding gave distinction, Miss Polehampton thought, to the whole school; and her refinement, her exemplary behavior, her industry, and her talent formed the theme of many a lecture to less accomplished and less decorous pupils. 

For, contrary to all conventional expectations, Margaret Adair was not stupid, although she was beautiful and well-behaved. She was an exceedingly intelligent girl; she had an aptitude for several arts and accomplishments, and she was remarkable for the delicacy of her taste and the exquisite discrimination of which she sometimes showed herself capable. At the same time she was not as clever—("not as glaringly clever," a friend of hers once expressed it)—as little Janetta Colwyn, whose nimble wits gathered knowledge as a bee collects honey under the most unfavorable circumstances. Janetta had to learn her lessons when the other girls had gone to bed, in a little room under the roof; a room which was like an ice-house in winter and an oven in summer; she was never able to be in time for her classes, and she often missed them altogether; but, in spite of these disadvantages, she generally proved herself the most advanced pupil in her division, and if pupil-teachers had been allowed to take prizes, would have carried off every first prize in the school. This, to be sure, was not allowed. It would not have been "the thing" for the little governess-pupil to take away the prizes from the girls whose parents paid between two and three hundred a year for their tuition (the fees were high, because Miss Polehampton's school was so exceedingly fashionable); therefore, Janetta's marks were not counted, and her exercises were put aside and did not come into competition with those of the other girls, and it was generally understood amongst the teachers that, if you wished to stand well with Miss Polehampton, it would be better not to praise Miss Colwyn, but rather to put forward the merits of some charming Lady Mary or Honorable Adeliza, and leave Janetta in the obscurity from which (according to Miss Polehampton) she was fated never to emerge. 

Unfortunately for the purposes of the mistress of the school, Janetta was rather a favorite with the girls. She was not adored, like Margaret; she was not looked up to and respected, as was the Honorable Edith Gore; she was nobody's pet, as the little Ladies Blanche and Rose Amberley had been ever since they set foot in the school; but she was everybody's friend and comrade, the recipient of everybody's confidences, the sharer in everybody's joys or woes. The fact was that Janetta had the inestimable gift of sympathy; she understood the difficulties of people around her better than many women of twice her age would have done; and she was so bright and sunny-tempered and quickwitted that her very presence in a room was enough to dispel gloom and ill-temper. She was, therefore, deservedly popular, and did more to keep up the character of Miss Polehampton's school for comfort and cheerfulness than Miss Polehampton herself was ever likely to be aware. And the girl most devoted to Janetta was Margaret Adair. 

"Remain for a few moments, Margaret; I wish to speak to you," said Miss Polehampton, majestically, when one evening, directly after prayers, the show pupil advanced to bid her teachers good-night. 

The girls all sat round the room on wooden chairs, and Miss Polehampton occupied a high-backed, cushioned seat at a centre table while she read the portion of Scripture with which the day's work concluded. Near her sat the governesses, English, French and German, with little Janetta bringing up the rear in the draughtiest place and the most uncomfortable chair. After prayers, Miss Polehampton and the teachers rose, and their pupils came to bid them good-night, offering hand and cheek to each in turn. There was always a great deal of kissing to be got through on these occasions. Miss Polehampton blandly insisted on kissing all her thirty pupils every evening; it made them feel more as if they were at home, she used to say; and her example was, of course, followed by the teachers and the girls. 

Margaret Adair, as one of the oldest and tallest girls in the school, generally came forward first for that evening salute. When Miss Polehampton made the observation just recorded, she stepped back to a position beside her teacher's chair in the demure attitude of a well-behaved schoolgirl—hands crossed over the wrists, feet in position, head and shoulders carefully erect, and eyes gently lowered towards the carpet. Thus standing, she was yet perfectly well aware that Janetta Colwyn gave her an odd, impish little look of mingled fun and anxiety behind Miss Polehampton's back; for it was generally known that a lecture was impending when one of the girls was detained after prayers, and it was very unusual for Margaret to be lectured! Miss Adair did not, however, look discomposed. A momentary smile flitted across her face at Janetta's tiny grimace, but it was instantly succeeded by the look of simple gravity becoming to the occasion. 

When the last of the pupils and the last also of the teachers had filed out of the room, Miss Polehampton turned and surveyed the waiting girl with some uncertainty. She was really fond of Margaret Adair. Not only did she bring credit to the school, but she was a good, nice, lady-like girl (such were Miss Polehampton's epithets), and very fair to look upon. Margaret was tall, slender, and exceedingly graceful in her movements; she was delicately fair, and had hair of the silkiest texture and palest gold; her eyes, however, were not blue, as one would have expected them to be; they were hazel brown, and veiled by long brown lashes—eyes of melting softness and dreaminess, peculiarly sweet in expression. Her features were a very little too long and thin for perfect beauty; but they gave her a Madonna-like look of peace and calm which many were ready enthusiastically to admire. And there was no want of expression in her face; its faint rose bloom varied almost at a word, and the thin curved lips were as sensitive to feeling as could be desired. What was wanting in the face was what gave it its peculiar maidenly charm—a lack of passion, a little lack, perhaps, of strength. But at seventeen we look less for these characteristics than for the sweetness and docility which Margaret certainly possessed. Her dress of soft, white muslin was quite simple—the ideal dress for a young girl—and yet it was so beautifully made, so perfectly finished in every detail, that Miss Polehampton never looked at it without an uneasy feeling that she was too well-dressed for a schoolgirl. Others wore muslin dresses of apparently the same cut and texture; but what the casual eye might fail to observe, the schoolmistress was perfectly well aware of, namely, that the tiny frills at neck and wrists were of the costliest Mechlin lace, that the hem of the dress was bordered with the same material, as if it had been the commonest of things; that the embroidered white ribbons with which it was trimmed had been woven in France especially for Miss Adair, and that the little silver buckles at her waist and on her shoes were so ancient and beautiful as to be of almost historic importance. The effect was that of simplicity; but it was the costly simplicity of absolute perfection. Margaret's mother was never content unless her child was clothed from head to foot in materials of the softest, finest and best. It was a sort of outward symbol of what she desired for the girl in all relations of life. 

This it was that disturbed Miss Polehampton's mind as she stood and looked uneasily for a moment at Margaret Adair. Then she took the girl by the hand. 

"Sit down, my dear," she said, in a kind voice, "and let me talk to you for a few moments. I hope you are not tired with standing so long." 

"Oh, no, thank you; not at all," Margaret answered, blushing slightly as she took a seat at Miss Polehampton's left hand. She was more intimidated by this unwonted kindness of address than by any imaginable severity. The schoolmistress was tall and imposing in appearance: her manner was usually a little pompous, and it did not seem quite natural to Margaret that she should be treated as if she were still the little girl who had come to school seven years ago and was petted and coaxed for a week or two before the discipline began.

"I have been thinking for some time, my dear Margaret, that I ought to say a few words to you about—a matter of some importance," said Miss Polehampton, with the accent of a person who is quoting from memory. "The fact is, my dear, that I am not sure that Lady Caroline would approve of a friendship which I am afraid has been growing up of late between yourself and a girl who is not at all suitable to be your friend and companion."

Margaret looked perplexed.

"Do you mean—Miss Colwyn?" she said, rather timidly.

"Yes, Margaret, I mean Miss Colwyn," said Miss Polehampton, lifting her hands in a little gesture which seemed to disclaim responsibility for any evil which might arise. "She is a very worthy, industrious, and, I believe, clever girl, but she is not the sort of person with whom Lady Caroline would wish you to be intimate. And I think, my dear Margaret, that in forming this attachment for her, you are committing a great mistake. You are, my dear, as we all know, very well born and very highly connected, and it is necessary that you should be careful in the choice of your friends."

"I don't think mamma would mind my being friends with Janetta," said Margaret, in a low voice.

"You are not a very good judge, dear Margaret; but I can assure you that Lady Caroline would mind, and, for your own sake, I think it only right to warn you of the danger which you are incurring. Janetta Colwyn is a clever girl, but she is, I am afraid, of a pushing, ambitious nature, and she would like to make use of you and your friendship in a way that you would very much dislike by-and-by."

"I don't think she would do anything of the sort," Margaret began, impetuously; but Miss Polehampton gently laid her hand upon the girl's lips.

"Hush, my dear; you don't know what you are saying. These clever girls are sometimes extremely designing. Janetta is in a very humble position, and would do a great deal to improve it. I don't say that she is a bad girl; but she is not in a position to be your friend."

And Margaret, with a swelling heart, was forced to submit and be silent.

She had always been a docile and obedient girl, so that she could not bring herself to break through rules now. Miss Polehampton had spoken, and her will must be obeyed. Nevertheless, she felt very sad and sore as she kissed her governess good-night, and slowly made her way upstairs to her room, wondering how she should break the news to Janetta.

***"An Unsuitable Friendship" masterfully captures the delicate dynamics of social class and personal ambition, revealing how true friendship can transcend societal barriers. As Margaret and Janetta navigate the challenges posed by their differing circumstances, their story becomes a testament to the strength and resilience found in genuine human connections. Sergeant's narrative, rich with emotional nuance and social commentary, invites readers to reflect on the arbitrary divisions that often dictate relationships and to recognize the profound value of empathy and solidarity. Ultimately, the tale of Margaret and Janetta underscores a timeless truth: that the bonds of friendship can flourish even in the most unlikely of circumstances, challenging conventions and enriching lives in ways that defy expectation.