Page:Duer Miller--The charm school.djvu/116

 "Miss Curtis," said Austin, with a sort of cold violence, "I consider it essential that a teacher remain in the room during these lessons; if you do not feel able to obey this rule, we must make other arrangements."

The soundest and best explanation always sounded like a flimsy excuse in Miss Curtis's mouth, but no one could have made the story of the pantry switch sound like anything but nonsense. Austin received it in a glowering silence, and remained during the rest of the lesson. When it was over he took whatever satisfaction was to be derived from making Miss Curtis cry bitterly. After which he suddenly recovered his temper and felt very much ashamed of himself.

"I'm sorry I was cross," he said, "but—"

"Oh, I know," she answered. "You feel your great responsibility to the parents."

"Yes, of course," said Austin. "And I don't like this young man. He seems to take a personal interest in the girls."

"Oh no!" said Miss Curtis, shocked at the idea that a bookkeeper should so far forget himself. "I think you do him injustice. I watched him closely while he was giving Sally her lesson, and there was nothing of the kind, nothing, although poor Sally was quite silly and giggled and made foolish answers."