Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/266

260 the mastery, and Susan was elbowed from the table. Fanny seized the opportunity of giving her first lesson in obedience. She showed the figures to Susan, and, after a little while, let her show them to Matilda. She next made them come to the table quietly together, and finished by dividing the drawings between them. At one o'clock they were summoned to Mrs. Bennett's dressing-room, who received the unfortunate children with ill-disguised disgust; and Miss Beaumont with coldness.

"I suppose," said she, half yawning, "you won’t want much in the school-room; indeed I don’t know what you are to teach; you can give me a list of anything you want; and I suppose Mr. Bennett will choose you to have it." After this ungracious interview they went out for their walk, a service of no small difficulty, as the children were not under the least controul. They then returned, and the afternoon passed in much the same way as the morning.

Fanny was indeed thankful when eight o’clock