Page:Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey (1st edition), Volume 3 (Agnes Grey).djvu/81

Rh work you're making of the carpet?" (the carpet was a plain, brown drugget.) "Miss Grey, did you know what they were doing?"

"Yes, sir."

"You knew it?"

"Yes."

"You knew it! and you actually sat there and permitted them to go on, without a word of reproof!"

"I didn't think they were doing any harm."

"Any harm! Why look there! Just look at that carpet, and see—was there ever anything like it in a christian house before? No wonder your room is not fit for a pigsty—no wonder your pupils are worse than a litter of pigs!—no wonder—Oh! I declare, it puts me quite past my patience!" and he departed, shutting the door after him with a bang that made the children laugh.

"It puts me quite past my patience too!" muttered I, getting up; and, seizing the poker, I dashed it repeatedly into the cinders, and stirred them up with unwonted energy; thus easing my irritation, under pretence of mending the fire.

After this, Mr. Bloomfield was continually looking in to see if the school-room was in Rh