The Getting of Wisdom

crimsoned under the unexpected ordeal, and tried to fix her attention on the flouncing of Mrs. Gurley's dress. The room seemed hundreds of feet long, and not a single person at the tea-tables but

he fifty-five had drawn in their chairs with the noise of a cavalry brigade on charge. She stood up again immediately, but it was too late; an audible titter whizzed round the table: the

high, church-like windows down one side. At both ends were scores of pigeon-holes. There was a piano in it and a fireplace; it ha

side; turning, she found her neig

ively; for the bread was cut in

n the sly. "You'd better

But she saw, too, the smiles and signs tha

s: at the smallest further mischance she might disgrace herself by bursting out crying. Just at this moment, however, something impelled her to look up. Her vis-a-vis, whom she had as yet scarcely noticed, was staring hard. And now, to her great

ry gravity: she chewed away with a face as solemn as a parson's; and then just when you were least expecting it, came the wink. Laura was fascinated: she lay in wait f

ter some indecision, she followed the rest through a door. Here she found herself on a verandah facing the grounds of the school. There was a long bench, on which several people were sitting: she took a modest seat at one end. Two of the younger governesses looked at her and laughed, and made a remark. She saw her room-ma

which was rough; but she could not help smiling shyly at the girl, who looked good-natured. If

to every eye. But at this juncture up came two rather rollicking older girls, one of whom was fair, with a red complexion. AS

," she said, "w

of merriment that followed. Maria Morell, the fat girl, we

or I shall split! Oh, golly! Laura ... Tweedle ... Rambotham-Laura ... Tweedle .

backwards and forwards and from side to side; whil

the squint demanded of Lau

ship, quaveringly. "

," answere

ive once wasn't he, duffer? Wh

arri

id he d

sump

servants d

ne

have you g

n't k

ld are

and a

de your

the

came sauntering up and sat down; and after some artificial humming and hawing the newcomer began to talk, in a loud and fussy manner, about certain acquaintances of hers called Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Both the fat girl and the squint "split" with laughter.

ll sure how the big girl might revenge herself. To her relief

with a chuckle. "Not bad for the kid.-Come o

and there she was, arm in arm with her fat saviour, p

fat girl was protective, and Laura felt too grateful to her to take it amiss that every now and then she threw back her head and laugh

cross the verandah laden with books, and disappearing down a corridor. Left alone, Laura made her way back to the dining-hall. Here some of the very young boarders were preparing their lessons, watch

clined for responsibility. "You'd better ask Miss

large brightly lighted room, where the boarders sat at two long tables with their books before them. Every head was raised at her entrance. In great embarrassmen

nd a big, thick nose which made her profile resemble that of a horse. "Can't you twiddle your thumbs f

eling as though she had been hit, crossed to the other table. Miss Chapman, the head governess, was neither so hard-looking nor so brillia

likely she would. Oh well, if she didn't, I suppose you'd better bring y

hall-said: "Oh, very well," in the rather whiny voi

hink I know my way

aid Miss Zielinski without looking up, a

r room, saw that her box had been taken away, her books left lying [P.51] on a chair. But instead of picking them up, she threw herself on he

d. She did not even halt at poison or the knife: a big cake, sent by Mother, of which she invited all alike to partake, and into which she inserted a f

teps came along the passage; and she had only just time to spring

come down

asked Miss Zielinski crossly. "What were you doing?" A

st standing there." And all the little girl

e assigned to her, some of the older girls began to drop in from the study

what the

at show; for a daughter of Godmother's had once attended th

incipia already?" said a big girl, and held up, incredulously

was forced to confess that she

I say!" she called to a friend. "Here's a rum go. Here's this ki

f purchasing each book new and as it was needed, highly ridiculous. Laura, on her knees before her shelf

stop that!" she cried. "You're teasing that kid again. I won't have i

ced to let her eyes stray in their direction; and having fingered her chain indecisively for a little, sa

he could afford to disregard Miss Chapman's foibles. So she went on with her book, and ignored the question. But Miss Zielin

rnesses and beside the very big girls-girls of eighteen and nineteen, who seemed old

a kind smile, said on seeing her downcast air: "Poor little thing! Never mind." But when they talked a

d a hymn-book, one with music in it being handed to Miss Chapman at the piano. The door opened to admit first Mrs. Gurley, then

apman had played through the tune, the fifty-five, the governesses, the lady and gentleman rose to their feet and sang, with halting emphasis, of th

apter of the Second Epistle

to listen to Paul's words, which the sandy gentleman

us

girls on her right kept up throughout a running conversation. Also, when it was about half over she was startled to hear Miss Zielinski say, in a shrill whisper: "Heavens! Th

directions, shook hands with the governesses, and left the room. Th

learned your verse?" whisper

er a Bible, and, since it was not a hard verse an

ENCE AND FIND OUT KNOWLE

watching with lynx-eyes to see that no books or eatables were smuggled to the bedroo

y through her own prayers, drew the blankets up over her head, and pretended to be asleep. Soon the lights were out a