第11部分(第1/7 页)

corner　of　the　schoolroom；　with　directions　to　hem　the　same。　At　that　hour　most　of　the　others　were　sewing　likewise；　but　one　class　still　stood　round　Miss　Scatcherd’s　chair　reading；　and　as　all　was　quiet；　the　subject　of　their　lessons　could　be　heard；　together　with　the　manner　in　which　each　girl　acquitted　herself；　and　the　animadversions　or　mendations　of　Miss　Scatcherd　on　the　performance。　It　was　English　history：　among　the　readers　I　observed　my　acquaintance　of　the　verandah：　at　the　mencement　of　the　lesson；　her　place　had　been　at　the　top　of　the　class；　but　for　some　error　of　pronunciation；　or　some　inattention　to　stops；　she　was　suddenly　sent　to　the　very　bottom。　Even　in　that　obscure　position；　Miss　Scatcherd　continued　to　make　her　an　object　of　constant　notice：　she　was　continually　addressing　to　her　such　phrases　as　the　following：—

“Burns”　（such　it　seems　was　her　name：　the　girls　here　were　all　called　by　their　surnames；　as　boys　are　elsewhere）；　“Burns；　you　are　standing　on　the　side　of　your　shoe；　turn　your　toes　out　immediately。”　“Burns；　you　poke　your　chin　most　unpleasantly；　draw　it　in。”　“Burns；　I　insist　on　your　holding　your　head　up；　I　will　not　have　you　before　me　in　that　attitude；”　&c。　&c。

A　chapter　having　been　read　through　twice；　the　books　were　closed　and　the　girls　examined。　The　lesson　had　prised　part　of　the　reign　of　Charles　I。；　and　there　were　sundry　questions　about　tonnage　and　poundage　and　ship…money；　which　most　of　them　appeared　unable　to　answer；　still；　every　little　difficulty　was　solved　instantly　when　it　reached　Burns：　her　memory　seemed　to　have　retained　the　substance　of　the　whole　lesson；　and　she　was　ready　with　answers　on　every　point。　I　kept　expecting　that　Miss　Scatcherd　would　praise　her　attention；　but；　instead　of　that；　she　suddenly　cried　out—

“You　dirty；　disagreeable　girl