第11部分(第5/7 页)

es。　I　suspected　she　might　be　right　and　I　wrong；　but　I　would　not　ponder　the　matter　deeply；　like　Felix；　I　put　it　off　to　a　more　convenient　season。

“You　say　you　have　faults；　Helen：　what　are　they？　To　me　you　seem　very　good。”

“Then　learn　from　me；　not　to　judge　by　appearances：　I　am；　as　Miss　Scatcherd　said；　slatternly；　I　seldom　put；　and　never　keep；　things；　in　order；　I　am　careless；　I　forget　rules；　I　read　when　I　should　learn　my　lessons；　I　have　no　method；　and　sometimes　I　say；　like　you；　I　cannot　bear　to　be　subjected　to　systematic　arrangements。　This　is　all　very　provoking　to　Miss　Scatcherd；　who　is　naturally　neat；　punctual；　and　particular。”

“And　cross　and　cruel；”　I　added；　but　Helen　Burns　would　not　admit　my　addition：　she　kept　silence。

“Is　Miss　Temple　as　severe　to　you　as　Miss　Scatcherd？”

At　the　utterance　of　Miss　Temple’s　name；　a　soft　smile　flitted　over　her　grave　face。

“Miss　Temple　is　full　of　goodness；　it　pains　her　to　be　severe　to　any　one；　even　the　worst　in　the　school：　she　sees　my　errors；　and　tells　me　of　them　gently；　and；　if　I　do　anything　worthy　of　praise；　she　gives　me　my　meed　liberally。　One　strong　proof　of　my　wretchedly　defective　nature　is；　that　even　her　expostulations；　so　mild；　so　rational；　have　not　influence　to　cure　me　of　my　faults；　and　even　her　praise；　though　I　value　it　most　highly；　cannot　stimulate　me　to　continued　care　and　foresight。”

“That　is　curious；”　said　I；　“it　is　so　easy　to　be　careful。”

“For　you　I　have　no　doubt　it　is。　I　observed　you　in　your　class　this　morning；　and　saw　you　were　closely　attentive：　your　thoughts　never　seemed　to　wander　while　Miss　Miller　explained　the　lesson　and　questioned　you。　Now；　mine　continually　rove　away；　when　I　should　be　listening　to　Miss　Scatcherd；　and　collecting　all　she　says　with　assiduity；　often　I　lose　t