CHAPTER II. FIRST LESSONS IN THE ART OF INSTRUCTION

tairs,philosophizingasIwentandwithsomedifficultyfoundmywayintotheroomwhereMrs.Bloomfieldawaitedme. Sheledmeintothedining-room,wherethefamilyluncheonhadbeenlaidout.Somebeefsteaksandhalf-coldpotatoesweresetbeforemeandwhileIdineduponthese,shesatopposite,watchingme(asIthought)andendeavouringtosustainsomethinglikeaconversation—consistingchieflyofasuccessionofcommonplaceremarks,expressedwithfrigidformality:butthismightbemoremyfaultthanhers,forIreallycouldnotconverse.Infact,myattentionwasalmostwhollyabsorbedinmydinner:notfromravenousappetite,butfromdistressatthetoughnessofthebeefsteaks,andthenumbnessofmyhands,almostpalsiedbytheirfive-hours’exposuretothebitterwind.Iwouldgladlyhaveeatenthepotatoesandletthemeatalone,buthavinggotalargepieceofthelatterontomyplate,Icouldnotbesoimpoliteastoleaveitso,aftermanyawkwardandunsuccessfulattemptstocutitwiththeknife,ortearitwiththefork,orpullitasunderbetweenthem,sensiblethattheawfulladywasaspectatortothewholetransaction,Iatlastdesperatelygraspedtheknifeandforkinmyfists,likeachildoftwoyearsold,andfelltoworkwithallthelittlestrengthIpossessed.Butthisneededsomeapology—withafeebleattemptatalaugh,Isaid,“MyhandsaresobenumbedwiththecoldthatIcanscarcelyhandlemyknifeandfork.” “Idaresayyouwouldfinditcold,”repliedshewithacool,immutablegravitythatdidnotservetoreassureme. Whentheceremonywasconcluded,sheledmeintothesitting-roomagain,wheresherangandsentforthechildren. “Youwillfindthemnotveryfaradvancedintheirattainments,”saidshe,“forIhavehadsolittletimetoattendtotheireducationmyself,andwehavethoughtthemtooyoungforagovernesstillnowbutIthinktheyarecleverchildren,andveryapttolearn,especiallythelittleboyheis,Ithink,thefloweroftheflock—agenerous,noble-spiritedboy,onetobeled,butnotdriven,andremarkableforalwaysspeakingthetruth.Heseemstoscorndeception”(thiswasgoodnews).“HissisterMaryAnnwillrequirewatching,”continuedshe,“butsheisaverygoodgirluponthewholethoughIwishhertobekeptoutofthenurseryasmuchaspossible,assheisnowalmostsixyearsold,andmightacquirebadhabitsfromthenurses.Ihaveorderedhercribtobeplacedinyourroom,andifyouwillbesokindastooverlookherwashinganddressing,andtakechargeofherclothes,sheneedhavenothingfurthertodowiththenurserymaid.” IrepliedIwasquitewillingtodosoandatthatmomentmyyoungpupilsenteredtheapartment,withtheirtwoyoungersisters.MasterTomBloomfieldwasawell-grownboyofseven,withasomewhatwiryframe,flaxenhair,blueeyes,smallturned-upnose,andf