CHAPTER II. FIRST LESSONS IN THE ART OF INSTRUCTION

aircomplexion.MaryAnnwasatallgirltoo,somewhatdarklikehermother,butwitharoundfullfaceandahighcolourinhercheeks.ThesecondsisterwasFanny,averyprettylittlegirlMrs.Bloomfieldassuredmeshewasaremarkablygentlechild,andrequiredencouragement:shehadnotlearnedanythingyetbutinafewdays,shewouldbefouryearsold,andthenshemighttakeherfirstlessoninthealphabet,andbepromotedtotheschoolroom.TheremainingonewasHarriet,alittlebroad,fat,merry,playfulthingofscarcelytwo,thatIcovetedmorethanalltherest—butwithherIhadnothingtodo. ItalkedtomylittlepupilsaswellasIcould,andtriedtorendermyselfagreeablebutwithlittlesuccessIfear,fortheirmother’spresencekeptmeunderanunpleasantrestraint.They,however,wereremarkablyfreefromshyness.Theyseemedbold,livelychildren,andIhopedIshouldsoonbeonfriendlytermswiththem—thelittleboyespecially,ofwhomIhadheardsuchafavourablecharacterfromhismamma.InMaryAnntherewasacertainaffectedsimper,andacravingfornotice,thatIwassorrytoobserve.Butherbrotherclaimedallmyattentiontohimselfhestoodboltuprightbetweenmeandthefire,withhishandsbehindhisback,talkingawaylikeanorator,occasionallyinterruptinghisdiscoursewithasharpreprooftohissisterswhentheymadetoomuchnoise. “Oh,Tom,whatadarlingyouare!”exclaimedhismother.“Comeandkissdearmammaandthenwon’tyoushowMissGreyyourschoolroom,andyournicenewbooks?” “Iwon’tkissyou,mammabutIwillshowMissGreymyschoolroom,andmynewbooks.” “Andmyschoolroom,andmynewbooks,Tom,”saidMaryAnn.“They’reminetoo.” “They’remine,”repliedhedecisively.“Comealong,MissGrey—I’llescortyou.” Whentheroomandbookshadbeenshown,withsomebickeringsbetweenthebrotherandsisterthatIdidmyutmosttoappeaseormitigate,MaryAnnbroughtmeherdoll,andbegantobeveryloquaciousonthesubjectofitsfineclothes,itsbed,itschestofdrawers,andotherappurtenancesbutTomtoldhertoholdherclamour,thatMissGreymightseehisrocking-horse,which,withamostimportantbustle,hedraggedforthfromitscornerintothemiddleoftheroom,loudlycallingonmetoattendtoit.Then,orderinghissistertoholdthereins,hemounted,andmademestandfortenminutes,watchinghowmanfullyheusedhiswhipandspurs.Meantime,however,IadmiredMaryAnn’sprettydoll,andallitspossessionsandthentoldMasterTomhewasacapitalrider,butIhopedhewouldnotusehiswhipandspurssomuchwhenherodearealpony. “Oh,yes,Iwill!”saidhe,layingonwithredoubledardour.“I’llcutintohimlikesmoke!Eeh!myword!butheshallsweatforit.” ThiswasveryshockingbutIhopedintimetobeabletoworkareform