CHAPTER III. A FEW MORE LESSONS

Irosenextmorningwithafeelingofhopefulexhilaration,inspiteofthedisappointmentsalreadyexperiencedbutIfoundthedressingofMaryAnnwasnolightmatter,asherabundanthairwastobesmearedwithpomade,plaitedinthreelongtails,andtiedwithbowsofribbon:ataskmyunaccustomedfingersfoundgreatdifficultyinperforming.Shetoldmehernursecoulddoitinhalfthetime,and,bykeepingupaconstantfidgetofimpatience,contrivedtorendermestilllonger.Whenallwasdone,wewentintotheschoolroom,whereImetmyotherpupil,andchattedwiththetwotillitwastimetogodowntobreakfast.Thatmealbeingconcluded,andafewcivilwordshavingbeenexchangedwithMrs.Bloomfield,werepairedtotheschoolroomagain,andcommencedthebusinessoftheday.Ifoundmypupilsverybackward,indeedbutTom,thoughaversetoeveryspeciesofmentalexertion,wasnotwithoutabilities.MaryAnncouldscarcelyreadaword,andwassocarelessandinattentivethatIcouldhardlygetonwithheratall.However,bydintofgreatlabourandpatience,Imanagedtogetsomethingdoneinthecourseofthemorning,andthenaccompaniedmyyoungchargeoutintothegardenandadjacentgrounds,foralittlerecreationbeforedinner.Therewegotalongtolerablytogether,exceptthatIfoundtheyhadnonotionofgoingwithme:Imustgowiththem,wherevertheychosetoleadme.Imustrun,walk,orstand,exactlyasitsuitedtheirfancy.This,Ithought,wasreversingtheorderofthingsandIfounditdoublydisagreeable,asonthisaswellassubsequentoccasions,theyseemedtopreferthedirtiestplacesandthemostdismaloccupations.ButtherewasnoremedyeitherImustfollowthem,orkeepentirelyapartfromthem,andthusappearneglectfulofmycharge.To-day,theymanifestedaparticularattachmenttoawellatthebottomofthelawn,wheretheypersistedindabblingwithsticksandpebblesforabovehalfanhour.Iwasinconstantfearthattheirmotherwouldseethemfromthewindow,andblamemeforallowingthemthustodraggletheirclothesandwettheirfeetandhands,insteadoftakingexercisebutnoarguments,commands,orentreatiescoulddrawthemaway.Ifshedidnotseethem,someoneelsedid—agentlemanonhorsebackhadenteredthegateandwasproceedinguptheroadatthedistanceofafewpacesfromushepaused,andcallingtothechildreninawaspishpenetratingtone,badethem“keepoutofthatwater.”“MissGrey,”saidhe,“(IsupposeitisMissGrey),Iamsurprisedthatyoushouldallowthemtodirtytheirclothesinthatmanner!Don’tyouseehowMissBloomfieldhassoiledherfrock?andthatMasterBloomfield’ssocksarequitewet?andbothofthemwithoutgloves?Dear,dear!Letmerequestthatinfutureyouwillkeepthemdecentatleast!”sosaying,heturnedaway,andcontinuedhisrideuptothehouse.ThiswasMr.Bloomfield.IwassurprisedthatheshouldnominatehischildrenMasterandMissBloomfieldandstillmoreso,thatheshouldspeaksouncivillytome,theirgoverness,andaperfectstrangertohimself.Presentlythebellrangtosummonusin.Idinedwiththechildrenatone,whileheandhisladytooktheirluncheonatthesametable.Hisconducttheredidnotgreatlyraisehiminmyestimation.Hewasamanofordinarystature—ratherbelowthanabove—andratherthinthanstout,apparentlybetweenthirtyandfortyyearsofage:hehadalargemouth,pale,dingycomplexion,milkyblueeyes,andhairthecolourofahempencord.Therewasaroastlegofmuttonbeforehim:hehelpedMrs.Bloomfield,thechildren,andme,desiringmetocutupthechildren’smeatthen,aftertwistingaboutthemuttoninvariousdirections,andeyeingitfromdifferentpoints,hepronounceditnotfittobeeaten,andcalledforthecoldbeef. “Whatisthematterwiththemutton,mydear?”askedhismate. “Itisquiteoverdone.Don’tyoutaste,Mrs.Bloomfield,thatallthegoodnessisroastedoutofit?Andcan’tyouseethatallthatnice,redgravyiscompletelydriedaway?” “Well,Ithinkthebeefwillsuityou.” Thebeefwassetbeforehim,andhebegantocarve,butwiththemostruefulexpressionsofdiscontent. “Whatisthematterwiththebeef,Mr.Bloomfield?I’msureIthoughtitwasverynice.” “Andsoitwasverynice.Anicerjointcouldnotbebutitisquitespoiled,”repliedhe,dolefully. “Howso?” “Howso!Why,don’tyouseehowitiscut?Dear—dear!itisquiteshocking!” “Theymusthavecutitwronginthe