They
perhaps ought, in strict justice, to have been sent back; but Miss
Fosbrook was very glad to be saved the uproar that would have ensued,
and almost wondered whether she were not timidly merciful to the
horrible copy and the greasy slate. But Johnnie had no fine, and was
as proud of it as if he had been a good boy. "She hadn't caught him
out," he said, as if his kind governess had been his enemy.
As to Annie, her French verbs were always dreadful things to hear,
and the little merry face, usually so bright, used to grow quite
deplorable with the trouble she took not to use her mind. Using her
memory was bad enough, but saying things by heart was an affliction
she was used to, and it was very shocking of Miss Fosbrook to require
her to find out HOW many years Richard II. had reigned, if he began
in 1377 and ended in 1399. Susan prompted her, however; so she
really got a triumph over Miss Fosbrook, and was quite saved from
thinking. Oh, but the teasing woman! she silenced Susan, and would
have this poor injured Annie tell how old the tiresome man was.
"Began to reign at eleven years old, dethroned after twenty-two
years; how old was he?" Annie found bursting out crying easier than
thinking, and then they all cried out, "O Nanny, the pig!" and Miss
Fosbrook had the barbarity to call that FOOLISH crying! What might
one cry for, if not at being asked how old Richard II.
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