The Argosy — page 363: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Master of Greylands. 34.3 ‘We will begin with your English grammar ”—taking up the dog- eared, untidy book. ‘“ How far are you in it, Miss Flora?” “*T don’t like grammar.” ‘“‘ How far are you in itP’’ equably pursued Madame. *“T don’t recollect.” ‘To begin English grammar again,” spoke Madame, addressing her- self, and making a note on paper with a pencil. “T shan’t begin it again.” | “You will not say to me I shall or I sha’n’t; you will do what I please,” quietly corrected Madame. “This is your English history. What reign are you in?” Miss Flora had her elbows on the table, her hands under her chin, and her pretty face pushed out defiantly opposite Madame. The patches of plaister were nearly all gone ; her hght curls, tied back with black nbbor, hung low behind. She wore a black frock and whitc pinafore. ‘Which of the kings’ reigns are you in?” pursued Madame. “Notin any. I know them all. Charles the Second was beheaded ; and Henry the Eighth had ten wives: and Guy Faux blew up the gun- powder plot; and Elizabeth boxed people’s ears.” “Qh,” said Madame, ‘‘I think we shall have to begin fa? again. Are you good at spelling ?” “I can’t spell at all. I hate it. Mamma says I need not learn to spell.’ ‘“‘T fancy that cannot be true. How will you write letters if you cannot spell?” ‘Who wants to write letters ?—I don’t.” 1 ‘“‘ Flora!” put in Ethel in a warning tone. The girl turned angnly on Ethel. ‘ Nobody asked you to speak : mind your copying.” ‘Mind your manners,” said Ethel, nodding to her. ‘Not for you, or for anybody else in this room.” ‘It is very unpleasant to hear young ladies say these rude things,” interposed Madame. “As your governess, Miss Flora, I shall not permit it.” ‘‘ That’s what my other governesses would say,” retorted Flora. “It made no difference to me.” “Tf the other governesses did not do their duty by you, it is no reason why I should not do mine,” said Madame. ‘“ Your papa has charged me with forming your manners: if I have trouble in doing it I am to appeal to him.” Flora was silent. The one only will she feared, in the house or out of it, was her father’s. Me would not be trifled with, however her mother might be. ‘‘T hate governesses, Madame Guise. I’d hke to know what-they were invented for.” ECoOMmicloooks (CO) mn —_)