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endeavouring to sustain something like a conversation … consisting chiefly
of a succession of commonplace remarks； expressed with frigid formality：
but this might be more my fault than hers； for I really could NOT converse。
In fact； my attention was almost wholly absorbed in my dinner： not from
ravenous appetite； but from distress at the toughness of the beefsteaks； and
the numbness of my hands； almost palsied by their five…hours' exposure to
the bitter wind。 I would gladly have eaten the potatoes and let the meat
alone； but having got a large piece of the latter on to my plate； I could not
be so impolite as to leave it； so； after many awkward and unsuccessful
attempts to cut it with the knife； or tear it with the fork； or pull it asunder
between them； sensible that the awful lady was a spectator to the whole
transaction； I at last desperately grasped the knife and fork in my fists； like
a child of two years old； and fell to work with all the little strength I
possessed。 But this needed some apology … with a feeble attempt at a
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laugh； I said； 'My hands are so benumbed with the cold that I can scarcely
handle my knife and fork。'
'I daresay you would find it cold；' replied she with a cool； immutable
gravity that did not serve to re…assure me。
When the ceremony was concluded； she led me into the sitting…room
again； where she rang and sent for the children。
'You will find them not very far advanced in their attainments；' said
she； 'for I have had so little time to attend to their education myself； and
we have thought them too young for a governess till now； but I think they
are clever children； and very apt to learn； especially the little boy； he is； I
think； the flower of the flock … a generous； noble…spirited boy； one to be
led； but not driven； and remarkable for always speaking the truth。 He
seems to scorn deception' （this was good news）。 'His sister Mary Ann
will require watching；' continued she； 'but she is a very good girl upon the
whole； though I wish her to be kept out of the nursery as much as possible；
as she is now almost six years old； and might acquire bad habits from the
nurses。 I have ordered her crib to be placed in your room； and if you will
be so kind as to overlook her washing and dressing； and take charge of her
clothes； she need have nothing further to do with the nursery maid。'
I replied I was quite willing to do so； and at that moment my young
pupils entered the apartment； with their two younger sisters。 Master Tom
Bloomfield was a well…grown boy of seven； with a somewhat wiry frame；
flaxen hair； blue eyes； small turned…up nose； and fair complexion。 Mary
Ann was a tall girl too； somewhat dark like her mother； but with a round
full face and a high colour in her cheeks。 The second sister was Fanny； a
very pretty little girl； Mrs。 Bloomfield assured me she was a remarkably
gentle child； and required encouragement： she had not learned anything
yet； but in a few days； she would be four years old； and then she might
take her first lesson in the alphabet； and be promoted to the schoolroom。
The remaining one was Harriet； a little broad； fat； merry； playful thing of
scarcely two； that I coveted more than all the rest … but with her I had
nothing to do。
I talked to my little pupils as well as I could； and tried to render myself
agreeable； but with little success I fear； for their mother's presence kept me
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under an unpleasant restraint。 They； however； were remarkably free from
shyness。 They seemed bold； lively children； and I hoped I should soon
be on friendly terms with them … the little boy especially； of whom I had
heard such a favourable character from his mamma。 In Mary Ann there
was a certain affected simper； and a craving for notice； that I was sorry to
observe。 But her brother claimed all my attention to himself； he stood
bolt upright between me and the fire； with his hands behind his back；
talking away like an orator； occasionally interrupting his discourse with a
sharp reproof to his sisters when they made too much noise。
'Oh； Tom； what a darling you are！' exclaimed his mother。 'Come and
kiss dear mamma； and then won't you show Miss Grey your schoolroom；
and your nice new books？'
'I won't kiss YOU； mamma； but I WILL show Miss Grey my
schoolroom； and my new books。'
'And MY schoolroom； and MY new books； Tom；' said Mary Ann。
'They're mine too。'
'They're MINE；' replied he decisively。 'Come along； Miss Grey … I'll
escort you。'
When the room and books had been shown； with some bickerings
between the brother and sister that I did my utmost to appease or mitigate；
Mary Ann brought me her doll； and began to be very loquacious on the
subject of its fine clothes； its bed； its chest of drawers； and other
appurtenances； but Tom told her to hold her clamour； that Miss Grey
might see his rocking…horse； which； with a most important bustle； he
dragged forth from its corner into the middle of the room； loudly calling
on me to attend to it。 Then； ordering his sister to hold the reins； he
mounted； and made me stand for ten minutes； watching how manfully he
used his whip and spurs。 Meantime； however； I admired Mary Ann's
pretty doll； and all its possessions； and then told Master Tom he was a
capital rider； but I hoped he would not use his whip and spurs so much
when he rode a real pony。
'Oh； yes； I will！' said he； laying on with redoubled ardour。 'I'll cut
into him like smoke！ Eeh！ my word！ but he shall sweat for it。'
This was very shocking； but I hoped in time to be able to work a
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reformation。
'Now you must put on your bonnet and shawl；' said the little hero； 'and
I'll show you my garden。'
'And MINE；' said Mary Ann。
Tom lifted his fist with a menacing gesture； she uttered a loud； shrill
scream； ran to the other side of me； and made a face at him。
'Surely； Tom； you would not s