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during hours of Spartan resolution whilst the rest of the household
slept。 〃To…morrow I'll see that they do what I tell them〃
〃Now； children；〃 she would say； 〃I'm determined to stand no nonsense
this morning。 Get out your copy books。〃 Five minutes later would
begin： 〃Oh； Miss Jones； I can't write with this pencil。 May I find a
better one？〃 Granted permission； Mary's head and large spectacles
would disappear inside the schoolroom cupboard。 Soon Jeremy would
say very politely： 〃Miss Jones； I think I know where it is。 May I
help her to find it？〃 Then Jeremy's head would disappear。 There
would follow giggles； whispers； again giggles； then from the
cupboard a book tumbles； then another； then another。 Then Miss Jones
would say： 〃Now； Jeremy； come back to the table。 You've had quite
enough time〃 interrupted by a perfect avalanche of books。 Mary
crying：
〃Oh； Jeremy！〃 Jeremy crying： 〃I didn't； it was you！〃 Miss Jones：
〃Now； children〃
Then Jeremy； very politely：
〃Please； Miss Jones； may I help Mary to pick the books up？ There are
rather a lot。〃 Then； both on their knees； more whispers and giggles。
Miss Jones； her voice trembling： 〃Children； I really insist〃 And
more books dropped； and more whispers and more protests； and so on
ad infinitum。 A beautiful game to be played all the morning。
Or there was the game of Not Hearing。 Miss Jones would say： 〃And
twice two are four。〃 Mary would repeat loudly： 〃And twice two is
five〃
〃Four； Mary。〃
〃Oh； I thought you said five。〃
And then a second later Jeremy would ask：
〃Did you say four or five； Miss Jones？〃
〃I told Mary I said four〃
〃Oh； I've written fiveand now it's all wrong。 Didn't you write
five； Mary？〃
〃Yes； I've written five。 You did say four； didn't you； Miss Jones？〃
〃Yesyes。 And three makes〃
〃What did you say made five？〃 asked Jeremy。
〃I didn't say five。 I said four。 Twice two。〃
〃Is that as well as 'add three；' Miss Jones？ I've got twice two； and
then add three； and then twice two〃
〃No； no。 I was only telling Jeremy〃
〃Please； Miss Jones； would you mind beginning again〃
This is a very unpleasant game for a lady with neuralgia。
Or there is the game of Making a Noise。 At this game； without any
earlier training or practice； Jeremy was a perfect master。 The three
children would be sitting there very； very quiet； learning the first
verse of 〃Tiger； Tiger； burning bright〃 A very gentle creaking
sound would break the stillnessa creaking sound that can be made；
if you are clever； by rubbing a boot against a boot。 It would not
come regularly； but once； twice； thrice； a pause； and then once；
twice and another pause。
〃Who's making a noise？〃
Dead silence。 A very long pause； and then it would begin again。
〃That noise must cease； I say。 Jeremy； what are you doing？〃
He would lift to her then eyes full of meekness and love。
〃Nothing； Miss Jones。〃
Soon it would begin again。 Miss Jones would be silent this time； and
then Mary would speak。
〃Please； would you ask Jeremy not to rub his boots together？ I can't
learn my verse〃
〃I didn't know I was；〃 says Jeremy。
Then it would begin again。 Jeremy would say：
〃Please； may I take my boots off？〃
〃Take your boots off？ Why？〃
〃They will rub together； and I can't stop them； because I don't know
when I do it； and it is hard for Mary〃
〃Of course not！ I never heard of such a thing！ Next time you do it
you must stand on your chair。〃
Soon Jeremy is standing on his chair。 Soon his poetry book drops
with a terrible crash to the ground； and five million pins stab Miss
Jones's heart。 With white face and trembling hands； she says：
〃Go and stand in the corner； Jeremy！ I shall have to speak to your
mother！〃
He goes； grinning at Mary； and stands there knowing that his victim
is watching the door in an agony lest Mrs。 Cole should suddenly come
in and inquire what Jeremy had done； and that so the whole story of
his insubordination be revealed and Miss Jones lose her situation
for incapacity。
How did he discover this final weakness of Miss Jones？ No one told
him； but he knew； and； as the days passed； rejoiced in his power and
his might and his glory。
Then came the climax。 The children were not perfectly sure whether；
after all； Miss Jones might not tell their mother。 They did not wish
this to happen； and so long as this calamity was possible they were
not complete masters of the poor lady。 Then came a morning when they
had been extremely naughty； when every game had been played and
every triumph scored。 Miss Jones； almost in tears； had threatened
four times that the Powers Above should be informed。 Suddenly Mrs。
Cole entered。
〃Well； Miss Jones； how have the children been this morning？ If
they've been good I have a little treat to propose。〃
The children waited； their eyes upon their governess。 Her eyes
stared back upon her tormentors。 Her hands worked together。 She
struggled。 Why not call in Mrs。 Cole's authority to her aid？ No； she
knew what it would mean〃I'm very sorry； Miss Jones； but I think a
younger governess； perhaps〃
Her throat moved。
〃They've been very good this morning； Mrs。 Cole。〃
The eyes of Mary and of Jeremy were alight with triumph。
They had won their final victory。
III
I know what Miss Jones suffered during those weeks。 She was not an
old lady of very great power of resistance； and it must have
positively terrified her that these small children should so
vindictively hate her。 She could not have seen it as anything but
hatred； being entirely ignorant of children and the strange forces
to whose power they are subject； and she must have shivered in her
bedroom at the dreariness and terror of the prospect before her。
Many； many times she must have resolved not to be beaten； and many；
many times she must have admitted herself beaten as badly as any one
can be。
Her life with the people downstairs was not intimate enough； nor
were those people themselves perceptive enough for any realisation
of what was occurring to penetrate。
〃I hope you're happy with the children； Miss Jones；〃 once or twice
said Mrs。 Cole。
〃Very； thank you；〃 said Miss Jones。
〃They're good children； I think； although parents are always
prejudiced； of course。 Jeremy is a little difficult perhaps。 It's so
hard to tell what he's really thinking。 You find him a quiet；
reserved little boy？〃
〃Very；〃 said Miss Jones。
〃In a little while； when you know him better； he will come out。 Only
you have to let him take his time。 He doesn't like to be forced〃
〃No；〃 said Miss Jones。
Meanwhile； that morning descent into the schoolroom was real hell
for her。 She had to summon up her courage； walking about her
bedroom； pressing her hands together； evoking the memory of her
magnificent iron…souled brother； who would； she knew； despise such
tremors。 If only she could have discovered some remedy！ But
sentiment； attempted tyranny； anger； contempt； at all these things
they laughed。 She could not touch them anywhere。 And she saw Jeremy
as a real child of Evil in the very baldest sense。 She could not
imagine how anyone so young could be so cruel； so heartless； so
maliciously clever in his elaborate mac