himself with scent.
Yes, he went a good hour ago. And the speaker looked very solemn, and uttered a deep sigh.
I wouldnt disturb you, dear, at church time, as you had company; but, Bill dear oh, how nice you smell! and she rested her hands on his shoulders and reached up to kiss him.
Do I, Betsey?
Lovely, dear; but do tell me what he said about Miss Thorne.
Her brothers forehead seemed to have gone suddenly into the corrugated iron business, as he turned his eyes upon his sister.
He said he said
Yes, dear; please go on.
He said he had been engaged to her for two or three years, and that as soon as his father left off cutting up rough
Cutting up rough, Bill? Did he say cutting up rough?
Yes, Betsey. I never cut up rough in my business, never. I always made a point of having the best Sheffield knives and steels, and my steaks and chops and joints was always pictures.
Yes, dear; but tell me: Miss Thorne is engaged to be married to this gentleman?
I suppose so, said Mr William Forth Burge drearily. It was always so, Betsey. I could get on in trade, and I could save money, and I always dressed well, and I defy the world to say I wasnt always clean shaved; but I never did see a young lady that I thought was nice, but somebody else had seen her before and thought the same.
Oh, but we never know what might happen, Bill.
Whats the good of being rich? Whats the good of having a fine house? Whats the good of everything, if everythings always going to turn out disappointment? Betsey, he continued fiercely, that chap thinks of nothing but hisself. Hes one of your cigar-smoking, glass-o-sherry chaps, and he aint got a good art. Why, if youd got a young man, Betsey, and he come and sit down here and talked about you as that chap did about our young schoolmistress, Id ha punched his head!
Miss Burge pressed her brother softly back into a chair, and patted his face, and smoothed his hair, and kissed him first on one cheek and then upon the other.
Youre tired, Bill dear, she said, and didnt get your nap after dinner. Wheres your handkerchief? Here, let me do it dear; and taking her brothers flaming handkerchief from his pocket, she softly opened it over his head and face as if she were about to perform a conjuring trick and bring out bowls of gold fish or something of the kind from beneath, but she did not: she merely left it on his head and went away on tiptoe, saying to herself:
Poor Bill! he has got it again, and badly, too.
Chapter Eight. Mr Chutes Visit
The discipline of the school had been fairly maintained, but Hazel was not long in finding out that there were plenty of young revolutionary spirits waiting their opportunity to test the strength of the new mistress, nor in seeing that Miss Feelier Potts would be one of the leaders in any small insurrectionary movement that might take place.
There was plenty to do that first morning to feel the way, as it were; to find out what had been going on; how it was done; what the girls knew, and the hundred other little difficulties that a strange mistress would have to deal with on taking possession of a new post.
Monday morning too, and there were the school pence to be paid hot, moist, sticky pennies, that had been carried generally in hot, moist, sticky hands. These had to be received and noted, and the excuses listened to as well.
Mother hadnt got no changes morning, teacher Pay next week, teacher Mother says, teacher, as theres four on us, she oughtnt to pay moren thruppens Mother ll call and pay when she comes by. Then there was Sarah Ann Simms case. Sarah Ann had not brought her penny, and the book showed that she had not brought it the week before, nor the month before; in fact, it seemed as if Sarah Ann was in debt for her schooling from the time she had commenced.
Upon Sarah Ann being questioned, she didnt know nothink, only that mother who appeared to be ready to set all school rules, regulations, and laws at defiance said she shouldnt pay.
Hazel Thorne was pondering upon this crux, when there was a tap at the door, and Mr Samuel Chute entered, smiling to say Good morning.
I thought Id just drop in, and
see if there was anything I could do, he said, upon shaking hands, after which he wiped the hand he had used upon his fair hair. Its very awkward coming first to a school, he went on, and if youll only send for me, or ask for anything, you shall have it directly. I hope youve got plenty of chalk.
Hazel believed there was plenty, and promised to send and ask for assistance if any was required, wishing heartily the while that her visitor would go; but although it was evident through the thin partition that the boys were enjoying themselves in their masters absence, Mr Chute seemed in no hurry to depart.
Youll have some trouble, I daresay, he continued, rubbing his hands together, and looking contemplatively at Hazel. Some of the girls are like their brothers in my school. The young Potts are a terrible nuisance.
I daresay I shall be able to manage them by degrees, replied Hazel