"C-a-t—tac!" she said.
"Not tac, but cat, Ivy."
Ivy immediately said "Cat," all right, and went on. Soon the same word came again and again she spelt "C-a-t—tac."
Miss Anne corrected her afresh; and then it happened a third time, and a fourth time; for the page she was reading was all about a cat. Aunt Anne thought it funny and forgetful of her, and put her back at the beginning of the lesson. And behold each time that Ivy came upon that unfortunate word, she always said "C-a-t—tac."
"Ivy, I really don't think you can have forgotten so soon! Try to remember," urged Miss Anne. "C-a-t spells cat, not tac. Think of Auntie Millicent's pussy."
Ivy held her little head very upright, and her small mouth took a positive set. Miss Anne began to understand that this was not forgetfulness, but naughtiness. She was puzzled, for Ivy had been very good over her lessons till that day.
"Once more, darling. Try this time," urged Aunt Anne.
Ivy was taught to call the Misses Storey "Auntie," though really they were cousins. It seemed nicer that they should be the same to her as to Hecla.
"Try to do better," she said.
Not a bit of it! The page was read again, and all through "cat" was "tac."