“Poor thing!” said her mother, “I am vastly glad to see she likes you: she will learn all the better, and be so happy!”
The next morning Miss Melville entered on her task.
Clara was very averse to being taught; but the gentle manner adopted with her, made the first day’s task pass off tolerably easy; the second and third were not to be complained of; but it soon became necessary to make use of bribes, and various other schemes, to induce her to read.
Miss Melville, however, found the mother more irrational than her daughter. She was constantly detaching her from her studies; sometimes complaining that too much reading would hurt her eyesight; at others, that she would study herself into a fever; yet she was constantly worrying her with enquiries respecting her improvement, and dictating the manner in which she should be taught. When she saw Clara appear unhappy at being called to attend on Miss Melville, she would say, “Dear Miss, don’t worry the poor child about her books; she has time enough before her; let her come to her lessons when she pleases: she will get on a great deal sooner for not being worried.”
It required much patience to bear all this, but not more than Miss Melville possessed. She resolved to persevere in the use of every allurement she could invent to induce Clara to receive her instructions. The following circumstance favoured her wishes, and produced the desired effect.
At the time Mr. Dormer commissioned Mr. Franklin to procure a governess for his daughter, he impowered him also to purchase one of Stodart’s best pianos, as necessary for her instruction.
Miss Melville being perfectly mistress of the instrument, it became a great source of amusement to the whole family; Clara in particular became fond of music to excess, and was constantly importuning her governess to play to her.
In answer to her frequent requests, Miss Melville agreed to play her a tune every time she read a lesson, and informed her, that, as soon as she could read and spell, she would be capable of learning the notes, and playing on the piano.
“Indeed!” exclaimed Clara.
“Yes, indeed,” said Miss Melville; “and I believe you will soon learn to play.”