He came, and in a very few minutes he had talked over Susanna. He brought her a little present,—a work-box,—which he had bought for her at Littlebath; and though the work-box itself did not altogether avail, it paved the way for civil words, which were more efficacious. On this occasion he talked more to his partner's daughter than to his partner's sister, and promised to tell her mamma how well she was looking, and that the air of Littlebath had brought roses to her cheeks.
"I think it is a healthy place," said Miss Mackenzie.
"I'm quite sure it is," said Mr Rubb. "And you like Mrs Crammer's school, Susanna?"
She would have preferred to have been called Miss Mackenzie, but was not disposed to quarrel with him on the point.
"Yes, I like it very well," she said. "The other girls are very nice; and if one must go to school, I suppose it's as good as any other school."
"Susanna thinks that going to school at all is rather a nuisance," said Miss Mackenzie.
"You'd think so too, aunt, if you had to practise every day for an hour in the same room with four other pianos. It's my belief that I shall hate the sound of a piano the longest day that I shall live."
"I suppose it's the same with all young ladies," said Mr Rubb.
"It's the same with them all at Mrs Crammer's. There isn't one there that does not hate it."
"But you wouldn't like not to be able to play," said her aunt.