‘Only class. Grammar and needlework.’
‘I see, the old routine. Quite the village school.’
‘It is very nice work,’ put in Mrs. Arthuret, who had been looking at it.
‘Oh yes, it always is when everything is sacrificed to it. Good-morning, I shall see more of you, Mrs.—ahem.’
‘Please, ma’am, should I tell her that she is not a school manager?’ inquired the mistress, somewhat indignantly, when the two ladies had departed.
‘You had better ask the Vicar what to do,’ responded Susan.
The schoolmaster, on his side, seemed to have had so much advice and offers of assistance in lessons on history, geography, and physical science, that he had been obliged to refer her to the managers, and explain that till the next inspection he was bound to abide by the time-table.
‘Ah, well, I will be one of the managers another year.’
So she told the Vicar, who smiled, and said, ‘We must elect you.’
‘I am sure much ought to be done. It is mere waste to have two separate schools, when a master can bring the children on so much better in the higher subjects.’