But it was not Miss Burton's intention to allow such conduct to continue. She was, as Miss Hollys had hoped, a thorough disciplinarian, though her mode of maintaining discipline was not, perhaps, such as that lady would have advised.
Miss Burton made every allowance for Beryl's naughtiness. She did not resort to punishment till she had tried ineffectually the influence of firm words and kind persuasions. But when these failed, and she saw that Beryl was not ailing in health, and had really no excuse for her perverseness, Miss Burton thought it was time to try the effect of sterner measures.
One Monday morning, Coral and Beryl were together in the nursery, now dignified by the name of schoolroom. Books, slates, and pens lay ready on the table; but it wanted ten minutes to the hour at which they began lessons.
Coral was busy putting her doll into the little wicker cot in which she was to repose during schooltime. Beryl stood before the bookshelves, looking with eager, longing gaze at a brightly-bound volume standing high on the top shelf. The books on that shelf belonged to Miss Burton, and the children were not allowed to take them without leave. Beryl's eyes were upon the book, which had been begun on the previous day. She was longing to know how the story went on.
She must just take a peep, to see what the next chapter was about. So, regardless of the fact that this was a forbidden pleasure, Beryl bounded on to a chair and had the book in her hand in a moment. Then, standing there, she was soon deep in the second chapter.
Thus Miss Burton found her, when she entered the room a little later.
"Beryl!" she exclaimed, astonished at the audacity of her pupil. "What are you doing on that chair? And what book is that in your hand? I thought I had forbidden you to take those books without asking my leave."
"Oh yes," said Beryl, looking a little startled, but not much abashed; "but I did so want to know what the next chapter was about."
"That is no excuse for disobedience," said Miss Burton gravely; "you must learn to control your wishes when it is wrong to indulge them. This is not the first time that I have found you disobedient of late, and I cannot let it pass unpunished. You will stay in this room for half an hour after school, and learn a lesson that I shall give you."
Beryl looked both surprised and angry, as she jumped down from the chair and went to take her place at the table. It was soon clear that she did not mean to submit meekly to her punishment.