“No; I thought you meant to mention it. Will you do so now?”
“You will speak to her upon the subject, I will go and take the juvenile class.”
As she spoke, Rebecca went off to the lower end of the schoolroom, while Beatrice hemmed to clear her voice.
“My sister thinks that Ophelia Potts ought to be severely punished, and held up as an example to the whole school, Miss Thorne. Of course you have punished her?”
“No, I have not punished her, Miss Lambent; but I have talked to her a great deal.”
“Not punished her, Miss Thorne! Dear me, I am surprised. The girl was most rude and impertinent on the inspection day. I really wonder that you have not punished her severely. She sets a bad example to the whole school.”
At that very moment the young lady in question was behaving most dramatically, copying every motion of Miss Lambent, who was gesticulating and shaking her head a good deal while teaching the juvenile class; but catching Hazel’s eye, the girl bent at once over her slate.
“Ophelia Potts.”
“A most absurd name, Miss Thorne! Why could not they call her Jane or Sarah?”
“Parents have curious fancies in the names they give their children, ma’am,” replied Hazel. “This girl is of a singular disposition, and I cannot help thinking that punishment would harden her.”