“Well, then, give me my slate,” said Lucy, “and I’ll go away.” So she took her slate, and went away out of the room, disappointed, discouraged, and sad.
As soon as she had gone, Royal’s feelings began to change from those of ridicule to a sentiment of pity. He sat upon the sofa silently musing, when Miss Anne terminated the pause by saying,—
“I was surprised at such ignorance.”
“So was I,” said Royal. “I should have thought any body would have known that.”
“I should have thought so, certainly,” said Miss Anne.
“Any body five years old,” added Royal.
“Yes,” said Miss Anne, “and yet you are ten.”
“I?” said Royal; “yes, I am ten, but Lucy is only five.”
“Yes,” replied Miss Anne, “but I was not speaking of Lucy; I was speaking of you.”
“I thought,” rejoined Royal, “that you were speaking of the ignorance Lucy showed, in not knowing how to count.”