“Do you know who I am?” began Evelyn.
“Yes—perfectly. You are little Evelyn Wynford. Now be a good girl, Evelyn, and attend to your work.”
Miss Thompson left the room. Evelyn found herself alone. A wild fury consumed her. She jumped up.
“Does she think for a single moment that I am going to obey her?” thought the naughty child. “Oh, if only Jasper were here! Oh Jasper! you were right; they are trying to break me in, but they won’t succeed.”
A book which the governess had laid upon a table near attracted the little girl’s attention. It was not an ordinary lesson-book, but a very beautiful copy of Ruskin’s Sesame and Lilies. Evelyn took up the book, opened it, and read the following words on the title-page:
“To dear Agnes, from her affectionate brother Walter. Christmas Day, 1896.”
Quick as thought the angry child tore out the title-page and two or three other pages at the beginning, scattered them into little bits, and then, going up to the fire which burned at one end of the long room, flung the scattered fragments into the blaze. She had no sooner done so than a curious sense of dismay stole over her. She shut up the book hastily, and being really alarmed, began to look over her English history. Miss Thompson came back just before recess was over, picked up Evelyn’s book, asked her one or two questions, and gave her an approving nod.
“That is better,” she said. “You have done as much as I could expect in the time. Now then, come here, please. These are your English lessons for to-morrow.”
Evelyn walked quite meekly across the room. Miss Thompson set her several lessons in the ordinary English subjects.
“And now,” she said, “you are to go to mademoiselle. She is waiting to find out what French you know, and to give you your lesson for to-morrow.”