Miss Bey did not go on, however, and on looking up to see what was the matter, Beth found her gazing at her with bent brows.
"May I ask what your name is?" Miss Bey inquired.
"Beth Caldwell."
"Then allow me to inform you, Miss Beth Caldwell, that 'all right, go on,' is not the proper way to address the head-mistress of the Royal Service School for Officers' Daughters."
"Thank you for telling me," Beth answered. "You see I don't know these things. I always say that to mamma."
"Have you ever been to school before?" Miss Bey asked.
"No," Beth answered.
"Oh!" Miss Bey ejaculated, with peculiar meaning. "Then you will have a great deal to learn."
"I suppose so," Beth rejoined. "But that's what I came for, you know—to learn. It's high time I began!"
She fixed her big eyes on the blank wall opposite, and there was a sorrowful expression in them. Miss Bey noted the expression, and nodded her head several times, but there was no relaxation of her peremptory manner when she spoke again.