"What sort of temper has she?"
"Queer, like everything else about her. Not unamiable, you know, but irritable at times, and she has days of deep depression, and moments of extreme elation."
"Ah!" Miss Clifford ejaculated, and then reflected a little. "Well, be patient with her," she said at last. "If she hasn't exceptional ability of some kind, I am no judge of girls; but she is evidently unaccustomed to school work, and is suffering from the routine and restraint, after being allowed to run wild. She should have been sent here years ago."
CHAPTER XXXI
From the foregoing it will be seen that Beth made her mark upon the school from the day of her arrival in the way of getting herself observed and talked about. She was set down as queer to begin with, and when lessons began both girls and mistresses decided that she was stupid; and queer she remained to the end in the estimation of those who had no better word to express it, but with regard to her stupidity there soon began to be differences of opinion.
At preparation one evening she talked instead of doing her work, and gradually all the girls about her had stopped to listen.
"Gracious!" Beth exclaimed at last, "the bell will go directly, and I've not done a sum. Show me how to work them, Rosa."
"Oh, bother!" Rosa rejoined. "Find out for yourself! My theme was turned, and I've got to do it again."
"Look here," said Beth, "if you'll do my sums, I'll do your theme now, and your thorough bass on Thursday."