X
THE QUEEN’S SQUARE ACADEMY FOR YOUNG LADIES
Miss Sibson sat in state in her parlour in Queen’s Square. Rather more dignified of mien than usual, and more highly powdered of nose, the schoolmistress was dividing her attention between the culprit in the corner, the elms outside—between which fledgeling rooks were making adventurous voyages—and the longcloth which she was preparing for the young ladies’ plain-sewing; for in those days plain-sewing was still taught in the most select academies. Nor, while she was thus engaged in providing for the domestic training of her charges, was she without assurance that their minds were under care. The double doors which separated the schoolroom from the parlour were ajar, and through the aperture one shrill voice after another could be heard, raised in monotonous perusal of Mrs. Chapone’s “Letters to a Young Lady upon the Improvement of the Mind.”
Miss Sibson wore her best dress, of black silk, secured half-way down the bodice by the large cameo brooch. But neither this nor the reading in the next room could divert her attention from her duties.
“The tongue,” she enunciated with great clearness, as she raised the longcloth in both hands and carefully inspected it over her glasses, “is an unruly member. Ill-nature,” she continued, slowly meting off a portion, and measuring a second portion against it, “is the fruit of a bad heart. Our opinions of others”—this with a stern look at Miss Hilhouse, fourteen years old, and in disgrace—“are the reflections of ourselves.”
The young lady, who was paying with the backboard for a too ready wit, put out the unruly member, and, narrowly escaping detection, looked inconceivably sullen.
“The face is the mirror to the mind,” Miss Sibson continued thoughtfully, as she threaded a needle against the light. “I hope, Miss Hilhouse, that you are now sorry for your fault.”
Miss Hilhouse maintained a stolid silence. Her shoulders ached, but she was proud.
“Very good,” said Miss Sibson placidly; “very good! With time comes reflection.”
Time, a mere minute, brought more than reflection. A gentleman walked quickly across the fore-court to the door, the knocker fell sharply, and Miss Hilhouse’s sullenness dropped from her. She looked first uncomfortable, then alarmed. “Please, may I go now?” she muttered.
Wise Miss Sibson paid no heed. “A gentleman?” she said to the maid who had entered. “Will I see him? Procure his name.”