“It is one word, meaning a mark of folly in young ladies. But I must finish the grammatical exercise.”
‘Miss Rothman, a section sufficiently curved.’
“You should not have made this remark, Miss Grey. When you ridicule deformity you shew a want of feeling; and, what is of more consequence, you prove that you treat with contempt the works of your Creator. Miss Rothman’s talents, and amiable temper, we cannot too highly prize.”
‘Miss Russel, an index to point out disagreeables; make her an article, and she will prove a bad one of the definite order.’
‘The little Rhymer, a brace; and Miss Wise, a verb neuter.
‘Miss Damer, auxiliary verb, or substantive proper; first person singular, face—’ Miss Darner stopped a moment, and then went on with, ‘Miss Jane Adair,—temper, syntax; consisting of concord and government; speech, a preposition; voice, liquids; face, mind, and figure, in the superlative degree; as the verb to be loved, second person singular, indicative mood, present tense, to myself and others. The remainder, excepting Miss Arden, may be classed with mutes, crotchets, irregular verbs, quotations, and parallels.’
“I wish,” cried Isabella, “I could write exercises, or a theme, or something, I don’t care what.”
“And what is to prevent you, my dear?”
“Oh, nothing at all, Miss Damer, if I could but tell what to write.”
“Tell how the world was made,” said Miss Bruce, “that would be a very good subject.”