Elsie Dinsmore | Page 3

come here and say that lesson; and bring
your copybook and slate, that I may examine your work."
Elsie tremblingly obeyed.
The lesson, though a difficult one, was very tolerably recited; for Elsie,
knowing Arthur's propensity for teasing, had studied it in her own room

before school hours. But Miss Day handed back the book with a frown,
saying, "I told you the recitation must be perfect, and it was not."
She was always more severe with Elsie than with any other of her
pupils. The reason the reader will probably be able to divine ere long.
"There are two incorrect figures in this example," said she, laying down
the slate, after glancing over its contents. Then taking up the copy-book,
she exclaimed, "Careless, disobedient child! did I not caution you to be
careful not to blot your book! There will be no ride for you this
morning. You have failed in everything. Go to your seat. Make that
example right, and do the next; learn your geography lesson over, and
write another page in your copy-book; and, mind, if there is a blot on it,
you will get no dinner."
Weeping and sobbing, Elsie took up her books and obeyed.
During this scene Arthur stood at his desk pretending to study, but
glancing every now and then at Elsie, with a conscience evidently ill at
ease. She cast an imploring glance at him, as she returned to her seat;
but he turned away his head, muttering, "It's all her own fault, for she
wouldn't let me help her."
As he looked up again, he caught his sister Lora's eyes fixed on him
with an expression of scorn and contempt. He colored violently, and
dropped his eyes upon his book.
"Miss Day," said Lora, indignantly, "I see Arthur does not mean to
speak, and as I cannot bear to see such injustice, I must tell you that it
is all his fault that Elsie has failed in her lessons; for she tried her very
best, but he teased her incessantly, and also jogged her elbow and made
her spill the ink on her book; and to her credit she was too honorable to
tear out the leaf from her copy-book, or to let him make her example
right; both which he very generously proposed doing after causing all
the mischief."
"Is this so, Arthur?" asked Miss Day, angrily.

The boy hung his head, but made no reply.
"Very well, then," said Miss Day, "you too must stay at home."
"Surely," said Lora, in surprise, "you will not keep Elsie, since I have
shown you that she was not to blame."
"Miss Lora," replied her teacher, haughtily, "I wish you to understand
that I am not to be dictated to by my pupils."
Lora bit her lip, but said nothing, and Miss Day went on hearing the
lessons without further remark.
In the meantime the little Elsie sat at her desk, striving to conquer the
feelings of anger and indignation that were swelling in her breast; for
Elsie, though she possessed much of "the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit," was not yet perfect, and often had a fierce contest with her
naturally quick temper. Yet it was seldom, very seldom that word or
tone or look betrayed the existence of such feelings; and it was a
common remark in the family that Elsie had no spirit.
The recitations were scarcely finished when the door opened and a lady
entered dressed for a ride.
"Not through yet, Miss Day?" she asked.
"Yes, madam, we are just done," replied the teacher, closing the French
grammar and handing it to Louise.
"Well, I hope your pupils have all done their duty this morning, and are
ready to accompany us to the fair," said Mrs. Dinsmore. "But what is
the matter with Elsie?"
"She has failed in all her exercises, and therefore has been told that she
must remain at home," replied Miss Day with heightened color and in a
tone of anger; "and as Miss Lora tells me that Master Arthur was partly
the cause, I have forbidden him also to accompany us."
"Excuse me, Miss Day, for correcting you," said Lora, a little

indignantly; "but I did not say _partly,_ for I am sure it was entirely his
fault."
"Hush, hush, Lora," said her mother, a little impatiently; "how can you
be sure of any such thing; Miss Day, I must beg of you to excuse
Arthur this once, for I have quite set my heart on taking him along. He
is fond of mischief, I know, but he is only a child, and you must not be
too hard upon him."
"Very well, madam," replied the governess stiffly, "you have of course
the best right to control your own children."
Mrs. Dinsmore turned