The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-10

the thought was terrible.
Saturday came. The girls were cheer
full. go first, Cis,n they said--"gc
first and get it over
"Yes, will go first | said. But
when he came | faltered and put of
the evil moment, and Claudia, Nell and
Lottie all went in before me-
''He is not shy today reported
Nell, on her return. 81 think, Cis, thai
we were mistaken about him. Or, per.
haps, he was under the impression
that we were learned girls; after oul
papers and our chatter he knows us
better and thinks very little of rs. He
is olemn-horribly solemn! And nc
old man could be seyerer. Oh; be i;
quite at his ease"
Nell had reported truly. He was
quite at his ease. He rose when he
heard me, and looked at me calmly
enough when he shook hands.
''Miss Chrystal?" he said.
Eyes, / said, meekly.
He touched chair that stood beside
his at the table, and | sat down with a
feeling of obedience. His face was
grave, his manner, as Nell had said
severe, | wondered how | could have
thought him nervous. He seated him
self bes' lie me, and drew a corrected
exercise toward him.
This, | think, is your paper, Miss
Chrystalp'
Yes" said. in small voice-"I-
think so, Mr.. Tudor
He turned the pages slowly and
gravely l sat looking down at my
hands folded meekly on the table and
did not see his face.
"Your first answer ISIS made
cquate."
''The first part of Stubs isis very
difficult, " / said, Yenturing to look up.
There was strange quick little
twinkle for moment in his eyes as he
glanced at me; but his lips did not
smile.
I'm the next question:" he said,
slowly, "You confuse-or seem to con-
fuse-two things, the constitutions and
the Assize of Clarendon-a slip, per-
haps?'
He was looking steadily and calmly
at me, waiting. For the first time in
my life felt small and young and
meek. I forgot that / was nineteen
and no longer schoolgirl. | was
overwhelmed with sense of my own
ignoranc. ''No-it was not Slip"
said. constitutional history is quite
quite new to me-"
$50 ] had gathered from your pa
per" he said quietly.
His very gravity and quietness
seemed like bitterest satire. He said
he did not grasp my theory here-did
not follow my argument there. And l
had had no theory could not follow
my own argument He grew more
grave and quiet and slow. At last he
pushed back his chair little and gave
me my paper folded.
"You will have to read very steadily,
Miss Chrystal."
"Yes," | said, in q small voice.
'For some months. :"
eyes, | said again.
'"The rest of the class are far ahead
of you"
"Yes-yes-I know" I said.
He seemed to have nothing more
wholesomely humiliating to say to me,
and l understood that the interview
might end, and rose to go. He rose,
too, Immediately. Most of our lecturers
nodded at us and sat still Mr.. Tudor
conceded something to my girlhood.
He stood where l stood, and remained
standing as he continued to speak to
me. He threw out crumb of praise.
''Your style is clear" he said.
"When you deal with subjects within
your grasp-when you do not get out
of your depth your style is clear de-
cidedly. Not an altogether historical
style, but lucids"
| felt that, on the whole, his blame
had been less humilating than this his
praise. He held open the door for me
and shook hands grayely with quiet
smile.
Good afternoon" he said.
"Good afternoon" / replied, and
fed.
The girls had invaded my study and
were lazily stretched on my bed and
window-seat and rug waiting for me.
Well?" they said.
l sat down beside Claudia on the
hearthrug and tore my corrected pa
per into small atoms and burnt them.
:" | hate him" | said, poking the fire
vigorously and pushing the smoldering
paper into the flames-"I hate him!
He thinks me conceited! He thinks
me horrid! He tries to be satirical be-
cause he thinks me pulled up. He
laughs at mel saw it in his eyes
more than once-always-every time
| looked at him. l said-I said he
blushed-I SAID he thought of me as a
girl said he blushed because / spoke
to him. And he despises me! And he
will never, never forget"
And there forgot that I belonged
to family of boys where no one ever
wept, and burst into sudden tears; and
Claudia, Nell and Lottie fell to COM
forting me.
ii.