Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-12


whelmed with sense OF my own ig-
norance. mo. it was not slip"
said Constitutional history Is quite
new 10 me-"
80 l had gathered from your
paper" 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
| had no theory could not follow
my own argument. He grew more
grave and quiet and slow. The lump
in my throat grew larger every mo-
ment. II had been brought up in n
family of girls | should have burst into
tears before him. ! sat still and looked
at my own brown fingers clasping one
another and answered briefly.
At last he pushed back his chair a
little and gave me my paper folded.
you will have to read very steadily,
Miss Chrystal. The rest of the class
are far ahead of you
Yes yes-l know" | said.
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 lucid"
felt that on the whole, his blame
praise. He held open the door for me
and shook hands gravcly 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 rug. waiting for me.
'Well?" they said.
| sat down beside Claudia on the
hearthrug and tore my corrected pa
per into small atoms and burnt them.
II hate him, | said, poking the fire
vigorously and pushing the shoulder
ing paper into the flames, II hate him!
He thinks me conceited! He thinks
me horrid, He tries TO be satirical be-
cause he thinks me pulled up
And there | forgot | 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.
As the week went on | grew more
and more convinced that hated, and
always should hate Mr.. Tudor-that
he thought me young ignorant, sta
pid. hippant, spoilt and conceited; that
he despised my intellect remembered
my foolish speeches, and always would
remember them.
But the bad half hour in my week
was on Saturday afternoons when !
went alone TO him, and sat by his side
while he spread out that weeks his
tory paper of mine before him and
commenced on its faults and required
an explanation of its antiquities and
waited patiently with most courteous
attention for my answers.
1t was Saturday afternoon, in the
middle Of the term. sat beside him
at the table listening meekly to his
criticisms.
You miss the point here, Miss
Chrystal.'
Yes. Mr.. Tudor"
And here you speak of impeach-
ment as though il were procedure by
bill.
Yes, Mr.. Tudor"
That is somewhat grave mistake. :"
could not acquiesce again. And
the monosyllabic Yes was the only
form of answer that came to me.
And here. think, you were re-
quired to discuss the constitutional
importance of these events?"
Yes, Mr.. Tudor"
You have not done so, Miss Chrys-
tai"
No am afraid mott am afraid
not"
You mistook the question, posi-
bly?"
He was looking gravely at me. wait
ing My spoken answer, like my
written answer, was not very much
TO the point. ] spoke desperately.
What is the good of it alp | said.
What does it matter about the judi
cial system, and who has the control OF
taXation?" What does it matter about
the parliament and the courts and all
the dull old laws? One can't really
care for the constitution.
had time while he surveyed ne to
feel ashamed of my babyish, passion
ate speech.
What made you think OF devoting
yourself TO the study of constitutional
history" he said. with gentle sur
prise. His gentleness seemed like
satire. My eyes, in spite of myself,
suddenly filled with tears. Suddenly
he looked away from me. He asked
no more questions. For the next five
minutes he talked rapidly without
pause. When rcsolutely blinked my
tears and glanced at him he was dill
gently disfguring my history paper
with crooked circles. and his face was
less brown than ruddy.
After that day his eyes ceased TO
twinkle when he looked at me; he