Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-12


Though Esperance would onl
! laugh in after days at the recollectio,
OF her absurd introduction to Bella
lat the time she was considerable
Tutfied by it; it was the first time il
her life that she had suffered from in
justice-it was hard to be falsel
blamed, and Mrs. Mortlake's slightin,
mention of her French ways ha,
wounded her deeply.
1t was with very heavy heart tina
at the appointed time she Joined
Cornelia and Bertha. and walked
with them to the cathedral. Blu
comfort came to her as she entered
and gazed around with wonder ant
awe. Whether from the beauty O.
the sight, or from the vastness AM
strength Of all about her, or from {
certain resemblance to Notre Dame Il,
Paris, she did not know, but some.
now she was stilled, her heart nc
longer throbed Indignantly. and fol-
the first time she felt at home at Ril-
/ chester.
They walked much faster than she
would have liked down the choi,
aisle, and she had only time for a
| brief glance at the nave, with its
| glorious vista of arch and pillar. be-
fore they passed through the screen
gate, and were ushered by a prim-
| looking verger into the deanery pew.
The service seemed to her dull and
dreary in the extreme, and though
the choir was fairly good, she soon
wearled Of the complicated Anglican
chants and lengthy canticles, in
which no one attempted to Join.
There was something depressing.
too,ln the smallness of the congrega-
ton, which certainly could not have
numbered more than a dozen. and in
the half-incomprehensible foreign
prayers. Esperance was sadly trou-
Dled with wandering thoughts, so that
she was relieved when the hour was
ended and she was free once more to
devote all her eyes to the beauty
around.
Cornelia, however, allowed no lin
gering, and they had scarcely left the
cathedral before she began in her
clear, authoritative way, "As soon as
We are at home will you come to me
in my room, and I will see what
studies you had better take up? We
must lose no more time
Esperance knew she ought to have
been much more grateful, but there
was something in Cornelia's cold
Kindness which grated on her, and
undoubtedly there was in her tone an
implied reference to the time which
had already been so foolishly wasted
1t was with some difficulty that she
said, Indeed, you are very good to
think Of helping me, my cousin; T
know | am very ignorant.
If you will take pains, it will be a
pleasure to me to help you" replied
Cornelia, with much more warmth.
And l am going to give you one cor
reetion already. Do not always ad-
dress me as my COUSIN it is quite
in English"
Indeed! 1 had no idea of that: in
France it would be thought rude al
most not to do it But a thousand
thanks for telling me-, :
The hour spent IN Cornelia's room
was not altogether pleasant one. A
brief examination brought to light
what seemed to Cornelia almost I'M
pafalleied ignorance, and she was
really in despair over such an I'M
promising pupil. Esperance, unaccus-
toned to examination of any kind,
and understanding English very i'm
perfectly, was, of course, at great
then she would give a quick, intelli-
gent answer, she was generally either
puzzled completely, or frightened by
her cousins peremptory manner into
absurd mistakes.
Cornelia, seeing that this was mere
waste of time, began a lesson on
physical geography but this was not
much more successful Though eX-
ceedingly clever, she was not a good
teacher; she could neither under
stand nor sympathize with the diff
culties of less talented mind, and
even painstaking sIowness made her
impatient and sarcastic.
Esperance was really unhappy
aware that she had answered badly.
and veXed that she had not done
more justice to her fathers teaching.
She was certain, too, that had she
circumstances been different she
could have done much better, and a
consciousness that Cornelia did not
understand her added to her wretch
edness.
But this last thought reminded her
of one of Gaspard's pieces of advice
Whatever happens, don't let your
self become a femme incomprise,' "
| and, taking courage, she began, "You
will think me shockingly ignorant,
Cornelia; but really, it is partly my
ignorance of English that makes me
SO stupid; you must not think I have
never been taught these things"
The fruits of good teaching are
! seen In the impression left on the
memory" said Cornelia, calmly.
| Esperance flushed angri1y.
mo, no, that can not be, am sure
it can not; if the memory is bad, the
best teaching may be thrown away tc
| it,
"On it." corrected Cornelia, in the
1mpassive tone; 'but do not excite
yourself so much; surely may hold
different views without rousing al
| this Indignation "