But she wouldn't go unless I promised to come here and explain her absence.' 'Thank you,' Emily replied, as naturally as she could.

'Will she still come back for her lesson, do you think ?' 'I'm afraid not; she said I had better ask you to excuse her this morning.' Emily gathered up two or three books which lay on the other chair.
'You find her rather troublesome to teach, I should be afraid,' Dagworthy pursued, watching her every moment.

'Jessie isn't much for study, is she ?' 'Perhaps she is a little absent now and then,' replied Emily, saying the first thing that occurred to her.
She had collected her books and was about to fasten a strap round them.
'Do let me do that for you,' said Dagworthy, and he forestalled her assent, which she would probably not have given, by taking the books from her hands.

He put up his foot on the chair, as if for the convenience of doing the strapping on his knee, but before he had finished it he spoke again.
'You are fond of teaching, I suppose ?' 'Yes, I like it.' She stood in expectant waiting, her hands held together before her, her head just bent.

The attitude was grace itself.