Mary, up to that time, had had no dislike to her cousin.

He was nearly twenty years older than herself, an excellent man, who took everything _au pied de la lettre_, and who, perceiving that what Miss Smith said was reasonable, thought duty and common sense required him to "speak to" her _un_reasonable pupil.

He never discovered his mistake--nor Miss Smith hers; but things grew more and more uncomfortable.

Miss Smith tired of her struggles, and sought more manageable pupils; and Mary, immediately after her fifteenth birthday, was sent to school.
Removed to a new atmosphere, no longer chilled by loneliness or embittered by the consciousness of perpetual disapproval, the girl began to bloom sweetly and naturally.

For the first time she was fortunate in her surroundings.