I'm sorry I did speak so pertly.

But oh, Miss Ellen, I wish you could see the trees my mother draws! How can I say I like those things of Mr.Henley's?
Like green seaweeds on the end of a pink hay-fork! And we've lots of old etchings at home, with such trees in them! Like--well, like nothing but real trees and photographs." Miss Ellen took Eleanor's hand and drew her towards her.
"My dear," said she, "you have plenty of sense; and have evidently used it to appreciate what your dear mother has shown and taught to you.

Use it now, my dear, to ask yourself if it is reasonable to expect that men who could draw like the old masters would teach in ordinary girls' schools, or, if they would, that school-mistresses could afford to pay them properly without a much greater charge to the parents of pupils than they would be willing to bear.

You have had great advantages at home, and have learnt enough to make you able to say very smart things; but fault-finding is an easy trade, my dear, and it would be wiser as well as kinder to see what good you can get from poor Mr.Henley's lessons, as to the use of the brush and colours, instead of neglecting your drawing because you don't like his style, which, after all, you needn't copy when you sketch from nature yourself.

I will tell you, dear child, that my sister and I have talked this matter over before.