"I didn't go courting myself before I was fifteen." "I'd made up my mind Sarah Bousfield was going to be an old maid," said another.

"Heigho! it's never too late to mend." "I hear she keeps sugar-plums for good little girls," said another.
"And the bad little ones get whipped and put in the corner." "He mustn't go like that, anyhow," said Mr Evans, who, for a responsible head clerk of a big business, was the most flippant person I had ever met; "look at his hair--all out of curl! Come here, little girl, and be made tidy." Once at Hummer's I had come in second for the half-mile under fourteen, and been captain of my side in the junior tug of war! Now I was to have my hair curled publicly! It was no use resisting.

I was held fast while Evans with a long penholder made ringlets of my back hair, and Scroop, with his five fingers, made a fringe of my front.

My hat, moreover, was decorated with quills by way of feathers, and a fan made of blotting-paper was thrust into my hands.

Then I was pronounced to be nice and tidy, and fit to go and join the other little girls.
I fear that the energy with which, as soon as I was released, I deranged my locks and flung the feathers from my hat, amused my persecutors as much as it solaced me.