"What's the good of that ?" she would ask, lifting her eyes abruptly to the master.

Mr.Ford, somewhat embarrassed by her look, which always, sooner or later, frankly confessed itself an excuse for a perfectly irrelevant examination of his features in detail, would end in giving her some severely practical answer.

Yet, if the subject appealed to any particular idiosyncrasy of her own, she would speedily master the study.

A passing predilection for botany was provoked by a single incident.

The master deeming this study a harmless young-lady-like occupation, had one day introduced the topic at recess, and was met by the usual answer.