pointing to Nell, with her parasol, 'and in the case of all
poor people's children, we should read it thus:

"In work, work, work. In work alway
Let my first years be past,
That I may give for ev'ry day
Some good account at last."'

A deep hum of applause rose not only from the two teachers, but from
all the pupils, who were equally astonished to hear Miss Monflathers
improvising after this brilliant style; for although she had been long
known as a politician, she had never appeared before as an original
poet. Just then somebody happened to discover that Nell was crying,
and all eyes were again turned towards her.

There were indeed tears in her eyes, and drawing out her handkerchief
to brush them away, she happened to let it fall. Before she could
stoop to pick it up, one young lady of about fifteen or sixteen, who
had been standing a little apart from the others, as though she had no
recognised place among them, sprang forward and put it in her hand.
She was gliding timidly away again, when she was arrested by the
governess.

'It was Miss Edwards who did that, I KNOW,' said Miss Monflathers
predictively. 'Now I am sure that was Miss Edwards.'

It was Miss Edwards, and everybody said it was Miss Edwards, and Miss
Edwards herself admitted that it was.

'Is it not,' said Miss Monflathers, putting down her parasol to take a
severer view of the offender, 'a most remarkable thing, Miss Edwards,
that you have an attachment to the lower classes which always draws you
to their sides; or, rather, is it not a most extraordinary thing that
all I say and do will not wean you from propensities which your
original station in life have unhappily rendered habitual to you, you
extremely vulgar-minded girl?'

'I really intended no harm, ma'am,' said a sweet voice. 'It was a
momentary impulse, indeed.'

'An impulse!' repeated Miss Monflathers scornfully. 'I wonder that you
presume to speak of impulses to me'--both the teachers assented--'I am
astonished'--both the teachers were astonished--'I suppose it is an
impulse which induces you to take the part of every grovelling and
debased person that comes in your way'--both the teachers supposed so
too.

'But I would have you know, Miss Edwards,' resumed the governess in a
tone of increased severity, 'that you cannot be permitted--if it be
only for the sake of preserving a proper example and decorum in this
establishment--that you cannot be permitted, and that