Whereas, did the excellent Miss Weyman only know it, a very little
more concentration on Christian's part, and it is possible that she,
and Judith, and the Twins, might all have seen the Pale Horse
thundering past the schoolroom windows. Stranger things have happened.
The Indian rope and basket trick, for instance.

"A most curious child--a perfect passion for animals, and so _dreamy_,
if you know what I mean," Miss Weyman would say to a comrade visitor.
"And the things that she seems to have learnt from the huntsman! But
really a nice little thing, and clever, too, though a _most_ erratic
worker! Now, Judith--" Miss Weyman felt there was some satisfaction
in teaching Judith. _She_ could concentrate, if the comrade visitor
liked! Nothing was a difficulty to her! And her memory! And her
energy--Miss Weyman freely admitted that Judith was three years older
than Christian, but still--

In short, Judith was a credit to any sensible little Englishwoman, but
Christian had a way of knowing nothing (as touching arithmetic, for
example), or too much (as touching Shakespeare and the Book of
Revelation), that implied considerable independence as to the
instructions of Miss Weyman, and no sensible little Englishwoman could
be expected to enjoy that.




CHAPTER VII