the children she rarely if ever smiled, but exhibited a gentle
forbearance which had something touching in it; it was almost as
though she appealed for gentleness in return, and feared a harsh
word or look.

"That's Mr. Waymark," cried out Master Percy Tootle, when his
overquick eyes perceived that the two had seen each other. "He's our
drawing-master. Do you like the look of him?"

Miss Enderby reddened, and laid her hand on the boy's arm, trying to
direct his attention to a book. But the youngster shook off her
gentle touch, and looked at his brothers and sisters with a much too
knowing grin. Waymark had contented himself with a slight bow, and
at once bent again over his work.

Very shortly the two eldest children, both girls, came in, and with
them their mother. The latter paid no attention to Waymark, but
proceeded to cross-examine the new governess as to her methods of
teaching, her experience, and so on, in the coarse and loud manner
which characterised Mrs. Tootle.

"You'll find my children clever," said Mrs. Tootle, "at least, that
has been the opinion of all their teachers hitherto. If they don't
make progress, it certainly will not be their own fault. At the same
time, they are high-spirited, and require to be discreetly managed.
This, as I previously informed you, must be done without the help of
punishment in any shape; I disapprove of those methods altogether.
Now let me hear you give them a lesson in geography."

Waymark retired at this juncture; he felt that it would be nothing