teach her how to do, and late in the day, when no one's head is clear
for difficult arithmetic--'

'Hard sum do you call it?' said Jane.

'Indeed I explained it to her,' said Emily.

'And well she understood you,' said Claude.

'She might have learnt if she had attended,' said Emily; 'Ada
understood clearly, with the same explanation.'

'And do not you be too proud of the effect of your instructions,
Claude,' said Jane, 'for when honest Phyl came into the garden, she
did not know farthings from fractions.'

'And pray, Mrs. Senior Wrangler,' said Claude, 'will you tell me
where is the difference between a half-penny and half a penny?'

After a good laugh at Jane's expense, Emily went on, 'Now, Claude, I
will tell you how it happened; Phyllis is so slow, and dawdles over
her lessons so long, that it is quite a labour to hear her; Ada is
quick enough, but if you were to hear Phyllis say one column of
spelling, you would know what misery is. Then before she has half
finished, the clock strikes one, it is time to read, and the lessons
are put off till the afternoon. I certainly did not know that she
was about her sum all that time, or I would have sent her out as I
did on Saturday.'

'And the reading at one is as fixed as fate,' said Claude.