2. A French Lesson

    ered t morning everybody looked at erested eyes. By t time every pupil-- from Lavinia ,  quite groo Lottie Leg four and t deal about ainly t s to tablis. One or t a glimpse of te, e opening a box we from some shop.

    quot;It ticoats ; so  over ;I sa  t c one of tticoats on no ;

    quot;Sockings on!quot; tle feet! I never sale feet.quot;

    quot;O; sniffed Lavinia, spitefully, quot;t is t even big feet can be made to look small if you  tty at all. ;

    quot;S pretty as otty people are,quot; said Jessie, stealing a glance across t;but s to look at remendously long eyelas  green.quot;

    Sara ting quietly in , ing to be told o do. S abas all by tcerested and looked back quietly at t  t all like alk   morning.

    quot;; s;e must be very great friends to eacell eac me. You  eyes I ever sa I wis;

    Ss, and one of  t deal of comfort in even pretending t Emily er Mariette ied  to Emily, w in a chair of her own, and gave her a book.

    quot;You can read t ; ste looking at o tle face.

    quot; I believe about dolls,quot; s;is t t let us kno. Peralk and  s  is . You see, if people kne dolls could do to keep it a secret. If you stay in t sit tare; but if you go out, so read, per of t run back and jump into end sime.quot;

    quot;Comme elle est drole!quot; Mariette said to  doairs sold t it. But so like ttle girl  small face and suc manners. Saken care of c so polite. Sara tle person, and le, appreciative ;If you please, Mariette,quot; quot;tte,quot; old t shanking a lady.

    quot;Elle a lair dune princesse, cette petite,quot; stle mistress and liked ly.

    After Sara  in  in tes, being looked at by the pupils, Miss Minchin rapped in a dignified manner upon her desk.

    quot;Young ladies,quot; s;I roduce you to your ne; All ttle girls rose in t;I s you all to be very agreeable to Miss Creo us from a great distance--in fact, from India. As soon as lessons are over you must make eacance.quot;

    ttle curtsy, and t do eacher again.

    quot;Sara,quot; said Miss Minc;come o me.quot;

    Saken a book from turning over its leaves. Sara  to ely.

    quot;As your papa ; s;I conclude t o make a special study of t;

    Sara felt a little awkward.

    quot;I t; s;because  I would like ;

    quot;I am afraid,quot; said Miss Mincly sour smile, quot;t you tle girl and al t your papa wiso learn Frenc;

    If Sara ilious about being quite polite to people, s, as it  Sara kneever of Frenc s as if it  rude to correct rut Sara could not remember time o kno to ain Crewe   Sara .

    quot;I--I --but--quot; srying so make herself clear.

    One of Miss Minc annoyances  s speak Frencating fact. Sention of discussing tter and laying o innocent questioning by a netle pupil.

    quot;t is enoug; se tartness. quot;If you  learned, you must begin at once. ter, Monsieur Dufarge, ake t it until ;

    Saras c o  and opened t t page  o smile, and sermined not to be rude. But it o find ed to study a page ;le perequot; meant quot;t; and quot;la merequot; meant quot;t;

    Miss Mincoward inizingly.

    quot;You look rat; s;I am sorry you do not like t;

    quot;I am very fond of it,quot; ansry again; quot;but--quot;

    quot;You must not say `but o do t; said Miss Minc;Look at your book again.quot;

    And Sara did so, and did not smile, even ;le filsquot; meant quot;t; and quot;le frerequot; meant quot;t;

    quot;; s, quot;I can make and.quot;

    Monsieur Dufarge arrived very sly after, middle-aged Frencerested ely to seem absorbed in tle book of phrases.

    quot;Is t; o Miss Minc;I  is my good fortune.quot;

    quot;ain Cre s I am afraid s it. S seem to ; said Miss Minchin.

    quot;I am sorry of t, mademoiselle,quot; o Sara. quot;Pero study toget it is a congue.quot;

    Little Sara rose in . So feel rate, as if s in disgrace. So Monsieur Dufarges face e innocently appealing. S and as soon as so explain quite simply in pretty and fluent Frenc understood. S learned Frencly--not out of books--but  to  and ten it as sten Englis, and s because o learn anyteac o explain to madame  s ttle book of phrases.

    o speak Miss Mincarted quite violently and sat staring at  indignantly, until so smile, and  pleasure. to ty c as if ive land-- affectionate. But o Miss Minchin.

    quot;A; ;t muceac learned Frenc is exquisite.quot;

    quot;You ougo old me,quot; exclaimed Miss Mincified, turning to Sara.

    quot;I--I tried,quot; said Sara. quot;I--I suppose I did not begin rig;

    Miss Mincried, and t it  been  t s alloo explain. And ening and t Lavinia and Jessie ed.

    quot;Silence, young ladies!quot; s;Silence at once!quot;

    And s minute to feel rat her show pupil.