| 222 | 223 | 224 | 225 | 226 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
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nothing - boarded for nothing - lodged for nothing - and set down and
rated as something immeasurably less than nothing, by all the
dwellers in the house. The servant-maids felt her inferiority, for they
were better treated; free to come and go, and regarded in their stations
with much more respect. The teachers were infinitely superior, for
they had paid to go to school in their time, and were paid now. The
pupils cared little for a companion who had no grand stories to tell
about home; no friends to come with post-horses, and be received in
all humility, with cake and wine, by the governess; no deferential
servant to attend and bear her home for the holidays; nothing genteel
to talk about, and nothing to display. But why was Miss Monflathers
always vexed and irritated with the poor apprentice - how did that
come to pass?
Why, the gayest feather in Miss Monflathers's cap, and the brightest
glory of Miss Monflathers's school, was a baronet's daughter - the real
live daughter of a real live baronet - who, by some extraordinary
reversal of the Laws of Nature, was not only plain in features but dull
in intellect, while the poor apprentice had both a ready wit, and a
handsome face and figure. It seems incredible. Here was Miss
Edwards, who only paid a small premium which had been spent long
ago, every day outshining and excelling the baronet's daughter, who
learned all the extras (or was taught them all) and whose half-yearly
bill came to double that of any other young lady's in the school,
making no account of the honour and reputation of her pupilage.
Therefore, and because she was a dependent, Miss Monflathers had a
great dislike to Miss Edwards, and was spiteful to her, and aggravated
by her, and, when she had compassion on little Nell, verbally fell upon
and maltreated her as we have already seen.
'
You will not take the air to-day, Miss Edwards,' said Miss
Monflathers. 'Have the goodness to retire to your own room, and not
to leave it without permission.'
The poor girl was moving hastily away, when she was suddenly, in
nautical phrase, 'brought to' by a subdued shriek from Miss
Monflathers.
'She has passed me without any salute!' cried the governess, raising
her eyes to the sky. 'She has actually passed me without the slightest
acknowledgment of my presence!'
The young lady turned and curtsied. Nell could see that she raised her
dark eyes to the face of her superior, and that their expression, and
that of her whole attitude for the instant, was one of mute but most
touching appeal against this ungenerous usage. Miss Monflathers
only tossed her head in reply, and the great gate closed upon a
bursting heart.
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