The Charm School
is of a very sensitive nature. She is unusually—"
Austin thought the moment had come for the formula, "We should not expect your child to be commonplace, Mrs. Boyd."
It was just what she needed. She brightened visibly. "Oh, how nice of you to say that!" she said. "And you've put your finger on the difficulty. Poor Sally has all my temperament, but unfortunately she hasn't my—she hasn't my—"
She looked at him wistfully, obviously expecting him to say something equivalent to "your beauty," but the hard-hearted creature remained patiently silent. Her annoyance was natural.
"After all," she said, "I believe that you're nothing but a schoolmaster."
"That's all," he answered, "as far as my pupils and their parents are concerned.'
She stood up, visibly sulking. The interview which had promised so much entertainment had really turned out not much more interesting than her interviews with old Mrs. Bevans used to be. She thought she would try him on the side of his professional pride.
"My son—my son George—thinks I ought to take Sally away."
[ 63 ]
