He was reckless of Janet, who tried to wither them both
by her scorn; but Jessie looked up with her honest eyes, saying—-
"I wish you hadn't put it into my head, Janet, for now I must rub it
out and do it again, and it won't be so hard now Bobus has shown me
how."
"No, no, Jessie," said Bobus; "I wouldn't be bullied."
"For shame, Bobus," said his sister; "how is she to learn anything in
that way?"
"And if she doesn't?" said Bobus.
"That's a disgrace."
"A grace," said provoking Bobus. "She is much nicer as she is, than
you will ever be."
"Don't talk such nonsense," said Janet, with an elder sisterly air.
"It is not kind to encourage Jessie to think anyone can care for an
empty-headed doll."
"Empty-headed dolls are all the go," said Bobus. "Never mind,
Jessie, a girl's business is to be pretty and good-humoured, not to
stuff herself with Latin and Greek. You should leave that to us poor
beggars!"
"Yes, I know, that's all your envy and jealousy," retorted Janet.
All the time Jessie stood by, plump, gentle, and pretty, though with
a certain cloud of perplexity on her white open brow, and as her aunt
returned into the room, she said—-
"I think my sum is right now, Aunt Caroline; but Bobus helped me.
Must I do it over again?"
"You shall begin with it to-morrow, my dear," said her aunt; "then I
daresay it will go off easily.
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