finish her lessons." This was blandly spoken to the child. "And I hope I shall never hear such terrible cries again!"
And fixing her cold, stony eyes upon me with a look that could not be mistaken, she would shut the door, and walk away.
Sometimes I would try to take the little obstinate creature by surprise, and casually ask her the word while she was thinking of something else: frequently she would begin to say it, and then suddenly check herself, with a provoking look that seemed to say, "Ah! I'm too sharp for you; you shan't trick it out of me either."
On another occasion, I pretended to forget the whole affair; and talked and played with her as usual, till night, when I put her to bed, then bending over her, while she lay all smiles and good humour, just before departing, I said, as cheerfully and kindly as before—
"Now, Mary Ann, just tell me that word before I kiss you good night: you are a good girl now, and, of course, you will say it."
"No, I won't."
"Then I can't kiss you!"
"Well, I don't care."
