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Miss Fosbrook was ashamed of it when she looked at Ida's lady…like little billet。
〃But I wonder；〃 said she to herself； 〃whether I shall feel as if I would change my dear stupid Susan for Miss Ida？〃
Meanwhile Susan flew screaming and leaping out into the garden in a mad tom…boy fashion； but that could well be pardoned； as there were only her sisters to see her； and the pleasure of having persevered and done her best was enough to make her heart and her limbs dance for merriment。
Depend upon it； however wretched and miserable hard application to what we do not like may seem at the moment； it is the only way to make play…times really delicious。
CHAPTER IX。
Miss Fosbrook soon knew what Mrs。 Merrifield meant by saying that visits at the Park unsettled the children。 Susan indeed； though liking anything that shortened lessons by an hour； and made a change； was not so fond of being on her good behaviour at the Park as to be greatly exalted at the prospect； but Elizabeth and Annie were changed beings。 They were constantly breaking out with some new variety of wonder。 They wondered whether they should dine in the school…room； or at Mrs。 Greville's luncheon； they wondered if Mr。 Greville would speak to them； they wondered whether Fraulein Munsterthal would be cross； they wondered if Ida still played with dolls； and they looked as if they thought themselves wonderful； too； for going out for a day！
Nay； the wonders were at their tongues' end even when lessons began； and put their farthings in great peril； and when they had nothing else to wonder at； they wondered when it would be twelve o'clock； and took no pains to swallow enormous yawns。 Once； over her copy； Elizabeth exclaimed； 〃Now！ yes； this is necessary； Miss Fosbrook！ May not we wear our white frocks？〃
〃They are not ironed；〃 answered Susan。
〃Oh； do let me go and tell Mary！ There's lots of time；〃 said Bessie； who had lately thought it cruel of the clock to point only to half… past ten； and never bethought herself how Mary would like to be called off from her scrubbing to iron three white frocks。
〃Would your Mamma wish it？〃 asked Christabel。
〃Oh dear no；〃 was Susan's answer； 〃we always wear clean ones of our every…day frocks。 Our white ones are only for dinner…parties and Christmas…trees。〃
Bessie grumbled。 〃How cross！ I hate those nasty old spotty cottons；〃 and Johnnie returned to the old story〃Little vain pussy… cat。〃
Up went Miss Fosbrook's warning pencil； she shook her head； and held out her hand for two fines。 Elizabeth began to gulp and sob。
〃Oh； don't； Betty！〃 cried Susan。 〃Stop while you can。 You won't like going up with red eyes。 There； I'll pay your fine； and there's another for my speaking。〃
〃No； Susie； that was not foolish speaking； but kind words；〃 said Miss Fosbrook； 〃but no more now； go on； Annie。〃
But Annie； who was reading a little history of St。 Paul； would call Cilicia； Cicilia； and when told to spell it she began to cry too decidedly for Susan's good…nature to check her tears。 And not only did Elizabeth's copy look as if she had written it with claws instead of fingers； but she was grieving over her spotted cotton instead of really seeking for places in her map。 Thus the Moselle obstinately hid itself； and she absolutely shed tears because Miss Fosbrook declared that Frankfort WAS on the Maine。 For the first time she had her grammar turned back upon her hands。 How many mistakes Annie made would be really past telling； for these two little girls had their whole minds quite upset by the thought of a day's pleasure； and as they never tried to restrain themselves； and to 〃be sober； be vigilant；〃 they gave way before all the little trials in their paths… …were first careless； and then fractious。 Perhaps when they were older they would find out that this uplifted sense of excited expectation is the very warning to be heedful。
If Miss Fosbrook had been a strict governess； she would have told them they did not deserve to go at all； or at any rate； that Bessie must repeat her grammar better； and re…write her copy； and that Annie's unlucky addition sum must be made to prove； but she had seen her little sisters nearly as bad in prospect of a pantomime； so she was merciful； and sent them in good time to brush their hair； put on their spotted cottons； and wash off as much as possible of the red mottling left by those foolish tears。
Their spirits rose again as fast as they had sunk； and it was a lively walk through the park to the great house； with a good deal of skipping and jumping at first； and then； near the door； a little awe and gravity。
They were taken through a side…door of the hall to the school…room； where Ida and her governess received them。 It was the first time that Christabel had seen her out of her beplumed hat； and she thought her a pleasant； bright…looking little girl； not at all set up or conceited。 Her mauve muslin； flounced though it was up to her waist； showed that it had been wise to withstand Bessie's desire for the white muslins； but Miss Fosbrook had enough to do on her own account with the endeavour to understand the German governess's foreign accent； without attending to the children more than was necessary。
It was not a very remarkable day； and the pleasures of it seemed hardly enough to justify the little girls' great excitement。 There was first the dinner at the luncheon of the parents； where the children sat up rather formal and subdued； and not quite certain what all the dishes might contain； a little afraid of getting what they COULD not eat； though desirous of making experiments in this land of wonders。 None of them had forgotten； and they thought no one else had； how Bessie had once come to disgrace by bursting out crying over the impossibility of finishing some terrible rice…bordered greenish yellow stuff that burnt her mouth beyond bearing； and which Ida called curry； and said people in the East Indies liked。 However； that was when Bessie had been a very little girl； and she still continued adventurous； saying； 〃Yes； if you please；〃 to cutlets set round in a wreath； with all their bones sticking up； and covered with a reddish incrustation that Susan and Annie thought so unnatural； that they preferred the boiled chicken that at least they could understand； though it had funny…hooking accompaniments in the sauce。 And Hal's report of some savoury jelly which he had once encountered would have deterred them from the pink transparency in the shape of a shell； if they had not seen Bessie getting on very well with it； Miss Fosbrook happily perceiving and cutting short Annie's intended inquiry whether it were nice。 To her great relief； this was the only want of manners betrayed by her little savages； and she was able to keep her attention tolerably free from them； so as to look at the pictures on the walls； observe the two boys； Hal's friends； and talk to Mrs。 Greville； who made conversation with her very pleasantly。
She was much grieved to perceive； from what that lady said； that Mrs。 Merrifield was thought to be much more ill； and in a far more alarming state； than she had at all understood。 The girls were too young to enter into the tone of sad sympathy with wh