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XXVIII. The Prince Comes Back to the Enchanted Palace
Andrews’onlyacquaintancewiththeword“genius”wasderivedfromthecolloquialfashionofcallinganyeccentricindividual“aqueergenius.”Sheprobablythought,withMaryJoe,thatitmeantapersonwithsomethingwronginhisupperstory.
BackintheschoolroomAnnewassittingaloneatherdesk,asshehadsatonthefirstdayofschooltwoyearsbefore,herfaceleaningonherhand,herdewyeyeslookingwistfullyoutofthewindowtotheLakeofShiningWaters.Herheartwassowrungoverthepartingwithherpupilsthatforamomentcollegehadlostallitscharm.ShestillfelttheclaspofAnnettaBell’sarmsaboutherneckandheardthechildishwail,“I’llNEVERloveanyteacherasmuchasyou,MissShirley,never,never.”
Fortwoyearsshehadworkedearnestlyandfaithfully,makingmanymistakesandlearningfromthem.Shehadhadherreward.Shehadtaughtherscholarssomething,butshefeltthattheyhadtaughthermuchmore...lessonsoftenderness,self-control,innocentwisdom,loreofchildishhearts.Perhapsshehadnotsucceededin“inspiring”anywonderfulambitionsinherpupils,butshehadtaughtthem,morebyherownsweetpersonalitythanbyallhercarefulprecepts,thatitwasgoodandnecessaryintheyearsthatwerebeforethemtolivetheirlivesfinelyandgraciously,holdingfasttotruthandcourtesyandkindness,keepingalooffromallthatsavoredoffalsehoodandmeannessandvulgarity.
