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VII. The Pointing of Duty
I’vetriedeverywaytowinhimbutI’mbeginningtofearInevershall.Iwantto,forhe’sratheracutelittlelad,ifheISaPye,andIcouldlikehimifhe’dletme.”
“Probablyit’smerelytheeffectofwhathehearsathome.”
“Notaltogether.Anthonyisanindependentlittlechapandmakesuphisownmindaboutthings.Hehasalwaysgonetomenbeforeandhesaysgirlteachersarenogood.Well,we’llseewhatpatienceandkindnesswilldo.Ilikeovercomingdifficultiesandteachingisreallyveryinterestingwork.PaulIrvingmakesupforallthatislackingintheothers.Thatchildisaperfectdarling,Gilbert,andageniusintothebargain.I’mpersuadedtheworldwillhearofhimsomeday,”concludedAnneinatoneofconviction.
“Iliketeaching,too,”saidGilbert.“It’sgoodtraining,foronething.Why,Anne,I’velearnedmoreintheweeksI’vebeenteachingtheyoungideasofWhiteSandsthanIlearnedinalltheyearsIwenttoschoolmyself.Weallseemtobegettingonprettywell.TheNewbridgepeoplelikeJane,Ihear;andIthinkWhiteSandsistolerablysatisfiedwithyourhumbleservant...allexceptMr.AndrewSpencer.ImetMrs.PeterBlewettonmywayhomelastnightandshetoldmeshethoughtitherdutytoinformmethatMr.Spencerdidn’tapproveofmymethods.”
“Haveyouevernoticed,”askedAnnereflectively,“thatwhenpeoplesayitistheirdutytotellyouacertainthingyoumayprepareforsomethingdisagreeable?Whyisitthattheyneverseemtothinkitadutytotellyouthepleasantthingstheyhearaboutyou?Mrs.H.B.
