Part 35 (2/2)

Nellie dislikes school What a tragedy She is a dear sweet child with kind eyes and a bonny smile She spoke frankly to me at first but when I told her that I was a teacher she looked at me with fear and (I smiled at this) dropped her Dundee dialect and answered lish I had to throw plantain heads at her for a full five minutes before the look of fear left her eyes and her dialect returned

”I dinna believe ye _are_ a teacher,” she said to-night

”Why not?”

”Ye're no like ane,” she said hesitatingly ”Ye're ower--ower daft”

”But why shouldn't a teacher be daft?” I asked

”They shud be respectable,” she said, ”or the children winna respect them”

I looked alarmed

”What!” I cried, ”don't you respect aily

”No!” she cried, then she added seriously: ”But I'd like to be at your schule”

She returns to Dundee to-ns Poor Nellie! What worries me is that when Nellie's teacher reads this book she will ree with Nellie's remark that I'raph girl approached

”Machines are waiting--Jenkins”

Nellie looked anxious

”That's twa telegraot the day,” she said ”Is onybody deid?”

I looked at the words on the telegraph form

”No, Nellie, unfortunately no!” I said slowly, and I went in to read alley proofs

THE END