I could not help pitying him.
The wind howled dismally without, and the rain beat furiously
against the windows. I crept toward him and seated myself on a low
stool beside his chair.
Presently he turned, without seeing me, and placed his foot
absently in my lap. I affected not to notice it. But he started
and looked down.
"You here yet--Carrothead? Ah, I forgot. Do you speak French?"
"Oui, Monsieur"
"Taisez-vous!" he said sharply, with singular purity of accent. I
complied. The wind moaned fearfully in the chimney, and the light
burned dimly. I shuddered in spite of myself. "Ah, you tremble,
girl!"
"It is a fearful night."
"Fearful! Call you this fearful, ha! ha! ha! Look! you wretched
little atom, look!" and he dashed forward, and, leaping out of the
window, stood like a statue in the pelting storm, with folded arms.
He did not stay long, but in a few minutes returned by way of the
hall chimney. I saw from the way that he wiped his feet on my
dress that he had again forgotten my presence.
"You are a governess. What can you teach?" he asked, suddenly and
fiercely thrusting his face in mine.
"Manners!" I replied, calmly.
"Ha! teach ME!"
"You mistake yourself," I said, adjusting my mittens.
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