Bella looked over very attentively, while her mother was explaining these things to Mary Bell, and then said that she would rather draw a house than make letters.

“No,” said her mother, “you must make letters.”

“But it is harder to make letters than it is to make a house,” said Bella.

“Yes,” said her mother, “I think it is.”

“And I think,” said Bella, “that the littlest scholar ought to have the easiest things to do.”

Mary Erskine laughed, and said that in schools, those things were not done that seemed best to the scholars, but those that seemed best to the teachers.

“Then,” said Mary Bell, “why must not you write marks.”

Mary Erskine laughed still more at this, and said she acknowledged that the children had got her penned up in a corner.

“Now,” said Mary Erskine, “are you ready to begin; because when you once begin, you must not speak a word till the half hour is out.”

“Yes,” said the children, “we are ready.”

“Then begin,” said Mary Erskine.

The children began with great gravity and silence, each at her separate task, while Mary Erskine went on with her own regular employment.  The silence continued unbroken for about five minutes, when Bella laid down her chalk in a despairing manner, saying,

“O dear me!  I can’t make a a.”

“There’s one basket of chips,” said Mary Erskine.

“Why I really can’t,” said Bella, “I have tried three times.”

“Two baskets of chips,” said her mother.  “Make two marks on the corner of your board,” she continued, “and every time you speak put down another, so that we can remember how many baskets of chips you have to pick up.”

Bella looked rather disconsolate at receiving this direction.  She knew, however, that she must obey.  She was also well aware that she would certainly have to pick up as many baskets of chips as should be indicated by the line of chalk marks.  She, therefore, resumed her work, inwardly resolving that she would not speak another word.  All this time, Mary Bell went on with her drawing, without apparently paying any attention to the conversation between Bella and her mother.

[Illustration:  THE SCHOOL.]

Bella went on, too, herself after this, very attentively, making the letters which had been assigned her for her lesson, and calling the names of them as she made them, but not speaking any words.

At length Mary Erskine told the children that the half hour had expired, and that they were at liberty.  Bella jumped up and ran away to play.  Mary Bell wished to remain and finish her house.  Mary Erskine went to look at it.  She compared it very attentively with the original in the picture-book, and observed several places in which Mary Bell had deviated from her pattern.  She did not, however, point out any of these faults to Mary Bell, but simply said that she had done her work very well indeed.  She had made a very pretty house.  Mary Bell said that it was not quite finished, and she wished to remain at her desk a little longer to complete it.  Mary Erskine gave her leave to do so.