k it was
better not to thwart Pauline, which certainly was true; for every
contest ended in a fresh victory on the part of Pauline, and the utter
discomfiture of Mrs. Grey, and the vexation of Mr. Grey, who, more
vexed at the contest than the defeat, usually said, "Pshaw! you don't
know how to manage that child." Thus Pauline, an only child,
beautiful, gifted and willful, idolized by both parents, soon ruled
the household.

"I'll not go to that school any more," said Pauline indignantly, as
she tossed her books down, the second day of her first school
experience.

"Why not, my love?" asked her mother anxiously.

"I don't like that Miss Cutter," said Pauline, her large black eyes
dilating as she spoke, and flashing with excitement.

"You don't like Miss Cutter," repeated Mrs. Grey. "Why don't you like
Miss Cutter, Pauline?"

"She put me on a high bench and said 'chut' to me," replied Pauline.
"Nobody shall say 'chut' to me, and I wont go there again."

"You'll go there if your mother says so, Pauline," said her father.
But Pauline knew better than that, and so did Mr. Grey for that
matter; but Mrs. Grey said, "well, we'll see about it, Pauline. Now go
and be dressed for dinner."

"I wont go again," said Pauline with determination, as she left the
room.

"I'm sorry," said Mrs. Grey anxiously, as the child left the room,
"that Pauline has taken a dislike to Miss Cutter. It was injudicious
in her to commence her school discipline so rigorously at once."

"Just like those people," said Mr. Grey, testily; "they have no
judgment--dressed in a little brief authority they make the most of
it."

"Pauline is such a peculiar child," continued Mrs. Grey, (for all
people think their children "peculiar," unless they have half a dozen
of them, and then they know better). "Pauline is such a peculiar child
that I dislike driving her against her feelings. I am very sorry for
this," she added, looking much perplexed and embarrassed. "I don't
know what to do."

Fortunately Pauline had a little cold the next day, or Mrs. Grey
imagined she had, and so the question of school was dodged for a day
or two, during which, however, Pauline continued firm in her
determination of not returning.

By the time she had recovered past all possibility of thinking she was
not quite as well as usual, Mrs. Grey had reasoned herself into
thinking, and talked Mr. Grey into believing, that there was so much
that was injurious in the present mode