rpose, is considered as at the direction of teachers, and is
consequently right. In the same manner, if a teacher should ask you
individually, or give general notice to the members of class to come to
her seat for private instruction, or to go to any part of the
school-room for her, it would be right to do it. The distinction, you
observe, is this. The teacher may _of her own accord_, direct any
leaving of seats which she may think necessary to accomplish the objects
of the school. She must not however, _at the request of an individual_
for the sake of her mere private convenience, give her permission to
speak or to leave her seat. If for example a teacher should say to you
in your class, "As soon as you have performed a certain work you may
bring it to me,"--you would in bringing it, be acting under her
_direction_ and would consequently do right. If however you should want
a pencil and should ask her to give you leave to borrow it, even if she
should give you leave, you would do wrong to go, for you would not be
acting at her _direction_, but simply by her _consent_, and she has no
authority to grant consent.

2. The second case in which you may leave your seat is when some very
uncommon occurrence takes place which is sufficient reason for
suspending all rules. If your neighbor is faint, you may speak to her
and if necessary lead her out. If your mother or some other friend
should come into the school-room you can go and sit with her upon the
sofa, and talk about the school. And so in many other similar cases. Be
very careful not to abuse this privilege, and make slight causes the
grounds of your exceptions. It ought to be a very clear case. If a young
lady is unwell in a trifling degree, so as to need no assistance, you
would evidently do wrong to talk to her. The rule, in fact, is very
similar to that which all well bred people observe at church. They never
speak or leave their seats unless some really important cause, such as
sickness, requires them to break over all rules and go out. You have in
the same manner, in really important cases, such as serious sickness in
your own case or in that of your companions, or the coming in of a
stranger, or any thing else equally extraordinary, power to lay aside
any rule and to act as the emergency may require. In using this
discretion however, be sure to be on the safe side; in such cases never
ask permission. You must act on your own responsibility.

_Reasons for this rul