k
up the book and found written in it: '_To Bertha, with love from
Percy_.' I said: 'So you don't approve of lending books. Do you see this
is my book?' He looked at it and said solemnly: 'Yes, so it is, but I
can't let you have it. I'm in the middle of it. Besides--oh! anyhow, I
want it!'"

Madeline and Bertha both laughed, saying that Clifford was really
magnificent for twelve years old.

Lady Kellynch seemed astonished at their amusement. She only said: "Oh
yes; I know Clifford's _most_ particular about his books."

"And even about my books," said Bertha.

"Quite so, dear. They say in his report that he's getting so orderly.
It's a very good report this term--er--at least, very good on the
_whole_."

"Oh, do let me see it."

"No, I don't think I'll show it you. But I'll tell you what I'll do,
I'll read you some extracts from it, if you like." She said this as if
it were an epic poem, and she was promising them a rare literary treat.

She took something out of her bag. "I know he doesn't work _very_ hard
at school, but then the winter term is such a trying one; so cold for
them to get up in the morning, poor little darlings!"

"Poor pets!" said Bertha.

Lady Kellynch took it out, while the others looked away discreetly, as
she searched for suitable selections.

After a rather long pause she read aloud, a little pompously and with
careful elocution:

"'_Doing fairly well in dictation, and becoming more accurate; in Latin
moderate, scarcely up to the level of the form. ..._'"

"Is it in blank verse?" asked Bertha.

"Oh no! ... Of course he's in a very high form for his age." She then
went on, after a longer pause: "'_Music and dancing: music, rather weak
... dancing, a steady worker._' That's very good, isn't it? ...
'_Map-drawing: very slovenly._'" (She read this rather proudly.)
"'_Conduct: lethargic and unsteady; but a fair speller._' Excellent,
isn't it? Of course they're frightfully severe at that school. ... Oh
yes, and there's '_Bible good, but deficient in general knowledge. Has a
little ability, but rarely uses it. ..._' It's dreadfully difficult to
please them, really! But I think it's very satisfactory, don't you?"

Realising that Lady Kellynch had only read aloud the very best and most
brilliant extracts that she could find in the report--purple patches, as
one may say--Bertha gathered that it could hardly have been worse. So
she congratulated the mother warmly and cordially, and said how f