entertain no sentiments towards you, sir, but
sentiments of pity.'

Here Miss Squeers looked sideways at her father again, who looked
sideways at her, as much as to say, 'There you had him.'

'I know what you've got to go through,' said Miss Squeers, shaking her
curls violently. 'I know what life is before you, and if you was my
bitterest and deadliest enemy, I could wish you nothing worse.'

'Couldn't you wish to be married to him yourself, if that was the case?'
inquired Mrs Browdie, with great suavity of manner.

'Oh, ma'am, how witty you are,' retorted Miss Squeers with a low curtsy,
'almost as witty, ma'am, as you are clever. How very clever it was in
you, ma'am, to choose a time when I had gone to tea with my pa, and
was sure not to come back without being fetched! What a pity you never
thought that other people might be as clever as yourself and spoil your
plans!'

'You won't vex me, child, with such airs as these,' said the late Miss
Price, assuming the matron.

'Don't MISSIS me, ma'am, if you please,' returned Miss Squeers, sharply.
'I'll not bear it. Is THIS the hend--'

'Dang it a',' cried John Browdie, impatiently. 'Say thee say out, Fanny,
and mak' sure it's the end, and dinnot ask nobody whether it is or not.'

'Thanking you for your advice which was not required, Mr Browdie,'
returned Miss Squeers, with laborious politeness, 'have the goodness not
to presume to meddle with my Christian name. Even my pity shall never
make me forget what's due to myself, Mr Browdie. 'Tilda,' said Miss
Squeers, with such a sudden accession of violence that John started in
his boots, 'I throw you off for ever, miss. I abandon you. I renounce
you. I wouldn't,' cried Miss Squeers in a solemn voice, 'have a child
named 'Tilda, not to save it from its grave.'

'As for the matther o' that,' observed John, 'it'll be time eneaf to
think aboot neaming of it when it cooms.'

'John!' interposed his wife, 'don't tease her.'

'Oh! Tease, indeed!' cried Miss Squeers, bridling up. 'Tease, indeed!
He, he! Tease, too! No, don't tease her. Consider her feelings, pray!'

'If it's fated that listeners are never to hear any good of themselves,'
said Mrs Browdie, 'I can't help it, and I am very sorry for it. But I
will say, Fanny, that times out of number I have spoken so kindly of you
behind your back, that even you could have found no fault with what I
said.'

'Oh, I dare say not, ma'am!' cried Miss Squeers, with another curtsy.