Why should I?" asked Sophia Jane, who was
evidently in one of her most reckless moods.

Susan was silent. There was not much reason certainly that Sophia Jane
should wish to please her; then a bright idea came into her head.

"If you'll promise not to laugh at French lessons," she said, "I'll give
you a new head for your doll as soon as I've got enough money."

Sophia Jane considered this offer with her head on one side; then she
asked:

"What price?"

"Half-a-crown," answered Susan, "and that will buy the very best you can
get."

"Well," said Sophia Jane slowly, "I promise."

"But if you whisper, or make faces, or nudge me with your elbow you
won't have it," added Susan hastily.

"You didn't say all that at first," said Sophia Jane; "but I _will_
promise."

So the agreement was made, and moreover written down in Susan's best
printing hand, and signed by Sophia Jane. Even then Susan felt by no
means sure of the result, for it was so much more natural to her
companion to be naughty than good.

Thursday came, and Monsieur La Roche also at his usual hour; Susan put
on her most discreet behaviour, and kept anxious watch over Sophia Jane.
But there was no need for anxiety, her conduct was perfect, and she not
only preserved the strictest gravity, but also showed the most
marvellous quickness in learning her lessons. Though she might be a
naughty child, no one could accuse her of being a dull one; she grasped
the meaning of anything like lightning, and while Susan was steadily
bringing her mind to bear on a French verb, Sophia Jane knew it already,
and could repeat it without a mistake. She showed indeed such zeal and
attention throughout the lessons, that it had a sobering effect even
upon Nanna and Margaretta, who were so employed in wondering at her that
they did not giggle nearly so much as usual.

Monsieur himself was not less surprised at this sudden improvement in
his class, and above all in Sophia Jane, who had, without question, been
his worst and most backward pupil. When his lesson was finished he
beamed kindly at her and said, "It is _tr-res_ bien, mademoiselle. I am
much pleased with you to-day."

It was such a new thing for anyone to be much pleased with Sophia Jane
that it hardly seemed possible, and everyone stared at her. Aunt Hannah
turned round from her chair at the fireside to see who had deserved this
praise. Sophia Jane! It was an unheard-of thing. The child herself
was so unu