all that had
occurred, remarking, as she concluded:

"I believed that if I could be firm at the outset and make the dear
child understand that I must have her obedience, it would be better for
all of us. If I had allowed her to conquer me in this, I am convinced
that it would have been but the beginning of trouble, and I could be of
but little service to her."

"You are right, Miss Huntington," Mr. Lawrence said, bestowing a glance
of approbation upon her, and secretly well pleased with this evidence of
her decision of character, "and it would have been far better if Bertha
had had a firm rule like this from early childhood. All her other
governesses have yielded to her, and I fear I have not carried as steady
a hand with her as I should have done. Keep on as you have begun, Miss
Huntington, and you will secure my unbounded gratitude, if you can
conquer this singular obstinacy which has seemed to possess the child
all her life."

Violet was much relieved to find that he regarded her course of action
so sensibly, and she felt strengthened to go on as she had begun.

The next morning the much-contested oysters appeared upon the
breakfast-table, and they were broiled to a delicious flavor.

No remark was made about them until Violet put a bountiful supply upon a
plate and told Mary to pass them to Miss Bertha.

"I do not want any oysters, and I shall not eat any," that young lady
asserted, much to Violet's dismay, for she had flattered herself that
there would be no trouble on that question that morning.

"Then give them to me, if you please, Mary," she quietly said, then
helped Bertha to a nice bit of steak, which she requested the girl to
cut up for her.

"I wonder if we are going to have yesterday's experience repeated," the
young teacher said to herself, but she could see by the expression on
Bertha's face that she was greatly disappointed at being taken at her
word. She had evidently expected to be coaxed to eat her oysters, and
when she was not, she was ashamed to ask for them. "I am sorry for her,"
thought Violet, with a sigh, "but I do believe the lesson will do her
good, and will never need to be repeated."

She began to chat pleasantly upon other subjects, and the meal was
finished in the most friendly manner.

At nine o'clock Violet took up the history, and began to read the
neglected lesson of yesterday, while Bertha paid earnest attention to
every word, after which she gave a very clear account of