W. Pett Ridge

“ When a girl defied the authority of the mother, and ran beyond her management, she was transferred for a space to Pleasant Cottage, which so far belied its title that its rules were harsher, its discipline more severe, and its food less luxurious than those of the other cottages. ”

“ CHAPTER VI. Although, for some time, Mord Em'ly clung persistently to her attitude of reserve, there was little in the Home that escaped her attention. Conducted on the cottage system, the detached buildings bordered an oval, green space, with, at one end, the school-rooms and the infirmary. Each cottage had a "mother" in charge; usually a middle-aged woman who had been a servant, and had been selected for her ability to make her ruling respected by the ten or twelve girls under her care. ”

“ Ronicker Hall, resisting the wiles of the Third Standard, agreed with Mord Em'ly's proposition, which was that it seemed better to remain in the Home at the expense of the State until one grew old enough to earn one's own living. ”

“ Wingham that the excellent woman more than once forgave her for outbursts of rebellion, and saved her from terms in Pleasant Cottage. When winter arrived, and the nights became long, and there was less opportunity for going out of doors, Mord Em'ly became increasingly useful at the Home, in that she suddenly developed an ability to sing alto in part songs that were rehearsed, two evenings of the week, in the schoolroom. Other girls also sang alto, but they put too much trust in each other, and were easily led into wrong keys, with results to the part song that were disastrous. ”

“ She thought that this would clear the air, and place her in the position that she desired to occupy in the opinion of her fellows, and she looked forward to the congratulations that she would receive that night in the bedroom at Faith Cottage. ”

“ Certainly, in many regards, she was a difficult lady to propitiate, because she would sometimes ask one of her lady boarders a question; as for instance, "What on earth do you mean, you depraved creature, by crossing your knife and fork at table?" and if the offending young woman kept silence, she would be condemned for not listening ”