Dick learned to know her as Maisie, and at first mistrusted her profoundly, for
he feared that she might interfere with the small liberty of action left to
him. She did not, however; and she volunteered no friendliness until Dick had
taken the first steps. Long before the holidays were over, the stress of
punishment shared in common drove the children together, if it were only to
play into each other's hands as they prepared lies for Mrs. Jennett"s use. When
Dick returned to school, Maisie whispered, "Now I shall be all alone to take
care of myself; but," and she nodded her head bravely, "I can do it. You
promised to send Amomma a grass collar. Send it soon." A week later she asked
for that collar by return of post, and was not pleased when she learned that it
took time to make. When at last Dick forwarded the gift, she forgot to thank
him for it.
Many holidays had come and gone since that day, and Dick had grown into a lanky
hobbledehoy more than ever conscious of his bad clothes. Not for a moment had
Mrs. Jennett relaxed her tender care of him, but the average canings of a
public school--Dick fell under punishment about three times a month--filled him
with contempt for her powers. "She doesn't hurt," he explained to Maisie, who
urged him to rebellion, "and she is kinder to you after she has whacked me.
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