Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Women‘Try a little now. Here is Schiller’s Mary Stuart and atutor who loves to teach.’ And Mr. Brooke laid his bookon her lap with an inviting smile.‘It’s so hard I’m afraid to try,’ said Meg, grateful, butbashful in the presence of the accomplished young ladybeside her.‘I’ll read a bit to encourage you.’ And Miss Kate readone of the most beautiful passages in a perfectly correctbut perfectly expressionless manner.Mr. Brooke made no comment as she returned thebook to Meg, who said innocently, ‘I thought it waspoetry.’ ‘Some of it is. Try this passage.’There was a queer smile about Mr. Brooke’s mouth ashe opened at poor Mary’s lament.Meg obediently following the long grass-blade whichher new tutor used to point with, read slowly and timidly,unconsciously making poetry of the hard words by the softintonation of her musical voice. Down the page went thegreen guide, and presently, forgetting her listener in thebeauty of the sad scene, Meg read as if alone, giving a littletouch of tragedy to the words of the unhappy queen. Ifshe had seen the brown eyes then, she would have stoppedshort, but she never looked up, and the lesson was notspoiled for her.238 of 861