‘Had I known how difficult it would be for —— to return, I should have advised her remaining here for her holiday’; or, ‘I know things are not considered so serious at a girls’ school as at a boys’ school, but no boy would be received back, I am sure, at one of our great public schools who had been absent without the leave of the Head-master.’ On the other hand, Miss Beale was always most anxious to support the authority and dignity of the parent. Once, when this seemed not to have been done by a teacher, she wrote: ‘She saw when I pointed it out how very wrong it was even to hint to a child that I thought her mother in the wrong.’ ‘She was never tired,’ ran a notice by an old pupil after her death, ‘of impressing upon the girls that home must come first in their affections. It was indeed pathetic to hear her speak, as she did almost weekly in her addresses to the assembled divisions, of the beauty of the relation of a child to its parents.’ It is impossible to do more than refer to the many letters which show the confidence and gratitude of the College parents, but, as an example, one from a father who held high official rank, on his daughter’s passing an examination in 1877, may be quoted, with its good wishes which were so entirely realised:— ‘Excuse my sending you one line of sincere thanks for your valuable (and inestimable, I may call it) friendship towards my dear daughter. ‘We were immensely pleased at her success, which we attribute entirely to the love of work instilled into her by your system at College generally, as well as by your personal influence. You not only obtain the respect and the devoted love and loyalty of your girls, but through them the admiration of their parents and all those who take an interest in their careers. I am sure few persons in the army of teachers are more highly esteemed than yourself, few for whom more hearty prayers are offered for a long, long life of usefulness. ‘We feel so proud of our [girl’s] success. With every good wish for the health and prosperity both of yourself and your glorious College,’ etc.