"He said that it was very wrong to be cold, and that the fires ought to be large and good." "He said that?" "Yes, he did. And then I said, `I thought you wanted us to be saving;' and he said, `It's not saving to catch cold and have doctors' bills.' So now, Hannah, you have your orders, and we must have a big, big fire in the parlour during the cold weather." "Don't bother me any longer," said Hannah. "Your talk is beyond anything for childishness! What with trying to frighten a body in the prime of life about her deathbed, and then giving utterance to rubbish which you put into the lips of the Professor, it is beyond any sensible person to listen to. It's cotton-wool I'll put in my right ear the next time I come up to see you, Miss Dumps." By this time Hannah had filled her tray. She raised it and walked towards the door. She then, with some skill and strength, placed the whole weight of the tray on her right arm, and with the left she opened the door. I have seen waiters in restaurants do that sort of trick, but I never could understand it. Even if Hannah was dropping off, she must have some strong muscles, was my reflection. The next day I went to school as usual. The fog had cleared and it was fairly bright--not very bright, for it never is in the city part of London in the winter months. At school I, as usual, took my place in the same form with Agnes and Rita Swan. I was glad to see that I got to the head of the form and they remained in a subordinate position that day. In consequence during play-hours they were rather less patronising and more affectionate to me than usual. But I held up my head high and would have little to do with them. I was much more inclined to be friends with Augusta Moore than with the Swans just then. Now, Augusta lived in a very small house a long way from the school. She was very poor, and lived alone with her mother, whose only child she was. Augusta was an uncommunicative sort of girl. She worked hard at her books, and was slow to respond to her schoolfellows' advances of friendship; but when I said, "May I walk up and down in the playground with you, Augusta?" she on this occasion made no objection. She glanced round at me once or twice, and then said, "I don't mind, of course, your walking with me, Rachel, but I have to read over my poetry once or twice in order to be sure of saying it correctly." I asked her if she would like me to hear her, and she was much obliged when I made this offer; and after a few minutes' pause she handed me the book, and repeated a very fine piece of poetry with considerable spirit. When she had come to the end she said, "How many mistakes did I make?" "I don't know," I answered. "You don't know? But you said you would hear me." "I didn't look at the book," I said; "I was so absorbed watching you." "Oh! then you are no good at all," said Augusta, and she looked really annoyed. "You must give me back the book and I must read it over slowly."