Free i 19ecbf681bdbdaf9 by Unknown

was our family because, I've got to face it, I've had no experience of the world. Nor have any of us, have we?"
    "Well, I won't say that. I think you've all had experience of reactions of some members of the world, and forcibly. And you know, Anna' she now leant forward and gripped Anna's knee' it isn't ended. In your own particular case, and perhaps that of Cherry, it's just beginning. Men can fight the stigma in their own way. Although they feel it deeply, the male in them won't let them admit it. I've known some even to brag about it; at least, if their lineage just might have been connected with those in high places. Your mother and father, you know, and of course you do know, have defied convention, they have spat in its eye;
    but they picked the wrong place to do it, near the narrow confines of a village. If they had chosen to live in the city or some large town it could have passed unnoticed, or nearly so. But if one desires to be burnt alive, then I would say go and live in a village and do something that half of them would like to do but haven't the courage.
    Oh, it's amazing how frustrated desire can appear under the heading of righteousness. But it's been so all down the ages. I think I've said it to you before, I'm sure I have' she tossed her head and laughed now'I've said so much to you. You're the only one, you know, I can talk to without keeping my tongue in my cheek. But what I am going to say now is, you must read the Greeks, more philosophy, Plato, Aristotle. Your father, naturally, hasn't touched on these except for his own entertainment. He's immersed in the later Roman period, isn't he? But you would garner wisdom from Aristotle. Well, just give it another name, common sense. Of course, you will find that philosophers, being human beings, will contradict themselves here and there, and each other. But you can blow away the chaff from the wheat and use it to your own advantage.
    "A-ha!" she now exclaimed.
    "Here we go into the street of learning.
    You know, my dear'again
    she was bending forward "I wish I could have started you off in some better place, but I know you understand the reasons. And as I've also said, do a year or so here, by which time you will have had experience, then maybe I'll be able to talk sense and charity into one or two scholastic friends. At least, I hope so. Females, you know, are much more difficult to deal with than men. I prefer men any day in the week. In fact, I don't like women. Did you know that? I just don't like women. Of course, in your case you will have to look out for both men and women, for from the looks of you, you will have trouble with the former in one way and with the latter in more ways than one."
    Wasn't it odd, Anna thought, that this kindly, lovable benefactress should have that one flaw:
    she would never let her forget that she had an obstacle to surmount, that there would always be this obstacle, but it was not surmountable.
    How ever, she put out her hand and gripped the older woman's, saying,
    "Whatever happens to me from now on, there won't be a moment of my life in which I will stop thanking you for what you have done for me, and not only for me, but for my family. Now, don't get up. I'll have to be on my own from today but I shall slip across tonight and tell you all my news and how I have implanted wisdom and knowledge into five and six-year-olds, or perhaps the nines or tens ... never the fourteens. I think I'll be a long time before I reach the fourteen-year-olds in Miss Benfield's Academy."
    "Go on with you! And my wishes go with you. You know that." She pushed her towards the back of the brake, where Rob had pulled down the step, and as he helped her to the ground he said, "Best of luck, miss.
    Best of luck." Then leaning towards her, he whispered, "Knock it into
    'em.
    And I bet you'll have to do just that with some. "
    "Shut up! you, and get back about your business."
    Anna gave one last look at her friend before walking towards the