I 've tried the other things , and got so tired I came to college ; though my people predict nervous exhaustion and an early death . Do you think there is any danger ? ' asked a stately girl , with an anxious glance at the blooming face reflected in the mirror opposite . ` Are you stronger or weaker than when you came two years ago , Miss Winthrop ? ' ` Stronger in body , and much happier in mind . I think I was dying of ennui ; but the doctors called it inherited delicacy of constitution . That is why mamma is so anxious , and I wish not to go too fast . ' ` Do n't worry , my dear ; that active brain of yours was starving for good food ; it has plenty now , and plain living suits you better than luxury and dissipation . It is all nonsense about girls not being able to study as well as boys . Neither can bear cramming ; but with proper care both are better for it ; so enjoy the life your instinct led you to , and we will prove that wise headwork is a better cure for that sort of delicacy than tonics , and novels on the sofa , where far too many of our girls go to wreck nowadays . They burn the candle at both ends ; and when they break down they blame the books , not the balls . ' ` Dr Nan was telling me about a patient of hers who thought she had heart-complaint , till Nan made her take off her corsets , stopped her coffee and dancing all night , and made her eat , sleep , walk , and live regularly for a time ; and now she 's a brilliant cure . Common sense versus custom , Nan said . ' ` I 've had no headaches since I came here , and can do twice as much studying as I did at home . It 's the air , I think , and the fun of going ahead of the boys , ' said another girl , tapping her big forehead with her thimble , as if the lively brain inside was in good working order and enjoyed the daily gymnastics she gave it . ` Quality , not quantity , wins the day , you know . Our brains may be smaller , but I do n't see that they fall short of what is required of them ; and if I 'm not mistaken , the largest-headed man in our class is the dullest , ' said Nelly , with a solemn air which produced a gale of merriment ; for all knew that the young Goliath she mentioned had been metaphorically slain by this quick-witted David on many a battle-field , to the great disgust of himself and his mates . ` Mrs Brooke , do I gauge on the right or the wrong side ? ' asked the best Greek scholar of her class , eyeing a black silk apron with a lost expression . ` The right , Miss Pierson ; and leave a space between the tucks ; it looks prettier so . '
` I 'll never make another ; but it will save my dresses from ink-stains , so I 'm glad I 've got it ' ; and the erudite Miss Pierson laboured on , finding it a harder task than any XXXXX root she ever dug up .
Brooke Goliath Greek Winthrop battle-field burn ennui fall heart-complaint night