` Your loving pupil Paul Irving . ' '' ` P. S. of course , this letter is n't really true , teacher . P.I. ' '' XII A Jonah Day It really began the night before with a restless , wakeful vigil of grumbling toothache . When Anne arose in the dull , bitter winter morning she felt that life was flat , stale , and unprofitable . She went to school in no angelic mood . Her cheek was swollen and her face ached . The schoolroom was cold and smoky , for the fire refused to burn and the children were huddled about it in shivering groups . Anne sent them to their seats with a sharper tone than she had ever used before . Anthony Pye strutted to his with his usual impertinent swagger and she saw him whisper something to his seat-mate and then glance at her with a grin . Never , so it seemed to Anne , had there been so many squeaky pencils as there were that morning ; and when Barbara Shaw came up to the desk with a sum she tripped over the coal scuttle with disastrous results . The coal rolled to every part of the room , her slate was broken into fragments , and when she picked herself up , her face , stained with coal dust , sent the boys into roars of laughter . Anne turned from the second reader class which she was hearing . `` Really , Barbara , '' she said icily , `` if you can not move without falling over something you 'd better remain in your seat . It is positively disgraceful for a girl of your age to be so awkward . '' Poor Barbara stumbled back to her desk , her tears combining with the coal dust to produce an effect truly grotesque . Never before had her beloved , sympathetic teacher spoken to her in such a tone or fashion , and Barbara was heartbroken . Anne herself felt a prick of conscience but it only served to increase her mental irritation , and the second reader class remember that lesson yet , as well as the unmerciful infliction of arithmetic that followed . Just as Anne was snapping the sums out St. Clair Donnell arrived breathlessly . `` You are half an hour late , St. Clair , '' Anne reminded him frigidly . `` Why is this ? ''
`` Please , miss , I had XXXXX help ma make a pudding for dinner 'cause we 're expecting company and Clarice Almira 's sick , '' was St. Clair 's answer , given in a perfectly respectful voice but nevertheless provocative of great mirth among his mates .
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