<em>Violet Edwards &amp; Annalisa, in the Green Bedroom</em><br/><br/>Miss Edwards gave Annalisa an approving nod at hearing her greeting. Her curtsy was much improved too, though it could still of course use some work. The girl's posture was also quite correct and a credit to herself. The teacher was unsurprised, however, to hear that Annalisa continued to have problems with her speech. The poor girl sometimes sounded like a stutterer in her efforts to maintain proper diction.<br/><br/>It was well of Mr. Hawkins to have sent Annalisa for individual attention; Miss Edwards thought she would have to thank him later for the courtesy. She did not know him well even after working at the Ambrose House for some time, but perhaps a gift would please him? She would bring him a well-prepared drink sometime when he was too hard at work to think of it himself. She considered this in the back of her mind while she led Annalisa into her room. Miss Edwards frequently pursued several trains of thought at once, each with perfect clarity, and would be surprised to hear that others could not.<br/><br/>She listened indulgently while the servant explained her purpose; Annalisa's diligence as a student made her a favorite, though she would never let on.<em>"Thank you for inviting me in Miss Edwards,"</em>said Annalisa very properly, and then descended into the confused speech of someone struggling with a second language.<em>"I wi-wi... wish to d-discuss something im-important ma-matters with you. I... err... an-angered Mr Ha-Hawkins earlier with my... sp-speech. Would you like to hear how I spoke to him?"</em><br/><br/>"I am unsurprised to hear that you have had problems with your speech," she said matter-of-factly. She took a seat at her desk, turning the chair to face Annalisa but leaving the servant to stand. "You know that it is your weakest area, my dear. I must agree with Mr. Hawkins that while you are otherwise coming along nicely, you lack the ability to talk like a lady." She drew a slim black leather crop, of the same kind used in stables, from her desk drawer. It was a favorite teaching tool.<br/><br/>"As to whether I would like to hear what you said, no, I do not particularly wish to hear what is undoubtedly gutter speech. However, I assume you only offered because you were ordered to repeat it to me." Her tone remained the same, but the look in her eyes hardened as she continued, "Is that, in fact, the case? Precision of language is important, young lady."