The minor canons were looked upon by the exclusives of the
cathedral as holding a very inferior position amidst the clergy, and
she resented that one belonging to her should descend to set up his
place amongst them.
Mr. Yorke shook hands with Lady Augusta, and then turned to look at the
leaves and silkworms. "Are you doing that for ornament, Caroline?"
"Ornament!" wrathfully cried Lady Augusta. "She is doing it to waste
time, and to provoke me."
"No, I am not, mamma," denied Miss Caroline. "My poor silkworms never
have anything but lettuce leaves. Tod brought these for me from the
bishop's garden, and I am looking at the silkworms enjoying the
change."
"Tod is in hot water," remarked Mr. Yorke. "He was fighting with
another boy as I came through the cloisters."
"Then he'll come home with his clothes torn, as he did the last time he
fought!" exclaimed Lady Augusta, in consternation. "I think no one ever
had such a set of children as mine!" she peevishly continued. "The boys
boisterous as so many wild animals, and the girls enough to drive one
crazy, with their idle, disobedient ways. Look at this room, William!
encumbered from one end to the other! things thrown out of hand by
Caroline and Fanny! As to lessons, they never open one. For three days
I have never ceased telling Caroline to go and practise, and she has
not attempted to obey me! I shall go out of my mind with one thing or
another; I know I shall! Nice dunces they'll grow up.
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