School had opened the previous week, and Sylvia had begun to feel quite
at home with her new schoolmates. The winter before, Mrs. Fulton had
taught her little daughter at home; so this was her first term at Miss
Patten's.
Miss Patten always stood near the schoolroom door until all her pupils
had arrived. As each girl entered the room she made a curtsey to the
pretty teacher, and then said "good-morning" to the pupils who had
already arrived, and took her seat. When the clock struck nine Miss
Rosalie would take her place behind the desk on the platform at the
further end of the room, and say a little prayer. Then the pupils were
ready for their lessons.
"Isn't Miss Rosalie lovely," Sylvia whispered as she and Grace moved to
their seats, "and doesn't she wear pretty clothes?"
Grace nodded. She had been to Miss Rosalie's school for three years, and
she wondered a little at Sylvia's admiration for their teacher, although
she too thought Miss Patten looked exactly like a fashion plate.
Grace was eager to get to her desk. From where she sat she could see the
grim lines of the distant forts; and this morning they had a new value
and interest for her; for at breakfast she had heard her father say
that, although the forts were occupied by the soldiers of the United
States Government, it was only justice that South Carolina should
control them, and if the State seceded from the Union Charleston must
take possession of the forts. With the consent of the United States
Government if possible, but, if this was refused, by force.
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