She shut her up in a dark room till she could think about it.
'I don't see,' she said to Mr.St.Clare, 'how I am going to manage that child without whipping her.' 'Well, whip her, then.' 'I never heard of bringing up children without it,' said Miss Ophelia.
'Oh, well, do as you think best.

Only, I have seen this child beaten with a poker, knocked down with the shovel or tongs, or anything that came handy.

So I don't think your beatings will have much effect.' 'What is to be done with her, then ?' said Miss Ophelia.

'I never saw such a child as this.' But Mr.St.Clare could not answer her question.

So Miss Ophelia had to go on, as best she could, trying to make Topsy a good girl.
She taught her to read and to sew.