I thought this was my opening, and I showed her eagerly my Latin grammar, my geometry, my Virgil.

I began to tell her how I was to go to college, to fit myself to write poetry, and get rich, and pay the arrears.

But Mrs.Hutch cut me short at the mention of college.

She broke out with her old reproaches, and worked herself into a worse fury than I had ever witnessed before.

I was all alone in the tempest, and a very old lady was sitting on a sofa, drinking tea; and the tidy on the back of the sofa was sliding down.
I was so bewildered by the suddenness of the onslaught, I felt so helpless to defend myself, that I could only stand and stare at Mrs.
Hutch.