Once, when she thought he
was looking another way, Jane tried to raise a smile, but a stern
'Jane, what are you thinking of?' recalled her to order, and when the
lesson was over her father spoke gravely to her, telling her that he
thought few things more disgusting in a young lady than impertinence
towards her teachers; and then added, 'Miss Weston, I hope you keep
strict watch over these giddy young things.'
Awed by her father, Jane behaved tolerably well at that time and the
next, and Miss Weston hoped her interference would not be needed, but
as if to make up for this restraint, her conduct a fortnight after
was quite beyond bearing. She used every means to make Marianne
laugh, and at last went so far as to pretend to think that M. le Roi
had not understood what she said in English, and to translate it into
French. Poor Marianne looked imploringly at her sister, and Alethea
hoped that Emily would interpose, but Emily was turning away her head
to conceal a laugh, and Miss Weston was obliged to give Jane a very
grave look, which she perfectly understood, though she pretended not
to see it. When the exercise was over Miss Weston made her a sign to
approach, and said, 'Jane, do you think your papa would have liked--'
'What do you mean?' said Jane, 'I have not been laughing.
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