, rather than curb, these fits of rudeness
and anger!«
    »Did he say that?« said Jemima, in a still lower tone, not questioning her
father, but speaking rather to herself.
    »I have no doubt he did,« replied her father gravely. »Your mother is in the
habit of repeating accurately to me what takes place in my absence; besides
which, the whole speech is not one of hers; she has not altered a word in the
repetition, I am convinced. I have trained her to habits of accuracy very
unusual in a woman.«
    At another time, Jemima might have been inclined to rebel against this
system of carrying constant intelligence to headquarters, which she had long ago
felt as an insurmountable obstacle to any free communication with her mother;
but now, her father's means of acquiring knowledge faded into insignificance
before the nature of the information he imparted. She stood quite still,
grasping the chair-back, longing to be dismissed.
    »I have said enough now, I hope, to make you behave in a becoming manner to
Mr. Farquhar; if your temper is too unruly to be always under your own control,
at least have respect to my injunctions, and take some pains to curb it before
him.«
    »May I go?« asked Jemima, chafing more and more.
    »You may,« said her father. When she left the room he gently rubbed his
hands together, satisfied with the effect he had produced, and wondering how it
was that one so well brought up as his daughter could ever say or do anything to
provoke such a remark from Mr. Farquhar as that which he had heard repeated.
    »Nothing can be more gentle and docile than she is when spoken to in the
proper manner. I must give Farquhar a hint,« said Mr. Bradshaw to himself.
    Jemima rushed upstairs and locked herself into her room. She began pacing up
and down at first, without shedding a tear; but then she suddenly stopped, and
burst out crying with passionate indignation.
    »So! I am to behave well, not because it is right - not because it is right
- but to show off before Mr. Farquhar. Oh, Mr. Farquhar!« said she, suddenly
changing to a sort of upbraiding tone of voice, »I did not think so of you an
hour ago. I did not think you could choose a wife in that cold-hearted way,
though you did profess to act by rule and line; but you think to have me, do
you?
