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Chapter 2
Arithmeticshefoundeasy,butwhencalledupontodemonstrateherskillverballyshecouldnotrememberhowmanytwoandtwomade.Readingwastheentranceintoaworldsofascinatingshecouldn’tgetenoughofit;butwhenSisterAgathamadeherstandtoreadapassageoutloud,shecouldhardlypronounce"cat,"letalone"miaow."ItseemedtoherthatshewasforeverquiveringunderSisterAgatha’ssarcasticcommentsorflushingbrightredbecausetherestoftheclasswaslaughingather.ForitwasalwaysherslateSisterAgathahelduptosneerat,alwaysherlaboriouslywrittensheetsofpaperSisterAgathausedtodemonstratetheuglinessofuntidywork.Someofthericherchildrenwereluckyenoughtopossesserasers,butMeggie’sonlyeraserwasthetipofherfinger,whichshelickedandrubbedoverhernervousmistakesuntilthewritingsmudgedandthepapercameawayinminiaturesausages.Itmadeholesandwasstrictlyforbidden,butshewasdesperateenoughtodoanythingtoavoidSisterAgatha’sstrictures.
UntilheradventStuarthadbeenthechieftargetofSisterAgatha’scaneandvenom.However,Meggiewasamuchbettertarget,forStuart’swistfultranquillityandalmostsaintlikealoofnesswerehardnutstocrack,evenforSisterAgatha.Ontheotherhand,Meggietrembledandwentasredasabeet,forallshetriedsomanfullytoadheretotheClearylineofbehaviorasdefinedbyFrank.StuartpitiedMeggiedeeplyandtriedtomakeiteasierforherbydeliberatelysidetrackingthenun’sangerontohisownhead.
