I was delighted to see that I attracted the attention of
the masters and mistresses, simply because of my good looks. I took in
and pondered over every word of praise that concerned my appearance. But
I put on airs of modesty, and no one guessed what went on within me.
I avoided the sun lest I should get freckles. I collected rain-water for
washing. I slept in gloves; and though I adored sweets, I refrained from
eating them on account of my teeth. I spent hours brushing my hair.
At home there was only one looking-glass. It was in my father's room,
which I seldom entered, and was hung too high for me to use. In my
pocket-mirror I could only see one eye at a time. But I had so much
self-control that I resisted the temptation to stop and look at my
reflection in the shop windows on my way to and from school.
I was surprised when I came home one day to find that the large mirror
in its gold frame had been given over to me by my father and was hanging
in my room. I made myself quite ill with excitement, and the maid had to
put me to bed.
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