Oh, what had she inflicted on poor Ellie? The slight girl seemed to become even smaller under Miss Bellini's rigor and her voice did not sound anything like what Catherine had heard last time. She looked like she was ready to burst into tears! Could it be that Ellie was intimidated? Miss Bellini was certainly not gentle, but she wasn't the worst. Catherine had seen classmates reduced to tears during brutal dressing-downs. Indeed, she herself had been drilled, tried, criticized and belittled so often that Miss Bellini's impatience hardly made an impression, but for Ellie's response. Accomplishment took effort. She supposed people who had never had a reason to aspire to much weren't used to that.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Miss Bellini interrupted, lifting her fingers from the keys. She got up and stood in front of Ellie. "What's this? Stand up straight, Miss Russell. Shoulders back a little." She took a shoulder and gently guided it back in position. "Chin up." Hand under the girl's chin, directing. "This slouching won't do, Miss. Now, put your hand on your stomach, here." And placing Ellie's hand there: "Now take a deep breath."