FROM BOOKS #3
'I have frequently told you, and the holidays just past have convinced me, that my prime has truly begun. One's prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur. You must then live it to the full. Mary, what have you got under your desk, what are you looking at?'
Mary sat lump-like and too stupid to invent something. She was too stupid ever to tell a lie; she didn't know how to cover up.
'A comic, Miss Brodie,' she said.
'Do you mean a comedian, a droll?'
Everyone tittered.
'A comic paper,' said Mary.
'A comic paper, forsooth. How old are you?'
'Ten, ma'am.'
'You are too old for comic papers at ten. Give it to me.'
Miss Brodie looked at the coloured sheets. 'TIGER TIM's forsooth,' she said, and threw it into the waste-paper basket. Perceiving all eyes upon it she lifted it out of the basket, tore it up beyond redemption and put it back again.
- THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE (1961) by Muriel Spark
Mary sat lump-like and too stupid to invent something. She was too stupid ever to tell a lie; she didn't know how to cover up.
'A comic, Miss Brodie,' she said.
'Do you mean a comedian, a droll?'
Everyone tittered.
'A comic paper,' said Mary.
'A comic paper, forsooth. How old are you?'
'Ten, ma'am.'
'You are too old for comic papers at ten. Give it to me.'
Miss Brodie looked at the coloured sheets. 'TIGER TIM's forsooth,' she said, and threw it into the waste-paper basket. Perceiving all eyes upon it she lifted it out of the basket, tore it up beyond redemption and put it back again.
- THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE (1961) by Muriel Spark