Ellsworth accepted the sketchbook as if it were a most serious problem that had come to his attention. He carefully flipped through each page taking the time to look at the sketches. Although they were unfinished they showed promise. With a few more years of practice and perhaps enrolling in an art course when she was older he was quite certain the designs would be quite excellent. They were certainly not of the low caliber of doodles he saw on exam papers from when students got bored.

Finally he closed the sketchbook and handed it back to Miss Tatting, again treating it like a prized artifact. “Well, Miss Tatting, I, personally, believe you show a great deal of promise. With a bit more practice I think even your initial critiquer might be quieted.” As it were the older student likely was jealous she hadn’t had such skills as a first year. But it did not do well to speak ill of other students in front of students.