Beelzebubs-Tales-to-His-Grandson-by-G-I-Gurdjieff

"She was very alert in her perceptions and manifestations or, as yourfavorites themselves describe such persons, she was a 'lively and intelligentgirl. '"One day, my acquaintance, the senator, was sent on an 'inspection tour'somewhere far off in Siberia."His wife wished to accompany him, as the senator was suffering fromwhat is called liver trouble and required constant care, but she could not gowith him because there would be no one to keep an eye on their youngestdaughter"So, one morning, the parents, these elderly friends of mine, came to seeme at my apartment and asked whether I would agree to take their place withtheir youngest daughter during their absence, that is, to visit her every week atthe institute and to bring her home with me for the holidays."Of course, I at once agreed to their proposal."Soon afterward, the senator and his wife left for Siberia and I beganpunctiliously fulfilling the obligations taken upon myself toward theirdaughter, who by that time had become a pet of mine."On my first visit to this establishment, specially created for the educationof children, I noticed something strange that served as one of the causes of mysubsequent observations and studies of the consequences for your contemporaryfavorites of that 'evil mischief' they invented themselves."On the day of my visit to this 'genteel establishment,' as they say, therewere many visitors in the reception room that was reserved for the meetings ofthe parents or guardians with their children or wards"Several parents had just come in, others were already talking with theirchildren, and still others sat waiting with all their attention fixed on the doorthrough which the pupils of the establishment usually entered."After I came into this reception room and explained to