School. Head-mistress, Mrs. Impact—ominous name! Second in command, Miss
Ouch—natural sequence! Then Miss Keggs—also eponymous, as we shall see.
So she grew up—twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen
years old. In just that order. No twelve, fourteen, thirteen, fifteen,
seventeen, sixteen irregularity. A precise arithmetical
sequence—forecast of mathematical abilities almost unfeminine.
She is eight years older than when she was nine. Eight added to nine
makes—ninety-eight?—No, seventeen. Surely, seventeen. There can be no
doubt about it, especially in the case of a young girl like Rosalie.
Absurd to doubt it. Seventeen. Be sure of that.