to your kindness."

"Well," said Emily, "if she should have any wants, you must apply to me.
You know we adopted her jointly, and I agreed to do anything I could for
her; so you must never hesitate--it will be a pleasure to serve either
of you. My father always feels under obligations to you, Mr. Flint, for
faithful service that cost you dear in the end."

"Oh, Miss Emily," said True, "Mr. Graham has always been my best friend;
and as to that 'ere accident that happened when I was in his employ, it
was nobody's fault but my own; it was my own carelessness, and nobody's
else."

"I know you say so," said Emily, "but we regretted it very much; and you
mustn't forget what I tell you, that I shall delight in doing anything
for Gerty. I should like to have her come and see me, some day, if she
would like, and you'll let her."

"Sartain, sartain," said True, "and thank you kindly; she'd be glad to
come."

A few days after Gerty went with True to see Miss Graham, but the
housekeeper, whom they met in the hall, told them that she was ill and
could see no one. So they went away full of disappointment and regret.

Emily had taken a severe cold the day she sat so long in the church, and
was suffering with it when they called; but, though confined to her
room, she would have been glad to have a visit from Gerty, and was sorry
that Mrs. Ellis should have sent them away.

On Saturday evening, when Willie was present, True broached the subject
of Gerty's going to school. Gerty was much displeased with the idea; but
it met with Willie's approbation; and when Gerty learned that Miss
Graham also wished it, she consented, though reluctantly, to begin the
next week, and try how she liked it. So next Monday Gerty went with True
to one of the primary schools, was admitted, and her education began.
When Willie came home the next Sunday, he rushed into True's room, eager
to hear how Gerty liked going to school. She was seated at the table,
with her spelling-book; and she exclaimed, "Oh, Willie! Willie! come and
hear me read!"

Her performance could hardly be called reading. She had not got beyond
the alphabet, and a few syllables she had learned to spell; but Willie
bestowed upon her much well-merited praise, she had been very diligent.
He was astonished to hear that Gerty liked going to school, liked the
teachers and the scholars, and had a fine time at recess. He had fully
expected that she would dislike the whole business, and go in