d at my lessons. They are very
difficult, you know, and you promised that when I went to the Great
Shirley School you'd never interfere with my lesson hours."

"I did say so, and of course I don't mean to interfere; but this is a
special case."

"Can't Tommy go and stand in the shop? If any special customers come in
I will attend to them."

"No, Tommy can't. He has a headache and is lying down upstairs. You must
oblige me this time, Susy. You can sit up a little longer to-night to
finish your lessons if you are much interrupted while I am away."

"You are sure you will not be more than an hour, mother?"

"Oh, certain."

"And I suppose in any case I may shut up the shop at seven o'clock,
mayn't I?"

"Shut the shop at seven o'clock!" said Mrs. Hopkins. "You forget that
this is Wednesday. We always keep the shop, except the post-office part,
open until past nine on Wednesdays; such a lot of people come in for
odds and ends on this special night. But I will be back long before
nine. Don't on any account shut the shop until I appear."

Susy, feeling cross and miserable, all her bright hopes dashed to the
ground, took a couple of books and went into the shop and sat behind the
counter. The days were getting short and cold, and as the shop door was
opened there was a thorough draught where she was sitting. Her feet
grew icy cold; she could scarcely follow the meaning of her somewhat
difficult lessons. No customers appeared.

"How stupid I am!" thought the little girl. "This will never do."

She roused herself, and bending forward, propped her book open before
her. Presently she heard the clock outside strike seven.

"Mother will be back now, thank goodness!" she thought. "If I work
desperately hard, and stop my ears so that I needn't hear a sound, I may
have done by nine o'clock."

Just at that moment two ladies came in to ask for a special sort of
stationery. Susy, who was never in the least interested in the shop, did
not know where to find it. She rummaged about, making a great mess
amongst her mother's neat stores; and finally she was obliged to say
that she did not know where it was.

"Never mind," said one of the ladies, kindly; "I will come in again next
time I am passing. It doesn't matter this evening."

Susy felt vexed; she knew her mother would blame her for sending the
ladies away without completing a purchase. And they had scarcely left
before she found the box which contained the stationery. She