"

"She is very fond of her teacher, and I don't wonder at her crying on
losing her. She is a great loss to us all."

"What a fuss they all _do_ make over her! I'm sure she didn't seem
anything particular," thought Stella as she accompanied Mrs. Steele
up-stairs. Lucy had fallen asleep, but awoke on their entrance, and
started up to arrange her disordered dress and hair before going to
tea.

"Just look how you have crushed your nice dress now!" exclaimed Stella
reproachfully. "And the wreath too! It might have been fresh all the
evening. You might have taken them off if you wanted to lie down."

"I didn't think of it," said Lucy apologetically, somewhat remorseful
for not having treated the result of Stella's labour with more
respect. "But I shouldn't have worn it all the evening, at any rate,
for after tea I am going to see Nelly Connor."

"What! that girl we saw in the wood? What are you going to see her
for?" exclaimed Stella.

"Miss Preston--I mean Mrs. Harris--wants me to try to get her to come
to learn to read, if papa and Aunt Mary have no objection; and I'm
sure they won't."

It was to Stella a bewildering phenomenon, that Lucy should really go
out of her way to invite such a girl to the house. However, partly
from curiosity, and partly from having nothing better to do, she
acceded to Lucy's invitation to accompany her; and after tea the girls
set off, Mrs. Steele warning Lucy to be very conciliatory to Mrs.
Connor, or she would not accomplish her object.

They soon reached the side of the green slope on the river bank, on
which the Connors' cottage stood, and were following the path to the
house, when they encountered Nelly herself, struggling up the hill
with a heavy pail of water. Her brown, weather-tanned face lighted up
with a glad smile when she recognised Lucy, and in reply to her
inquiry she said she was carrying up water for the next day's washing.

"And do you carry it all up from the river?" said Lucy.

"Yes, miss, every drop," replied Nelly, with a weary little sigh.

"Nelly, would you like to learn to read?" asked Lucy, plunging at once
into her errand.

"I don't know, miss," was the rather doubtful reply.

"Why, wouldn't you like to be able to read that nice hymn Miss Preston
gave you, for yourself?"

"Yes, miss, I'd like to be able, but I don't know if I'd like the
learning."

Lucy laughed, as did Stella also, and Nelly herself.

"Well, as you can't be able to do it without le