family at the Abbey, now thought that she could herself bake a
batch of bread. One of the new servants from the Abbey had been sent
all round the village in the morning in search of loaves, and had not
been able to procure any that were eatable. Mrs. Price's last baking
had failed for want of good yeast. She was not now strong enough to
attempt another herself, and when the brewer's boy came to tell her
that he had some fine fresh yeast, she thanked him, but sighed and
said she feared it would be of little use to her. But Susan went to
work with great care, and the next morning when her bread came out of
the oven, it was excellent: at least her mother said so, and she was a
good judge. It was sent to the Abbey, and as the family had not tasted
any good bread since they had come there, they also were warm in its
praise. With some surprise, they heard from the housekeeper that this
excellent bread was made by a young girl only twelve years old. The
housekeeper, who had known Susan since she was a child, was pleased to
have a chance to speak about her.

"She is the busiest little creature, ma'am, in the world," she said to
her mistress. "I can't so well call her little now though, since she's
grown tall and slender to look at; and glad I am she is grown up good
to look at; for handsome is that handsome does, ma'am. She thinks no
more of her being handsome than I do myself; yet she has as proper a
respect for herself, ma'am, as you have; and I always see her neat,
and she is always with her mother, or fit people, as a girl should be.
As for her mother, she dotes upon her, as well she may; for I should
myself if I had half such a daughter, ma'am; and then she has two
little brothers, and she's as good to them and, my boy Philip says,
taught them to read more than the school-mistress did; but I beg your
pardon, ma'am, I cannot stop myself when I once begin to talk of
Susan."

"You have really said enough to make me wish to see her," said her
mistress. "Pray send for her now; we can see her before we go out to
walk."

The kind housekeeper gladly sent off her boy Philip for Susan, who was
never so untidy that she could not come at once when sent for. She had
been very busy, but orderly people can be busy and neat at the same
time. Putting on her usual straw hat, she set out for the Abbey. On
the way she overtook Rose's mother, who was going there too with a
basket of fresh muslin. When Susan reached the Abbey, her simple dre