t she returned to her home. That evening she, for the first
time, mentioned to her mother the daily annoyances she suffered from her
companions at school; and concluded by relating the conversation she had
that day chanced to overhear. Mrs. Ashton could not feel otherwise than
grieved; but as much as possible she concealed the feeling from her
daughter. "My dear Emma," she replied, "their unkind words can do you no
real harm, although they may render you unhappy for the time being. But
keep the even tenor of your way; and they will, probably, after a time
become ashamed of their folly. Should they make any further remarks
regarding my laboring to give you an education, you may tell them that I
esteem it as one of my chief blessings that I have health granted me so
to do."

Time passed on; and the invariable kindness with which Emma treated her
classmates finally gained her several warm friends; and some of them
even apologized for their past unkindness. Miss Carlton still regarded
her with a feeling of enmity and dislike; but as Emma seemed not to
notice the many annoyances she experienced she was at length forced to
desist, although the same resentful feeling remained in her heart.

When Emma left the seminary, after attending it for four years, her
departure was deeply regretted by both teachers and pupils. As she had
pursued her studies in a very systematic manner, she had acquired,
before leaving school, a thoroughly good education, which she intended
turning to account by teaching. Miss Carlton also left school at the
same time to return to her elegant home in the city of H. It was
fortunate for her that she was not obliged, as was Emma, to teach as a
means of support; for, notwithstanding the unwearied pains of her
teachers, her education, when she left school, was very superficial.
Emma soon obtained a situation as teacher in a small village some twenty
miles from Rockford, where she remained for two years. During her
absence, her mother, to avoid being left alone, received as boarders two
or three young ladies who attended school in the village. Emma's success
as a teacher become so well known that she was at length offered a high
salary to accept of the position of assistant teacher in an academy in
the city of H., the same city where Miss Carlton resided. As the salary
offered was very liberal, she decided to accept of the position, and as
the situation was likely to prove a permanent one she was very anxious