Beth did not know what to do. It was evident her mother did not wish to discuss the loan—did not wish to be questioned about it. Beth had been brought up too strictly to doubt her parents’ judgment.
And now, soon after her return home, came kind Mr. Lomax, the principal of the high school, to congratulate her on her standing at Rivercliff.
He brought with him, too, a letter he had received from Miss Hammersly. Although that good woman had said nothing to Beth before she came home for the summer, in this letter she begged Mr. Lomax to use his influence with Beth’s family, that they would allow her to complete her course at Rivercliff.
“I do not approve, as a general rule, of my girls working as many hours or as hard as Miss Baldwin does to earn money to pay school expenses,” wrote Miss Hammersly. “Usually, the girls who have to struggle so to achieve the bare necessities through school and college, are the ones who, after all, gain but a superficial benefit from the educational courses. The work they must do to live comes first with them, as is natural. They fall behind in their school work. Not so with Miss Baldwin. I am proud of her and I want to see her finish her course so auspiciously begun.”
“Somehow, Mrs. Baldwin,” Mr. Lomax said to Beth’s mother, “you must push Elizabeth on. She must continue her course at Rivercliff. Why! it will be a distinct loss to the educational community if she does not become a teacher.”
“I do not know how that may be,” said Mrs. Baldwin, quietly; “but I do know that I want Beth to continue at the school. At first, when Mr. Baldwin was taken ill, I did not see how we could accomplish it. But now, by her own exertions, she has proved that it is possible. Why! she has already in hand enough to pay the first half of next year’s expenses.”
So it was settled. Beth renewed her resolve and, as Marcus said, “buckled down to work.”
She had cards printed, and with them she went from house to house in the better residential sections of Hudsonvale and the neighboring towns, showing samples where she could of her really beautiful work. Both Mrs. Baldwin and Beth had a “sleight,” as old-fashioned people called it, with the needle—especially on such fine work as Beth now essayed.
“You work up a good trade this summer, Daughter,” said the practical Mrs. Baldwin, “and I’ll hold it for you until next long vacation. Ella is getting such a big girl now, and Prissy is so helpful, that I can do it.”
Beth had already shown her own capability in getting ahead. She was not afraid to ask for work, and where she was allowed to show specimens of mending she was almost sure of being engaged for similar tasks.