Miss Unity felt very nervous at first, and it was strange to have Kettles so close to her, but by degrees this wore off, and she even began to feel a sort of pleasure in the lessons. It was no trouble to teach her, for, as Betty said, she was “one of the sharp ones,” and was, besides, eager to do her best. Not because she wished to know how to read, which she rather despised, but because she wanted very much to please her mistress, for whom she had a great admiration.
So things went on very well at Nearminster, both upstairs and down-stairs, and the time soon came when Miss Unity found herself looking forward to the knock at the door, which was followed by the appearance of Kettles and her spelling-book. This interest partly made up for the loss of Pennie, which had left a sad blank in Miss Unity’s life at first. Here was another little living creature she could teach, rebuke, praise, and care for, and if Kettles could not fill Pennie’s place in Miss Unity’s heart, she could at least give it enough to do to keep it warm and active.
Although she would not have confessed it, her interest in the black children of Karawayo began to fade just now, and though she still attended the Working Societies and kept the missionary-box on her hall table, she was much more really concerned about Keturah’s first pot-hooks and hangers.
Meanwhile the new maid showed such marked progress in household matters that Betty gradually allowed her to appear upstairs, and on some occasions to open the door to visitors.
“What a nice, bright little maid you have!” said Mrs Merridew, who was calling one afternoon. “One of the Easney school-children, I suppose. Country girls are so superior.”
“I’ve always noticed that,” said the dean, as Miss Unity paused before replying, “the town children are sharp enough, but they’re generally wicked. And the country children are honest and steady enough, but as a rule they’re so dull.”
Miss Unity listened with the respect she always showed to any remarks of the dean as he went on to enlarge on the subject. Once she would have agreed with him as a matter of course, but now she had a sort of feeling that she really knew more about it than he did. What would he say if he knew that the bright little maid Mrs Merridew had admired came from the very depths of Anchor and Hope Alley?
Time went quickly by, till it was nearly a month since Pennie had gone away, and Keturah had come to help Betty. She had come “on trial” as a stop-gap only, but no one said a word about her leaving yet. Certainly Betty’s wrist was still weak, and this gave Miss Unity an excuse she was glad to have. She almost dreaded the day when Betty should put off her sling and declare herself quite well, for that would mean that there was no longer any reason for keeping Keturah.
“I am thinking, Betty,” she said one morning, “of asking the young ladies from Easney to come over to tea to-morrow. Miss Pennie will be interested to see how well Keturah has got on.”
Betty brightened up at once.