THE SECRET
The next morning Clematis did better in helping Jane with the beds, and before many mornings had passed she learned so well that Miss Rose praised her for her work.
When she wanted to stop trying, and wanted to get up without washing her face and hands, and cleaning her teeth, she would look out the window at the hill beyond the river.
It seemed to smile at her and say:
“Don’t forget the beautiful country, little girl. Remember the birds and the flowers. Do the best you can.”
But there were so many things to do that it seemed to poor Clematis as if she would never learn half of them.
When she tried to help in setting the table, she dropped some plates.
She said things that made the other girls cross, for she had never learned to play with other girls, and she forgot that she could no longer do just as she pleased.
Worst of all, she did not always pay attention to study, and when Miss Rose left her to do some numbers, would be looking out of the window, instead of working on her paper.
So the days went on, and spring was almost over.