“No, my lady.”
“Dear me! I thought everybody could read and write nowadays.”
“La, no, my lady! not half of them in our village.”
“Your parents are much to blame, my poor girl. Well, but it is not too late. Now I think of it, there is an adult school in the village. Shall I arrange for you to go to it?”
“Thank you, my lady. But then—”
“Well?”
“All my fellow-servants would have a laugh against me.”
“The person you are engaged to, will he not instruct you?”
“Oh, he have no time to teach me. Besides, I don't want him to know, either. But I won't be his wife to shame him.” (Another sigh.)
“Mary,” said Lady Bassett, in the innocence of her heart, “you shall not be mortified, and you shall not lose a good marriage. I will try and teach you myself.”