Marigold found herself classed with a dozen girls about her own age, under the charge of a governess named Miss Smith. The little girl was relieved to find that she was not behind the others in general knowledge. She read and wrote well, was quick at arithmetic, and had been well grounded in grammar, geography, and English history. The subjects her mother had instructed her in had been taught thoroughly. At the end of the first week Miss Hardcastle wrote a note to the Misses Holcroft, and informed them of this fact; and Marigold noted that both her aunts seemed surprised, though at the same time gratified that her education had not been so neglected as they had anticipated. Marigold soon began to find out what hard work really meant. She commenced to learn French, music, and drawing, so that most of her time out of school hours was occupied in preparing her lessons for the following day, or in practising scales and exercises on the piano. She soon settled into the ways of the school, and became a favourite with the teachers, for she was always attentive and willing, always wishful to do her best. With the girls Marigold was not popular, at first. They considered she tried to curry favour with the governesses, which was certainly not the case, and consequently they met her friendly advances with cold looks, till one whispered to the others that she was a niece of the rich Misses Holcroft, and therefore it might be better to be on good terms with her.
One morning as Marigold was going home from school she was joined by Muriel Wake, one of the girls in the same class as herself.
"We may as well walk together," Muriel remarked pleasantly. "You live in Powderham Crescent, don't you? I pass near by."
Muriel was a pretty little girl, with blue eyes, fair hair, and rosy cheeks. Marigold looked at her admiringly.
"I expect you find it dull living with your old aunts, don't you?" Muriel questioned.
Marigold acknowledged that she did, and explained that she had a mother and two brothers in London, whom she missed a great deal.
"But my aunts are very kind," she added, fearful lest she should seem ungrateful.
"Are you going to live with them always?" Muriel inquired.
"I don't know. I came to live with them because they promised to educate me. Mother wants me to learn to earn my own living, and that's why I wish so much to get on at school, and learn all I can, so that I may be able to help her by and by."
And Marigold, led on by her new acquaintance's questions, told her all about her London home, and how hard her mother worked.