"I don't go to school," said Nellie rather bashfully.
"Why?" asked Aunt Sarah.
"Oh, I go to night school," said the little girl. "But in the daytime I have to work."
"Why, how old are you?" asked Aunt Sarah.
"Twelve," said Nellie shyly.
"Working at twelve years of age!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey in surprise. "What do you do?"
"I'm a cash-girl in a big store," said Nellie with some pride, for many little girls are not smart enough to hold such a position.
"I thought all children had to go to school," Aunt Sarah said to Mrs. Manily.
"So they do," replied the matron, "but in special cases they get permission from the factory inspector. Then they can work during the day and go to school at night."
"I think it's a shame!" said the mother. "That child is not much larger than Nan, and to think of her working in a big store all day, then having to work at night school too!"