“Yes, tell her I’ll come.” I afterwards discovered it was an invitation to tea. Mr. Willett was a devoted admirer, and the little milliner held his heart as he did his purse, tightly. What was said I never knew; but the next morning Mr. Willett said if I was faithful and did my work well, I could study every evening with Jennie, and Miss Grimshaw would hear our lessons.
That night was an era in my life, and very happy and hopeful was I as I crossed the street to the little side door Jennie had told me to enter. Here I found a comfortable room, a round table in the centre of the floor, with our two slates, an arithmetic, and geography; for Jennie had every thing in readiness, including a tallow candle in a white porcelain holder, the bottom shaped like a leaf, which Jennie thought was a marvel of beauty. In the corner was seated grandma Grimshaw, a stately looking woman with silver hair combed low on the forehead, white muslin cap with long embroidered tabs, and spectacles.
“And this is Marston,” said she, taking my hand as I came in. “I’ve heard Eliza speak of you as a good boy. She used to know your ma;” and soon Miss Grimshaw came out of the front room, laid her hand on my head, and said,
“You shall study two hours if you like, and then I will hear your lesson.” I tried to stammer out my thanks, but something choked down my words. “That is nothing, Marston. I used to want to study, but I had no chance. I like to read, and I am familiar with arithmetic; I can help you there as well as any one;” and she was gone.
“Eliza don’t get much time,” said her mother; “but she likes to help others; and she used to think so much of your mother.”
Brushing away the tears that would come at the mention of my mother, I turned to my slate. The first three rules I could understand perfectly, but long division troubled me. I was sure to make some mistake that would require me to go over and over again, and not unfrequently did I feel inclined to throw it aside. But one look at my “Self Helps,” and I worked away as resolutely as ever.
At nine Miss Grimshaw came in, heard Jennie’s lesson in geography, then questioned me in arithmetic, and explained till the difficulties had all vanished. Then we read for half an hour; at the expiration of which she shut our books.
“I promised Mr. Willett you should be there five minutes before ten.”
“This is better than the boy in the book,” said Jennie, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss me good-night.
It had been a busy day and evening, and I was tired. Still I had made some advance, and at this rate it would not be long before I should master arithmetic. I slept in a little back room; but weary as I was, I could not at once quiet my thoughts; so I lay and watched one little star as it stole across my window, and wondered if my mother could know how and where I was, and that I did try to care for Jennie, although we could not sleep under the same roof.