Miss Powell smiled as she looked at it. "So you really did persevere, and learn! I am very glad. Do you know why? It is because that shows you have some resolution and some self-command. A good many little girls would have thrown it away in despair."
Again the ready tears came into Nelly's large eyes; but this time they were tears of joy and honest exultation.
"I was real glad, too," said she. "I liked to do it; and besides," she added, hanging down her head, "I thought if I could learn one thing I could another."
"Well?" said Miss Powell, as Nelly hesitated.
"I thought may-be I could learn to read; and I do want to learn so much."
"Why don't you go to school?—Oh, I remember, you told me;—because of minding the cow. Have you any one to help you about learning?"
"Kitty Brown said she would help me every night when I brought the milk," said Nelly. "I know the letters and some little words; and the lady Kitty lives with wrote down on this paper the name of the book I was to get," added she, producing the note Kitty had given her.
"'Second-hand copy,'" read Miss Powell. "Why don't you get a nice new book, Nelly?"
"Kitty said I had not money enough to buy a new one. A gentleman gave me ten cents, and granny said I might spend it as I liked. She is real good, granny is," added Nelly. "It isn't her fault that I don't go to school."
Miss Powell took up the tatting and examined it again. The last half-yard was done very well. The scollops were of the same size, firm and even; but it was embrowned to the colour of earth from Nelly's unwashed fingers.