"Well, but what?"
"I don't know what granny will say. She thinks there is no use in keeping things so nice; and she will not keep Crummie tied up, whatever I say."
"She must keep her tied up, or she won't have any place at all to keep her in," said Mr. Grayson, decidedly. "Tell her so."
"Please, sir," said Nelly, "would you write it all out plain on a piece of paper, so I can read it to granny and to myself? I can read plain writing now."
"Can you?" asked Mr. Grayson. "Read the directions on this letter."
Nelly read, "Mr. John Webster, 96 Wall Street, New York."
"So you can read figures too! Do you know any arithmetic?"
"I am just beginning to learn," said Nelly. "But I haven't got any slate, except Kitty Brown's; and she wants hers back." (For Kitty had sent her word to that effect that very morning).
"Oh, she wants it back, does she? Well, Nelly, you shall not be dependent upon Kitty for a slate any longer. Stop into the book-store, as you go along, and buy yourself a slate. Tell them to charge it to my account."
"I don't believe they will let me have it," said Nelly.