"Oh, no," replied Blandina: "we are never allowed but three at the most; and the teachers are very good at explaining. But then we must mind what we are about, and do our best."
"I don't mind that. I like to work hard when I do work," said Percy; "but I am afraid I shall be very ignorant and backward, because I have never been to school. I have always done my lessons at home with my father or mother."
"Don't you borrow any trouble about that," said Blandina. "Miss Reynolds says she likes to teach girls who have never been to school, because they have so much general information."
By the time Percy had finished seeing the house and returned to the parlour, she felt considerably reassured, and bade her aunt "Good-by" without crying. She did not very much mind the long tea-tables; and she managed to get through the recreation hour very well, by dint of keeping very close to Blandina. The reading hour was quite delightful, when all the girls were assembled in the great room with their work-baskets, their mending, and their fancy work, while one of their number read aloud. Percy had no work, and seeing one of the elder girls winding some worsted on her arm, she plucked up courage to offer her hands as a reel. Mrs. Richardson noticed the movement, as she did most things, and was pleased to see it.
But with bedtime came a renewal of Percy's terrors and forebodings. She must say her prayers and read her Bible. She had promised her mother that she would never sleep without reading at least three verses in the Bible: but "Oh, how could she do so before those strange girls, and especially before Miss Merton, whom she had never seen?" She was to have a lamp of her own in a few days, but at present she depended on that in the large room. Suppose they should laugh at her? Suppose they should laugh and talk while she was reading? With all her shyness and timidity Percy never thought for a moment of giving up her devotions. She belonged to that class of brave cowards who are greatly annoyed but never conquered by their own fears.
But she made herself very miserable during the forty minutes when the other girls were studying, and while she, having no lessons to prepare, sat with her eyes fixed on a story-book which Blandina had borrowed for her; and it was with a terrible sinking of heart that she followed her companions up-stairs to their room. Miss Merton had been spending the evening out of the house. She was quite a grown-up young lady, and looked, Percy thought, very elegant and fashionable in her black silk; but she kissed Percy and made her welcome; saying, at the same time, that it would seem pleasant to have a little girl with them again. There was a quiet chat while they were undressing and brushing their hair; and then Jenny said to Blandina in French:
"Shall we ask her to read with us?"
"Yes, I think so," answered Blandina, and then in English: "Percy, would you like to read your Bible alone or with us? We read a chapter, verse about, at night."
Percy's heart rose with a rebound.
"I should like it very much, if you please; but—" she added, with a desperate effort, "I think I ought to tell you and Miss Merton that I understand French, because you might say something you didn't want me to hear."