"Cassy's my dear friend: I'll trust Cassy as long as I live."
From this time Mahla Linck seemed to take a fresh start in arithmetic. Grace knew very well that as much as she helped Mahla, just so much she hindered herself. In everything but figures Mahla excelled. Her copy-book was a pattern of neatness; she could spell quite accurately; and as for geography, she was at home all over the world. But if left to herself, she was sure to spoil the whole by her dulness in arithmetic.
Miss Allen was not possessed of "long patience," and dear little Mahla could make nothing of her scientific explanations. But Grace had a way of shedding light on that dismal book, which, though called Ray's Arithmetic, was quite rayless to Mahla. So the poor child turned to her new friend with joyful eagerness.
Grace did not falter; but she had one trial. Every night Captain
Clifford said, smiling,—
"Well, daughter, how comes on the studying? Any nearer the prize?"
And Grace had to answer, slowly, "O, pa, don't go to expecting I'll get it, please! Mahla's the one."
When she had said this, her father would turn again to his newspaper, looking slightly disappointed. Then Grace felt a pang of regret; but it soon passed away, and never left a sting.
CHAPTER V.
FORTUNES.
All the school-girls were talking just now about a wonderful woman, who had suddenly dropped down, perhaps out of the moon—a woman who could tell what had happened, and what would happen, as easily as she would wink.