“Yes, indeed,” said Miss Jane, “we can better give her lady-like notions and habits than the good old woman could have done, but she has acted faithfully in imparting that knowledge which is above all price.” It is true May did several things at table not in accordance with the customs of polite society, but Miss Jane refrained from saying anything for fear of intimidating the little girl.
“You will observe, May, how I behave at table, and you will try, I am sure, to do as I do,” she said quietly.
May nodded, and after this so narrowly watched all her movements that Miss Jane began almost to wish that she had not made the remark. If Miss Jane helped herself to salt so did Maiden May, when she drank the little girl lifted her small tumbler to her lips, her knife and fork was held exactly in the same way she saw Miss Jane doing, or held daintily in her tiny hand while Susan took her plate for some more chicken.
“Our young friend will prove an apt scholar, I suspect,” observed Miss Jane, to her sister. “I will tell you why I think so by and bye.”
After dinner Miss Jane gave May her first writing lesson. She had never before held a pen in her hand, and her attempts to make pot-hooks and hangers, and even straight lines were not very successful.
“I think I could make some letters like those in a book, if you will let me, Miss Jane,” she said, looking up after surveying her performance.
“I do not want you to make such as those at present; but I will write some which you can copy.”
To her surprise the little girl imitated the letters, as she told Miss Mary, with a neatness and precision which was truly surprising.
“I like to do them much better than those ugly things,” said Maiden May, and she was spared the task of copying the pot-hooks and hangers, and was allowed to learn writing more according to her own fancy.
She was so happy that she thought Jacob had arrived sooner than it was necessary to escort her home. She went, however, very willingly, tripping along by his side as she held his big hand, and describing with glee all she had seen and learned.