(He must tell his wrongs
even to this girl.) So she resolved to pursue matrimony, even on the
severe condition of becoming a scholar. She set about it as follows:
One day that she was doing Lady Bassett's hair she sighed several
times. This was to attract the lady's attention, and it succeeded.
"Is there anything the matter, Mary?"
"No, my lady."
"I think there is."
"Well, my lady, I am in a little trouble; but it is my own people's
fault for not sending of me to school. I might be married to-morrow if
I could only read and write."
"And can you not?"
"No, my lady."
"Dear me! I thought everybody could read and write nowadays."
"La, no, my lady! not half of them in our village."
"Your parents are much to blame, my poor girl. Well, but it is not too
late. Now I think of it, there is an adult school in the village. Shall
I arrange for you to go to it?"
"Thank you, my lady. But then--"
"Well?"
"All my fellow-servants would have a laugh against me."
"The person you are engaged to, will he not instruct you?"
"Oh, he have no time to teach me. Besides, I don't want him to know,
either. But I won't be his wife to shame him." (Another sigh.)
"Mary," said Lady Bassett, in the innocence of her heart, "you shall
not be mortified, and you shall not lose a good marriage.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167