fully understand about it," said Mistress Brace, and so mild
was her tone that Sally was again much surprised. "Let things take their
course," she added, "and twice a week the girl can go where she likes
and I will lay no rule against it. Then she can still help betimes."

"We will leave it that way for the present," said the parson, as he
seemed to be rising to go, "but no blame is to be laid upon the child
for telling what she did. I saw that she was in trouble and asked the
cause. She did no wrong to answer truthfully. I shall now feel it my
duty to see that the young maid hath a fair chance to learn what good
Mistress Kent knoweth full well how to impart. I wish thee good day,
Mistress Brace."

Sally scudded away, her eyes fairly dancing with joy.

"Fairy! O Fairy!" she cried under her breath, "a fine dream has come
true! I shall go to Mistress Kent and learn! learn! learn! Blessings on
thee, good parson! I would like to thank thee."

"Be wise and let not any one know what you have overheard," warned her
Fairy.

"Indeed, I shall know nothing at all," laughed Sally, "until Mistress
Cory Ann says to me I can go schooling twice a week;" and Sally's eyes
sparkled like fire.

When Saturday came, but not until then, Mistress Cory Ann said, with a
scornful toss of her head:

"Since you think it so fine a thing to dabble in books, and choose to
fill your head with what others have got along plenty well without, I
care not where you go this afternoon, but mind you show smartness at
other times, or the twice-a-week trips will cease."

That was all, and that was enough. Sally knew now that her pet dream was
to work itself out beautifully.

She had a few pence earned by mending, and at Goodman Chatfield's store
she begged to know if ninepence would buy a decent pair of stockings.

"Indeed, no, a shilling is the least that will buy stockings of any
kind," said storeman Chatfield, who in very truth liked to chatter. "But
I am much wanting an errand done at the Cloverlove plantation, and if
you would do it, I will, with the ninepence, give a pair of hosen that
will stand you well."

It was half a mile to Cloverlove plantation, and half a mile back, but
Sally gladly did the errand, and ran home happy as any bird with a smart
new pair of stockings tucked under her arm.

CHAPTER X.

PROGRESS

Mistress Kent was willing to confess, after a few weeks, that many
bright children had come to her to be taught, but