my
sister by the arm and carried her up to bed. Little Virginia made no
resistance, but turned her head and smiled at me as she was led away. I
never felt so happy in my life as I did when I went to bed, and thought
over the events of the day.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

I AM SO UNFASHIONABLE AS TO PAY MY DEBTS--BEN'S OPINION AS TO MY
FATHER'S RETURN--THE CHANCES EXEMPLIFIED IN THE LIST OF KILLED AND
WOUNDED--THE L'ORIENT BLOWING UP, AND THE ROYAL GEORGE GOING DOWN.

Time passed, and three years of it certainly were not unprofitably
spent. Anderson had instructed me well. I could read, write, and
cipher, and, what the reader will consider of more consequence, I was
well acquainted with the Bible, and duly admonished by my preceptor of
my duty towards God and man. Nor was my sister Virginia neglected. My
mother, as soon as she was seven years old, sent her as a day scholar to
a young ladies' seminary, where she was well taught, although the style
of the school was much above my sister's situation in life; but my
mother would not allow her to go anywhere else, although there were
several schools more appropriate: she declared that Virginia should not
mix with the vulgar ungenteel girls of the place, and that, if _she_ had
demeaned herself by marrying below her rank, at all events _her_
daughter should be brought up as she ought to be. The neighbours
laughed at her, but my mother did not care; she worked hard, and always
was ready to pay the quarter's bill for schooling whenever it was due.

To me Sunday was a day of rejoicing, I was so glad to throw off my
ragged apparel of "Poor Jack," and put on my best clothes, that I might
walk with my sister, for my mother gradually softened down her asperity
(perhaps, out of prudence), as she could raise no objection to Virginia
walking with her brother when he was clean and well dressed, and
Virginia was very firm in supporting me when I requested permission.
Indeed, latterly my requests were more like demanding a right than a
favour, and my mother appeared to wish to avoid a contest with me. She
knew that I was a good scholar, very independent of her, and very much
liked: the favourable opinion of others induced her to treat me with
more consideration; but we had no regard for each other, only preserving
a sort of armed neutrality.

There are grades in all classes of life; and the young ladies' seminary,
to which Virginia went as a day scholar, had its distinctions of ra