CHAPTER II.
THE SCHOOL.
The next morning before Harriet and I had breakfasted, Mary came runningin, her cheeks glowing and eyes sparkling with pleasure, crying out evenbefore she had said good-morning, "Aunt Kitty, Jessie is to go to schoolwith me and study lessons,--she is to begin to-day, and I am going totell her to get ready at once, so I have not a minute to stay."
"Stop, stop, my dear," said I, seizing her hand as she was passing me,"just catch your breath and then tell us how all this was arranged."
"Oh, I told Miss Bennett how much Jessie wanted to go to school, and shesaid she might come if my father had not any objection, and I asked myfather, and he said he had not any,--but I must go, Aunt Kitty, indeed Imust," and breaking away from me, she bounded off.
She soon came back bringing the smiling Jessie with her, and from thatday Jessie might be seen every morning about nine o'clock going to herschool. She spent only two hours there each day, but as she reallywished to learn, she improved very much, and Miss Bennett said, sherepaid her for all trouble in teaching her, by her good example to ourgood-humored but wild little Mary. Jessie seemed to think she couldnever say or do enough to thank Mary for inducing Miss Bennett to giveher lessons, and though Mary loved Jessie, and would never let any onefind the least fault with her without a warm defence, I sometimes fearedthat Jessie's perfect submission to her will in all things would do herharm--that she would become quite a little despot. But a circumstancewhich happened in their school a short time after Jessie's lessons withMiss Bennett began, taught us that there was one thing Jessie lovedbetter even than she loved Mary. I will relate the circumstance, and youwill find out what that one thing was.
Mary's father had a fine flock of sheep, and one morning as Mary stoodby him while he counted them, watching the lambs frisking from side toside, Jessie came from the house to tell her that Miss Bennett had beenwaiting some time for her.
"Stay just one minute, Jessie, and then I will go back with you," saidthe little idler; "I want papa to be done counting, that I may beg himfor a little lamb--I want a pet lamb. See there, Jessie--that one thatis running along so fast, and then stops to wait for the others, is notit a beauty? Oh! do, papa, give it to me," said she, as her fathercounted the thirtieth sheep, for she knew that this was the full number.
"Give you what, my child?" asked her father, who had not been paying anyattention to her.
"That pretty lamb, papa--make haste to say yes, for there is MissBennett's bell ringing for the third time. Stop, Jessie," said thelittle despot, catching hold of her as she would have run in, "you shallnot go till I am ready."
"I am sorry my daughter should let any thing keep her from her lessons.Besides, you are treating Miss Bennett with great disrespect, and hereshe comes herself to see what has become of her truants."
As Mr. Mackay spoke, he took Mary's hand and walked with the childrentowards the piazza where Miss Bennett stood. He is a very good-naturedman, and makes such a pet of his little daughter, that he was quiteready to excuse her; so, as Miss Bennett was about to speak to Mary, hesaid, "I believe, Miss Bennett, I must ask you to excuse her want ofpunctuality to-day, for the fault was partly mine. If I had not been asmuch engaged in counting my sheep as she was in watching the lambs atplay, I should have heard your bell and sent her to you."
"I do not wish to punish the fault of to-day," said Miss Bennett, with asmile, "but to reform a habit persisted in for many days. Can you notaid me, sir, in devising some mode by which Mary may be reminded thather studies are of more importance than her play?"
"Yes, she has just been presenting a petition which I will not granttill she can bring me proof that she has been punctual and attentive toher studies for two months."
"Two whole months, papa?" said Mary, looking quite frightened at thelength of time.
"Yes, my daughter, two whole months, and--stay, where is Jessie?"looking around for her.
"Stolen away, I suppose," said Miss Bennett, "for fear of hearing Maryscolded. We shall probably find her in the schoolroom."
"Well, I will go there with you," said Mr. Mackay, entering the housewith the wondering Mary. On they went, Miss Bennett leading the way tothe schoolroom, where, as she had conjectured, they found Jessie,looking very gravely.
"Do not be afraid, Jessie," said Mary, laughing, as she entered, "MissBennett has not beaten me. Papa is going to do something to us both, Ithink, but I do not know what."
"You shall soon hear," said Mr. Mackay. "If Miss Bennett will be so kindas to give to the one who recites the best lesson a card marked merit;and to the one who is not in her place by the time the bell has ceasedringing, a blank card, for two months to come, we will then count bothkinds of tickets: for every blank card we will take away one from theothers, and to the little girl who has most merit cards left, I willgive--listen, Mary--the prettiest lamb in my flock."
"I will gladly agree to perform my part in the arrangement," said MissBennett, "but will add another stipulation. As I would have my littlepupils careful, as well as studious and attentive, I will make no noteof the tickets given for merit, and the girl who loses her tickets willtherefore suffer the consequences."
"Do you understand?" said Mr. Mackay.
"Oh yes," said Mary, eagerly clapping her hands, "and I mean to have thelamb."
"Yes, sir," said the smiling Jessie--pleased to see her friend so happy.
"Well," said Mr. Mackay, as he left the schoolroom, "you will beginto-morrow."
For some time Miss Bennett had no blanks to give and few merit cards,for the girls were always in their places at the proper time, and bothknew their lessons so perfectly that it could not with truth be saideither was _best_. After some weeks, however, things fell into their oldcourse. Mary got most blanks, and most merit cards too, for thoughJessie was both quick and studious, she had less time for study; andwhat is of more consequence, she had no one at home to help her out ofdifficulties by explaining what she did not understand. Besides, as Maryhad been much longer at school than her friend, the lessons which shewas going over for the second, or perhaps third time, were quite new toJessie, who felt her friend's advantages on this account to be so greatthat she never dreamed there was any probability of receiving the prizeherself.