"Miss Preston--I mean Mrs. Harris--wants me to try to get her to come
to learn to read, if papa and Aunt Mary have no objection; and I'm
sure they won't."

It was to Stella a bewildering phenomenon, that Lucy should really go
out of her way to invite such a girl to the house. However, partly
from curiosity, and partly from having nothing better to do, she
acceded to Lucy's invitation to accompany her; and after tea the girls
set off, Mrs. Steele warning Lucy to be very conciliatory to Mrs.
Connor, or she would not accomplish her object.

They soon reached the side of the green slope on the river bank, on
which the Connors' cottage stood, and were following the path to the
house, when they encountered Nelly herself, struggling up the hill
with a heavy pail of water. Her brown, weather-tanned face lighted up
with a glad smile when she recognised Lucy, and in reply to her
inquiry she said she was carrying up water for the next day's washing.

"And do you carry it all up from the river?" said Lucy.

"Yes, miss, every drop," replied Nelly, with a weary little sigh.

"Nelly, would you like to learn to read?" asked Lucy, plunging at once
into her errand.

"I don't know, miss," was the rather doubtful reply.

"Why, wouldn't you like to be able to read that nice hymn Miss Preston
gave you, for yourself?"