The kindness in her tones touched the weary girl. Her pride had been stung
to the quick by the haughty woman in the school. This woman would soothe
her with kindness.
"Do you live far from here?" asked Elizabeth.
"Only two or three blocks," said the woman. "You ride along by the
sidewalk, and we can talk. Where are you going? You look as if you had
come a long distance."
"Yes," said the girl wearily, "from Montana. I am going to school. Is this
Philadelphia?"
"This is Chicago," said the woman. "There are finer schools here than in
Philadelphia. If you like to come and stay at my house awhile, I will see
about getting you into a school."
"Is it hard work to get people into schools?" asked the girl wonderingly.
"I thought they would want people to teach."
"No, it's very hard," said the lying woman; "but I think I know a school
where I can get you in. Where are your folks? Are they in Montana?"
"They are all dead," said Elizabeth, "and I have come away to school."
"Poor child!" said the woman glibly. "Come right home with me, and I'll
take care of you. I know a nice way you can earn your living, and then you
can study if you like. But you're quite big to go to school. It seems to
me you could have a good time without that. You are a very pretty girl; do
you know it? You only need pretty clothes to make you a beauty. If you
come with me, I will let you earn some beautiful new clothes."
"You are very kind," said the girl gravely. "I do need new clothes; and,
if I could earn them, that would be all the better." She did not quite
like the woman; yet of course that was foolish.
After a few more turns they stopped in front of a tall brick building with
a number of windows. It seemed to be a good deal like other buildings; in
fact, as she looked up the street, Elizabeth thought there were miles of
them just alike. She tied her horse in front of the door, and went in with
the woman. The woman told her to sit down a minute until she called the
lady of the house, who would tell her more about the school. There were a
number of pretty girls in the room, and they made very free to speak to
her. They twitted her about her clothes, and in a way reminded Elizabeth
of the girls in the school she had just interviewed.
Suddenly she spoke up to the group. An idea had occurred to her. This was
the school, and the woman had not liked to say so until she spoke to the
teacher about her.