That's what I came to tell you--"
This was awful--awful! But hot rebellion rose in Aunt Olivia's heart. There was some mistake--it was some other Rebecca Mary this person
meant. She would never believe it was HERS--the Plummer one!
"Because I've taught her all I know. There! Do you wonder I chose
the lowest step to sit on? But it's the truth, honest," the
little teacher laughed girlishly, but there were shame spots on
her cheeks--"Rebecca Mary is the smartest scholar I've got, and
I've taught her all I know." In her voice there was confession to
having taught Rebecca Mary a little more than that. The shame
spots flickered in a halo of humble honesty.
"She's been from Percentage through the arithmetic four times--
Rebecca Mary's splendid in arithmetic. And she knows the
geography and grammar by heart."
The look on Aunt Olivia's face! The transition from horror to
pride was overwhelming, transfiguring.
"Rebecca Mary's smart," added the honest one on the doorstep.
"_I_ think she ought to have a chance. There! That's all I came
for, so I'll be going. Only, I don't suppose--you don't think
you'll have to tell Rebecca Mary, do you? About--about me, I mean?"
"No, I don't," Aunt Olivia assured her, warmly. Her thin, lined
hand met and held for a moment the small, plump one--long enough
to say, "You're a good girl--I like you," in its own way.
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