“We’ll travel together,” said Amy, “for I’ll be at the League while you are pegging away at the teaching of these tots after my hour is over.”

If any girl fancies that Grace and Amy had made an easy bargain I recommend her to try the same tasks day in and day out for the weeks of a winter.  She will discover that she earns her salary.  Lucy, Helen and Madge taxed their young teachers’ utmost powers, but they did them credit, and each month, as Grace was able to add comforts to her home, to lighten her father’s burdens, to remove anxiety from her mother, she felt that she would willingly have worked harder.

The little pitcher was repaired so that you never would have known it had been broken.  Mrs. Vanderhoven set it in the place of honor on top of her mantel shelf, and Archie, now able to hobble about, declared that he would treasure it for his children’s children.

One morning a letter came for Grace.  It was from the principal of a girls’ school in a lovely village up the Hudson, a school attended by the daughters of statesmen and millionaires, but one, too, which had scholarships for bright girls who desired culture, but whose parents had very little money.  To attend Miss L——­’s school some girls would have given more than they could put into words; it was a certificate of good standing in society to have been graduated there, while mothers prized and girls envied those who were students at Miss L——­’s for the splendid times they were sure to have.

“Your dear mother,” Miss L——­ wrote, “will easily recall her old schoolmate and friend.  I have heard of you, Grace, through my friend, Madame Necker, who was your instructress in Paris, and I have two objects in writing.  One is to secure you as a teacher in reading for an advanced class of mine.  The class would meet but once a week; your office would be to read to them, interpreting the best authors, and to influence them in the choice of books adapted for young girls.”

Grace held her breath.  “Mother!” she exclaimed, “is Miss L——­ in her right mind?”

“A very level-headed person, Grace.  Read on.”

“I have also a vacant scholarship, and I will let you name a friend of yours to fill it.  I would like a minister’s daughter.  Is there any dear little twelve-year-old girl who would like to come to my school, and whose parents would like to send her, but cannot afford so much expense?  Because, if there is such a child among your friends, I will give her a warm welcome.  Jane Wainwright your honored mother, knows that I will be too happy thus to add a happiness to her lot in life.”

Mother and daughter looked into each other’s eyes.  One thought was in both.

“Laura Raeburn!” they exclaimed together.

Laura Raeburn it was who entered Miss L——­’s, her heart overflowing with satisfaction, and so the never-shaken friendship between Wishing-Brae and the Manse was made stronger still, as by cements and rivets.