“For the present she seemed to have attached herself to Mademoiselle Rose. She had crept to the side of the young French woman and watched her as she wove her straw plaits. She had also attempted the simple art with some discarded straws, and when mademoiselle had so far roused herself as to show her the proper way, she soon became an efficient assistant. “No intercourse took place between them. Indeed none was possible since neither knew a word of the other’s language. Betsy was silence personified, and poor Mlle. Rose was now more than ever dejected. An opportunity of returning to France had opened to her and to her grand-parents, and was passing away. The expenses of the journey were beyond her means. So she sighed over her straw-plaiting and submitted. “In the meantime the second Saturday after the new pupil’s coming to school arrived, and with it a summons home to Betsy, who, for the first time gathering courage to address our good governess, asked ‘if she might be trusted with the bonnet Mlle. Rose had just finished, to show her aunt—she knew she would like to buy that bonnet because mademoiselle had been so good as to let her assist in plaiting it.’ Our good governess ordered the bonnet to be put into the carriage, told her the price, called her a good child, and took leave of her till Monday. “Two hours after, Betsy and her father reappeared in the schoolroom. ‘Ma’amselle,’ said he, bawling as loud as he could with the view evidently of making her understand him, ‘Ma’amselle, I’ve no great love for the French, whom I take to be our natural enemies. But you’re a good young woman; you’ve been kind to my Betsy, and have taught her to make your fal-lals. She says that she thinks you’re fretting because you can’t manage to take your grandfather and grandmother back to France again; so as you let her help you in that other handiwork, why you must let her help you in this.’ Then throwing a heavy purse into her lap and catching his little daughter up in his arms he departed, leaving poor Mlle. Rose too much bewildered to speak or to comprehend the happiness that had fallen upon her.” [Illustration] CHAPTER XII RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD READING