"Not your lessons? If you and I were a little better acquainted, I should ask for a little more confidence. But I will not be unreasonable." Rotha glanced again at the sweet face, so kindly now with all its penetrating acuteness and habit of authority; so sweet with its smile; and confidence sprang forth at the instant, together with the longing for help. Did not this look like a friend's face? Where else was she to find one? Reserve gave way. "I was studying my duty," she said softly. "Your duty, my dear? Was the difficulty about knowing it, or about doing it?" "I think--about doing it." "Is it difficult?" "Yes," said Rotha from the bottom of her heart. Mrs. Mowbray read the troubled brow, the ingenuous mouth, the oppressed manner; and her soul went forth in sympathy to her little perplexed human sister. But her next words were a departure, and in a different tone. "You have never been to school before, your aunt tells me?" "No, ma'am," said Rotha, disappointed somehow. "Are you getting along pleasantly?" "Not very pleasantly," Rotha allowed, after a pause. "Does Miss Blodgett give you too hard work to do?" "O no, ma'am!" Rotha said with a spark more of spirit. "I have not anything to do. I know it all already." "You do! Where did you learn it?" "Mother used to teach me--and then a friend used to teach me." "What, my dear? It is important that I should know." "Mother taught me history, and geography, and grammar, and little things. Then a gentleman taught me more history, and arithmetic, and algebra, and Latin, and natural history--" "The gentleman was the friend you spoke of?" "Yes, ma'am." "Do you like to study, Rotha?" "O yes, ma'am! when it _is_ study, and I can understand it." "I suppose your aunt did not know about all this home study?" "She knew nothing about me," said Rotha. "Then where has your home been, my dear?" "Here,--for two years past. Before that, it was in the country." Mrs. Mowbray was silent a bit. "My dear, I think the first thing you should do should be, to take care of that cold. Will you?" "I do not know how, ma'am," said Rotha, for the first time lifting her eyes with something like a smile to the lady's face. "Does Mrs. Busby know that you have taken cold?" "I do not know, ma'am." "Will you take some medicine, if I give you some?" "If you please, ma'am." Mrs. Mowbray sent a servant for a certain box, and proceeded to choose out a vial which she gave to Rotha, instructing her how to use it. "And then, some time when we know each other better," she went on, "perhaps you will tell me about that difficulty of duty, and let me see if I can help you." "O thank you, ma'am!" was spoken so earnestly that Mrs. Mowbray saw the matter must be much on the young girl's heart. That same evening did Mrs. Mowbray make a call on Mrs. Busby.