But I won't be his wife to shame him." (Another sigh.) "Mary," said Lady Bassett, in the innocence of her heart, "you shall not be mortified, and you shall not lose a good marriage.

I will try and teach you myself." Mary was profuse in thanks.

Lady Bassett received them rather coldly.
She gave her a few minutes' instruction in her dressing-room every day; and Mary, who could not have done anything intellectual for half an hour at a stretch, gave her whole mind for those few minutes.

She was quick, and learned very fast.

In two months she could read a great deal more than she could understand, and could write slowly but very clearly.
Now by this time Lady Bassett had become so interested in her pupil that she made her read letters and newspapers to her at those parts of the toilet when her services were not required.
Mary Wells, though a great chatterbox, was the closest girl in England.
Limpet never stuck to a rock as she could stick to a lie.