Mrs.Bell had proposed, when Mary Erskine first came to her house, that she would go to school and learn to read and write; but Mary had been very much disinclined to do so.

In connection with the amiableness and gentleness of her character and her natural good sense, she had a great deal of pride and independence of spirit; and she was very unwilling to go to school--being, as she was, almost in her teens--and begin there to learn her letters with the little children.

Mrs.Bell ought to have required her to go, notwithstanding her reluctance, or else to have made some other proper arrangement for teaching her to read and write.
Mrs.Bell was aware of this in fact, and frequently resolved that she would do so.

But she postponed the performance of her resolution from month to month and year to year, and finally it was not performed at all.

Mary Erskine was so very useful at home, that a convenient time for sparing her never came.