He said we should be taught and
sent to school. Now she saves every farthing for herself, buys us not even
one old book. She does not ill-use us--why? Because she is afraid of your
father's ghost. Only this morning she told her Hottentot that she would
have beaten you for breaking the plate, but that three nights ago she heard
a rustling and a grunting behind the pantry door, and knew it was your
father coming to spook her. She is a miserable old woman," said the girl,
throwing the leaf from her; "but I intend to go to school."
"And if she won't let you?"
"I shall make her."
"How?"
The child took not the slightest notice of the last question, and folded
her small arms across her knees.
"But why do you want to go, Lyndall?"
"There is nothing helps in this world," said the child slowly, "but to be
very wise, and to know everything--to be clever."
"But I should not like to go to school!" persisted the small freckled face.
"And you do not need to. When you are seventeen this Boer-woman will go;
you will have this farm and everything that is upon it for your own; but
I," said Lyndall, "will have nothing. I must learn."
"Oh, Lyndall! I will give you some of my sheep," said Em, with a sudden
burst of pitying generosity.
"I do not want your sheep," said the girl slowly; "I want things of my own.
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