“This is as it should have been a long while ago.”  And then he continued, “Jack, you may happen not to earn any money in the week, and if so, come to me, for old Nanny must not be disappointed; but, recollect, you must pay for your own clothes out of your own earnings.”

When it was dinner-time Virginia and I went home together.  As we came to Fisher’s Alley I said to her, “Mother will be angry with you.”

“I can’t help it, Jack,” replied she; “you are my own brother, and we are not doing wrong.”

When we went in my mother looked hard at me; but, to my surprise, said nothing.  She was sulky, but whether it was with Virginia or with me, or with my new clothes, or whether her conscience smote her for her neglect of me, I do not know.  She put the dinner on the table in silence, and after it was over she went upstairs.  Virginia and I did not neglect this opportunity.  She put on her bonnet, we slipped out, and walked about together till tea-time.  When we came back my mother seized my sister by the arm and carried her up to bed.  Little Virginia made no resistance, but turned her head and smiled at me as she was led away.  I never felt so happy in my life as I did when I went to bed and thought over the events of the day.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I am so Unfashionable as to pay my Debts—­Ben’s Opinion as to my Father’s Return—­The Chances exemplified in the List of killed and wounded—­The “L’Orient” blowing up and the “Royal George” going down.

Time passed, and three years of it certainly were not unprofitably spent.  Anderson had instructed me well.  I could read, write, and cipher, and, what the reader will consider of more consequence, I was well acquainted with the Bible, and duly admonished by my preceptor of my duty toward God and man.  Nor was my sister Virginia neglected.  My mother, as soon as she was seven years old, sent her as a day scholar to a young ladies’ seminary, where she was well taught, although the style of the school was much above my sister’s situation in life; but my mother would not allow her to go anywhere else, although there were several schools more appropriate.  She declared that Virginia should not mix with the vulgar, ungenteel girls of the place, and that, if she had demeaned herself by marrying below her rank, at all events her daughter should be brought up as she ought to be.  The neighbors laughed at her, but my mother did not care.  She worked hard, and always was ready to pay the quarter’s bill for schooling whenever it was due.