Mrs. Leighton owed me, at the time, one hundred dollars of my salary;
as I had not required the money, I had left it in her hands. Leaving the
room, she soon returned with the money in her hand, and pressed me to
accept of fifty dollars over and above what was owing me. I thanked her,
but said I wished to accept only of what was my just due. As she refused
to receive back the money, I laid it upon the table, and began making my
preparations for leaving her house. In less than an hour my trunks were
packed, and I was ready to go. Laura and Georgania, I think purposely
avoided me, for I did not see them before leaving. I felt grieved when I
parted with Birdie and Lewis, for I had become strongly attached to
them. Lewis used often to say that boys never ought to cry; crying, he
said, was only for girls and babies; but he must have forgotten himself
on this occasion, for he cried bitterly when I bade him good-bye. As I
turned from my pupils, Mrs. Leighton came forward and extended her hand
to me. I could not refuse the hand that had so often administered to the
wants of my dying mother. Neither of us uttered a word. We shook hands
in silence, and I passed from the house, and entered the carriage which
was in waiting for me.
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