I must not get above myself – but I must and will learn to read. I make sure I give every book an extra-careful dust; in other words, I turn the pages, scanning them for words I recognize or can at least put together. But the letters on the sampler defeat me. Perhaps Nurse has forgotten to ask Mamselle what they mean. I dare not ask. Not if that means I am getting above myself. When Nurse calls me Miss – worse still Missie – I know that though she is smiling, she is giving me a serious warning.
What if Mamselle herself does not know what they mean?