After that, she learned to write the names of all the months, and to read them when she had written them.

She chose the names of the months, next after the names of her own family, so that she might be able to date her letters if she should ever have occasion to write any.
Mary Bell set copies for her, when she came out to see her, and Mary Erskine went on so much faster than Bella, that she could teach her very well.

She required Bella to spend an hour at her studies every day.

Thomas made a little desk for her, and her mother bought her a slate and a pencil, and in process of time an arithmetic, and other books.

As soon as Mary Erskine could read fluently, Mary Bell used to bring out books to her, containing entertaining stories.