Many families in LaForge have decided to pull their children from school because they don't like that Hanna is attending. As a result, Hanna, Bess, and Sadie are the only students attending school, and Miss Walters is able to tailor all of her lessons for them. Hanna paid the most attention to her studies in history.

With more time and attention being focused on Hanna and Bess, the two older students of the three attending, Miss Walters determines that they are ready to take the graduation exams now. The end of the term is just two weeks away, so Hanna must work extra hard to prepare.

They are

ready.

Hanna realizes that Miss Walters was doing this because the earlier Hanna graduated, the sooner she would be out of school, and the townspeople would send their children back to school. Though this felt like an unsatisfying compromise to Hanna, she was determined to graduate since that was what her mama would have wanted.

Over the next two weeks, Hanna spent her time alternating between studying hard for her final examinations and ordering materials for the shops. Then, on the last day of the term, she and Bess took their examinations in grammar, arithmetic, history, geography, and orthography. 

Grammar         Arithmetic

History         Geography

Orthography

Miss Walters graded each exam as Hanna and Bess took the next one, and after hours, the girls answered the very last question. Hanna stood and walked out of the door, stepping into the warm sun. Bess came up to her, and the girls visited together as they waited for Miss Walters to finish grading their exams.

After just a few minutes, Miss Walters called the girls in. Though Hanna was still unsure of what her test scores would be, she felt more satisfied that maybe she had finally made a friend.

Hanna returned to the shop as soon as she received her final examination results. Not only had she earned her diploma, but she had also achieved impressively high scores.

"Your mama would be right proud of you, Hanna," encouraged her Dad.

With her schooling behind her, Hanna could now devote her time and energy to pursuing her dream of becoming a dressmaker at "Edmunds Dress Goods."