oom in the
carriage."

So it happened that Phoebe, the blue scarf about her shoulders, sat
beside David as they drove over the country road, home from her
graduation. The vehicle rattled somewhat, but the young folks on the
rear seat could speak and hear above the clatter.

"I'm glad it's over," Phoebe sighed in relief. "But what next?"

"Mary Warner is going to enter some prep school this fall and prepare
for Vassar," David informed the girl beside him.

"Lucky Mary"--Mary Warner--she was sick of the name! "I wish I knew what
I want to do."

"Want to go away to school?"

"I don't know. Aunt Maria wants me to stay at home on the farm and just
help her. Daddy doesn't say much, but he did ask me if I would like to
go to Millersville. That's a fine Normal School and if I wanted to be a
teacher I'd go to that school, but I don't want to be a teacher. What I
really want to do is go away and study music."

"Well, can't you do it? That is not really impossible."

"No, but----"

"No, but," he mimicked. "_But_ won't take you anywhere."

"You set me thinking, David. Perhaps it isn't so improbable, after all.
I'm coming over to see Mother Bab to-morrow; she'll be full of
suggestions. She'll see a way for me to get what I want; she always
does."

"I bet she will," agreed David. "You'll be that primer donner yet," he
mimicked, "I know you will."

"Oh, Davie, wouldn't it be great! But I wouldn't beautify my face with
cream and beet juice and flour!"

They laughed so heartily that Aunt Maria turned and asked the cause of
the merriment.

"We were just speaking of the time when I dressed in the garret and
fixed my face--the time you had the quilting party."

"Ach," Aunt Maria said, smiling in the darkness. "You looked dreadful
that day. I was good and mad at you! But I'm glad you're big enough now
not to do such dumb things. My, now that you're done with school and
will stay home with me we can have some nice times sewin' and quiltin'
and makin' rugs, ain't, Phoebe?"

In the semi-darkness of the carriage Phoebe looked at David. The
appealing wistfulness of her face touched him. He patted her arm
reassuringly and whispered to her, "Don't you worry. It'll come out all
right. Mother Bab will help you."

CHAPTER IX

A VISIT TO MOTHER BAB

THE next day as Phoebe walked up the hill to visit Mother Bab she went
eagerly and with an unusual light in her eyes--she had transformed her
schoolgirl braid into the co