l it
was decided whether the Bryces would open their town house.

Mr. Benjamin shook his head sadly over this letter, and carried it to
his wife.

"Adam--Adam, we cannot let her go to _that_ school! It will be her
ruination," she exclaimed.

"My dear, it is the most fashionable school in New York," he replied,
with a sigh.

"It is shoddy, and artificial and false!" she protested in unwonted
heat. "My poor, dear Isabelle! Adam, couldn't we make a plea for
her?--tell her mother how she improves here, how fast she progresses?"

"Phoebe dear, dost thou think that that would interest this lady?"

"But we can't let her go without one effort to save her. I think it is
as serious as that, at this stage of the girl's development."

"Suppose thee writes a letter to Mrs. Bryce."

"I will. Let us not speak of it to Isabelle until I have her mother's
answer."

"Very well, dear heart."

Mrs. Benjamin wrote and re-wrote the letter. Finally one was despatched
and she anxiously awaited the reply. It was long in coming, and it fell
like a blow on her heart. Mrs. Bryce was glad to have such a good report
of Isabelle, but her plan had always been that the girl should spend,
at Miss Vantine's school, the two years previous to her debut, as she
herself had done. All the girls of her daughter's set went there, and
she wished Isabelle to be with them. Thanking Mrs. Benjamin for her
interest, etc., etc.

The Benjamins had a conference of disappointment over it, and it was
decided that Isabelle must be told. Mrs. Benjamin's face was so rueful
over it that her husband offered to do the telling. He and Isabelle were
going off on an expedition together, which would give him an opportunity,
and Mrs. Benjamin could provide the comfort that must follow.

He found it no easy task. As he looked at his sturdy young companion,
listened to her picturesque talk, he felt that he was called upon to
tell a young vestal virgin that she was to be sacrificed to the god of
mammon.

"This is good air, isn't it!" she said, breathing deeply. "How do people
live in cities, do you suppose?"

Mr. Benjamin longed to shirk, but he took himself in hand.

"I have had a letter from thy mother, Isabelle."

She glanced at him suspiciously.

"What does she want?"

"She wants thee to go to a school in New York this winter."

She stopped and faced him in alarm.

"To leave Hill Top?"

"I'm afraid so, little sister."

"But I won't! I won't go away from