a fine house
with a piano and polished floors. This must be the Great Adventure,
not second even to a college course. What if the road out of Orchard
Glen, which she had sought so persistently, and as yet without success,
should not be the steep Path up Helicon, after all, but the rose hedged
lane along which Mary had gone? Christina's heart left her no doubt as
to which road she would choose, were the choice hers. But when one's
True Knight was far away and merely nodded carelessly to one when he
was near, what chance had one? She longed more keenly than ever to get
out into the world of wider opportunity.

The only excitement of the Winter was going to the post office for the
boys' letters. They always came on Tuesday. Neil wrote home every
Sunday of his life and his letter reached Orchard Glen post office on
Tuesday afternoon. And Sandy wrote Sundays, too, or if he missed he
sent a hurried note or post card later in the week. Then there was
Mary's weekly letter, an occasional one from Allister, and generally
Bruce's. At first Bruce was as faithful as Neil, but as the Winter
advanced he occasionally missed a Tuesday.

"None from your beau to-day," Christina called out one blustery
February afternoon when she brought in the mail, and handed out letters
from Sandy and Neil. "He's likely got another girl in Toronto and
forgotten all about you."

She was surprised to see that Ellen did not take her nonsense in her
usual smooth good-natured way. She flushed and said nothing.
Thereafter Christina kept a strict censorship over Bruce's letters, and
was slightly troubled to find that they were rather irregular. Ellen's
answer always went back the very next day, and Christina could not help
seeing that her sister was anxious and worried until another came. And
occasionally a wearisome time elapsed before it did come.

At first Christina's unconquerable cheerfulness forbade its troubling
her much. Bruce was probably working very hard as this was his first
year. Sandy sometimes missed a week altogether and even Neil was known
to delay a day or two when examinations were near. As for Jimmie, he
declared that when he went to college he wouldn't write to them at all
except when he was home for the holidays. After all it must really be
a great deal of trouble to have a sweetheart, as much care and worry,
one seemed, as young Mrs. Martin's cross baby. She just couldn't
understand anybody fretting over one, and s