th twisted intently in pursuit
of knowledge, came abruptly back to life.

"Well, I didn't want you to expect too much," she said, with a gentle
impatience. "If I'd praised it too much, you'd have been disappointed
with the thing itself."

"Right-o, Miss Judith," laughed Patricia, flinging an arm about the
young sage. "My word, but you're a crafty young one! I'd have raved
about it till even Michael Angelo or Raphael couldn't have satisfied
the expectations of the beholder. How do you come by so much wisdom,
Miss Minerva?"

Judith tossed her mane. "Don't call names," she responded, hiding the
gratified smile that lurked in the corners of her mouth. "You'd think
of things, too, if you didn't talk _quite_ so much, Miss Pat. It's
dreadfully hard to talk and think at the same time."

"Is it?" cried Patricia, delighted as usual with Judith's maxims.
"Hear that now, will you, Norn? Ju's going to reform me. I hope I'll
be a satisfactory subject, Judy darling. 'Thinking Taught While You
Wait.' It's a great idea and it may lead to a new school of mental
science. Ju would look fine in cap and gown as president of the
college----"

Patricia broke off laughing at Judith's absolutely unconscious face,
as, with fingers once again screwed into her ears and mouth twisted
intently, she immersed herself in the dignified oblivion of study.

Patricia looked at her with laughing eyes that gradually grew sober.

"I've got it!" she said, eagerly turning to Elinor. "I've got the idea
for the sort of thing you meant. I'll do Judy just as she is--you'll
pose, won't you, Ju? I won't be too hard on you."

"Don't I always study like this?" replied Judith without looking up.
"Go ahead as long as you like--only don't talk. I want to study."

"Good girl, Judith!" cried Patricia, pulling the stool with its burden
nearer to the light. "I'll plunge in right away and get it blocked in
tonight. Do you know where I put that other package of modeling-wax,
Elinor?"

She set to work with a will, humming to herself as she worked, the
failure of her more ambitious undertaking forgotten in the joy of
renewed hope, and her intimate knowledge of Judith's face and figure
helping unconsciously to better work than she could have done in the
schools.

When nine o'clock rang from the church tower across the park she laid
down her tools with an air of great content.

"I believe it's going to go," she announced to the absorbed pair of
work