he asked herself daily.
And mixed with dreams of "The Unknown" came speculations as to the part
which money played in the game of life, and the bondage of men to it, and
a longing to be free from its withering grasp. In her childish mind the
matter of freedom became slightly mixed and she dreamed dreams of being
free by owning unlimited amounts of it, and she coveted marvellous bank
accounts, acquired in some mystical way, with which the woes of humanity
could be relieved by giving. Along with this new idea of dispensing
charity grew a desire to know why the crop of cash was short in Nathan
Hornby's home. In her innocent way she led up to the subject of expenses
in general, but Aunt Susan kept family affairs strictly in the family and
vouchsafed no explanations, unaware that the example she set in that way
was to bear strange and unexpected fruit. But though Elizabeth carried the
reflex of the anxiety of those about her, she was scarcely sixteen, and
youth and joy and life claimed her attention and the affairs of her stage
in life's span crowded out the affairs of others.

These were days of transition. The child was becoming a woman. The love
which was flowing out of her heart like a spring freshet toward one who,
because she saw him less often was the more often in her thoughts, was
making Elizabeth Farnshaw more observant of those who professed love.
Desiring mutual relations, she became sensitive to the communications of
those about her who had to do with mutual relations.

Elizabeth saw that the more trouble clouded the brow of Nathan Hornby the
cheerier and closer Aunt Susan drew to him. There was none of the quarrels
here to which Elizabeth had become accustomed when things went wrong at
home. The contrast between her father's and mother's daily life and that
of Nathan and Susan Hornby in times of trouble was the subject of constant
thought. Nathan and Susan Hornby were to be guide-posts along the highway
of Elizabeth Farnshaw's domestic affairs. Love pointed her thoughts toward
marriage, and here was a worthy model after which to build. Her natural
affection and gratitude were enhanced by the fact that this couple with
whom she lived, and who were otherwise very dear to her, were the
immediate example of all that was noble in the world of her present
dreams.

The fact that the harmony between Aunt Susan and her mate was of stern
stuff and not matured solely upon success and pleasure added to the
strength of th