esired, and, with a pocketful of
letters to people who could further her plans, she went away to seek her
fortune, with a brave face and a very heavy heart.

"Write often, and let me know all you do, my Phebe, and remember I shall
never be contented till you come back again," whispered Rose, clinging
to her till the last.

"She will come back, for in a year I'm going to bring her home, please
God," said Archie, pale with the pain of parting but as resolute as she.

"I'll earn my welcome then perhaps it will be easier for them to give
and me to receive it," answered Phebe, with a backward glance at the
group of caps in the hall as she went down the steps on Dr. Alec's arm.

"You earned it long ago, and it is always waiting for you while I am
here. Remember that, and God bless you, my good girl," he said, with a
paternal kiss that warmed her heart.

"I never shall forget it!" And Phebe never did.

Chapter 9 NEW YEAR'S CALLS

"Now I'm going to turn over a new leaf, as I promised. I wonder what
I shall find on the next page?" said Rose, coming down on New Year's
morning with a serious face and a thick letter in her hand.

"Tired of frivolity, my dear?" asked her uncle, pausing in his walk up
and down the hall to glance at her with a quick, bright look she liked
to bring into his eyes.

"No, sir, and that's the sad part of it, but I've made up my mind to
stop while I can because I'm sure it is not good for me. I've had some
very sober thoughts lately, for since my Phebe went away I've had no
heart for gaiety, so it is a good place to stop and make a fresh start,"
answered Rose, taking his arm and walking on with him.

"An excellent time! Now, how are you going to fill the aching void?" he
asked, well pleased.

"By trying to be as unselfish, brave, and good as she is." And Rose held
the letter against her bosom with a tender touch, for Phebe's strength
had inspired her with a desire to be as self-reliant. "I'm going to set
about living in earnest, as she has; though I think it will be harder
for me than for her, because she stands alone and has a career marked
out for her. I'm nothing but a commonplace sort of girl, with no end
of relations to be consulted every time I wink and a dreadful fortune
hanging like a millstone round my neck to weigh me down if I try to fly.
It is a hard case, Uncle, and I get low in my mind when I think about
it," sighed Rose, oppressed with her blessings.

"Afflicted child! How