ah had
been able to "knock up," they were daily fed on very palatable food,
considering the age and newness of the young cooks.

Bea was chief housekeeper, kept an eye over general affairs, sat at the
head of the table, and had commenced doing her hair in a most dignified
way; filling with much girlish satisfaction, the position of "Miss
Dering," and "lady of the house."

Olive was book-keeper in Mr. Dane's store, and really more head of the
family than Bea, as she kept all accounts, settled the bills, and was
frequently consulted on some questionable matters, involving the home
expenses. To Ernestine fell the easy lot of four pupils in music.

Affording her no opportunities of display, or avenue for compliments or
praise, she thought it very hard indeed, and found it bitterly
uncongenial, to her ideas of independence, if, indeed, she had ever
possessed any really tangible ones. She wanted to help, as a matter of
course, especially as all the rest did; but such an ordinary,
self-denying way was sadly distasteful to her, and she still had a
vague, but pleasing, idea of becoming a great prima-donna and
electrifying vast concourses of people, who would praise, admire, and
pay her largely. Unfortunately, however, such positions do not lie
around in wait, and invite some one to honor them with an acceptance;
but, in spite of such a discouraging fact, Ernestine held tenaciously to
her pleasing idea, and spent much time in thinking how delightful all
things would be, when that time arrived.

Mrs. Dering had secured the desired position in the seminary, three
miles out of Canfield, and had a flourishing class in both music and
languages. The stage came in twice a week after mail, and at these times
the anxious mother made hurried trips home, and these few hours were
snatches of greatest joy and comfort to all parties, and especially
comforting to the girls, who found the first few weeks of the new life
very trying, and oftentimes discouraging.

On the next Tuesday evening, when the stage came in, Mrs. Dering found a
thick, tempting letter, with the Staunton post mark, and Jean's prim,
childish hand writing. There had come several short letters from the
little girl, who said she would wait until she saw everything about her
new home before writing a very long letter to describe it; so it was
evident now that the long letter had come, and with this extra joy for
herself and the girls, Mrs. Dering hurried home, where everythi