ing higher than wisdom.

When Evelyn had finished there was a great round of applause and a
shower of flowers. She returned again and again, and bowed, smiling
delightedly. She was flushed with her triumph. She thought that even
Mr. Lee must be pleased with her, if he did not love her, and be
proud to have such a pupil.

That evening there was to be a reception for the teachers, and the
graduating-class, at Mr. Lee's house. Evelyn and Maria had planned to
go to one of the other teacher's, who lived in Westbridge, have
supper, and go from there to the reception. But when the exercises
were over, and they had reached the teacher's home, Evelyn's strength
gave way. She had a slight fainting fit. The teacher, an elderly
woman who lived alone, gave her home-made wine and made her take off
her dress, put on one of her own wrappers, and lie down and rest
until the last minute, in the hope that she would be able to go to
the reception. But it became evident that the girl was too exhausted.
When Maria and the teacher were fastening her dress again, she
fainted the second time. The teacher, who was a decisive woman, spoke.

"There is no sense whatever in this child's leaving this house
to-night," said she. "Maria, you go to the reception, and I will stay
and take care of her."

"No," said Maria. "If Evelyn is not able to go, I think we had better
take the trolley at once for home." Maria was as decided as the other
teacher. When the white-clad graduates and the teachers were
gathering at Wollaston Lee's, she and Evelyn boarded the trolley for
Amity. Evelyn still held fast to her bouquet of red roses, and Maria
was laden with baskets and bouquets which had been strewn at her
shrine. Evelyn leaned back in her seat, with her head resting against
the window, and did not speak. All her animation of the morning had
vanished. She looked ghastly. Maria kept glancing furtively at her.
She herself looked nearly as pale as Evelyn. She realized that she
was face to face with a great wall of problem. She was as unhappy as
Evelyn, but she was stronger to bear unhappiness. She had philosophy,
and logic, and her young sister was a creature of pure emotion, and
at the same time she was so innocent and ignorant that she was
completely helpless before it. Evelyn closed her eyes as she leaned
against the window-frame, and a chill crept over her sister as she
thought that she could not look much different if she were dead. Then
came to Maria the