reat woman."

Mrs. Bassett compressed her lips. She had not liked this quotation from
Mrs. Owen's utterances on this vexed question of higher education. Could
it be possible that Aunt Sally looked upon Marian as one of those colts
for whom the trainer could do nothing? It was not a reassuring thought;
her apprehensions as to Sylvia's place in her kinswoman's affections
were quickened by Sylvia's words; but Mrs. Bassett dropped the matter.

"I have never felt that young girls should read George Eliot. She
doesn't seem to me _quite_ an ideal to set before a young girl."

As Sylvia knew nothing of George Eliot, except what she had gleaned from
the biographical data in a text-book on nineteenth-century writers, she
was unable to follow Mrs. Bassett. She had read "Mill on the Floss," and
"Romola" and saw no reason why every one shouldn't enjoy them.

Mrs. Bassett twirled her closed parasol absently and studied the profile
of the girl beside her.

"The requirements for college are not really so difficult, I suppose?"
she suggested.

Sylvia's dark eyes brightened as she faced her interlocutor. Those of us
who know Sylvia find that quick flash of humor in her eyes adorable.

"Oh, they can't be, for I answered most of the questions!" she
exclaimed, and then, seeing no response in her inquisitor, she added
soberly: "It's all set out in the catalogue and I have one with me. I'd
be glad to bring it over if you'd like to see it."

"Thank you, Sylvia. I should like to see it. I may want to ask you some
questions about the work; but of course you won't say anything to Marian
of our talk. I am not quite sure, and I'll have to discuss it with Mr.
Bassett."

"Of course I shan't speak of it, Mrs. Bassett."

Marian's voice was now heard calling them, down the path, and the girl
appeared, a moment later, munching a bit of toast stuccoed with jam, and
eager to be off for the casino where a tennis match was scheduled for
the morning.

"Don't be late for dinner this evening, Marian; your father will be
here, and if you see Blackford, be sure to tell him to meet the 3.10."

"Yes, mama, I'll remember, and I'll try to meet the train too." And then
to Sylvia, as she led the way to the boathouse to get the canoe, "I'm
glad dad's coming. He's perfectly grand, and I'm going to see if he
won't give me a naphtha launch. Dad's a good old scout and he's pretty
sure to do it."

Marian's manner of speaking of her parents disclosed the filial