going over to Huz began whispering vigorously into his
ear. Her warm breath tickled Huz and he flopped his ear to drive away
the annoying insect. Jilly beamed, calling joyfully to her mother: "Huz
say ess, Mamma, Huz say ess."

"But Jilly, Huz can't talk."

"He nod he's ear, Mamma. Huz nod he's ear."

The unfortunate Huz went up into the chair once more.

Mrs. Morton glanced out the window where the March wind was whipping the
bare branches of the cherry trees into mournful complaining. Eddying
leaves fluttered from the heaps accumulated in fence corners or beneath
the friendly shelter of the evergreens. A huge tumble weed went whirling
down the road, passed on by each succeeding gust. In and out of the
cedars, the robins were flying, prospecting for new nests. She pushed
back her hair and sighed.

"It doesn't seem possible that April is almost here. Ernest has been
gone nearly a school year. I am beginning to realize that I sha'n't see
much more of my boy."

"But, Mother Morton, he is doing so beautifully and he likes the life.
You couldn't keep him with you much longer, even if he were not in the
academy. Besides, you still have Jane."

Mrs. Morton sighed again.

"That is the worst of this ranch life. Jane is growing so fast I shall
soon have to be sending her away to school. If we only lived some place
where she could be right with me till she finished her education."

"Oh, Mother Morton, I am glad she can't. It is the best part of a girl's
education to go away from all the home coddling and have to rely upon
herself. I wouldn't give anything for what I learned by being away from
family and friends, and having to exert myself to make people like me,
instead of taking it for granted."

"I don't doubt what you say is true, Marian, but Ernest is gone, and you
don't know what a wrench it is going to be to send my baby away, too."

"Are you thinking of sending her next year?"

"I think I must, unless I can persuade Father to move to town for the
winter so she can go to the High School. It isn't merely the studies--I
am most dissatisfied with her associations here."

"I know--the Creek is certainly a little crude. Still I think Jane is
pretty sensible. And she is learning a lot about human nature--human
nature without its party clothes. It's good for her, Mother, if she
doesn't get too much of it."

"What's good for whom?" Dr. Morton, coming in, was attracted by Marian's
earnest tone.

"Jane, and the eff