y, where they saw the college buildings rising
among the trees on the left.

The party reached Springfield at dusk and had time to take a walk after
dinner. They admired the elm-bordered streets and the comfortable
houses, and they thought the Arsenal looked extremely peaceful outside
in spite of its murderous activities within.

It was a deep sleep that visited them all that night. A whole day in
the open air with the gentle but continuous exercise provided by the
car made them unconscious of their surroundings almost as soon as they
touched their pillows.

CHAPTER XI

THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY

With a long and varied day ahead of them they were delighted to find
the morning clear when they awoke.

"There are almost as many points of interest in the Connecticut River
Valley as there are on the Concord and Lexington road," Mr. Emerson
told the girls. "We're going first to Holyoke, which is one of the
largest paper manufacturing towns in the world. I have a little
business to do there and while I am seeing my man you people can take a
little walk. Be sure you notice the big dam. It's a thousand feet
long. The Holyoke water power is very unusual."

Perhaps because they were not experts on water power they were not
greatly impressed by the floods of the Connecticut River diverted into
deep canals and swimming along so smoothly as to impart but little idea
of their strength. Only the whir of the great mills gave evidence that
iron and steel were being moved by it.

"How Roger would enjoy this!" cried Ethel Brown, and "Wouldn't Helen be
just crazy over all the history of this region?" added Ethel Blue,
while Dorothy, who had travelled much but never without her mother,
silently wished that she were there to enjoy it all.

"There's another girl's college of note," and Mrs. Emerson pointed out
Mt. Holyoke at South Hadley, northeast of Mt Tom.

"And we're going to see Smith College to-day! I feel as if I wanted to
go to all of them!" cried Ethel Blue.

"You might take a year at each and find out which was best suited to
your temperament," laughed Mrs. Emerson.

From the foot of the mountain they went northward again to Northampton.

"Here's where I ought to go if names count for anything," decided
Dorothy.

"If all the girls named Smith who go to college anywhere should go here
because of the name there wouldn't be room for any other students,"
said Mr. Emerson jokingly.

"They say," returned Dor