ll as the dining room.
Most of the boarders were up at the other end, where two hammocks were
slung, but this was a favorite nook of hers when she wanted to think.
Mrs. Dayton came out presently, having finished her talk with Joanna.

"Are you homesick or lonesome?" she inquired. "Was everybody glad to see
you to-day."

"The children were. I think Aunt Jane was a little hurt because I didn't
come and stay over Sunday."

"Do you want to go next Saturday? Though what we could do with Mrs. Van
Dorn I don't know."

"I think I do not want to go," Helen made answer slowly. "Oh, Mrs.
Dayton," and she stretched out her hand in entreaty, "can't you sit down
here a few moments. I want to talk to someone. I want to know whether I
am right, or wrong and ungrateful. And I have a half plan if--if----"

"What is it, child?" The girl's tone appealed to her strongly, and she
sat down beside her.

"It seems to me as if I only roused up along in the winter, and began to
study in earnest. Mr. Warfield took such an interest in me. And I began
to love knowledge, to learn how much there was of it in the world. He
thought I ought to go to the High School and study for a teacher, and
then I just knew what I should like best of all things in the world. And
since I've been here I've thought it over and over----"

"And do not know how to compass it?" There was a sound in her voice that
expressed the smile on her face.

"I have even planned for that. If you did not go away all the fall I
should ask you to let me stay and do some work, and try to even it up
next summer when the boarders come. But I've thought maybe there would
be someone else who would be satisfied with what I could do nights and
mornings and Saturdays for my board----"

The tone was breathless and had to stop. She was amazed that she could
say all this.

"My dear child! Have you been studying all this out? Well, you certainly
have a right to education when you are willing to work for it that way.
And I believe it can be compassed."

Helen squeezed the hand nearest her with a joyful eagerness.

"But there's another side to it. I didn't think of that until this
afternoon. I fancied I could go away and study and work until I came to
the place where I could earn money, like Miss Remington, and no one
would have any right to interfere. Aunt Jane thinks I know quite enough,
and has planned for me to go in the shop, Jenny has spoken for the
chance. I should just hate it! I