think I should run away. I don't know
why I am different, but I am. I feel it now more than ever. Aunt Jane
doesn't want me to be like my father, and she lays the blame on
education. Oh, Mrs. Dayton, you do not think he ever did anything
absolutely wrong, that one had need to be ashamed of?"

Helen's face was in a blaze of scarlet. How many times she had longed to
ask the question.

"Why no. He had the name of being queer, and holding queer beliefs. But
he was honest as the day, and temperate, and not given to brawling as
the Bible has it. And he paid Aunt Jane for a while. I feel sure he
must be dead."

"And since then they have taken care of me. Aunt Jane thinks I ought to
be very grateful, and I do want to be. I suppose they could have sent me
to the poor-house."

"Oh, no, Uncle Jason wouldn't."

"I don't believe Aunt Jane would. But does that give them the right to
say what I shall do or be, or put me in the shop against my will, when
maybe I could earn my own way somewhere else?"

"Why no, I do not think it does. You were not even given to them. You
certainly have the right to decide some things. And if friends should be
willing to help you----"

"I don't want to be ungrateful. I don't want to be snobbish. But I like
the nice aspects of life so much better than the common things. And I
wonder now why people do not take naturally to the refinements of life.
Yet the other people are very happy in their way, too. I think Aunt Jane
wouldn't enjoy the manner in which you do things here. She would call it
putting on airs."

"Yes, I understand. The world goes on improving, advancing, making life
more kindly and gracious, weeding out the roughnesses. It is just as
honest and true, it calls for more self-control, it is as helpful. Of
course, there are selfish people with a good deal of polish, and there
are ignorant people very obstinate and disagreeable. Education does not
do everything, but it helps. And if there is an easier or better, or
more enjoyable manner of earning one's living, I do not see why one
should not aim at it, and strive to reach it."

"Oh, thank you a thousand times." Helen's voice broke from very joy. "I
kept wondering if I had the right to do what _I_ liked."

"It will take some courage. But you might try it one year. And I am sure
there will be friends to help such an ambitious girl. At present we will
not say anything about it, but don't feel troubled. I believe it will
come out right."