ars a
week, for she's quick to see into things."

"Yes, if she settles her mind to them. Dear me! I hope she won't turn
out trifling and inefficient like her father. She's got his eyes, only
they're more wide awake. And when a girl has to do for herself, the
sooner she begins the better. I'd reckoned on setting her to do
something this fall, for there's 'Reely to work in the odds and ends; I
always did say I wouldn't bring up a lot of shiftless girls, and I'll
do my duty by her if she isn't altogether mine."

Helen went round to the side entrance and slipped upstairs. Fan and
'Reely slept in the big bed. There was a jog in the room and Helen's cot
was here. She threw off her clothes and crept into bed, and cried with
her whole soul in revolt. What right had anyone to order another's life,
to put one in hard and distasteful places! She had never thought of the
factory before, indeed she had never thought much of the future. For
most healthy energetic girls the present is sufficient, and to Aunt Jane
it was everything. Children were to do to-day's work, there was no fear
but there would be enough to fill up to-morrow when it came.

To go in the factory when Mr. Warfield had said she could make a
teacher! To miss three years in the High School, three splendid
satisfying years, to miss the wonderful knowledges of the wide,
beautiful world when she had just come to know what a few leaves of them
were like. No wonder she cried with a girl's passionate disappointment.
No wonder she saw possibilities in the enchanted future and was
confident of reaching them if she could be allowed.

CHAPTER II

AN EXCURSION TO HOPE

Helen was up at five the next morning. They were early risers in the
summer time at the Mulfords', except Fan and little Tom. Mrs. Mulford
didn't want young ones about bothering, when they could be no sort of
use. Mr. Mulford had quoted the advantage of good habits, and that you
never could begin too soon.

"When I have need of their habits I'll see that they have 'em," she
replied with a confident nod. "Plenty of sleep is good for 'em."

Helen and 'Reely had reached the period of "habits." Mrs. Mulford always
called out sharply at five o'clock.

Oh, what a beautiful world it was! Over east was a chain of high hills,
blue in the morning light, except where the sun struck them. They seemed
part of another world. Between were bits of woodland, meadows, orchards
and the creek that was laid down on t