rld was in a flood of sunshine. Helen thought she had never seen
anything so glorious before.

"Oh, you beautiful, beautiful world!" she cried as she stood out on the
porch, having said good-by to a group of girls. "It's a splendid thing
just to live! But isn't it knowledge that enables one to understand and
appreciate it all!"

She went through the hall. Miss Craven had just come downstairs.

"Oh, let us go out and look at the snow on our own small ravine. I am a
country girl, and I think I have never really _seen_ a snowstorm
before," laughing. "I lived in a rather flat country."

Miss Craven's face slowly lighted up and an expression went over it like
a smile that had not the courage to come out, but she followed readily.

There was the smooth expanse over to the iron fence, then the tops of
trees and shrubbery, set with thousands of gems of all colors, depending
on the rays of the sun. The black hollow, that was the little stream
they could not see from the porch, the elevation on the other side, the
houses and grounds, the men shoveling paths, children snow-balling,
active life already and here the extreme of silence.

"What a picture!"

"And I lived among hills and mountains," remarked Miss Craven. "I used
to get so tired of the solitude. But you can be alone----" pausing
abruptly, and adding: "You are not going away?"

"No. But you shiver. Are you cold? Let us go upstairs to my room and
have a talk. I shall be alone until next Saturday night. Daisy Bell has
gone off to have a lovely time. There was no one who wanted me enough to
petition for me, though I believe I was not to go home until next
summer."

"Oh, you have a home?"

"Yes; and relatives. Come in," as they had reached the room. "We who
remain have a holiday, and just now I do not feel in the humor for any
serious thing. Let us compare our work. You are doing very well in
music, Madame said. I ask about you;" and there was an expression of
real interest in Helen's face that called a pleased flush to that of
Miss Craven.

"Yes, but I do love it so;" and there was an intensity in her tone that
aroused Helen. "If I were not so ignorant of other things I would devote
my whole time to it. And if I could sing! You have such a fine voice."

"It is strong enough to lead a forlorn hope. I'd like it to be a
contralto. There is so much depth and feeling and pathos in a contralto
voice. Did you hear Miss Morgan sing 'Mary o' the Dee' a few evenings
ago