t be very hard to take up a new dull class every season."

"It is," he returned frankly. "It was one of the drawbacks, like going
down to the foot of your own class."

"So I think I shall have a boarding school and keep the girls year after
year."

"Well, are you deep in metaphysics or transcendentalism?" asked a
cheerful voice, as Mrs. Dayton's ample figure emerged from the door-way.
"You do not seem to be 'sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.'
That is an old-fashioned quotation and was in the copy books at school
in my day, when to be thin and pale was the mark of a student. And
wasn't midnight oil another? You do not show marks of either, Helen."

"Oh, the lights are out and we have to be in bed at ten. We can rise as
early as we like in the morning, however," laughed Helen.

"Numbers of the old ideas have been exploded. Still, we must admit they
made some good scholars. The students were more in earnest, they were
not so superficial."

"But it takes a long while to learn everything thoroughly. That is where
teachers and professors have the advantage, they can spend their whole
lives over it," exclaimed Helen. "Honestly," and a rather mischievous
light flashed across her face, "I do not think the average girl is a
born student. Perhaps the boy isn't either. But there seem to be so many
things in a girl's life, so many sides to it"--and a thoughtful crease
came in her forehead.

"You have found that out early. But the successes must be able to do
several things well, and to bring knowledge into action, not have a lot
of useless matter stored up in the brain waiting for the time to make it
serviceable, and then it is not fresh, often not useful."

"Like the old clothes you pile up in the garret," interpolated Mrs.
Dayton. "They are out of date and moth-eaten. There are many things it
is not worth while to save up. I have a boarder here who has saved up
all her troubles since she was ten years old, and lives them over, takes
them out and puts them back. She is a well-informed woman, too. There is
the bell, so come in to dinner."

There were only Mr. and Mrs. White, Mrs. Carson, the woman of many
troubles, and Mr. Conway, who gave Helen a warm welcome, but was amazed
at the change in her.

They talked a little over the last summer's guests. "Miss Lessing was
married and the younger girl engaged. The Disbrowes had gone West. And
truly I wouldn't mind having Mrs. Van Dorn again. She certainly is an
unco