want to live if I
could never reach any of my aims. When I hear delicious music I feel it
in my very finger ends. When I read about pictures and statuary and
magnificent churches I can almost see them, and a rift in the sky, an
autumnal branch of red brown leaves, nooks that I have seen now and
then, looks that are grand and high and beautiful stir my very soul.
Where did I get this from? Was my father--"

She looked really beautiful standing there, her eyes full of
inspiration, her cheeks aglow, her scarlet lips quivering. Mrs. Boyd
trembled with a mysterious chill, and a shiver went over her.

"Oh, no, no! he was a plain man, a good, honest man"--her voice failed.

"And if he had lived we should have been very happy, I know; and I did
like the boarding house better. I wish we could have kept it, but to sit
here day after day and not see any way out of the narrow distasteful
life, feeling as if you could fly--am I wicked? Poor little mother do I
frighten you? Oh, don't cry, I am going to be a good daughter and not
wish for impossible things if this comes true."

She clasped her mother's hands that were seldom idle so long. How thin
they were with dullish, prominent veins. The mother looked past her
child rather than at her, but she could feel the glowing, spirited force
like a ghost out of the past that shook its upbraiding finger at her.
She leaned her face on Lilian's breast.

"Poor mother, dear mother," in a sweet comforting tone. "I'm afraid I
haven't always been a loving daughter, but whatever comes we will share
it together. In a few years I will be working for you, that is the
splendid side to this offer."

"But--if you shouldn't be--some girls, young ladies think they must draw
a line--"

"Oh, I shall not mind that if I suit Mrs. Barrington. I shall go to work
and to study, and when I reach some high place in teaching, I shall
smile over those petty things. A boy gets praised when he works for his
education, why shouldn't a girl?"

Then she brought out her paper and wrote her letter. She wished her
stationery had been finer, but she would not spend the money to gratify
pride. Then she went and posted it and bought some little luxuries for
dinner. After they had partaken of it she made her mother lie down and
take a good rest while she went over some of her school books and worked
out several problems.

Yet the waiting was very wearing. Sally came after having had a
splendid time at the Rest House and