hing of importance to herself was
brewing in which she took no part. Miss Hale had made unusual visits and
had been closeted with her parents for hours. One day Elizabeth sat
studying in an upper room, and from her window she saw Miss Hale drive
away. At the same instant her father called, "Elizabeth, Elizabeth!"

She ran down-stairs. Her father and mother stood at the foot looking
pleased.

"I know she will be glad," her mother said.

"Of course she will," replied her father.

She paused on the stairway in wonder. She was very good to look at as she
stood so. Her soft hair was drawn loosely back from her face, and hung in
a long, fair plait down her back. She was not beautiful, only wholesome
looking, with a clear, healthy color, and large, honest eyes. Her dress
was a simple, inexpensive shirtwaist suit, but every article about her was
in order. There was no sagging of belts, or loose hooks.

Her father held out a book as she came toward them. He was brimming over
with joy at the prospect of her delight.

"It is a catalog of Exeter Hall, Elizabeth. That is the school Miss Hale
attended. I've looked over dozens of catalogs and this pleases your mother
and me best. We want you to go in the fall."

"Oh!" was all she said then, but it was expressive enough to satisfy her
parents. She had read stories of schoolgirl life which seemed more like
fairy stories than experiences of real girls.

"Look it all over, Elizabeth. The course of study is mapped out. We think
the classical course suited to you. Your mother and I are going to drive
down to the mines. Study the catalog while we are gone and be ready to
tell us what you think of it when we come back."

She needed no second bidding to do this. By the close of the afternoon,
she had read and re-read the prospectus. She became so excited she could
scarcely sit still. There was one matter which did not fully satisfy her.
She had advanced beyond the course at Exeter in some branches and smiled
as she read the amount of work laid out in botany for the Middle Class.
She had far exceeded that, for she had found and mounted every specimen of
plant and flower that grew for miles around Bitumen.

The cost of a year's schooling was a surprise. Her father and Miss Hale
could teach her everything that the course at Exeter included. It seemed
foolish to spend so much money when all could be learned at home.

That evening Miss Hale drove over to see how Elizabeth was pleased wit