e in her eyes.

"But, brother, what about the child? Surely you would require an
exceptional child for such an experiment. One who would have the mentality
to grasp all that you were trying to impart to it."

The Dean cogitated over this, pursing his lips and tapping his knuckles
with his rimless eye-glasses.

"Possibly," he granted, "and yet, Daphne, surely there would be far more
credit attached to planting the seed of knowledge where it needed much
cultivating. It has surprised and amazed me up at the college to find that
usually the children who appreciate an education are the farmer boys, and
very often the foreign element."

Miss Daphne rocked to and fro gently. She knew her brother well enough to
understand that this had become a fixed idea with him, and the easiest way
out was to find him an impressionable child. And then, it happened that
she thought of Elizabeth Ann Robbins, their niece, and all her nestful of
young mouths to be satisfied with life's gifts and privileges. She
remembered having one letter after the breaking up of the home on Long
Island. This had told them of Mr. Robbins' illness and breakdown. But with
the optimism that was inherent in every one of the family, there had been
no appeal for aid or cry of despondency over the sudden change in their
fortunes.

Several times the Dean had written to Mr. Robbins but always on
archaeological topics. Some little point of controversy upon which he
desired confirmation. Somehow material needs never seemed to suggest
themselves to the Dean. Blessed with absolute self-reliance from his
boyhood, he had educated and made a success of himself, and he could not
understand how any one could falter or repine in the race. Particularly,
if Nature had granted them any precious ratio of Peabody blood.

"Do you know, brother," began Miss Daphne, in the bright, abrupt little
way she had, "I think it would be the right thing if we took one of the
Robbins' children. There are four or five of them----"

"Boys or girls?" interrupted the Dean.

"Well, now I'm not quite sure, but if my memory serves me, I think there's
a boy amongst them. I know the eldest girl is named Jean Daphne, because
I've always sent her a silver spoon on her birthday since she was born.
They're all of them over ten, I am sure. Why don't you just write to
Jerrold and make known your willingness? I am sure they would take it in
the spirit in which it was offered."

CHAPTER VII

PERSO