s
any girl can be. You will regret it all your life long if you keep her
at home now. School is what she needs, and school she must have, if she
is to make a woman worth having. She is a jolly little soul, and I'm
proud of her; but her eyes are so taken up admiring Miss Rhoda Chester
that she has no attention left for anything else. Let her go, mother,
and find out that there are other girls in the world beside herself!"

"But the other girls will b-b-bully her. They will make fun of her and
laugh at her little ways--"

"And a good--" Harold checked himself and said cheerily: "Rhoda won't
let herself be bullied without knowing the reason why, mother. Whatever
faults she may have, no one can accuse her of lack of spirit. I believe
she would like to go. She has very few girl friends, and would enjoy
the new experience."

"We will tell her about it, and see what she says," said Mr Chester;
and at that very moment the door opened and Rhoda walked into the room.

CHAPTER TWO.

WHAT RHODA THOUGHT.

Father, mother, and brother looked at Rhoda, and felt a pardonable pride
in her appearance. Her white evening frock showed off the fair
complexion and golden locks, and she carried herself with an erect,
fearless mien which made a pleasant contrast to the stooping backs and
shambling gait of most growing girls. If she were not regularly pretty,
her air of assurance forced onlookers to think her so, despite their
better judgment, and there was about her a breezy atmosphere of health
and youth. She looked from one to the other of the watching faces, and
smiled in a good-humoured, tolerant manner, which showed a dimple in the
round cheek.

"Hatching mischief!" she cried, nodding her head sagely. "The way in
which your voices ceased as I entered the room was highly suspicious.
Never mind--I'll go to bed soon, and then you can talk at your ease. It
_is_ awkward when birthdays are drawing near! ... Chain bracelets are
very nice, with turquoises set here and there, and I rather like that
new edition of Shakespeare with a lot of dear little books fitted into a
case. I don't object to brooches either, or ornaments for my room--"

"But, strange to say, we were not thinking of giving you anything! We
were talking of a much more serious consideration than a birthday. We
were talking of your Future Education," said Mr Chester, solemnly. He
spoke so impressively, and with such very large capitals to the last two
w