busy. We shall have to take
her about, and entertain her friends, and yawn in the corners while they
dance half through the night. That's it, isn't it, Rhoda?"

Rhoda looked at him with a start of surprise. By tacit agreement
nothing had yet been said of future arrangements, so that this was the
first definite hint which she had received of her parents' intention.
Her voice was half regretful, half relieved, as she said:

"Then I am not to go back to school, father? You have decided that it
is better not?"

Mr Chester put his hands on her arms and looked at her fondly, a
remembrance rising in his mind as he did so of that other evening
eighteen months ago, when the prospect of school had been proposed, and
the girl had taken up the question and settled it out of hand, in
arrogant, youthful fashion. It was a very different tone in which the
present question was asked, and he was quick to note the difference.

"What do you say, mother? She doesn't look very much like a school-girl
to-night, does she? No, Rhoda, I think those days are ended. You have
had a year and a half at school, and it has been a valuable experience
for you in many ways, but both your nerves and ours have been
overstrained lately, and we will not risk any more separations, but try
what travel will do to complete your education. It has always been my
dream to go abroad for a year when you were able to come with us, and
now that time has arrived. We will plan out a tour that shall be both
pleasant and educational, and enlarge our minds by learning something
about other countries besides our own."

"Rome for Easter, the Italian lakes and Switzerland in summer, the
Riviera and Egypt in winter--Oh, father, how lovely! _How_ I shall
enjoy it! How happy we shall be travelling about all together! I could
not have told you what I wanted, but this is the very thing of all
others I should most enjoy. And mother will like it too? It will not
tire you, will it, dear, or worry you to be away from home?"

"My home is where you are. I shall be perfectly happy, dear, so long as
we are together," said the mother, who had never been known to oppose
her own wishes to those of her family; and in this easy fashion the
matter was settled. One moment the project was mooted, the next dates
and routes were being eagerly discussed, and the question of wardrobe
being taken into account. Presently Mr Chester must needs consult the
atlas which was in consta