at's the
thing I can do best."

"Do you want to be a music-teacher?"

"Maybe, but I want to be a good one. I'd like to go to Germany to study,
some day. Wunsch says that's the best place,--the only place you can
really learn." Thea hesitated and then went on nervously, "I've got a
book that says so, too. It's called 'My Musical Memories.' It made me
want to go to Germany even before Wunsch said anything. Of course it's a
secret. You're the first one I've told."

Dr. Archie smiled indulgently. "That's a long way off. Is that what
you've got in your hard noddle?" He put his hand on her hair, but this
time she shook him off.

"No, I don't think much about it. But you talk about going, and a body
has to have something to go TO!"

"That's so." Dr. Archie sighed. "You're lucky if you have. Poor Wunsch,
now, he hasn't. What do such fellows come out here for? He's been asking
me about my mining stock, and about mining towns. What would he do in a
mining town? He wouldn't know a piece of ore if he saw one. He's got
nothing to sell that a mining town wants to buy. Why don't those old
fellows stay at home? We won't need them for another hundred years. An
engine wiper can get a job, but a piano player! Such people can't make
good."

"My grandfather Alstrom was a musician, and he made good."

Dr. Archie chuckled. "Oh, a Swede can make good anywhere, at anything!
You've got that in your favor, miss. Come, you must be getting home."

Thea rose. "Yes, I used to be ashamed of being a Swede, but I'm not any
more. Swedes are kind of common, but I think it's better to be
SOMETHING."

"It surely is! How tall you are getting. You come above my shoulder
now."

"I'll keep on growing, don't you think? I particularly want to be tall.
Yes, I guess I must go home. I wish there'd be a fire."

"A fire?"

"Yes, so the fire-bell would ring and the roundhouse whistle would blow,
and everybody would come running out. Sometime I'm going to ring the
fire-bell myself and stir them all up."

"You'd be arrested."

"Well, that would be better than going to bed."

"I'll have to lend you some more books."

Thea shook herself impatiently. "I can't read every night."

Dr. Archie gave one of his low, sympathetic chuckles as he opened the
gate for her. "You're beginning to grow up, that's what's the matter
with you. I'll have to keep an eye on you. Now you'll have to say
good-night to the moon."

"No, I won't. I sleep on the floor now, righ