ld afford it. I should love to see New York more than anything I can
think of, but to go so far away from them all for a whole winter--oh,
Uncle Henry, you're very kind to suggest it, but I really don't believe
I could."

"Not if you knew your father and mother wished it very much, and that it
would be a great relief to their minds?" Mr. Carleton spoke rather
gravely, and Marjorie felt suddenly embarrassed.

"Of course I would try to do what they wanted me to," she said meekly,
"but I don't believe they would be willing to have me go as far away
from them. Albuquerque was different; I could have come home for the
vacations from there. It's awfully good of you, Uncle Henry, and I would
love to see Aunt Julia and Elsie, but New York is so far away."

"Only three days by train," said Mr. Carleton, smiling; "that ought not
to seem much to you Westerners. You would find the life very different
from that to which you have been accustomed, but I think you would
enjoy it, and you must have an education, you know."

Marjorie blushed, and her eyes drooped.

"I want it very much," she said humbly. "If I were well educated, I
might be able to teach, and to help Father and Mother in other ways.
Uncle Henry, do you think it is my duty to go to New York?"

"Yes, Marjorie, I do," said her uncle, with unusual gravity. "I think it
is an opportunity that you should not miss. I have written your Aunt
Julia about it, and her answer has just come. She agrees with me that it
will be the best thing for you. Your home will be with us, of course,
and you will go to school with Elsie. It is not a large school, only a
class of a dozen girls, and the teacher is a charming woman. You will
soon make friends, and I think you would be happy."

"And I would be with Elsie," said Marjorie, beginning to look on the
bright side, as she generally did. "It would be lovely to know my own
cousin. Have you spoken to Mother about it, Uncle Henry?"

"Not yet, but I intend doing so this evening. I have been waiting for
your aunt's reply to my letter. I feel quite sure your mother will
consent; she is too sensible a woman to do anything else. But it will
be hard for her to let you go so far away, and I want you to be a brave,
sensible girl, and not make it any harder than you can help."

For a moment Marjorie was silent, and her uncle could see by her face
something of the struggling that was going on within. Then she spoke,
and her voice was clear and brav