hid the key in the rotting wood at the end of a log.
Then she came to him. Philip stood looking at her curiously.

"I wonder," he said, "what people would say to that?"

"I played that in public once," said Elnora. "I think they liked it,
fairly well. I had a note yesterday offering me the leadership of the
high school orchestra in Onabasha. I can take it as well as not. None of
my talks to the grades come the first thing in the morning. I can play
a few minutes in the orchestra and reach the rooms in plenty of time.
It will be more work that I love, and like finding the money. I would
gladly play for nothing, merely to be able to express myself."

"With some people it makes a regular battlefield of the human
heart--this struggle for self-expression," said Philip. "You are going
to do beautiful work in the world, and do it well. When I realize that
your violin belonged to your father, that he played it before you were
born, and it no doubt affected your mother strongly, and then couple
with that the years you have roamed these fields and swamps finding in
nature all you had to lavish your heart upon, I can see how you evolved.
I understand what you mean by self-expression. I know something of what
you have to express. The world never so wanted your message as it does
now. It is hungry for the things you know. I can see easily how your
position came to you. What you have to give is taught in no college, and
I am not sure but you would spoil yourself if you tried to run your mind
through a set groove with hundreds of others. I never thought I should
say such a thing to any one, but I do say to you, and I honestly believe
it; give up the college idea. Your mind does not need that sort of
development. Stick close to your work in the woods. You are becoming so
infinitely greater on it, than the best college girl I ever knew, that
there is no comparison. When you have money to spend, take that violin
and go to one of the world's great masters and let the Limberlost sing
to him; if he thinks he can improve it, very well. I have my doubts."

"Do you really mean that you would give up all idea of going to college,
in my place?"

"I really mean it," said Philip. "If I now held the money in my hands to
send you, and could give it to you in some way you would accept I
would not. I do not know why it is the fate of the world always to want
something different from what life gives them. If you only could realize
it, my girl, you