ing that she had brought a sorrow, though a necessary one, to
the household. For Hertha, who had known a year's tragic homesickness,
the future looked black for Tom as well as for herself. She dared not
face it and lived each day trying to forget the dark hours that were to
come.

Lee Merryvale had been genuinely provoked at losing one of his best
hands. He talked earnestly to Tom, who sent him to Ellen, and after a
lengthy but fruitless controversy with the older sister he turned to the
younger one. "See here," he said to Hertha one day as she was arranging
the living-room of the great house, "can't you keep Tom at home?"

"I'd like to."

"He doesn't want to go."

"It seems best," was all Hertha could answer.

"There isn't much in learning a trade these days. Everything is done in
the factory. A carpenter doesn't make his doors or his sashes, his sills
or his windows; he simply puts together other people's work. I can teach
Tom a lot about orange-growing right here, and then he can go off if he
wants and have a grove of his own and grow blossoms for his bride."

He laughed at his joke, but added seriously, "Why don't you keep him at
home?"

"Ask Ellen," was all Hertha could answer.

As she went home that night Merryvale met her in the grove, and again
held her in conversation about her brother until Tom himself came upon
them.

"I'm trying to get your sister to persuade you to stay at home," said
Merryvale, addressing the boy but looking at the girl. "You know you
don't want to go. Why do you let a woman boss you?"

"Perhaps," said Tom cannily, "ef I let her do a big bit o' bossing now,
I'll be rid of it fer good by-and-by."

"You mean you'll be your own boss when you get away? Don't you think it!
They'll boss you every hour of the twenty-four at school. Better stay
here and work for me."

"I like you, boss, all right," the boy answered soberly. Then, turning
to walk away, he called, "Coming, Sister?" and Hertha went with him.

"Sister, rot!" said Merryvale impatiently, looking after them. "They
adopted that girl. She never came out of that nest."

That evening, seated at the table about the large lamp, Ellen went over,
not for the first time, Tom's school course, and explained from the
catalogue the studies he was to pursue. His mother was all interest,
examining the pictures depicting the boys at their various tasks. Hertha
sewed at the flannel shirt that was a farewell gift and occasionally put
in