e carriage paused at the gate. "Help me into my waist," she said to
Helen. "I've dawdled my time away finely. What have you been doing?"

"Peeling pears for canning," she replied merrily. "Mrs. Dayton picked
out a dish of lovely ones for you, and put them in a cool place. They
are luscious. I wonder if you would like to have one now?"

"Oh, no. That will be something to think of when I come back. The wind
has blown up a little cooler, and I am glad. Get my bonnet, and the blue
wrap."

They went downstairs together, and were helped into the coupe. "To the
Postoffice first," she said. "We will wait on ourselves this time."

Mr. Conway always brought the mail up at six, though it reached Hope at
three.

"Your friend, Mr. Warfield, is going to the city? He is very earnest
that you shall take the examination. How do you expect to arrange about
the High School? You will have to live here at North Hope."

Helen colored vividly, and a half-humorous smile parted her lips, and
made dimples in the corners.

"I shall have to earn my own living someway," she answered courageously.
"Aunt Mulford will be much opposed to it, but I think Uncle will see
before long that it will be best. Mrs. Dayton will be a very good friend
to me. It all turns on my passing the examinations successfully."

"And if you should not?"

"Then I must go back to the Center. But I would have another chance by
the first of January. And I have quite resolved that if I do not
accomplish it this year I will try next summer."

There was a charm in her courage and perseverance. Mrs. Van Dorn thought
she had never looked prettier. She could not have taken so cordially to
a plain girl.

They reached the Postoffice. Helen sprang out, and came back with an
eager smile and three letters. Then they turned into an old shady
street, and drove slowly.

One was from her lawyer in the city. The matter she had written of could
be easily adjusted.

The next was in Miss Gage's fine, almost old-fashioned hand. Everything
had gone on well, and she would come on Wednesday, prepared to go
abroad, or anywhere at Mrs. Van Dorn's behest. A very suitable letter,
but there was no suggestion of that wider living outside of her own home
relations. She was an admirable companion, an excellent nurse for small
ailments; she gave good value for what she received, but there was no
refreshment of enthusiasm that had warmed her old heart toward this
girl who seemed to rouse and stir