and she jotted down the answers carefully. The two
problems she solved. The analysis rather puzzled her. One of the great
seaports of the country, and of Europe. The notable travelers in Africa.
Hannibal's journey across the Alps, his conquests and his stay at
Brutium. Just a week ago they had been reading Hannibal's wonderful
story, and his fifteen years' menace of Rome. How glad she was!

A rather stern looking man came in and took his seat by the lady. As the
slips were finished they were signed and passed up. By noon Helen had
answered five, when they were dismissed until two o'clock. As Helen
passed across the room the lady signaled to her, and handed her three of
the slips. She fairly clutched them in her hand and hurried away lest
Louise should speak to her.

She did not dare open them. When she reached home, Mrs. Dayton was
sugaring blackberries and placing the dishes on the waiter.

"Oh, Helen! You look roasted!"

"I walked so fast. Oh, will you look at these? I have not had the
courage. I have done five, there are four more," she cried breathlessly.

"You poor child! Why, Helen, these are all right. It is splendid."

Helen dropped on a chair and wanted to cry from the sudden relief.

"You foolish girl, to prolong your anxiety. Here, take a fan and get
some of the redness out of your face."

"I can't go in to lunch. Afterward I will go up and tell Mrs. Van Dorn.
Please do not say a word about me," she entreated.

Joanna brought her a glass of iced lemonade, and she thanked her with
overflowing eyes. Then she looked at the slips of paper and smiled.
That was only three out of nine. What if the others should be adverse!

She had a little lunch in the far end of the kitchen by the open window,
and quite recovered her spirits. It seemed as if the ladies would never
get done talking over the table. Their loitering never fretted Mrs.
Dayton, and Joanna had her lunch in the between time.

When the coast was clear she tripped upstairs smiling and steady of
nerve, now.

"And it was so fortunate that we read about Hannibal," she exclaimed,
joyously. "I knew, of course, that he crossed the Alps and menaced Rome,
but if we hadn't read the history I should have been at a great loss to
know just what to say. And one question about the Italian poets. It
seems to me I have been learning all summer from you. I was a real
ignoramus, wasn't I, except in mathematics. I owe you so much!"

She squeezed the soft wrinkle