nub
Helen Grant just now.

CHAPTER VIII

MRS. VAN DORN'S WINNING HAND

Helen was sitting on an ottoman and leaning her arms lightly on Mrs. Van
Dorn's knees that had a soft wrap thrown over them. She fancied she felt
little twinges of neuralgia in them now and then; August nights were
damp.

They had been talking about the successful examination. Helen had proved
the heroine of the dinner hour. Mr. Pratt admitted that he could not
have answered half of the questions. Mrs. Disbrowe said she went into
the High School of her town on quite as good a record. Mrs. Lessing said
she did not see the need of half the tests, or of College education for
women. The most satisfying destiny for a woman was a good marriage and
she was quite sure men didn't care for learned women.

"You have been a very nice, cheerful, ready girl all summer, Helen. You
really have been a great pleasure to me," said the lady.

"I am very glad." Helen's voice was full of emotion, and she gave the
wrinkled hands a soft caress. "It has been a delightful time to me. I am
so glad Mrs. Dayton thought of me when there were so many nice girls in
the world. It seems to me as if I was brimming over with happiness."

She could feel the thrill in the young hands. Ah, if she had found Helen
just as she was now, ten years ago. But she was good for many years yet,
and she would have her sweet young life, her charming womanhood.

"Would you feel very much disappointed if you didn't go to the High
School?"

"Oh, I think now, it would break my heart."

"But if something better offered?"

"Oh, could there be anything better?"

"Can't you think of anything better?"

The girl was silent. In her narrow life there had not been much room for
dreams of real betterment.

"Think, all around the world."

"Well," with a half laugh and a sound like a sigh not going very deep,
"there would be travel all round the world. I hope some day to earn
money enough to go--well I'll take London first. Then Paris, but I do
not believe I shall want to stay there long, for you see I shall not
have a great deal of money. And then Rome, dear delightful Rome, with
all its old haunts, where its poets have lived and died. And that isn't
half, is it? Is any life long enough to see it all?"

Her face was in a glow of enthusiasm, her eyes deep and luminous.

The woman had not begun very early in life and she had seen a good deal
of it. She had heard hundreds of people wish fo