oms. Then Helen's trunk came up. Mrs.
Aldred had been taking her through the long parlor on the opposite side
of the hall, and the dining room, where instead of one long table,
several small ones were cozily arranged. Back of this, toward the bluff,
was the schoolroom, and the study room, with several small ones for
recitations.

"I wonder if you would like best to be alone in a room or have a
companion?" questioned Mrs. Aldred. "I sometimes give girls a choice."

"I like folks," returned Helen, frankly. "That is----" pausing rather
confusedly.

"If they are agreeable?"

"Yes," said Helen, smiling.

"I will give you a room where you _may_ have a companion if you like.
Some girls get homesick at first if they are alone."

"Oh, I shall not be homesick," she exclaimed with gay assurance.

Up the broad staircase they trooped, though there were two smaller ones
convenient to many of the rooms. There was a long corridor with small
rooms opening on the one side, and a cross hall leading to those in
front. In the double rooms were screens arranged to insure as much
privacy as one cared for. A white bed, a sort of closet with
book-shelves above, a bureau and dressing table, a wardrobe built in
the wall, a wicker arm chair and a rocking chair, with a large hassock
and a small one.

"Now," said Mrs. Aldred, "when your trunk comes you will empty it and
put your clothes away, and the servant will take it to the trunk room."

It came up in a few moments. Then Mrs. Aldred left her with some kindly
wishes.

Helen went to the window. It overlooked the southwest. There were tops
of trees, then a depression that was the river, and over beyond fields
golden in the sunshine,--that was the stubble of grain, others a dull
brown with here and there a bit of green weed pushing up sturdily since
the hay had been cut, young winter wheat over beyond, houses, farms,
rising ground again and woodlands. Far over to the westward were the
grand hills of another State. It was so much more beautiful than all the
Hopes with their levels.

This wonderful thing had happened to her. Hardly a year, indeed it was
at the beginning of the present year that Mr. Warfield had gone at her
rather fiercely, she thought, and told her there was no use of dawdling
and that she must pass for the High School.

"But I can't go to the High School," she had protested. That looked
impossible.

"No matter, you can pass," he had said so sternly that she wondered