Hope High School and
working her way through. There was a feeling that she did not truly and
honestly belong in this circle of girls, many of whom had rich fathers
and luxurious homes; and she wondered if some day she would come to have
the careworn and unsatisfied look that Miss Lane had. Miss Lane had
taught ten years, beginning when she was nineteen. So she was
twenty-nine.

"And I do not believe she has ever had a lover," said Miss Mays. "She
looks so."

"What kind of a look is that?" questioned someone.

"Why that discontented, hungry expression, that curious alertness, as if
you were looking for something that had never come, and you were afraid
never would. Girls, if I had to live until I was twenty-nine
unmarried----"

"Well, what then?" queried three or four voices.

"I'd find some way of finishing it out at twenty-five."

"Oh, you couldn't," cried Daisy, shocked.

"Well, there are sisterhoods in churches and they are very respectable.
My great-aunt Roxalana has been married twice, both times to rich men.
She's eighty-six now and looks like a fright, though it is said she was
a very pretty young woman. It's safe to say that when your compeers are
all dead. Oh, I do hope I will never outlive my beauty."

They all laughed at that.

Days were divided up like clock-work. You were called at six while the
mornings were light. Breakfast was at seven. At eight there was a study
period. Quarter before nine they assembled in the small seated room
called the chapel, by courtesy, and at nine went into the schoolroom. At
eleven they had ten minutes' recreation, then study until twelve; an
hour for luncheon, and two hours' study and recitation again. Two
afternoons a week music lessons. Dinner from five to six; from seven to
nine study period, unless one could get through sooner.

Helen thought this first day that she had never really studied in her
life. She had a quick memory, at least, so it had always seemed, and an
absolute genius for mathematics. History, as far as she had gone, was a
delight. But the Latin! Was there any sense in it? Did the old Romans
talk in that tongue? And what was the use of it now, when Rome itself
was Italian.

"You will understand the use of it by and by," said Miss Lane. "I am
afraid, so far, what you have acquired has come too easy, but a year
hence you will be laughing over this when you hear some other girls
moan."

If the Latin was a trial, the music was still more so. Whe