ain dreadfully of late. I can't stand it much longer.
If Morland's called up, I'm going off too. I don't care where!"

She spoke resentfully, almost desperately; Lorraine had not seen her in
such a mood before. She had sometimes guessed that her friend was not
altogether happy at home, though until to-day she had never received
such a big slice of Claudia's confidence.

"Couldn't you go to college--or to study something?" she suggested
vaguely.

The baby was crying so lustily that conversation was difficult.
Claudia's remarks were punctuated by the regular tap-tap of the rockers
on her chair.

"I've asked Father, but it's no use; he won't send me. He says it's
Beata's and Romola's turn now, and they must go to school. Life's
horrid--I just hate it all!"

The baby, lifting up a despairing wail, also protested against the evils
of existence.

"Poor little man! He doesn't like life either!" soothed Claudia. "There!
There! Are his toes cold? Sissie'll warm them for him. It's no use; I
shall have to take him to Violet, and she's trying to write letters!"

This little peep behind the scenes at Windy Howe made Lorraine feel
worried about Claudia. The next time she went to the studio by the
harbour, she talked the matter over. Margaret Lindsay knew the Castleton
family so well that she might be counted upon for advice.

"Claudia's simply fed up!" explained Lorraine. "It's partly the
children, but principally Violet. I don't think I should like to live
with Violet myself."

"Perhaps not, yet she has her good points. On the whole I think she's
very decent to all those step-children. With her own little tribe as
well, it must be difficult to manage the household. But I sympathize
with Claudia. When she leaves school I'm sure it will be far the best
plan for her to go away from home for a while."

"But her father won't let her!"

"Suppose she could win a scholarship? I fancy that would smooth the
way."

"Oh, do you think she could?"

"Suppose you ask Miss Kingsley if she can suggest any career for
Claudia? She's sure to be interested in her pupils' plans for the
future. I certainly think it's a shame for the girl to be kept at home
acting nursemaid to the younger ones. I'd willingly tackle Mr. Castleton
some day and have a little talk with him about Claudia, if there's any
plan to propose. I knew her own mother, so that gives me a pull. I'd
speak to Violet, too. I dare say she'd be quite nice about it."

"Oh, Car