"The children were. I think Aunt Jane was a little hurt because I didn't come and stay over Sunday."
"Do you want to go next Saturday? Though what we could do with Mrs. Van Dorn I don't know."
"I think I do not want to go," Helen made answer slowly. "Oh, Mrs. Dayton," and she stretched out her hand in entreaty, "can't you sit down here a few moments. I want to talk to someone. I want to know whether I am right, or wrong and ungrateful. And I have a half plan if—if——"
"What is it, child?" The girl's tone appealed to her strongly, and she sat down beside her.
"It seems to me as if I only roused up along in the winter, and began to study in earnest. Mr. Warfield took such an interest in me. And I began to love knowledge, to learn how much there was of it in the world. He thought I ought to go to the High School and study for a teacher, and then I just knew what I should like best of all things in the world. And since I've been here I've thought it over and over——"
"And do not know how to compass it?" There was a sound in her voice that expressed the smile on her face.
"I have even planned for that. If you did not go away all the fall I should ask you to let me stay and do some work, and try to even it up next summer when the boarders come. But I've thought maybe there would be someone else who would be satisfied with what I could do nights and mornings and Saturdays for my board——"
The tone was breathless and had to stop. She was amazed that she could say all this.
"My dear child! Have you been studying all this out? Well, you certainly have a right to education when you are willing to work for it that way. And I believe it can be compassed."
Helen squeezed the hand nearest her with a joyful eagerness.