"And I, who am surrounded all day by such a regiment of boys."
"Oh, they don't count; I mean girls of your own age. How are you getting along, Linda, by the way?"
"Oh, well enough," responded Linda doubtfully. "The more successful I am, the more it takes it out of me, however, and I am afraid I shall really never love teaching. Even though you may succeed in an undertaking, if you don't really love it, you tire more easily than if you did something much harder, but which you really loved."
"I suppose that may be true. Well, Linda, I hope you will not always be a teacher."
"I hope not," responded Linda frankly.
"I wish you would come over oftener, and would go around more with the girls. They would all love to have you."
Linda shook her head gravely. "That is very nice for you to say, but I couldn't do it—yet."
"Well, be sure you don't stay by yourself to-night," Bertie charged her.
Linda promised, and started off to fulfil the intention. Miss Parthy, from her porch, called to her as she went by. "When's Ri coming back?" she asked, over the heads of her three dogs, who occupied the porch with her.
"Not till to-morrow morning."