"Want to go away to school?"
"I don't know. Aunt Maria wants me to stay at home on the farm and just help her. Daddy doesn't say much, but he did ask me if I would like to go to Millersville. That's a fine Normal School and if I wanted to be a teacher I'd go to that school, but I don't want to be a teacher. What I really want to do is go away and study music."
"Well, can't you do it? That is not really impossible."
"No, but——"
"No, but," he mimicked. "But won't take you anywhere."
"You set me thinking, David. Perhaps it isn't so improbable, after all. I'm coming over to see Mother Bab to-morrow; she'll be full of suggestions. She'll see a way for me to get what I want; she always does."
"I bet she will," agreed David. "You'll be that primer donner yet," he mimicked, "I know you will."
"Oh, Davie, wouldn't it be great! But I wouldn't beautify my face with cream and beet juice and flour!"
They laughed so heartily that Aunt Maria turned and asked the cause of the merriment.
"We were just speaking of the time when I dressed in the garret and fixed my face—the time you had the quilting party."