Zan looked up at her teacher in blank astonishment and her lips parted as if to speak, but she was silent for a moment.
Miss Miller watched her and waited.
"Why, what under the sun would we use lamps for if it were not for light?" exclaimed Zan, finally.
"Oh, as to the use of lamps—that is another thing. Yes, even an inanimate lamp fulfils its purpose well, doesn't it?"
Zan stared off into the darkness and pondered this.
"I se-ee!" whispered Zan, after a silent pause of some moments. "Miss Miller, I thank you!" and she ran indoors singing.
"Thank goodness, I didn't spoil that opportunity by offering to look after the lamps!" breathed Miss Miller, gratefully, to the Principle of right living.
Zan not only worked out her dislike for kerosene that very night, but she cleaned so many of the small glass lamps that the supper table was a twinkling circle of lights. As the girls sat about thoroughly enjoying the first meal in the country, Zan proved to be the gayest of the party. Several times she met the smile in Miss Miller's eyes and felt well rewarded for learning her first lesson in Woodcraft—even if it was the overcoming of distaste of a given duty!
The four other girls were appointed dish-washers but Jane demurred. "It's so dark and we're tired—why can't the dishes wait for morning light!"