The unfortunate result of this total lack of management might have discouraged a man less optimistic than John Travers, but he always "made allowances," just as he did to-night when the indifferent wife was not there to share in the family's happy hour.
"Maybe I can help you with the books," suggested Tavia, when the possible details of the new position were being discussed.
"Oh, I will have plenty of time to attend to them, daughter," her father replied. "The books I want you to attend to are those at school—I want you to make up for lost time. Dalton people will expect more from us now that they are giving us a chance."
"Dorothy says I do better than I imagine," replied Tavia. "I did not expect to pass—I had been home so much—but if only I could get a 'conditional,' and leave when Dorothy does!"
Ambition had come to Tavia—at last.
Her father wished her to get through school, and she determined, if such a thing was possible she would do it.
"I could study very hard," she told herself, when thinking the matter over very seriously, that night, in her own little cheerless room. "Dorothy has all her work done, and I am sure she will help me."
And what a surprise it would be to every one if she really did get "conditioned" in the studies she failed in, and should actually graduate in the general work.
What a wonderful thing it was to have something definite to work for! Dorothy and Alice had always felt that way, but until to-night Tavia had never known the real joy of doing good work, with the actual reward in sight. Home life had been dreary indeed, school had been little better, the only bright spot in the misplaced life had been put in by Dorothy Dale. And what a power for good had been the quiet, unobtrusive influence!
"I owe every single thing to Dorothy," Tavia declared to her own heart that eventful night, "and I hope some day I will be able to show her I am not ungrateful."