"Again I ask you not to be too eager, Dora," said Mrs. Grainger. "Those who start too hurriedly in the race are apt to come in last."
"Yes, I know, but I am so anxious to have things settled. As soon as the holidays are over, and that will be at the end of the week, will you let me take your place in the schoolroom and teach the children without any help from you?"
"You would find that no light task, dear."
"I am sure I could do it," said Dora. "I am quite aware Giles is often trying to one's patience. He asks the why and the wherefore of everything, and it is not always easy to explain. And then Lottie frequently loses her temper. But I am certain I could manage them and teach them into the bargain."
"I cannot have you neglect your own studies, and you must keep up your music and French. You know, dear, you are very young to have left school, and you must try to carry on your education for a while alone, or with such little help as Edgar or I can give you. I hope you will some day have the advantage of more lessons."
"Of course I must study, but I shall have plenty of time for everything," said Dora. "Now see here," and she began to use her pencil. "From half-past nine till twelve I shall teach the children. Then I shall take them out for a walk till one. After that, lessons again from half-past two till four."
"That leaves you very little time for yourself."
"I can practise from four till five," went on Dora. "Then in the evening I can have half an hour for French, and an hour for other things, and after that, help you with the mending. There, mother, shall I not be your right hand if I do all that?"
"Indeed, my Dora, if you do half, you will relieve me of much," and Mrs. Grainger stroked back the soft curly hair from the girl's forehead. "I shall indeed be thankful," she continued, "if this should prove a new starting-point in your life. It has seemed to me that my daughter was getting a habit of dreaming of what might be, instead of acting in the what is. Now I think she is going the right way to work to cure that defect in her character."
"Yes, I know that is a fault of mine," and tears sprang to Dora's eyes, "but I will try to struggle against it, and not only dream, but do. Perhaps writing stories isn't a good thing for me. I won't write any more for a whole year."