"Now, you see, this farm business simplifies things wonderfully. With the thrift and industry of your brothers and the Boarder I can easily see the farm is going to be a prosperous undertaking, and by the time you are finished--say five years--for Miss Varley tells me you are quite up with the girls of your age in your studies, they will have a substantial country home which you will enjoy immensely between times. You will find that a country home, however humble, is not sordid like an obscure home in the city. So next week, Amarilly, or as soon as Mrs. Meredith can fit you out properly, you will be packed off to an ultra- smart school. There will be one term this year, but I think you should remain through the summer vacation and have private tutoring." The waiter entered with the first course. When he had again gone out, Amarilly looked up at Derry, her eyes full of a yearning that touched him. "It would be lovely, Mr. Derry. Too lovely to happen, you know." "There, Amarilly," he said with a combination of frown and smile, "there it is again--your contradiction of eyes and mouth--the one of a gazelle; the other, of a mule. I'll answer your objections before you make them, for it is determined that you are to go." The look he had ascribed to Amarilly's mouth came into the forward thrust of his chin. "First, you think you are too proud and independent to accept. From your viewpoint it seems a good deal to do. From mine, proved by my bank account, it is an absurdly small thing to do, but if you are truly grateful for what you are pleased to think I have done for you, you will let me do this, because you feel sorry for me that I am so alone in the world. And St. John, himself, would tell you it was your duty to make the most of your talents and opportunities. You can also do a little charity work in keeping me straight, for you see, Amarilly, I am going to Paris for two years to study, and I will have an incentive to work and not play too hard if I know I have a little sister over here in school who would be sorry if her brother went wrong and didn't get to be a great artist. So for your sake, and for my sake--" "But there's ma's sake," she said wistfully. "The Boarder says woman's work on the farm is hard." "There's the Boarderess and Co--" "Lily Rose is not strong and doesn't know much about farm work, and Co's only a kid." "Well, I hadn't finished. You have an interest in the farm as one of the syndicate, and you have some money saved." "Yes," admitted Amarilly bewildered, not following his train of thought. "Well, you won't need that now, and it can go towards a woman to help,-- a hired girl in country vernacular--during the busy seasons. And you can go home summers. Every week you are to write me a long letter and tell me about yourself and them."