Mr. and Mrs. Van Buskirk were both very sober. “A maid dresses her, picks up after her and brings her meals when she is either too miserable or too lazy to go down to the dining room. The child reads, draws and paints a little and rides around in the car to shop. She has practically no young companions except her cousins,—though in some respects that is just as well here.” “When I suggested tennis or riding or swimming lessons, she just begged me not to make her,” said Sylvia, “and I knew she was not fit for any real strain.” “O, it is always ‘lessons,’ in this, that or the other,” laughed Aunt Katherine. “I don’t know that I blame her. Perhaps you can get her to swim if you are on the coast this summer. But I have been observing that aside from her health you have a real problem to solve. I rather particularly love Cathalina,—and when I received the letter from my old friend, Ellen Randolph, with the catalogue I sent you this morning, it occurred to me that perhaps a complete change would rouse Cathalina. If she could see, for instance, that most girls do without many of the luxuries which she takes for granted, it would do her good. She has had private teaching enough, in my opinion.” “But why not send her then to Aunt Willard’s school, where we all have gone? Troy is so near.” “Well, you know I think everything of that and remember Madam Willard herself, but this is a different case. Cathalina needs to go farther away from home and away from her cousins. She needs to be on her own resources.” “She is pretty young for that,” said Mr. Van Buskirk, doubtfully. “I prefer to protect her from some things.” “Ellen will look after her so far as she needs any real care or sympathy. And traveling expenses mean nothing to you as they do some people. You can reach the place in a comparatively short time.” “There is splendid sense in what you say, Aunt Katherine, and we will think it over carefully.” “I will write to Ellen and tell her to send you all the information they send out.” “How can I spare the child!” exclaimed Sylvia. “But her welfare? No one must grow up too dependent. There will be all kinds of gymnastic exercises and sports and girls to whom she will be as strange as they to her. I count on her pride and the ‘Van Buskirk grit’ to make her want to be on an equality with the rest. She will be without a maid, and I hope it need not be known that she has one and everything else she wants!” “It would not be like Cathalina to plume herself upon advantages.” “No,” put in Mr. Van Buskirk, “but those things usually leak out.” “Yes,” said Aunt Katherine, “but not, I hope until the poor child has had a fair start.” CHAPTER III HILARY LANCASTER While Cathalina Van Buskirk’s aunt was making suggestions, another aunt, in a different way was shaping the destiny of another young girl, Hilary Lancaster.