It was ridiculous, Fidelia told herself. It had never happened in all her life before. But it was more than she could do for awhile to command her voice or stop her tears. The doctor made himself busy with the harness for a little, and, having left his whip behind him, he cut a switch from a hickory-tree beside the road; and by the time he was ready to get into the chaise Fidelia was herself again. "Have you been having a good time?" asked the doctor presently. "Yes, indeed! I have enjoyed every minute of it. And I have been perfectly well, Dr Everett. I have never lost one recitation." "I suppose you have been at the head of the class and have got the medal." Fidelia laughed. "I'm not the best scholar by a good many. But I have got on pretty well." "Well, you have got up a step, I hear." "I have been taking some of the studies of the second year. My Latin helped me on, and--other things. And--I mean to graduate next year." "Do in two years what other girls are expected to do in three or four, and injure your health for life doing it? That would be a poor kind of wisdom, little girl." "Oh, I haven't been doing too much, and I don't mean to! But you know, two years means more to Eunice and me than it does to most people. Oh, it will be all easy enough! I was well prepared. You see Eunice knew just what was needed." "Yes, and Eunice is a good teacher." "Isn't she?" said Fidelia eagerly. "I haven't seen one yet to compare with her. Oh, if Eunice had only had my chance!" "Softly, little girl! Your chance, indeed! Dear Eunice is far beyond all that sort of thing. She has had better teaching." "Yes; but Eunice would have liked it. You know she was at the seminary one of its first years. And she would have gone on. She told me the last night I was at home that it was years before she could quite give up the hope of going there again. And I don't see why she shouldn't. She is not thirty-two years old yet; and it was not just for young girls that the seminary was built; and--" "My dear, Eunice has got past the need of all that. It would be like sending you and Susie back again to the old red schoolhouse, to send Eunice there." The doctor had cut his hickory stick, but he had not used it, and old Grey had been moving on but slowly. There was still a long hill to climb before they reached the spot where Fidelia could catch a first glimpse of home. Old Grey moved slowly still, but neither of them spoke another word till he stood still at the door.