“Why, oddly enough, one of my neighbors, Mrs. Graham, is going South in two or three weeks. She lives at Montgomery, only a couple of hours by train from Mother Tyler’s home. She is a kindly, sensible soul whom Hazel likes. I can trust the child with her. I dread it, Sarah,” and Mrs. Tyler clasped her hands tightly together, “I dread it inexpressibly, but I dread her staying here more.” “Couldn’t you go with her?” “That would be impossible. What could I do there to earn money? I must stay at home and work. I’ve plans for building up a good business. I feel sure that I can, but it will take time. Perhaps I shall succeed more quickly if I put all my energy into my work. And then Hazel will return in the spring, for it wouldn’t be good for her to stay through a southern summer. If I am busy every minute I’m hoping that the time won’t seem so long. It will pass quickly if I hear that Hazel gains in health.” “Who’s talking about health?” asked Mr. Perkins, as he came out of his room with Hazel at his side. “I am,” replied Mrs. Tyler. “You remember Emerson: ‘Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.’ Lucy, may I take this young lady out for a walk?” “Surely, Henry.” Hazel put on her hat and coat and raced off with her boon companion. “She will need a warmer coat,” Mrs. Tyler said, and her brow puckered. “If she stays here she must have warm clothes and even then I shall have sometimes to keep her indoors. She was restless yesterday and naughty, and that isn’t like Hazel. Health. That is more than anything else in the world, isn’t it? What shall I do, Sarah?” Her friend had risen and was looking at the picture of her little child. “I can only say this Lucy,” she at length answered. “You will never cease to reproach yourself if anything happens and you haven’t done everything possible for Hazel. If a winter in the South will mean health for her, then if she is ill you will always regret that you did not send her away.” “People are ill in the South,” said Mrs. Tyler, wanting to contradict the advice she sought. “Of course. But you will have done all you could.” Mrs. Tyler looked hard at the floor, for a minute. When she raised her eyes to her friend’s they were full of tears. “It won’t really be living while she’s away,” she said; “but I’ll write to mother Tyler to-night.” CHAPTER III LEAVE TAKING When Hazel first learned that she was to go away from her mother, she cried bitterly. But as the preparations for her departure began, she regained her spirits. Who could grieve for long in the midst of such excitement? In the first place, there was the new trunk, very small and shining. “Look at it, Charity,” she said, the afternoon it came home “See my initials on the side, H. T. That stands for Hazel Tyler.” Charity looked, and envy entered her heart. When she visited her granny in Virginia her clothes were stuffed into a shabby, collapsible bag. “Folks ’ll think you stuck up,” she said.