"Well, _I'm_ not going to bother about the silly award," declared Isobel. "Grind myself to death--no, indeed! I don't even want to go to college. If you're rich it's silly to bother with four whole years at a deadly institution--some of the girls say you have to study awfully hard. Amy Mathers is going to come out next year and I want to, too." Isobel talked fast and defiantly, as she caught the sudden sternness that flashed across Uncle Johnny's face. Mrs. Westley started to speak, but Uncle Johnny made the slightest gesture with his hand. Into his mind had come the memory of that half-hour with Barbara Lee and something she had said--"the stars are very far off!" _Her_ face had been illumined by a yearning; he was startled now at the realization that, in contrast, Isobel's showed only a self-centered, petty vanity--his Isobel, who had been so pretty and promising, for whom he had thought only the very noblest things possible. But although he saw the dreams he had built for Isobel dangerously threatened, he clung staunchly to his faith in the good he believed was in the girl; that was why he lifted his hand to stay the impulsive words that trembled on the mother's lips and made his own tone tolerant. "Making plans without a word to mother--or Uncle Johnny? But you'll come to us, my dear, and be grateful for our advice. I don't believe just a lot of dances will satisfy my girl--even if they do Amy Mathers. And after they're over--what then? Will you really be a bit different from the other girl because you've 'come out'? What do you say to taking up your drawing again and after a few years going over to Paris to study?" The defiant gleam in Isobel's eyes changed slowly to incredulous delight. Uncle Johnny went on: "And even an interior decorator needs a college training." "John Westley, you're a wonder," declared Mrs. Westley after the young people had gone upstairs. "You ought to have a half-dozen youngsters of your own!" He stared into the fire, seeing visions, perhaps, in the dancing flames. "I wish I did. I think they're the greatest thing in the world! To make a good, useful man or woman out of a boy or girl is the best work given us to do on this earth!" CHAPTER XV CUPID AND COMPANY "The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea----" scanned Gyp in a singsong voice. Then she stopped abruptly; she realized that Miss Gray was not hearing a word that she was saying! Miss Gray had asked Gyp to come to her after school. It was a glorious winter day and Gyp's friends were playing hockey on the little lake. Gyp had faced Miss Gray resentfully. "Please scan three pages, Miss Westley," Miss Gray had said, putting a book into Gyp's hands. And now, in the middle of them, Miss Gray was staring out across the snowy slopes of the school grounds, not hearing one word, and blinking real tears from her pale-blue eyes!