But Tom Latimer eagerly added: "We can offer Miss Stewart a better salary for her time than any New York school can, if she will agree to stay here and help us win our way to Rainbow Cliffs." Before Anne could reply, Polly cried: "But I don't _want_ any teacher to live here and educate me! Can't you see that I want to go out, OUT--somewhere, anywhere, away from this volcanic pit where I have been buried for fourteen years!" Once Polly freed herself of the reticence of speaking of her own ideals and longings for experience, she almost volleyed forth her words, so that every one sat astonished at her eloquence. "When John went away to school I was awfully lonesome for he used to take me everywhere he went, and we had good times. "Father and mother were good--but they don't know what the girl of to-day craves! It isn't that we girls are brought up so differently from our parents, or that they get modern ideas into their heads from mixing with society girls or from reading of them. _It is in the air we breathe_--the desire to come out of swaddling clothes and take a stand for our individual rights! Every girl has the germ of self-expression in her somewhere, and if it is starved and choked by conventionalities and parental bonds, she is bound to find an outlet for her energy in some unprofitable way. If folks would only SEE that girls, to-day, are capable of accomplishing what the _boys_ of to-day are doing, and then give us a chance, there won't be so many slatterns and silly women-folk in the future. "I learned all I could get out of Bear Forks' school-books, but it wasn't half enough for me. Now I am going to go to High, or leave home to work somewhere. I will not stay here to eat my heart out over the outside world and what it is doing. I may be awfully disappointed when I get acquainted with folks, outside, but at least I want the opportunity NOW, just as my brother John has it. "Mother and father took it as a matter of course, that their boy must go to college and carve a career for himself. But their girl ought never to dream of such foibles--she must remain at home and learn to sew and cook and do all the household chores! If any sort of a decent rancher comes along who wants to marry, then I must thank him and tie myself down to take care of his socks and buttons, and rear a fine family! "No, _no_, NO! I tell you I just won't _do it_!" Polly fairly screamed out the last words and stamped her foot vehemently, as she stood declaring what she thought of such a life. Mrs. Brewster hid her face in a handkerchief--whether she was weeping or trying to hide her gratification at hearing her daughter assert her rights in such a positive manner, no one knew. "W-h-y--Polly Brewster! You are positively unladylike in your manner of speaking of marriage and a future husband!" objected Barbara, shocked. Polly turned on her, as the proverbial worm turned: