“No,” she said at last sadly, “I’m not going back—_ever_, I’m afraid.” The words came out with a sound almost like a sob, and were wholly unintentional with Cornelia. She was not one to air her sorrows before strangers, or even friends, but somehow the whole tragedy had come over her like a great wave that threatened to engulf her. She was immediately sorry that she had spoken, however, and tried to explain in a tone less tragic. “You see, my mother is not well and had to go away, and—they—needed me at home.” She lifted her clouded eyes to meet a wealth of admiration in the older woman’s gaze. “How beautiful! To be needed, I mean,” the lady said with a smile. “I can think just what a tower of strength you will be to your father. Your father is living?” “Yes,” gasped Cornelia with a sudden thought of how terrible it would be if he were gone. “Oh, yes; and it’s strange—he used these very words when he wrote me to come home.” Then she grew rosy with the realization of how she was thinking out loud to this elegant stranger. “Of course he would,” assented the lady. “I can see that you are! I was thinking that as I watched you all the afternoon. You seem so capable and so—_sweet_!” “Oh, but I’m _not_!” burst out the girl honestly. “I’ve been real cross about it ever since the letter came. You see,”—and she drew her brows earnestly trying to justify herself,—“you see I can’t help thinking it’s all a mistake. I’m glad to go home and help; but some one else could have done that, and I think I could have helped to better purpose if I had been allowed to stay and finish my course, and then been able to help out financially. Father has lost some money lately, which has made things hard, and I was planning to be an interior decorator. I should soon have been able to do a good deal for them.” “Oh, but my dear! No one can take a daughter’s place in a home when there is trouble, not such a daughter’s place as you occupy, I’m sure. And as for the other thing, if you have it in you it will come out, you may be sure. You’ll begin by decorating the home interior, and you won’t lose anything in the end. Such things are never lost nor time wasted. God sees to that, if you are doing your best right where He put you. I can just see what an exquisite spot you’ll make of that home, and how it will rest your mother to know you are taking her place.” Cornelia sadly shook her head. “There won’t be any chance for decorating,” she said slowly. “They’ve had to move away from the home we owned, and father said it wasn’t very pleasant there.”