"My education can wait," said Rhoda. "I don't know any use in educating people, except to fit them to do their duty in that state of life to which it has pleased God to call them; and I do feel that he has given me a clear call to take care of Isa as long as she wants me. Only for her, I never should have come here at all, you know." "That is true," said Miss Hardy. "Well, my dear, sorry as I am to lose you, I shall not urge you against your own conscience. 'Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,' is the motto on our school seal, you know." "So, Mr. Ferrand, unless you utterly refuse to take me, I shall be ready when Isa is," said Rhoda, smiling. "And if you do, I shall go back to the home and come asking for a place in the dining-room again." "Very well, 'my daughter,'" said Mr. Ferrand, not without emphasis. "Get your sister ready, and we will go to town to-morrow." Isa bore the journey home pretty well. Once at home, however, she faded rapidly, and it soon became evident that her days were numbered. She rarely left her room, though she sat up most of the time. She was always cheerful and smiling, and suffered very little, though she had some days and nights of sad restlessness and wandering, her mind always running upon lessons of impossible length, and, above all, on the piano. At such times only Rhoda could quiet or control her. Usually, however, she was very manageable and very happy. It was most touching to see Mr. Ferrand putting aside all his usual employments to read the simple stories and play over and over the simple games in which Isa took pleasure, and to observe the change in Isa's feelings toward her father. "Pa, I want to talk to you all by ourselves," said she, one day. "You will let me say all that comes in my head, won't you?" "Certainly, my love." "You never used to call me by such nice names," said Isa. "I used to get so tired of hearing you say 'Isabella.' But never mind that, pa; I want to talk to you about Rhoda." "Well, my darling, what of her?" "You used to say, a good while ago, that you meant to take me to Europe some time to finish my musical education with some of the great masters there," continued Isa. "Didn't you?" "Yes, daughter; I had such a plan at one time," answered Mr. Ferrand, with a sigh that was almost a groan. "Well, pa, I want you to do that for Rhoda when I am gone. I shall be gone before a great while, you know, and then Rhoda will be your daughter. I never could learn music, but Rhoda can, and she loves it dearly, She will play and sing splendidly, I am sure. And it was so good in her to give up all her lessons and her practising for the sake of taking care of me, wasn't it?" "It was indeed, Isa. I shall never forget it." "Then you will do this for her and me, won't you?" "Yes, my dear," answered Mr. Ferrand. "I promise you that Rhoda shall never want any advantages that I can give her." "And you will let her be your daughter, won't you, pa?"