"I always shiver so when I first go to bed," said Isa, "and then I am so hot you don't know. Marion brings me a hot brick every night, but I can't get warm for all." "I really think she might answer your purpose very well," said Mrs. Ferrand when Miss Hardy applied to her for information about Rhoda. "She is very neat, and the most trustworthy girl of her age I ever saw. She never disappointed me." "That is a valuable quality, certainly; but why did she go away? Isa said something about a piano which I did not understand." Mrs. Ferrand repeated the story, to which her sister listened with great interest. "Poor child! It was a hard case," said she. "I have known plenty of girls who cheated to get rid of lessons, but I can't say I ever met such an instance as this. And you say she is out of a place? Could I see her, do you think?" "Oh yes. We shall probably find her at 'The Home;' and if not, I will send for her." "And won't you give her an education, Aunt Harriet, or let her work for it?" asked Isa, eagerly. "I will see about that, my child. If she seems likely to suit me, I should prefer to take her as a servant, to begin with, and then I can observe her for myself. I promise you I will do all I can for her." "All right," said Isa. She had perfect confidence in Aunt Harriet, and not the least doubt of Rhoda's capacity to make her way with "reasonable people," as she expressed it. Miss Hardy called at "The Home," saw Rhoda, and had a long talk with her. "You think you would like to come?" "Oh yes, ma'am." "It is a long journey," said Miss Hardy, "but a very easy one, and I will send you careful directions. I suppose, if I do not want you till the first of September, you can remain here?" Rhoda looked at Miss Carpenter. "Certainly," answered Miss Carpenter. "We shall be very glad to have her. Rhoda makes herself very useful in the family." "Very well; then we will consider the matter settled," said Miss Hardy—"that is, if I can depend on your not disappointing me and going off to some other place. You look rather indignant, Rhoda, but that is the way I have been served a great many times. I keep a place for a girl and put myself to some inconvenience to keep my engagement to her, but she does not consider herself in the least bound by her promise to me if she fancies she can do better." "I think you may depend on Rhoda," said Miss Carpenter. Rhoda was delighted. She liked the change, and she had imbibed from Isa a very high idea of Miss Hardy, which was not lessened by seeing her. Then, best of all, she should be in a school, and it would go hard but she would benefit thereby. CHAPTER XIV. _MISS DAVIS'S LETTER._ "I SHALL probably want you to come down about the first of September, as our school opens on the thirteenth this year, but I can tell better when I have consulted Mrs. Hallowell, the housekeeper. At all events, I will write and let you know in good time."