Thus diverted, there ensued a quick confetti of flung opinions. "Minn is a pretty name." "That's because you're stuck on Minnie Duganne in your class. Oh-oh, Roy is stuck on Minnie Duganne!" "Arabella--I just love that name. Don't you, Lilly?" "If I was a girl, I would be named Mamma-Annie." "Shut up, Harry; and, say, you better take back that can opener. You stole it off Mr. Hazzard's dresser." "What is your favorite name, Lilly?" Her eyes on the warts blown into the glass globe, hugging her knees in their sturdy ribbed stockings, her smooth brown hair enhancing her clean kind of prettiness, Lilly gazed up roundly. "I choose," she said, mouthing grandiloquently, her little pink tongue waving like a clapper--"I choose--choose--ah--Zoe!" "That isn't a name!" "'Tis so." "Who ever heard of a girl named Zoe! You never did yourself." "I know I never did, Roy Kemble, but just the same I think it is the most beautiful name in the world. It isn't so much what it really means; names don't have to mean anything--it's what it feels like it means. To me the name Zoe feels like it means--means--" CHORUS: "She don't know what it means. She don't know what it means." "She means doe! The doe in the zoo at Forest Park. Hauh-hauh--her favorite name is Doe." "Zoe," repeated Lilly, her eyes in a trance and lakes of reflected vision. "Zoe--it means--it means something--something full of life. Life--free--to me Zoe means free! Life!" CHAPTER IV When Lilly was fourteen she graduated from grade school, second in her class. "It's an outrage," said Mrs. Becker. "Miss Lare always did pick on the child." "I'd rather have been last than second," said Lilly, trying to keep firm a lip that would tremble. "Never mind, Lilly, you'll have the prettiest graduation dress of them all. I've got Katy Stutz engaged for three days in the house. A girl don't have to be so smart." "I'd rather have the valedictory address than--clothes," still very uncertain of lip. "Of course. That is because for a child you certainly have crazy ideas. Why don't you nag your father a little with what you've been nagging me all week?" "I--Not now, mamma." "Why not now? All I've got to say about it is, if he is willing, I am." "What is it?" "Tell him, Lilly." "I--You see, papa, I thought if only you would let me begin vocal lessons, now that I am going to High School. Not real singing, papa--I'm too young for that--but just the foundation for voice." "She wants to study with Max Rinehardt, Ben. I say it can't do any harm for the child to learn parlor singing. I think I can manage it at a dollar and a half a lesson. The elocution I say 'No' to. We don't need any play-acting in the family." "Why--er--I'm surprised, Lilly, that you should have your heart set on that kind of thing. Seems to me a young girl could find something more worth while than that. Singers never amount to much." "Oh, papa, it's what I want most in the world."