to guide than to enforce her application. She soon acquired a
reading knowledge of French, and knew her Racine in the original
almost as well as her Shakespeare. Literature became for her an
actual passion. She delved into Tennyson and the Victorian poets,
and soon was on terms of intimacy with the poets and essayists of
New England. The novelists of the day she ignored almost completely,
and voluntarily. Only occasionally, and then as a concession, she
permitted herself a reading of Mr. Howells.

Moderately prosperous while he himself was conducting his little
mill, Dearborn had not been able to put by any money to speak of,
and when Laura and the local lawyer had come to close up the
business, to dispose of the mill, and to settle the claims against
what the lawyer grandiloquently termed "the estate," there was just
enough money left to pay for Page's tickets to Chicago and a course
of tuition for her at a seminary.

The Cresslers on the event of Dearborn's death had advised both
sisters to come West, and had pledged themselves to look after Page
during the period of her schooling. Laura had sent the little girl
on at once, but delayed taking the step herself.

Fortunately, the two sisters were not obliged to live upon their
inheritance. Dearborn himself had a sister--a twin of Aunt
Wess'--who had married a wealthy woollen merchant of Boston, and
this one, long since, had provided for the two girls. A large sum
had been set aside, which was to be made over to them when the
father died. For years now this sum had been accumulating interest.
So that when Laura and Page faced the world, alone, upon the steps
of the Barrington cemetery, they had the assurance that, at least,