letters came from Mrs. Page, and nothing was heard of their contents,
except that "Cousin Olivia sent her love." So it was a shock, when
one day papa called Katy into the study to tell of a new plan. She
knew at once that it was something important when she heard his voice:
it sounded so grave. Beside, he said "My daughter," he began, "I want
to talk to you about something which I have been thinking of. How
would you and Clover like going away to school together?"

"To school? To Mrs. Knight's?"

"No, not to Mrs. Knight's. To a boarding-school at the East, where
Lilly Page has been for two years. Didn't you hear Cousin Olivia
speak of it when she was here?"

"I believe I did. But, papa, you won't really?"

"Yes, I think so," said Dr. Carr, gently. "Listen, Katy, and don't
feel so badly, my dear child. I've thought the plan over carefully;
and it seems to me a good one, though I hate to part from you. It
is pretty much as your cousin says: these home-cares, which I can't
take from you while you are at home, are making you old before your
time. Heaven knows I don't want to turn you into a silly giggling
miss; but I should like you to enjoy your youth while you have it,
and not grow middle-aged before you are twenty."

"What is the name of the school?" asked Katy. Her voice sound a good
deal like a sob.

"The girls call it 'The Nunnery.' It is at Hillsover, on the
Connecticut River, pretty cold, I fancy; but the air is sure to be