also keep Dotty at home, and so, altogether, I think I shall have to
give in."

"Oh, you angel mother! You blessed lady! How good you are!" And Dolly
flew around the table and gave her mother a hug that nearly suffocated
her.

"There, there, Dollygirl," said her father, "go back and finish your
pudding while we talk this over a bit. Are you sure, Edith, you are
willing? I don't want you to feel miserable and anxious all the week
Dolly is cut loose from your apron string."

"No, Will; it's all right. If you and the Roses and Trudy, here, all
agree it's best for Dolly to go, it seems foolish for me to object.
And it may be for her good, after all."

"That's what I say, mother," put in Trudy. "Doll isn't a child,
exactly. She's fifteen and a half, and it will be a fine experience
for her to see a little bit of the great world. And she couldn't do it
under better conditions than at Mr. Forbes' brother's. The Forbes' are
a fine family, and you know, perfectly well, there'll be nothing there
that isn't just exactly right."

"It isn't that, Trudy. But,--oh, I don't know; I daresay I'm a foolish
mother bird, afraid of her littlest fledgling."

"You're a lovely mother-bird!" cried Dolly, "and not foolish a bit!
but, oh, do decide positively, for I can't wait another minute to tell
Dot, if I'm going."