"Of course not," I answered; "but you might write to Mr. Burke to send me
a catalogue to find out how much I'd have to know to get taken in. Then I
could study at home till I got pretty near ready, and then take a year at
the Academy."

The words flowed easily, eagerly; I had so often gone over the plan.

"Good idee," said Pa, nodding his head, relieved to find that I wasn't
seeking to leave home at once; and so it was arranged.

Isn't it wonderful? Plain and bald and homely the house, unpretending the
surroundings, simple and primitive the life, that sent forth the world's
first beautiful woman, the Woman of the Secret! I have tried to set it all
down exactly as it happened--the quaint, old-fashioned dialect, the homely
ways, the bearded, booted men. For this place, just as it was, was the
birthplace of the new glory; out of this homely simplicity dawned the new
era of beauty that is to make the whole world glad.

A catalogue was sent for, books were bought and I set to work unaided,
though Mr. Stoddard took an interest in my studies and often helped me out
of difficulties. I chose the classical course, undeterred by parental
demonstrations of the "plum uselessness" of Latin and Greek; I had for the
choice no better reason than that it was more difficult. I no longer went
to the little red schoolhouse.

All this time I had almost forgotten Billy, to whom I owed such a debt of
gratitude for sending me upon the Quest. Once I met him on the road.

"Ain't ye never comin' to school no more?" he queried.