Part 5 (2/2)
”Why, that's nothing! I am going to pa.s.s, too. If I get through the seminary I am going to Smith College some day.”
”And if I pa.s.s for the eighth grade I'm going to keep right on studying for the first grade in high-school. Miss Clem says I can. I talked with her the other night. She says she'll help. Oh, Glory, there is no end to this road you have started me on.”
”I am glad,” said Glory. ”Auntie says for folks to keep on when they're doing well enough, and not fret about the other end of the road. One never knows what's on ahead or what may happen.”
”And if I ever get to be anybody, Glory Wetherell, remember it's you who started me.”
After a while the subdued chattering ceased, and the two girls fell asleep, Glory to dream that she and her new friend graduated together from the Centre Town Seminary, in beautiful twin white dresses, and that Aunt Hope was there and clapped her thin, white hands (but they were round and pink-tinted in the dream) when she heard Glory's valedictory.
The Other Girl's dream was of longed-for luxuries for the patient mother and legs that matched for Tiny Tim. Both dreams came to an end in a startling way.
Chapter VI.
Glory and Diantha were awakened from their rosy dreams by a sharp voice calling, ”Fire! Fire!” They started up in affright, only to find little Timmie perched on the foot of the bed, crying monotonously, ”Fire! Fire!” and interspersing his fire-alarm with brisk drummings of his crutch against the footboard. But though he had alarmed the girls, he himself did not look alarmed.
”Fire! Fire! Fi--”
”Timothy Leavitt, where is it? Tell me quick!” his sister gasped breathlessly.
”In the kitchen. Fire! Fire! Fi--”
”The kitchen? What part of it?--where?”
”In the stove. _I_ built it,” Timmie said in an aggrieved tone, but his eyes were glinting with mischief sparks. ”I built it hours ago, an' you didn't get up--an' you _didn't_ get up! I didn't s'pose we'd ever have breakfast unless I wokened you up.”
”You bad little boy! So you went and made us think there was a fire?”
”Well, there is--I built it, so there!”
Glory was still laughing periodically over their fright, when they got to the station to take the train. She had the picture of innocent-faced Timmie still in her mind, and the monotonous drumming of his little crutch, between his alarms, in her ears.
”'Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!'” she sang laughingly. ”Didn't the little scamp give us a fine scare, though! But he woke us up!”
”Oh, yes, he woke us up,” answered the Other Girl, grimly.
After morning recitations, the Princ.i.p.al of the Centre Town Seminary had a caller in her office. It was Glory, with a pretty little air of pleading about her. She came in, in answer to the Princ.i.p.al's ”Come,”
and stood, a suppliant, in the doorway.
”Are you busy? Ought I to go away?” she asked. ”You see, I've got quite a lot to say.”
”Then say it, my dear,” the Princ.i.p.al smiled pleasantly. ”Sit down in that chair and begin.”
”Well, then--oh, Miss Sweet.w.a.ter, can't my friend graduate with me? I mean, if you let me graduate--or if you _don't_ let me--I mean can't she graduate, anyway? She is a splendid scholar, and--and she needs to graduate somewhere! You'll let her, won't you?”
The Princ.i.p.al smiled. ”Who is your friend, Glory?” she asked.
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