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〃Oh；　that's　it；　eh？　　I　knew　there　was　some　women's　scheme　afloat。　Well；　children；〃　said　the　youth；　waving　his　hand　over　them　in　paternal　benediction；　〃since　this　thing　is　up　we　might　as　well　settle　it　'right　here　and　n…a…o…w；'　as　our　American　friend；　Mr。　Ralph　Waldo　Farwell；　would　say；　and　a　decent　sort　he　is　too。　　I　have　thought　this　all　out。　　Why　should　not　a　man　gifted　with　a　truly　great　brain　replete　with　grey　matter　（again　in　the　style　of　the　aforesaid　Farwell）　do　the　thinking　for　his　wimmin　folk？　　Why　not？　　Hence　the　problem　is　already　solved。　　The　result　is　hereby　submitted；　not　for　discussion　but　for　acceptance；　for　acceptance　you　understand；　to…wit　and　namely；　as　Dad's　J。　P。　law　books　have　it：　I　shall　continue　the　school　another　year。〃

〃You　shan't；〃　shouted　Nora；　seizing　him　by　the　arm　and　shaking　him　with　all　the　strength　of　her　vigorous　young　body。

〃Larry；　dear！〃　said　his　mother。

〃Oh；　Larry！〃　exclaimed　Kathleen。

〃We　shall　then　be　able　to　pay　off　all　our　indebtedness；〃　continued　Larry；　ignoring　their　protests；　〃and　that　is　a　most　important　achievement。　　This　new　job　of　Dad's　means　an　addition　to　our　income。　　The　farm　management　will　remain　in　the　present　capable　hands。　　No；　Miss　Nora；　I　am　not　thinking　of　the　boss；　but　of　the　head；　the　general　manager。〃　　He　waved　his　hand　toward　his　mother。　〃The　only　change　will　be　in　the　foreman。　　A　new　appointment　will　be　made；　one　who　will　bring　to　her　task　not　only　experience　and　with　it　a　practical　knowledge；　but　the　advantage　of　intellectual　discipline　recently　acquired　at　a　famous　educational　centre；　and　the　whole　concern　will　go　on　with　its　usual　verve；　swing；　snap；　toward　another　year's　success。　　Then　next　year　me　for　the　giddy　lights　of　the　metropolitan　city　and　the　sacred　halls　of　learning。〃

〃And　me；〃　said　Nora；　〃what　does　your　high　mightiness　plan　for　me　this　winter；　pray？〃

〃Not　quite　so　much　truculence；　young　lady；〃　replied　her　brother。　〃For　you；　the　wide；　wide　world；　a　visit　to　the　seat　of　light　and　learning　already　referred　to；　namely；　Winnipeg。〃

For　one　single　moment　Nora　looked　at　him。　　Then；　throwing　back　her　head；　she　said　with　unsteady　voice：　　〃Not　this　time；　old　boy。　　One　man　can　lead　a　horse　to　water　but　ten　cannot　make　him　drink；　and　you　may　as　well　understand　now　as　later　that　this　continual　postponement　of　your　college　career　is　about　to　cease。　　We　have　settled　it　otherwise。　　Kathleen　will　take　your　schoolan　awful　drop　for　the　kids；　but　what　joy　for　the　big　boys。　　She　and　I　will　read　together　in　the　evenings。　　The　farm　will　go　on。　　Sam　and　Joe　are　really　very　good　and　steady；　Joe　at　least；　and　Sam　most　of　the　time。　　Dad's　new　work　will　not　take　him　from　home　so　much；　he　says。　And　next　year　me　for　the　fine　arts　and　the　white　lights　of　Winnipeg。　　That's　all　that　needs　to　be　said。〃

〃I　think；　dear；〃　said　the　mother；　looking　at　her　son；　〃Nora　is　right。〃

〃Now；　Mother；〃　exclaimed　Larry；　〃I　don't　like　to　hear　your　foot　come　down　just　yet。　　I　know　that　tone　of　finality；　but　listen〃

〃We　have　listened；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃and　we　know　we　are　right。　　I　shall　take　the　school；　Mr。　Farwell〃

〃Mr。　Farwell；　eh？〃　exclaimed　Nora　significantly。

〃Mr。　Farwell　has　promised　me；〃　continued　Kathleen；　〃indeed　has　offered　me；　the　school。　　Nora　and　I　can　study　together。　　I　shall　keep　up　my　music。　　Nora　will　keep　things　going　outside；　mother　will　look　after　every　thing　as　usual；　Dad　will　help　us　outside　and　in。　So　that's　settled。〃

〃Settled！〃　cried　her　brother。　　〃You　are　all　terribly　settling。　　It　seems　to　me　that　you　apparently　forget〃

Once　more　the　mother　interposed。　　〃Larry；　dear；　Kathleen　has　put　it　very　well。　　Your　father　and　I　have　talked　it　over〃the　young　people　glanced　at　each　other　and　smiled　at　this　ancient　and　well…　worn　phrase〃we　have　agreed　that　it　is　better　that　you　should　finish　your　college　this　winter。　　Of　course　we　know　you　would　suggest　delay；　but　we　are　anxious　that　you　should　complete　your　course。〃

〃But；　Mother；　listen〃　began　Larry。

〃Nonsense；　Larry；　'children；　obey　your　parents'　is　still　valid；〃　said　Nora。　　〃What　are　you　but　a　child　after　all；　though　with　your　teaching　and　your　choral　society　conducting；　and　your　nigger　show　business；　and　your　preaching　in　the　church；　and　your　popularity；　you　are　getting　so　uplifted　that　there's　no　holding　you。　　Just　make　up　your　mind　to　do　your　duty；　do　you　hear？　　Your　duty。　　Give　up　this　selfish　determination　to　have　your　own　way；　this　selfish　pleasing　of　yourself。〃　　Abruptly　she　paused；　rushed　at　him；　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck；　and　kissed　him。　　〃You　darling　old　humbug；〃　she　said　with　a　very　unsteady　voice。　　〃There；　I　will　be　blubbering　in　a　minute。　　I　am　off　for　the　timber　lot。　　What　do　you　say；　Katty？　　It's　cooler　now。　　We'll　go　up　the　cool　road。　　Are　you　coming？〃

〃Yes；　wait　until　I　change。〃

〃All　right；　I　will　saddle　up。　　You　coming；　Larry？〃

〃No；　I'll　catch　up　later。〃

〃Now；　Mother；〃　warned　Nora；　〃I　know　his　ways　and　wiles。　　Remember　your　duty　to　your　children。　　You　are　also　inclined　to　be　horribly　selfish。　　Be　firm。　　Hurry　up；　Kate。〃

Left　alone　with　his　mother；　Larry　went　deliberately　to　work　with　her。　　Well　he　knew　the　immovable　quality　of　her　resolution　when　once　her　mind　was　made　up。　　Patiently；　quietly；　steadily；　he　argued　with　her；　urging　Nora's　claims　for　a　year　at　college。

〃She　needs　a　change　after　her　years　of　hard　work。〃

Her　education　was　incomplete；　the　ground　work　was　sound　enough；　but　she　had　come　to　the　age　when　she　must　have　those　finishing　touches　that　girls　require　to　fit　them　for　their　place　in　life。　　〃She　is　a　splendid　girl；　but　in　some　ways　still　a　child　needing　discipline；　in　other　ways　mature；　too　mature。　　She　ought　to　have　her　chance　and　ought　to　have　it　now。〃　　One　never　knew　what　would　happen　in　the　case　of　girls。

His　mother　sighed。　　〃Poor　Nora；　she　has　had　discipline　enough　of　a　kind；　and　hard　discipline　it　has　been　indeed　for　you　all。〃

〃Nonsense；　Mother；　we　have　had　a　perfectly　fine　time　together；　all　of　us。　　God　knows　if　any　one　has　had　a　hard　time　it　is　not　the　children　in　this　home。　　I　do　not　like　to　think　of　those　awful　winters；　Mother；　and　of　the　hard　time　you　had　with　us　all。〃

〃A　hard　time！〃　exclaimed　his　mother。　　〃I；　a　hard　time；　and　with　you　all　here　beside　me；　and　all　so　well　and　strong？　　What　more　could　I　want？〃　　The　amazed　surprise　in　her　face　stirred　in　her　son　a　quick　rush　of　emotion。

〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother；　Mother；〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。　　〃There　is　no　one　like　you。　　Did　you　ever　in　all　your　life　seek　one　thing　for　yourself；　one　thing；　one　little　thing？　　Away　back　there　in　Ontario　you　slaved　and　slaved　and　went　without　things　yourself　that　all　the　rest　of　us　might　get　them。　　Here　it　has　been　just　the　same。　Haven't　I　seen　your　face　and　your　hands；　your　poor　hands；〃here　the　boy's　voice　broke　with　an　indignant　passion〃blue　with　the　cold　when　you　could　not　get　furs　to　protect　them？　　Never；　never　shall　I　forget　those　days。〃　　The　boy　stopped　abruptly；　unable　to　go　on。

Quickly　the　mother　drew　her　son　toward　her。　　〃Larry；　my　son；　my　son；　you　must　never　think　that　a　hard　time。　　Did　ever　a　woman　have　such　joy　as　I？　　When　I　think　of　other　mothers　and　of　other　children；　and　then　think　of　you　all　here；　I　thank　God　every　day　and　many　times　a　day　that　he　has　given　us　each　other。　　And；　Larry；　my　son；　let　me　say　this；　and　you　will　remember　it　afterwards。　　You　have　been　a　continual　joy　to　me；　always；　always。　　You　have　never　given　me　a　moment's　anxiety　or　pain。　　Remember　that。　　I　continually　thank　God　for　you。　　You　have　made　my　life　very　happy。〃

The　boy　put　his　face　down　on　her　lap　with　his　arms　tight　around　her　waist。　　Never　in　their　life　together　had　they　been　able　to　open　these　deep；　sacred　chambers　in　their　souls　to　each　other's　gaze。　For　some　moments　he　remained　thus；　then　lifting　up　his　face；　he　kissed　her　again　and　again；　her　forehead；　her　eyes；　her　lips。　　Then　rising　to　his　feet；　he　stood　with　his　usual　smile　about　his　lips。　〃You　always　beat　me。　　But　will　you　not　think　this　all　over　again　carefully；　and　we　will　do　what　you　say？　　But　will　you　promise；　Mother；　to　think　it　over　again　and　look　at　my　side　of　it　too？〃

〃Yes；　Larry；　I　promise；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Now　run　after　the　girls；　and　I　shall　have　tea　ready　for　you。〃

As　Larry　rode　down　the　lane　he　saw　the　young　German；　Ernest　Switzer；　and　his　sister　riding　down　the　trail　and　gave　them　a　call。　They　pulled　up　and　waited。

〃Hello；　Ernest；　whither　bound？　　How　are　you；　Dorothea？〃

〃Home；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃and　you？〃

〃Going　up　by　the　timber　lot；　around　by　the　cool　road。　　The　girls　are　on　before。〃

〃Ah；　so？〃　said　the　young　man；　evidently　waiting　for　an　invitation。

〃Do　you　care　to　come？　　It's　not　much　longer　that　way；〃　said　Larry。

〃I　might；〃　said　the　young　man。　　Then　looking　doubtfully　at　his　sister；　〃You　cannot　come　very　well；　Dorothea；　can　you？〃

〃No；　that　is；　I'm　afraid　not；〃　she　replied。　　She　was　a　pretty　girl　with　masses　of　yellow　hair；　light　blue　eyes；　a　plump；　kindly　face　and　a　timid　manner。　　As　she　spoke　she；　true　to　her　German　training；　evidently　waited　for　an　indication　of　her　brother's　desire。

〃There　are　the　cows；　you　know；〃　continued　her　brother。

〃Yes；　there　are　the　cows；〃　her　face　clouding　as　she　spoke。

〃Oh；　rot！〃　said　Larry；　〃you　don't　mil