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I turned quickly away and went froes, but after supper, ere all gathered about the sitting room table, Father returned to the subjectCommencement week, and must have understood matters

"Ready t' stay hum now, I s'pose, ain't ye?" he asked with a note in his voice of cheery assurance that perhaps he did not feel, tilting back and forth in his old-fashioned rocking chair, as I had so often seen hiainst expression And the slow jog, jog, jog of the chair reils had worn away the rockers until they stood flat upon the floor, ht, he is rocking just the saet home, of course," I said; "but--I wanted to speak with you But not to-night"

"Why, ye're through school"

"Yes, but I--I wish I could go on studying; if I may"

The words tripped over each other inof the chair paused suddenly, leaving for aof the clock to break the silence

"Not goin' to put up 'ith us an' stay right alon', eh?" he asked; and rocked twice, then stopped again, in suspense for the answer

"Why, Father," I sta unless you're willing, but I had thought I'd like--I did want to go and study in the city--I think--or somewhere"

"Dear me! Dear me!" he h the University; 'way up to the top, too Can't ye--seems as if ye better stop alon' of us an' study hoood for ye, studyin' so much"

"Of course I can, you dear old Dad," I cried; and horribly guilty I felt as I looked at the kindly, weather-beaten face "I shall do just whatever you say But oh, I wish I could go to the city! Don't you suppose I could?"

"Chicago, raduate course in Barnard College--that's in New York, you know"

Father knew John's plans I blushed hotly In the pause that followed I knew that he was thinking of a well-thu journey to Chicago, and the thousand weary miles that stretched beyond Hastily I went on:-"But I kno you have saved for me and worked for me and pinched; and I'd be ashaet o on with"