not “six months” only, but a dozen years of intelligent life, were gone from her, and she had not even taught a dog to dance a jig!  That was the very way she put it in her humility; and I do not say that she placed it too low, because really I don’t know that Flossy Shipley had ever had even so settled a purpose in life as that!  She had simply fluttered around the edge of this solemn business that we call living.

But along with the sober thought glowed the earnest purpose:  given another dozen years to my young lady’s life and they will bear a different record; and whatever they bear, Dr. Hurlburt will be in a sense responsible for, though he never saw her and probably never will.  Verily this living is a complicated bewildering thing Well for us that all the weight of the responsibility is not ours to bear.

There was still another story, and over it Flossy’s lips parted, and her eyes glowed with feeling.  That wonderful machine that the most skillful workmen tried in vain to repair, that was useless and worthless, until the name of the owner was found on it, and he was sent for, then indeed it found the master-hand, the only one who could right it; she did not need Dr. Hurlbut’s glowing application.  “So He who made us, and engraved his name, his image, on our bodies, can alone take our hearts and make them right.”

Flossy listened to this and the sentences that followed, thrilling her heart with their power and beauty—­thrilling as they would not have done one week ago, for did she not know by actual experience just how blessed a worker the great Maker was?  Had she not carried her heart to him, and had he not left his indelible impression there?  Oh, this was a wonderful meeting to Flossy—­one that she will never forget—­one that many others will have reason to remember, because of the way in which she listened.  But was it not strange, the way in which her education was being cared for?

After tea she stood at the entrance of the tent, looking out for the girls—­looking out, also, on the cool, quiet sunset and the glory spread everywhere, for there had been sunshine that day, part of the time, and there was a clear sun setting.  Under her arm she held the treasure which she had in the morning determined to possess—­a good, plain, large-print Bible, not at all like the velvet-covered one that lay on her toilet-stand at home, but such as the needs of Bible students at Chautauqua had demanded, and therefore much better fitted for actual service than the velvet.

Among the many passers-by came Mrs. Smythe.  She halted before Flossy.

“Good-evening.  I thought your party must have left.  I haven’t seen you since Thursday.  Haven’t you been fearfully bored?  We are going to leave on Monday morning—­going to Saratoga.  Don’t some of you want to join us?

“I don’t know,” Flossy said, thoughtfully mindful of Ruth and her plan that had not worked.  “It is possible that Miss Erskine may Do your entire party go?”