“I don’t mind Hiram hearing,” Kit said; “maybe he can suggest some way out.  Just read that letter over, Dad, very, very carefully, and see if there isn’t some way you can smuggle me out to Delphi, without hurting Uncle Cassius’ feelings.”

Mr. Bobbins adjusted his eye-glasses, smiling the little whimsical smile that Kit loved, and together they read the missive again——­

    “My dear Jerrold:—­

    “I trust both you and Elizabeth are enjoying good health, and
    that this finds you both facing a more prosperous time than when
    I heard last from you.

“It has occurred to both Daphne and myself that we may be able to relieve you of part of your responsibility and care, at least for a short time.  If the experiment should prove advantageous to all concerned we might be able to arrange a longer stay.  One suggestion, however, I feel privileged to make.  We would prefer that you would send the boy, as you know this is a college town, and I am sure it would broaden his views to come west, even for a short time.  I need hardly add that we will do all in our power to make his stay a pleasant and profitable one.

“Another point to consider is this.  I would like to interest him in a few of my little hobbies, archaeology, geology, etc.  I have delved deeply into the mysteries of the past, and feel I should pass what I have learned on as a heritage to youth.

“Trusting that you and Elizabeth will be able to coincide with
our views in the matter, I remain,

“Yours faithfully,
Cassius C. Peabody.”

“You know, Dad,” here Kit slipped her area persuasively around her father’s neck and patted his shoulder, “you’ve always said yourself that I was the ‘David Copperfield’ in the family.  Don’t you know how the child was to be named after his aunt, Betsy Trotwood, and she never really forgave him for turning out to be a boy instead of a girl.  Mother has told me how she named me Jerrold, Jr., and anyway I’ve done the best I could to live up to it.  Billie says I’m an awfully good pal, and he’d much rather talk to me than any of the boys he knows at school, because I understand what he’s driving at.”

“But don’t you think your mother will need you here?  Jean will be going back to Boston in October to her art class, and Helen is only fourteen.  I don’t think it would matter, if you only visited them for a couple of months, but supposing Uncle Cassius took a fancy to you.”  Mr. Robbins’ eyes twinkled as he watched Kit’s grave face.

“You mean,” she said, “supposing he decided that my brain measured up to his expectations of Jerry, Jr., and they wanted me to stay all winter?  Couldn’t I go to school there, just as well as here?  You know, Dad, I’m really not a child any longer.  Don’t you realize that I’m fifteen and a half?”

“Reaching years of discretion, aren’t you, girlie?” smiled her father.  “I suppose it would do you a lot of good in a broadening way to go through a new experience like this.”