“Am I to understand,” inquired Miss Margaret, wonderingly, “that the permission to sit with one’s feet on the rounds of a lady’s chair is taken in New Canaan as an indication of her favor—­and even of her inclination to matrimony?”

“It’s looked to as meanin’ gettin’ down to biz!” the doctor affirmed.

“Then,” meekly, “I humbly apologize.”

“That’s all right,” generously granted the doctor, “if you didn’t know no better.  But to be sure, I’m some disappointed.”

“I’m sorry for that!”

“Would you of mebbe said yes, if you hadn’t of been promised a’ready to one of them tony Millersville Normal professors,” the doctor inquired curiously—­“me bein’ a professional gentleman that way?”

“I’m sure,” replied this daughter of Eve, who wished to use the doctor in her plans for Tillie, “I should have been highly honored.”

The rueful, injured look on the doctor’s face cleared to flattered complacency.  “Well,” he said, “I’d like wery well to do what you ast off of me fur little Tillie Getz.  But, Teacher, what can a body do against a feller like Jake Getz?  A body can’t come between a man and his own offspring.”

“I know it,” replied Margaret, sadly.  “But just keep a little watch over Tillie and help her whenever you see that you can.  Won’t you?  Promise me that you will.  You have several times helped her out of trouble this winter.  There may be other similar opportunities.  Between us, doctor, we may be able to make something of Tillie.”

The doctor shook his head.  “I’ll do my darn best, Teacher, but Jake Getz he’s that wonderful set.  A little girl like Tillie couldn’t never make no headway with Jake Getz standin’ in her road.  But anyways, Teacher, I pass you my promise I’ll do what I can.”

Miss Margaret’s parting advice and promises to Tillie so fired the girl’s ambition and determination that some of the sting and anguish of parting from her who stood to the child for all the mother-love that her life had missed, was taken away in the burning purpose with which she found herself imbued, to bend her every thought and act in all the years to come to the reaching of that glorious goal which her idolized teacher set before her.

“As soon as you are old enough,” Miss Margaret admonished her, “you must assert yourself.  Take your rights—­your right to an education, to some girlish pleasures, to a little liberty.  No matter what you have to suffer in the struggle, fight it out, for you will suffer more in the end if you let yourself be defrauded of everything which makes it worth while to have been born.  Don’t let yourself be sacrificed for those who not only will never appreciate it, but who will never be worth it.  I think I do you no harm by telling you that you are worth all the rest of your family put together.  The self-sacrifice which pampers the selfishness of others is not creditable.  It is weak.  It is unworthy.  Remember what I say to you—­make a fight for your rights, just as soon as you are old enough—­your right to be a woman instead of a chattel and a drudge.  And meantime, make up for your rebellion by being as obedient and helpful and affectionate to your parents as you can be, without destroying yourself.”