“Maybe I can help you with the books,” suggested Tavia, when the possible details of the new position were being discussed.

“Oh, I will have plenty of time to attend to them, daughter,” her father replied.  “The books I want you to attend to are those at school—­I want you to make up for lost time.  Dalton people will expect more from us now that they are giving us a chance.”

“Dorothy says I do better than I imagine,” replied Tavia.  “I did not expect to pass—­I had been home so much—­but if only I could get a ‘conditional,’ and leave when Dorothy does!”

Ambition had come to Tavia—­at last.

Her father wished her to get through school, and she determined, if such a thing was possible she would do it.

“I could study very hard,” she told herself, when thinking the matter over very seriously, that night, in her own little cheerless room.  “Dorothy has all her work done, and I am sure she will help me.”

And what a surprise it would be to every one if she really did get “conditioned” in the studies she failed in, and should actually graduate in the general work.

What a wonderful thing it was to have something definite to work for!  Dorothy and Alice had always felt that way, but until to-night Tavia had never known the real joy of doing good work, with the actual reward in sight.  Home life had been dreary indeed, school had been little better, the only bright spot in the misplaced life had been put in by Dorothy Dale.  And what a power for good had been the quiet, unobtrusive influence!

“I owe every single thing to Dorothy,” Tavia declared to her own heart that eventful night, “and I hope some day I will be able to show her I am not ungrateful.”

CHAPTER XVII

A GIRL’S WEAPON

Tavia’s plans took shape next morning—­there was nothing visionary about them.  She did surprise her father with a neat breakfast table, and Johnnie surprised himself with a clean linen suit.

“Nothing succeeds like success,” said the father, pleased and happy that, at last something had “happened” to brighten the make-shift home.

“And when mother comes,” Tavia announced, “she will find that I have discovered how to keep house, for I have already provided for dinner.  Now Johnnie, be careful that you do me credit—­go right straight to school when it’s time, and don’t, as you value your place in—­in—­my heart, miss a single lesson!”

“Good!” said the father, actually taking a tiny rosebud from the clean milk bottle, in the center of the table, and putting it in his buttonhole.

“Would it be silly for a boy to wear a flower?” faltered Johnnie, “Joe Dale often does.”

“Indeed every boy in school will know to-day that pop is the ’head constable’ so why shouldn’t you decorate?” and the sister put in the fresh linen waist a bud that exactly matched the one chosen by the squire.