Page:Cornelia Meigs--The Pool of Stars.djvu/51

 with me," Aunt Susan exclaimed, trying a new point of attack. "I had even decided what clothes you were to have. Your traveling suit was to be green faille silk with white furs."

Betsey had before had experience with dresses planned by Aunt Susan. They were apt to be of the sort in which you could not run upstairs, or that split their sleeves if you raised your arms suddenly, but they were always very beautiful. She sighed a little at the thought of the white furs.

"And I dare say you could go to school here and there in places where we stopped long enough," her aunt went on; "that ought to be all you need for keeping up your work."

She had not been to college herself and had not grasped the fact that dropping in upon one school and then another could fail to produce all the education necessary. Elizabeth tried to explain, but found it useless. She wished that, having stated her determination, she could go home at once, for the longer she stayed the more irresistible and enticing did the journey seem. She had rashly consented to stay to dinner, however, and so must prepare for a long struggle. The dinner was half enjoyable on account of the beautiful things on the table, silver and flowers and frail china that Betsey loved, and half terrifying on account of the things that Aunt Susan might be going to say next. She said a great