Page:George Weston--The apple-tree girl.djvu/84

 till her head began to ache. She couldn't sing; she couldn't act; she couldn't draw; she couldn't write; she couldn't play. Then what on earth, she asked herself, could she do? No wonder her poor little head ached! No wonder that, as the days went on, there were times when she felt like taking that little purple book and hurling it into the Quinebaug River as far as she could throw it.

She was glad of the diversion when Mr. Chapman rode over to see her the week before school started and explained the lessons for the first term.

"I had a young gentleman inquiring for you yesterday," he said, smiling with significance just before he left.

"Oh!" said Charlotte, looking very sedate indeed.

"Yes; Neil Kennedy. He was graduated three years ago, you remember, and won the Milner scholarship. Attending medical school now. He asked to be remembered."