Mrs. Travers had attended a
school where embroidery was the chief number in the curriculum, and
mathematics (after decimal fractions) made elective. Hence it was that
the burden of responsibility came so early to Tavia, who was scarcely
better able to undertake it than the mother.
The unfortunate result of this total lack of management might have
discouraged a man less optimistic than John Travers, but he always "made
allowances," just as he did to-night when the indifferent wife was not
there to share in the family's happy hour.
"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.
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