Jerusha's guilty expression this time was not assumed.

'It seemed to me that you showed little gratitude in holding up to

ridicule the institution that has done so much for you. Had you not

managed to be funny I doubt if you would have been forgiven. But

fortunately for you, Mr.--, that is, the gentleman who has just

gone--appears to have an immoderate sense of humour. On the strength

of that impertinent paper, he has offered to send you to college.'

'To college?' Jerusha's eyes grew big. Mrs. Lippett nodded.

'He waited to discuss the terms with me. They are unusual. The

gentleman, I may say, is erratic. He believes that you have

originality, and he is planning to educate you to become a writer.'

'A writer?' Jerusha's mind was numbed. She could only repeat Mrs.

Lippett's words.

'That is his wish. Whether anything will come of it, the future will

show. He is giving you a very liberal allowance, almost, for a girl

who has never had any experience in taking care of money, too liberal.

But he planned the matter in detail, and I did not feel free to make

any suggestions. You are to remain here through the summer, and Miss

Pritchard has kindly offered to superintend your outfit. Your board

and tuition will be paid directly to the college, and you will receive

in addition during the four years you are there, an allowance of

thirty-five dollars a month. This will enable you to enter on the same

standing as the other students. The money will be sent to you by the

gentleman's private secretary once a month, and in return, you will

write a letter of acknowledgment once a month. That is--you are not to

thank him for the money; he doesn't care to have that mentioned, but

you are to write a letter telling of the progress in your studies and

the details of your daily life. Just such a letter as you would write

to your parents if they were living.

'These letters will be addressed to Mr. John Smith and will be sent in

care of the secretary. The gentleman's name is not John Smith, but he

prefers to remain unknown. To you he will never be anything but John

Smith. His reason in requiring the letters is that he thinks nothing

so fosters facility in literary expression as letter-writing. Since you

have no family with whom to correspond, he desires you to write in this

way; also, he wishes to keep track of your progress. He will never

answer your letters, nor in the slightest particular take any notice of

them. He detests letter-writing and does not wish you to become a

burden. If any point should ever arise where an answer would seem to

be imperative--such as in the event of your being expelled, which I

trust will not occur--you may correspond with Mr. Griggs, his

secretary. These monthly letters are absolutely obligatory on your

part; they are the only payment that Mr. Smith requires, so you must be

as punctilious in sending them as though it were a bill that you were

paying. I hope that they will always be respectful in tone and will

reflect credit on your training. You must remember that you are

writing to a Trustee of the John Grier Home.'




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