Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/302

“I think I do,” said Miss Royal gently. “I was once a young girl in Shrewsbury, eating my heart out because I had no chance.”

“But you made your own chance—and won out,” said Emily wistfully.

“Yes—but I had to go away to do it. I could never have got anywhere here. And it was a horribly hard climb at first. It took my youth. I want to save you some of the hardships and discouragements. You will go far beyond what I have done—you can create—I can only build with the materials others have made. But we builders have our place—we can make temples for our gods and goddesses if nothing else. Come with me, dear Girl Emily, and I will do all I can to help you in every way.”

“Thank you—thank you,” was all Emily could say. Tears of gratitude for this offer of ungrudging help and sympathy were in her eyes. She had not received too much of sympathy or encouragement in her life. It touched her deeply. She went away feeling that she must turn the key and open the magic door beyond which now seemed to lie all the beauty and allurement of life—if only Aunt Elizabeth would let her.

“I can’t do it if she doesn’t approve,” decided Emily.

Half-way home she suddenly stopped and laughed. After all, Miss Royal had forgotten to show her Chu-Chin.

“But it doesn’t matter,” she thought, “because in the first place I can’t believe that, after this, I'll ever feel any real interest in chow dogs. And in the second place I'll see him often enough if I go to New York with Miss Royal.”

WOULD she go to New York with Miss Royal? That was the question Emily had now to answer. Or rather, the question Aunt Elizabeth must answer.