I s ` pose you 've been day-dreaming again up there . I do wish , Jane Lavinia , that you had more sense . '' Jane Lavinia made no response . At any other time she would have gone out with a lump in her throat ; but now , after what Mr. Stephens had said , Aunt Rebecca 's words had no power to hurt her . `` After milking I 'll ask her about it , '' she said to herself , as she went blithely down the sloping yard , across the little mossy bridge over the brook , and up the lane on the hill beyond , where the ferns grew thickly and the grass was beset with tiny blue-eyes like purple stars . The air was moist and sweet . At the top of the lane a wild plum tree hung out its branches of feathery bloom against the crimson sky . Jane Lavinia lingered , in spite of Aunt Rebecca 's hurry , to look at it . It satisfied her artistic instinct and made her glad to be alive in the world where wild plums blossomed against springtime skies . The pleasure of it went with her through the pasture and back to the milking yard ; and stayed with her while she helped Aunt Rebecca milk the cows . When the milk was strained into the creamers down at the spring , and the pails washed and set in a shining row on their bench , Jane Lavinia tried to summon up her courage to speak to Aunt Rebecca . They were out on the back verandah ; the spring twilight was purpling down over the woods and fields ; down in the swamp the frogs were singing a silvery , haunting chorus ; a little baby moon was floating in the clear sky above the white-blossoming orchard on the slope . Jane Lavinia tried to speak and could n't . For a wonder , Aunt Rebecca spared her the trouble . `` Well , what did Mr. Stephens think of your pictures ? '' she asked shortly . `` Oh ! '' Everything that Jane Lavinia wanted to say came rushing at once and together to her tongue 's end . `` Oh , Aunt Rebecca , he was delighted with them ! And he said I had remarkable talent , and he wants me to go to New York and study in an art school there .
He says Mrs. Stephens finds it hard XXXXX get good help , and if I 'd be willing to work for her in the mornings , I could live with them and have my afternoons off .
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