It was such a prodigious thing to expect that I kept the idea a secret even from myself, just letting it lie where it sprouted, in an unexplored corner of my busy brain.

But it grew on me in spite of myself, till finally I could not resist the temptation to study out the exact place in the encyclopaedia where my name would belong.

I saw that it would come not far from "Alcott, Louisa M."; and I covered my face with my hands, to hide the silly, baseless joy in it.

I practised saying my name in the encyclopaedic form, "Antin, Mary"; and I realized that it sounded chopped off, and wondered if I might not annex a middle initial.

I wanted to ask my teacher about it, but I was afraid I might betray my reasons.