“Why, how could you say such a thing as that!” she protested. “Was he mad?” Then, before Lucy could answer, “Why couldn’t you have waited till you saw whether you liked him or not?” “I don’t need to wait, Mamma.” “But, Lucy, there are other things to be considered.” “No, there aren’t, Mamma.” Nannie’s tone changed. “Well, I think you might consider me a little at any rate!” Lucy eyed her mother squarely. “I don’t, Mamma--not in this matter. I’m willing to work for you.” “You are certainly an ungrateful child, Lucy!” Lucy winced. “Nobody knows what I sacrificed when I married your father. He has done nothing and nobody pays any attention to him. His father died with everything in a muddle and he’s never made anything for himself. All the society or notice I get is through my own people, and now when they are disposed to take you up, and give us a chance to be somebody, you won’t even look at one of their friends! I should think you would be glad of the chance to help your family. You would if you had any feelings at all!” Lucy was white. Without answering she walked past her mother and went upstairs to her room. VII Late on the night of Kingsley Dodd’s visit Arthur returned from his trip, and the next morning he had only time for a hasty greeting to his family before leaving to keep an early appointment with the out-of-town client who engaged his services at the moment. An hour after his departure Lucy appeared in the hall with her hat on and her gloves and sun-shade in her hand. “Where are you going, Lucy?” Nannie demanded. “I’m going to Papa’s office,” replied Lucy as she passed out the door. When Lucy reached her father’s place of business she found Mr. Merwent alone. As his daughter entered he was reading a letter. He put it into a drawer in his desk and turned the lock. “Well, Lucy?” He leaned back in his chair and smiled his slow smile as he spoke. She gazed around on the dingy furniture, the old books, the discolored steel engravings, the dusty floor, and other signals of her father’s run-down law practice. Her heart almost failed her, but the memory of the preceding day rushed back upon her. “Papa,” she began, “I want to earn my own living.” Her father scrutinized her face kindly. “I don’t blame you, speaking in general,” he observed, “but why have you so suddenly decided it?” “Mamma and Grandmamma are trying to marry me to Kingsley Dodd in spite of myself, and Mamma thinks I am ungrateful because I object. I don’t think I ought to be dependent on any one any longer.” “You seem to have all the self respect in the family, Lucy,” Mr. Merwent commented, “but what can you do?” “I can learn book binding,” she responded without hesitation. “The pay for fine tooled hand binding is good. Mamie Willis, who used to be in my class at high school, has been to Chicago Art School to learn it. I think I should like to go there. I want to go right away.”