“Mrs. Low is too big a woman for her environment. She’s got too much self respect to be understood by the people in this place. It’s because she’s too big-hearted to be prudent, she’s let herself be unpleasantly criticised!” Mr. Merwent’s manner was warm. Lucy, surprised at her father’s outburst, stared at him in silence, her lips slightly parted. He rose from his chair and walked over to the open window. He stood there for a moment with his back turned, and when he finally reseated himself he appeared as self-contained and emotionless as usual. “Are--are the people you want me to stay with Mrs. Low’s friends?” Lucy paused, once more embarrassed by her father’s calm scrutiny. “Her cousin, Miss Storms,” he explained. “She is very well known in Chicago and could do a lot for you, we think.” This time he used the plural pronoun without hesitation. “You haven’t told your mother anything about this yet?” “No, Papa, I’m afraid Mamma won’t like it.” “So am I, Daughter. We’ll have to talk it over with her tonight.” Lucy looked troubled. “I’m afraid she won’t consent.” “Yes, she will. You go on back now, and we’ll see after supper.” Lucy was very thoughtful as she walked home. She had been much astonished to learn that Mrs. Low and her father were acquainted. “Lucy is going to Chicago to school,” Mr. Merwent announced that night without preamble, toward the end of the evening meal. Nannie looked up from her plate with a startled expression. “What in the world are you talking about, Arthur?” “About Lucy going away to school, as my words implied,” returned Mr. Merwent. “But who said Lucy was going away?” insisted Nannie. “I did,” responded her husband shortly. “Lucy, what is all this about?” asked Nannie, appealing to her daughter. “It’s about Lucy going away to school. Do you think you can manage to understand or shall I repeat it a few more times?” interrupted Arthur almost menacingly. Nannie studied the face of her long silent husband and read in it something that experience taught her to be the signal of an occasion when tears, arguments, and tantrums would avail nothing. She rose suddenly and left the table and not long after they heard the front door close as she went out. “A council of war,” remarked Arthur with a wry smile. Lucy shut herself in her room and cried. About nine o’clock Nannie returned from the “big house” as the Sheldon home was called, where she had received neither comfort nor suggestion. “Don’t ask me to take over the management of your husband too, Nannie!” Mrs. Lockhart had exclaimed with asperity. “Any effort to help you is wasted because you make no attempt to coöperate.” And Nannie had left in tears. When it became apparent that both Arthur and her daughter must be taken at their word, curiosity got the better of the secret resolve Nannie had made to show no interest in the matter of Lucy’s future.