nly a young
girl yet. Besides, I loathe Harvey Bigelow. He talks through his nose
and is vulgar."

"Nonsense," replied her mother, "look at all of the young men of today,
especially among the rich. Are they so very good looking?"

"Yes," replied Ethel, "I think Dorothy Kip has four fine looking
brothers, and I know lots of good looking young men, but I can't endure
Harvey Bigelow although I love Nannie."

"Well, Harvey averages well as to looks, and think of his position and
family, and you a poor man's daughter. If you'll be guided by me, my
dear, I'll put you above them all. Were your father to die what could
you do? Should you like to be a saleswoman?"

Ethel was angry but she knew that her mother spoke wisely. She, too,
loved money and position, as well perhaps as Mrs. Hollister, but she was
not quite so worldly.

The Saturday arrived at last and they started for Akron. Although Ethel
felt ashamed to admit it, owing to Aunt Susan's conspicuous appearance,
she dreaded the train ordeal, but there was no help for it. She did
speak of it to her mother, who calmly surveyed her daughter and replied:
"Ethel, I fear you are a snob."

The girl regarded her mother with astonishment, who without
embarrassment calmly continued: "Did you ever see me act as though I was
ashamed of your aunt?"

And as Ethel thought, she was forced to admit that she never had, for
Mrs. Hollister was a strange anomaly. Her snobbishness seemed to lie in
the desire to rise socially--to take her place with the best--but she
never had seemed to even take exception to Aunt Susan's appearance; in
fact, she felt that people would consider it the eccentricity of a
wealthy woman. She went with her everywhere and never was ashamed,
therefore her reproof to her daughter was sincere.

CHAPTER X

THE JOURNEY

The journey was very pleasant. Ethel enjoyed it. Aunt Susan removed her
hat and tied the objectionable green veil around her head. This didn't
seem quite so out of place. As they talked Ethel noticed that Aunt Susan
was wonderfully well informed on every subject. She was like an
encyclopedia, and her conversation was most interesting.

As they were nearing their destination many of her townspeople passed
through the train. They greeted her most heartily with: "Well, well,
Mrs. Carpenter, we have missed you. Had a pleasant time?"

"How's my boy?" she asked of one man.

"My, but he's fine," rejoined the man,--"won a big case the other