Mrs. Archibald Hollister--Ethel's mother--was worldly and ambitious;
not so much for herself as for her daughter. Grand-mother Hollister,
whose husband had belonged to one of New York's oldest families, owned
the house in which they lived, free and clear. It was an old-fashioned
brown-stone affair near Riverside Drive. Archibald, her son, paid the
taxes in lieu of rent, but as his salary was only three thousand a year
it was extremely difficult to make both ends meet, and Grandmother had no
money save what was in the house. But Mrs. Archie was clever. She could
make a dollar do the work of five. With her own hands she would fashion
for Ethel the most dainty and up-to-date gowns, wraps, hats, etc.,
imaginable.

The Hollisters kept but one maid. She always appeared trim and tidy, yet
she did the entire housework. Upon the days that Mrs. Archie gave bridge
parties or afternoon teas for Ethel's young friends, she hired two extra
girls who had been so perfectly trained that the guests never once
doubted but that they were part of the household--allowing to Mrs.
Archie's clever management.

Ethel attended a fashionable school costing her father more money than he
could afford, but she met there the very best class of girls and really
formed for herself the most desirable acquaintances. Her mother scrimped
and saved in every way possible, while the guests who came to the
old-fashioned house with its handsome antique furniture and portraits
were wont to declare that "the Hollisters were certainty aristocratic and
of blue blood, as their house showed it--so severe and yet elegant." So
Mrs. Archie felt that the Hollister name alone should procure for Ethel a
monied husband, and she held it constantly before the girl. She must
associate only with those in the "upper circle," and marry a man who
could give her a "fine establishment."