Frances and the General. "You all think it ought to be sold, but if we
sell what will become of Susan Jenks, who nursed us and who nursed
mother, and what shall we do with all the dear old things that were
mother's and father's, and who will live in the dear old rooms?" She was
struggling for composure. "Oh, don't you see that I--I can't go?"

It was Aunt Frances' crisp voice which brought her back to calmness.
"But, my dear, you can't afford to keep it open. Your income with what
Barry earns isn't any more than enough to pay your running expenses;
there's nothing left for taxes or improvements. I'm perfectly willing to
finance you to the best of my ability, but I think it very foolish to
sink any more money--here----"

"I don't want you to sink it, Aunt Frances. Constance begged me to use
her little part of our income, but I wouldn't. We sha'n't need it. I've
fixed things so that we shall have money for the taxes. I--I have rented
the Tower Rooms, Aunt Frances!"

They stared at her stunned. Even Leila tore her adoring eyes from
Barry's face, and fixed them on the girl who made this astounding
statement.

"Mary," Aunt Frances gasped, "do you meant that you are going to
take--lodgers----?"

"Only one, Aunt Frances. And he's perfectly respectable. I advertised
and he answered, and he gave me a bank reference."

"_He_. Mary, is it a man?"