Mary nodded. "Of course. I should hate to have a woman fussing around.
And I set the rent for the suite at exactly the amount I shall need to
take me through this year, and he was satisfied."

She turned and picked up a printed slip from the table.

"This is the way I wrote my ad," she said, "and I had twenty-seven
answers. And this seemed the best----"

"Twenty-seven!" Aunt Frances held out her hand. "Will you let me see
what you wrote to get such remarkable results?"

Mary handed it to her, and through the diamond-studded lorgnette Aunt
Frances read:

"To let: Suite of two rooms and bath; with Gentleman's Library. House on
top of a high hill which overlooks the city. Exceptional advantages for
a student or scholar."

"I consider," said Mary, as Aunt Frances paused, "that the Gentleman's
Library part was an inspiration. It was the bait at which they all
nibbled."

The General chuckled, "She'll do. Let her have her own way, Frances.
She's got a head on her like a man's."

Aunt Frances turned on him. "Mary speaks what is to me a rather new
language of independence. And she can't stay here alone. She _can't_.
It isn't proper--without an older woman in the house."