"She's gone to that fool Normal-thing! Where did she get the
money?" cried Mrs. Bates.

"I don't know!" said Nancy Ellen. "She asked me yesterday, but of
course I told her that so long as you and Father decided she was
not to go, I couldn't possibly lend her the money."

"Did you look if she had taken it?"

Nancy Ellen straightened. "Mother! I didn't need do that!"

"You said she took your clothes," said Mrs. Bates.

"I had hers this time last year. She'll bring back clothes."

"Not here, she won't! Father will see that she never darkens
these doors again. This is the first time in his life that a
child of his has disobeyed him."

"Except Adam, when he married Agatha; and he strutted like a
fighting cock about that."

"Well, he won't 'strut' about this, and you won't either, even if
you are showing signs of standing up for her. Go at that wash,
while I get dinner."

Dinner was on the table when Adam Bates hung his hat on its hook
and saw the note for him. He took it down and read:

FATHER: I have gone to Normal. I borrowed the money of a woman