"Hello, Billy," said Lydia, looking up at the young man soberly. Billy was a sophomore in college.
"I'll carry her, if your hands are cold, though I'd hate to be caught at it," he said.
Lydia ignored his offer. "Billy, is there any way a girl like me could earn $600?" she asked him.
Billy looked at the scarlet cheeks and the blowing yellow curls. "I don't," he said. "What's worrying you, Lyd?"
"Nothing," she insisted. Then, anxious to change the subject, she asked, "What're you studying to be, Billy?"
"A farmer. Next year I shift into the long agric. course."
"Goodness!" exclaimed Lydia, "I don't see what you want to study to be a farmer for. I should think you'd want to be something classy like a lawyer or--or something."
"Lots of folks think the same way, but I believe a farmer's the most independent man in the world. And that's what I want to be, independent--call no man boss."
"That's me too, Billy," cried Lydia, pausing at her gate. "That's what I want to be, independent. That's what real Americans are."
"You're a funny little girl," said Billy. "What made you think of that?"
"I often think about it," returned Lydia, running up the path to the door.
Billy stood for a minute looking after her thoughtfully. Then he smiled to himself and went on homeward.
Lydia did not tell her father that night of Marshall's threat. He was in such a tranquil mood that she could not bear to upset him. But the next day she gathered her courage together and told him. Amos was speechless for a moment. Then to her surprise instead of walking the floor and swearing, he gave a long whistle.
"So it's that serious, is it? I wonder just what he's up to! The old crook! Huh! This will be nuts for John though. If he doesn't come out this afternoon, I'll go look him up this evening."
Lydia's jaw dropped. "But, Daddy, you don't seem to realize we'll have to pay $600 the first of January," she urged, her voice still trembling. She had scarcely slept the night before in dread of this moment.
For the first time, Amos looked at her carefully. "Why, my dear child, there's nothing to worry about!" he exclaimed.
"You mean you're going to stop talking for Mr. Levine? Oh, Daddy, don't do that! We can borrow the money somewhere and I'll help pay it back. I'm almost grown up now."