, and you must mention the plan to him."

"Very well."

It was a task which Mrs. Ross did not shrink from, for she had no fear
of hurting the feelings of Uncle Obed, or, rather, she did not care
whether he chose to feel hurt or not.

Uncle Obed was called down to supper, and took his seat at the handsome
tea table, with its silver service. Colonel Ross, to his credit be it
said, received his wife's uncle much more cordially than his own niece
had done, and caused Uncle Obed's face to beam with pleasure.

"Railly, Lucinda," said Uncle Obed, as he looked over the table, "you
have a very comfortable home, I declare."

"Yes, we try to have things comfortable around us," answered Mrs. Ross,
coldly.

"Years ago, when you and your mother lived out in Illinoy, I didn't
think you'd come to live in a house like this."

"Yes, people live in an outlandish way out there," said Mrs. Ross.

"But they have happy homes. When Mary lived, I enjoyed life, though the
old farmhouse seemed rough and plain, compared with your handsome home.
I'm glad to see my sister's child living so well, with all the comforts
that money can buy."

The old man's tone was hearty, and there was a smile of genuine pleasure
on his rugged face. He was forced to admit that his niece was not as
cordial as he hoped, but, then, "Lucinda was always reserved and
quiet-like," he said to himself, and so excused her.

It must be said for Colonel Ross that he knew comparatively little about
his wife's early life, and didn't dream of the large obligations she was
under to Uncle Obed. He was a rich man, and the consciousness of wealth
led him to assume airs of importance, but he was not as cold or
heartless as his wife, and would have insisted on his wife's treating
her uncle better had he known the past. Even as it was, he was much more
gracious and affable than Mrs. Ross to the old man, whom he had never
seen before.

As for Philip, he was a second edition of his mother, and never
addressed a word to Uncle Obed. When the latter spoke to him, he
answered in monosyllables.

"Nancy, you may leave the room. I'll call you if I want you."

This was what Mrs. Ross said to the servant, fearing that Uncle Obed
might refer to her early poverty, and that the girl might talk about it
in the neighborhood.

Though Colonel Ross made conversation easy for him, Uncle Obed could not
help feeling the coldness of his niece.

"Lucindy might treat me better," he thought, "afte