“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.”

“’Stop talking’!” roared Amos.  “I’ve fallen pretty far below what my ancestors stood for, but I ain’t that low yet.  Now,” his voice softened, “you stop worrying.  Levine and I’ll take care of this.”

Lydia looked at her father doubtfully and suddenly he laughed unsteadily and kissed her.  “You get more and more like your mother.  I’ve seen that look on her face a hundred times when I told her I’d fix up a money matter.  I don’t know what I’d do without you, Lydia, I swan.”

This was rare demonstrativeness for Amos.  The reaction from anxiety was almost too much for Lydia.  She laughed a little wildly, and seizing Adam by his fore paws put him through a two step that was agony for the heavy fellow.  Then she put on her coat, and bareheaded started for a walk.  Amos stood in the window staring after the bright hair in the October sun until it disappeared into the woods.  Then he sighed softly.  “Oh, Patience, Patience, I wonder if you can see her now!”