“You’ll have to buy our tickets, Uncle Louie,” she said stiffly, as he drove them to the train. “Papa will send you the money later.”

Uncle Louie was disturbed by their sudden departure, but afraid to tempt fate by forbidding it. They didn’t need tickets after all, for a freight train ambled along with an engineer and brakeman from the London Junction yards, so they rode free in the caboose, singing all the way for the edification of the other occupants, the county sheriff and a swarthy gentleman handcuffed to him, en route to the state penitentiary. The swarthy gentleman was stimulated to sing “Santa Lucia” and “Funicula,” in Italian, and readily taught them to the girls, so they felt the trip was highly worthwhile.

“What’ll we do when we get there?” Marcia asked as the train came into the switchyards. “Mr. Purdy said he had to have our room for the stock company this month.”

“You wait and see,” Lena said mysteriously.

Florrie and Marcia watched their competent leader with satisfaction. At London Junction she held up a hand for the cab.

“Drive us to Mrs. Lois Blair’s,” she commanded, and after they got in she said, “You’re to charge this to Mr. Harry Willard, please.”

“Oughtn’t we to run in and see Bonnie?” Marcia asked.

Lena shook her head.

“No, sir, we’re not going any place we’re not wanted,” she declared. “I’m sick and tired of it. Aunt Lois will have to keep us because she’s our aunt, isn’t she?”

They were all excited at the idea of moving into Aunt Lois’s big house, and all pleased with Lena’s masterly management. Aunt Lois, just back from Cleveland, was caught in the right mood, much impressed with their Italian songs. She laughed appreciatively over Lena’s account of their difficulties. They did exactly the right thing, she said. Whenever they were in trouble they must come straight to her. She’d manage somehow.

19

AT THIS TIME AUNT Lois was thirty-four years old, buxom and handsome and, according to Papa’s grumbling admission, worth nearly ten thousand dollars! Apart from her house, she had done well with her stock in the Lesterville Steel Mills, even though she was always being tapped by all of her relations for loans (never to be repaid). She enjoyed her position as leader of the family, feeling that her generosity entitled her to dictate the lives of all her dependents. She kept in touch with all the northern Ohio relations, passing on their marriages, schools, diets, jobs, pleasures, and clothes. Each year she had one hobby which she obliged the rest of the family to share. One year she insisted that the cure for all diseases was to wear Ground Gripper shoes, the next year it was a front-lace corset which she would have gladly foisted on the men, too. Then came the fireless-cooker year, the cooking-in-paper-bags year, the linoleum-over-the-whole-house year, the cement-porch year, the shower-bath year, and each one of these obsessions received the passionate devotion of a new religion, working its way into her conversation on any subject, and invested with powers little less than magical of renewing health, wealth, and happiness. The relations, bound by debt to Aunt Lois, had to admit the common sense of her advice, and permitted themselves to be badgered into following her commands, particularly since her zeal led her to advance further loans for carrying out her wishes.