"My stepmother."
"At any rate, I was your father's wife, and I am ready to do my duty by you. I have been carefully considering what was my duty, and I have asked you to stop after breakfast in order to talk over my plans for you."
"I am listening."
"I think I shall withdraw you from the academy, as under present circumstances it would be impossible to send you to college, and you already have a good education."
"Why impossible?"
"It would be very expensive."
"My father intended to send me to college."
"That may be, but he was earning an income apart from his property, and I am not."
"What is your plan for me, then?"
"I think it will be well for you to go to work at once."