She could not tell them of all she meant to do; and she must tell them of this part of it, at once, before they heard of it through others.
To leave home--to leave school-teaching, to leave love--and "go out to service" did not seem a step up, that was certain.

But she set her red lips tighter and wrote the letters; wrote them and mailed them that evening, tired though she was.
Three letters came back quickly.
Her mother's answer was affectionate, patient, and trustful, though not understanding.
Her sister's was as unpleasant as she had expected.
"The _idea!_" wrote Mrs.Susie.

"A girl with a good home to live in and another to look forward to--and able to earn money _respectably!_ to go out and work like a common Irish girl! Why Gerald is so mortified he can't face his friends--and I'm as ashamed as I can be! My own sister! You must be _crazy_--simply _crazy!_" It was hard on them.

Diantha had faced her own difficulties bravely enough; and sympathized keenly with her mother, and with Ross; but she had not quite visualized the mortification of her relatives.

She found tears in her eyes over her mother's letter.