When Mary-'Gusta was seventeen a great event took place.

The happening which led to it was trivial enough, but the results were important and far-reaching.

They led to the second great change in her life, a change as important as that brought about by her memorable "visit" to South Harniss.
She was a girl in years still, but tall for her age, and in thought and manner almost a young woman.

Her management of her uncles and Isaiah was now complete.

They no longer protested, even to each other, against the management and, in fact, gloried in it.