Has a girl with family responsibilities the right to love, to a man of her own, children of her own?

Gail Lawrence, the last of the Lucky Lawrences, was left at twenty-three with four young brothers and sisters and a pitifully small income. Somehow she held the little group together in the huge old house. Edith and Phil helped, Sam was too young and happy to know the family's difficulties. But Ariel, the youngest; fiery, beautiful, passionate little Ariel, at seventeen rebelled against poverty. She didn't want to be "caught in a trap" the way Gail was—a guardian angel. Men pursued Ariel and neighbors were talking about that "fast and loose" Lawrence girl.

Gail's attentions, outside of her job in the library, were divided between two men. Steady, faithful Dick she had known all her life, and he was as much at home in the Lawrence house as a member of the family. Van Murchison was wealthy and amusing and invited Gail on long week-ends with his mother—and hoped for some without. Gail was quite overwhelmed by Van, but she couldn't make up her mind. And suddenly—very suddenly—Ariel solved half her problem by eloping with one of her suitors!

Gail's trials and disappointments, her gay courage and her final triumph make as beautiful and genuine a story as Mrs. Norris has ever written, with a surprise climax as amusing as it is entirely unexpected.