Father Barbour and Maudy Pemberton have conspired to keep Clifford on the trail of a job. Henry is a silent partner in the project, and Clifford hasn't missed a day looking for employment. This enterprise his son is showing, alone has been enough to raise Henry's hope and spirit, and there is the excitement of waiting each day for Clifford's return home to see how he fared. The day is all but gone now, and the head of the house of Barbour is unaware that the wintry evening dusk has made the library quite dark...