Cousin Phillis

The story begins with a young man's transition to independence as he moves into a small room above a pastry shop at seventeen. His father, a mechanic with inventive talent, has secured him a clerkship with an engineer working on a railway line. This new chapter in life is marked by pride and satisfaction, reflecting the father's aspirations for his son to rise above their humble beginnings. The narrative explores themes of personal growth, familial influence, and the pursuit of ambition against a backdrop of industrial progress.