"Oh! it isn't necessary to be engaged before you are married," he answered. "That can be attended to afterward quite as well."
Still, to marry on nothing a year is a delicate matter; and Will consulted his father in his perplexity.
"Married?" the doctor said. "What have you to live on?"
The son drew from his pocket a handful of silver, which he eyed doubtfully.
"That is about the extent of my available capital."
"Not a very substantial basis upon which to acquire a family," his father said.
"I wish," exclaimed Will, rattling the coins he held, "that I had as much money as I could lift; and oh, wouldn't I lift!"
"No doubt," Dr. Sanford assented grimly. "But you haven't; and it takes money to support a wife. Young love is delightful company, but a great eater."
"But there are two sides to the question," said Will. "Ease must be thought of. That old tabby-cat Tabitha has deserted her, and I can't stand by and see her turned out of house and home. And there's no other way I can help her. I might go to teaching school to support myself; but in the long-run I can make more at my profession. Now, will you lend me the money I need till I can pay my way?"
"My dear boy, debt is a pestilence which walketh at noonday, and doesn't lie quiet at night, nor let you."