"Oh, Fanny!"
"But I'd hate to see you try to keep house on eighteen per. That means doing your own work, including the cooking—yes, and the washing—and you weren't made for that."
"Don't worry about me—I'll be all right."
"I hope so," sighed Fanny.
"I will, don't fear," smiled Virginia.
Not yet discouraged the shipping clerk returned to the attack. Folding his arms in authoritative fashion and addressing his future sister-in-law he said severely:
"Will you give me a straight answer to a plain question? If Mr. Stafford does ask you to marry him, will you? Come on, now, will you?"
"I won't talk about such things," retorted the girl.
Her face flushed up. It was easy to see that she was getting angry. Shrugging his shoulders, the young man walked away, but sarcastically he said:
"Well, if he does and you don't accept him, you'll be the biggest fool that ever lived!"