“Indeed.” His tone and smile were ironic.

Kate, a trifle disconcerted, continued:

“He’s had bad luck.”

“He’s had the best opportunities of any man who’s come into the country.”

“Anyway,” she faltered, “they haven’t a penny except when they sell something.”

He shrugged a shoulder, then asked teasingly:

“Well—what were you thinking of doing about it?”

“I said—I promised,” she blurted it out bluntly, “that we’d loan them money.”

“What!” incredulously.

“I did, Uncle Joe.”