I thought that for just a moment grandmother weakened; but it was only for a moment.
"Happy with a beggar!" she retorted. "Never!"
The pearls went down on the floor in a sudden shower.
"Then I'll never be happy in all my life!" Auntie May answered, in a broken voice.
After that it seemed as if there was a heavy cloud over the whole family. We were none of us as cheerful as we used to be, not one, and people spoke in whispers as they do when some one is very sick. And Auntie May cried! She cried until her pretty eyes were red, and all her soft hair was tousled and damp from much mourning. And my mother cried with her. It was a terrible time.
We children had talked the matter over among ourselves, and we all sided with Auntie May. Every night little Dick prayed an extra clause to his long prayer. It came right after the place where he prayed for puppies.
"Please, God, let me have two puppies," he asked, in a loud, decided tone. "One brown one, and one white one with brown spots and a brown tail. And, please, God, bless Auntie May, and send her a new beau."
One night he made another announcement.
"Please, God, you needn't bother about Auntie May's beau. When I grow up I'll marry her myself."