“Matrimony,” he completed, as if inspired. 218
“I know I am a few years older than you, Harvey, but you are so very much older than I in point of experience that I must seem a mere girl to you. We could––”
“Mrs. Davis, I—I can’t do it,” he blurted out, mopping his brow. “I suppose it means I’ll lose my job in the store, but, honestly, I can’t do it. I’m much obliged. It’s awfully nice of you to––”
“Don’t be too hasty,” said she, composedly. “As I said in the beginning, I want some one to conduct the store in Mr. Davis’ place. But I want that person to be part owner of it. No hired man, you understand? Now, how would a new sign over the door look, with your name right after Davis? Davis &—er—er––Oh, dear me!”
“I’ll—I’ll buy half of the store,” floundered he. “I want to buy a half interest.”
“I won’t sell,” said she, flatly. “I’m determined that the store shall never go out of the family while I am alive. There’s only one way for you to get around that, and that’s by becoming a part of the family.”
“Why—why, Mrs. Davis, I’m only thirty years old. You surely don’t mean to say 219 you’d—you’d marry a kid like me? Let’s see. My mother, if she was alive, wouldn’t be as old as––”
“Never mind!” interrupted she, with considerable asperity. “We won’t discuss your mother, if you please. Now, Harvey, don’t be cruel. I am very fond of you. I will overlook all those scandalous things you did in New York. I can and will close my eyes to the wicked life you led there. I won’t even ask their names—and that’s more than most women would promise! I won’t––”
“I can’t do it,” he repeated two or three times in rapid succession.
“Think it over, Harvey dear,” said she, impressively.