The senator sighed.
“Thank you, dear,” he said. “That is all I wanted to know. I had hoped that it would be otherwise. Peggy,” he said, “I love that other young man like a son.”
“Peter?”
“I have always hoped that you would see him as I have seen him. I would be happy if I thought that I could leave you in such strong young hands. I trust him absolutely.”
“Papa.”
“Well, dear?”
“You don’t like Aladdin?”
“He is not steady, Margaret.” The simple word was pregnant with meaning as it fell from the senator.
“You don’t mean that he—that he’s like—”
“Yes, dear; I should not wish my youngest son to marry.”