“Come to me for the needful, Edward,” said his father. “I cannot give you luxuries; but this is for your improvement.”
“Thank you most heartily, my dear father, but I am, rather I was, richer than any of you know. I earned so much for my last engraving.”
“And you never told us,” said his mother and sisters, reproachfully.
“I did not, because it was already appropriated. I wanted exactly that sum to add to my grandfather’s gift; and that was what I worked so hard for.”
“To purchase some bridal gift,” said Fanny, archly.
“No, Fan, I never mean to purchase love.”
“But if the lady requires to be so conciliated?”
“Then she is not worth having.”
“Of course not,” rejoined Annie. “But come, Edward, you have never kept anything from us before. What is this mystery?”
“Out with it,” laughingly pursued Ellen. “Julia Morison will not thank you for preferring anything to accompanying her, I can tell you; so, as Annie says, what is this mystery?”