"An' suppose I withhold my consent—what then?"
"Then I shall still love him, but I shall never marry without it."
"Hear that now. Nora, my good girl," and taking her hand he placed it in
Harvey's, "I give her to ye. All I ask is that ye shall make her happy.
Let her niver regret this day—that's all," and he wiped his eyes.
Nora flung her arms around him while Harvey wrung his hand.
"You'll never have cause to regret, nor shall she," he said. "I'll love and cherish her until death parts us, and I'll work for her so that she'll be proud of me."
Ethel kissed them both; in fact, so did everyone. Aunt Susan and Tom were delighted.
"I always liked him," she said. "Anyone who looks me square in the eye,
Mr. Casey, I'll bank on every time."
It was long after midnight when the Xmas party broke up. The young man who had always played at Mrs. Hollister's teas for the sum of three dollars played the Virginia Reel, and everyone danced,—even Grandmother. Mr. Casey took so many funny fancy steps that it was hard to get him through with the figures, after which Nora and Ethel showed the elderly people how to dance the turkey trot, which of course was shocking. When the young musician left he was richer by fifty dollars—gifts of Mr. Casey, Tom Harper, and Mrs. Hollister, for she told of how lovely his mother was and how she had been her bridesmaid.
"And here's a gift for her," said Mr. Casey. "Take it and buy her a fur-lined coat," at which everyone shouted, for poor Mr. Casey's gifts had all been so comfortable and warm.
"Niver mind," he laughed, "I bet she'll like one. And give her me compliments and a Merry Christmas. And let me have your address, sir."