"It seems to me you've had time to get over that loss," said his sister, not betraying much sympathy in her tone.
"It wouldn't be much to you, I know; but to a poor man like me it was a great loss," said Mr. Huxter.
"Well, we won't say anything about that. I told you that I would help you, and I will. You observed John Oakley at the table?"
"Yes; he looks like a smart fellow."
"He's no smarter than Ben that I know of," said Mrs. Oakley, jealously.
"Of course not; I didn't suppose he was," said Mr. Huxter, seeing that he had got on the wrong tack. "Ben is a boy that you may be proud of, sister Jane. He is very genteel in his manners."
"I mean to bring him up as a gentleman," said Mrs. Oakley. "I think I shall make a lawyer of him."
"I hope you will. There's never been a lawyer in our family. I should be proud to speak of my nephew, Benjamin Brayton, Esq., the famous lawyer."
"I hope that time will come, brother Ephraim. But I was going to speak of John Oakley. Ben and he don't agree very well."