"No; I like the boy. He is worth a dozen Harolds. Perhaps I ought not to say this, for Harold is my nephew and they say blood is thicker than water. However, it is a fact, nevertheless, that I like Luke the better of the two."
"I shall not blame you for saying that, Warner," returned the old lady. "I am glad that one of the family, at least, is free from prejudice. To what do you attribute Louisa's dislike of Luke?"
"I think, aunt, you are shrewd enough to guess the reason without appealing to me."
"Still, I would like to hear it from your lips."
"In plain words, then, Louisa is afraid you will remember Luke in your will."
"She doesn't think I would leave everything to him, does she?"
"She objects to your leaving anything. If it were only five hundred dollars she would grudge it."
"Louisa was always selfish," said Mrs. Merton, quietly. "I have always known that. She is not wise, however. She does not understand that I am a very obstinate old woman, and am more likely to take my own way if opposed."
"That's right, aunt! You are entitled to have your own way, and I for one am the last to wish to interfere with you."
"You will not fare any the worse for that! And now, Warner, tell me what are your chances of employment?"