"He has been gone some time?"
"Yes."
"I should think you would miss him."
"So I do. I miss him constantly."
"You must find it hard to get along without him—financially I mean."
"He left some money behind. I am not in want."
"Ellen, I am really sorry to see you living in such a poor way. These humble rooms are not suitable for you."
Mrs. Mason was rather astonished to hear these words from her brother-in-law. She did not understand that he was preparing the way for another offer.
"It would certainly be pleasant for me to live better," she said. "I hope to when Mark gets older."
"You had better not count too much upon that. An office boy's wages seldom amount to much. How much does he earn?"