"I hope so, Ben. I think we can be happy together."
"There is one thing I forgot to tell you," he said later. "I shall expect you to pay your board out of your income, you know. If you fail to make regular payments, we shall have to bundle you out."
"I will remember," said Ben, smiling.
By arrangement Ben went up to Milltown alone to tell his aunt the news. He entered the little house with a sober face.
"I see you bring bad news, Benjamin," said Mrs. Bradford mournfully.
"You will have to leave the house, Aunt Jane."
"And go to the poorhouse! I knew it would turn out that way," and Mrs. Bradford put her handkerchief to her eyes.
"What's the matter?" asked Tony.
"My poor child," said his mother, "we are going to the poorhouse."
"Is that so, Ben?" asked Tony soberly.