“But suppose he is one of those stubborn beings you read about—one of the men who will not marry a girl with money unless he has a ‘working capital’ himself?”
“That shall not stand in our way.”
“What do you mean?” gasped Tavia. “Not that you would give up your money for him?”
“If I find I love him enough—yes,” said Dorothy, softly.
CHAPTER XXI
THE BUD UNFOLDS
In a certain way it ages a girl to be left motherless as Dorothy Dale had been. She had been obliged to “play mother” herself so early that her maternal instincts were strongly and early developed.
Until the Dale family had come away from Dalton to live with Aunt Winnie at The Cedars, Dorothy had exercised her motherly oversight in the little family. Indeed, Roger scarcely knew any other mother than Dorothy, and Joe had almost forgotten her who had passed away soon after Roger was born.
As for the major, he had soon given all domestic matters over into the small but capable hands of “the little captain” while they were still struggling in poverty. After coming to The Cedars, Dorothy, of course, had been relieved of the close oversight of domestic and family matters that had previously been her portion. But its effect upon her character was plain to all observing eyes. Nor had her so early developed maternal characteristics failed to affect the other members of the family.
Now that she was really grown up past the schoolgirl age and of a serious and thoughtful demeanor, even Aunt Winnie looked upon her as being much older than Tavia—and years older than the boys. That Ned and Nat were both several years Dorothy’s senior made no difference.
“Boys are to a degree irresponsible—and always are, no matter how old they become,” said Aunt Winnie. “But Dorothy——”