“If—ever you wanted to marry that girl, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't, for my part.”

Robert pulled a chair close to his aunt, and sat down beside her, still holding her hand.

“I've a good mind to tell you the whole story, Aunt Lizzie,” he said.

“I wish you would, Robert. You know I think as much of you as if you were my own son, and I won't tell anybody, not even your uncle, if you don't want me to.”

“Well, then, it is all in a nutshell,” said Robert. “I like her, you know, and I think I have ever since I saw her in her little white gown at the high-school exhibition.”

“Wasn't she sweet?” said his aunt.

“And she likes me, too, I think.”

“Of course she does.”

“But you know what my salary is, and her whole family is in a measure dependent upon her.”

“Hasn't her father got work?”