"We haven't had a real outing together, dear, for a long time," he smilingly observed; "and when Mr. Ashley told me this morning he thought we'd better send some one to New York and Washington to look into some complications that have arisen in connection with our new patents, I told him I would be glad to go myself. I thought it would be very pleasant for you and me to bear our departing friends company on their long journey—oh, Dorrie, what do you think of it?" he concluded, turning to the girl, who always sat at his right hand at table—a privilege she greatly appreciated.
"Oh, Uncle Horace, I think it will be just—grand!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands for joy. "It won't seem quite so much like going away from you and Aunt Belle altogether."
He reached out a shapely hand and patted her softly on the shoulder, a suspicion of tears in his own eyes, for the child had greatly endeared herself to him during her stay in the house.
"Well, then, Belle, dear, if you can get your grip packed by Monday morning, I will be ready to act as escort for the party to the great and terrible city of Gotham."
"Grip, indeed!" exclaimed his wife, in mock indignation, but giving him a roguish look. "I am expecting to take a trunk, containing several empty trays, with me, if you please. Pray, did you imagine that you were going to take me to New York—the Paris of America—and bring me home again, without being well stocked with the prettiest things I could find?"
Mr. Hamilton gravely put down his knife and fork, drew forth a very flat-looking wallet, and laid it upon the table before Dorothy, with a dejected air.
"Open it, sweetheart, and tell me if you do not think your auntie is a very unreasonable woman and your uncle a much-abused man," he said, in an injured tone.
Dorothy unfolded the receptacle, carefully looked it through, and brought to light a single twenty-dollar bill.
Her brows contracted in perplexity. She studied the crisp note for a moment, then naïvely returned:
"Why, Uncle Horace, that isn't all you will have to spend in New York, is it? I—I thought you were—were very rich!"