"She is, and that's what you're going for. O Tom, Tom!" cried his sister despairingly. "Mr. Dillwyn, what shall we do with him?"
"Can't easily manage a fellow of his size, Miss Julia. Let him take his chance."
"Take his chance! Such a chance!"
"Yes, Philip," said Tom's mother; "you ought to stand by us."
"With all my heart, dear Mrs. Caruthers; but I am afraid I should be a weak support. Really, don't you think Tom might do worse?"
"Worse?" said the elder lady; "what could be worse than for him to bring such a wife into the house?"
Tom gave an inarticulate kind of snort just here, which was not lacking in expression. Philip went on calmly.
"Such a wife—" he repeated. "Mrs. Caruthers, here is room for discussion. Suppose we settle, for example, what Tom, or anybody situated like Tom, ought to look for and insist upon finding, in a wife. I wish you and Miss Julia would make out the list of qualifications."
"Stuff!" muttered Tom. "It would be hard lines, if a fellow must have a wife of his family's choosing!"
"His family can talk about it," said Philip, "and certainly will. Hold your tongue, Tom. I want to hear your mother."