“I think I may safely say yes.”
“Very well,” replied both the girls, smiling; “we will hold you to this promise.”
In the evening, after tea, when all were together, Eunice said, in a very pleasant way,
“Father, mother says if you are willing to move into the house I told you about, that she will make no objection. What do you say?”
“Of course, your father wouldn’t think of such a thing,” spoke up Mrs. Townsend.
“That isn’t fair, mother,” said Eveline, good-humoredly. “We object to any attempt on your part to use influence. Father must decide this matter for himself in freedom. We’ve got your promise, and now we must get his.”
“I’m sure that is using influence, and with a double power. First, you get me to make a conditional promise, and then set to work to influence the conditions. No, no; I object also. Let father, as you say, decide this matter in freedom.”
“Very well; father shall speak for himself,” said Eunice. “Let me put the question. Are you willing to give up this house, and take the one alluded to, which only rents for two hundred dollars?”
“If all of you agree to it; if all are willing, I promise not to object.”
“There, do you hear that, mother?” exclaimed Eveline.