"How? All by himself? A ride of twenty miles?"
"On horseback. Yes. Yes. Does that answer your three questions satisfactorily? Now I'll ask one. Why not?"
"Oh, I suppose there is no objection, only he has never taken such a long ride alone."
"Why, mother! I, a great fellow of fourteen! Of course I can go—that is, please let me. What for, father?"
"I have had a little dividend of fifty dollars paid in on Miss Pamela's morsel of horse-railway stock, and I know she always wants money as soon as it comes."
"Probably much sooner, poor soul—" said Mrs. Weatherby.
"Unlike most other people, eh, ma'am?" interrupted Mr. Weatherby.
"—and more than ever now, since she has taken those two girls of her good-for-nothing brother's. If they had been boys, they might have been some use on her mite of a farm. When I said so to her, she said: 'Yes, my dear, that's just the reason their mother's family don't want them; but, you know, girls have to live as well as boys. We're pretty sure of getting enough to eat, and as for the rest, I believe the Lord will provide.'"
"Her faith will be rewarded just now," said Mr. Weatherby, "for this is an unlooked-for dividend. The road has been doing better than usual of late."
"I'm very glad," said his wife. "I dare say it will be a real godsend to them all."