“As far as money goes,” continued Mrs. Formica, “it may be called a good match; but certainly not as far as family goes.”

“Family!” echoed Dr. Black, softly.

“His father was a tradesman,” explained Mr. Formica, “while Lily can go back to her great-grandfather before trade need be mentioned.”

“Old Mr. Tree’s father,” remarked his wife, “was a brigadier-general in the Revolution.”

“He was a drover, for all that,” said Osgood.

Mrs. Formica changed the theme, and talked of Saratoga.

“We’ll go,” Osgood said, crossly; “but I must first go to my tailor.”

Mrs. Formica held a private conversation with him after dinner, gave him a check, and told him not to worry about the future: she had a plan in view.

“Plans go by contraries with me, aunt.”