"If Dick likes you there must be some good in you," said the lady: and her voice was again sharp and firm. "Where's Whimple?"
"He'll be here soon, I expect."
"Umph! Poking around the law courts I suppose. He's never been here when I want him."
"Mister Whimple is a busy man," said William loyally.
"Don't lie to me," was the sharp rejoinder, "I'm a Whimple. Miss Elizabeth Whimple, if you want to know, and I'm his aunt. He would be a fool and enter law against my advice, and I hope he'll starve for it."
William's eyes narrowed. "Did you ever try starving, Miss Whimple?" he demanded.
"Heavens, no!—what would I want to try that for?"
"Well, I'm glad if you never have to," was the answer. "My Dad came near to it sometimes before he got onter his feet, and I ain't very old myself, but I've seen the day I'd walked a long way to get my teeth into a piece of beef-steak."
"I don't believe you."
"Well, of course, you don't have to," said William calmly. "That's a funny thing about grown-ups. They'll believe any old lie if it's in print, but the minute anybody tells 'em the truth straight outen his heart, they don't——"