I should have made Strathay a very decent wife--"
But at the word I stopped; something in the sound of it shattered my cool
philosophy.
"Of course, of course," Uncle assented. Then after a pause he went on,
hesitatingly:--
"Nelly, these are not matters for a man to discuss with you. Why don't you
run in and talk with your aunt?"
I hadn't the least intention of calling, but I answered him according to
his folly.
"I must, some time; but I'm so worried--"
"Ah, yes; those debts. Could you not, if you are determined not to come
home to us, seek less expensive apartments? You know that for any wants in
reason your aunt and I--"
"I--I can't, just yet," I faltered, with a dreary vision before my eyes of
such a boarding house as that from which Kitty rescued me.
"Very well, Nelly, but think about it; you will see that to go on as you
are doing would be only throwing money into a bottomless pit. But bring me
your bills to-morrow; I must have facts and figures, if we are to
straighten your affairs. Now--you need money--"
He was fumbling for his check book. Badly as I needed help, instinctively
I cried:--
"Oh, no; not that!"
"Quite sure? It is the situation that troubles you and not the butcher,
the baker--"
"Quite sure.
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