"My niece Mary and her three children have come to the Cottage since you were last here, Mr. Penrose," said Aunt Agatha, with a blush of shame and displeasure. "It was the only house of all her relations that she could come to with any comfort, poor dear--perhaps you don't call that an increase of family; and as for the milk and butter----"
"She must pay you board," said Mr. Penrose, decisively; "there can be no question about that; your little money has not always been enough for yourself, as we both know. But all this is merely an illustration I was giving. It has nothing to do with the main subject. If these young people marry, my dear Miss Agatha, their family may be increased by inmates who will pay no board."
This was what he had the assurance to say to an unmarried lady in her own house--and to laugh and chuckle at it afterwards, as if he thought it a capital joke. Aunt Agatha was struck dumb with horror and indignation. Such eventualities might indeed, perhaps must, be discussed by the lawyers where there are settlements to make; but to talk of them to a maiden lady when alone, was enough to make her drop through the very floor with consternation. She made no attempt to answer, but she did succeed in keeping her seat, and to a certain extent her self-possession, for Winnie's sake.
"It is a different sort of thing altogether," said the family adviser. "Things may be kept square in a quiet lady's house--though even that is not always the case, as we are both aware; but two young married people, who are just as likely as not to be extravagant and all that---- If he has not something to settle on her, I don't see how I can have anything to do with it," Mr. Penrose continued; "and you will not answer me as to what he has of his own."
"He has his--his pay," said poor Aunt Agatha. "I am told it is a great deal better than it used to be; and he has, I think, some--some money in the Funds. I am sure he will be glad to settle that on Winnie; and then his mother, and Sir Edward. I have no doubt myself, though really they are too young to marry, that they will do very well on the whole."
"Do you know what living means, Miss Agatha?" asked Mr. Penrose, solemnly, "when you can speak in this loose way? Butchers' bills are not so vague as your statements, I can tell you; and a pretty girl like that ought to do very well, even though she has no money. It is not _her_ fault, poor thing," the rich uncle added, with momentary compassion; and then he asked, abruptly, "What will Sir Edward do for them?" as if he had presented a pistol at his companion's head.
