aced her hand in Arnold's for reply.

"Do you think you know him well enough, my dear?" Mr. Emblem asked
gravely, looking at her lover. "Marriage is a serious thing: it is a
partnership for life. Children, think well before you venture on the
happiness or ruin of your whole lives. And you are so young. What a
pity--what a thousand pities that people were not ordained to marry at
seventy or so!"

"We have thought well," said Arnold. "Iris has faith in me."

"Then, young man, I have nothing to say. Iris will marry to please
herself, and I pray that she may be happy. As for you, I like your
face and manners, but I do not know who you are, nor what your means
may be. Remember that I am poor--I am so poor--I can tell you all now,
that to-morrow we shall--well, patience--to-morrow I shall most likely
have my very stock seized and sold."

"Your stock sold? Oh, grandfather!" cried Iris; "and you did not tell
me! And I have been so happy."

"Friend," said Lala, "was it well to hide this from me?"

"Foolish people," Mr. Emblem went on, "have spread reports that I am
rich, and have saved money for Iris. It is not true, Mr. Arbuthnot. I
am not rich. Iris will come to you empty-handed."

"And as for me, I have nothing," said Arnold, "except a pair of hands
and all the time there is. So we have all to gain and nothing to
lose."

"You have your profession," said Iris, "and I have mine. Grandfather,
do not fear, even though we shall all four become poor together."

It seemed natural to include Lala Roy, who had been included with them
for twenty years.

"As for Iris being empty-handed," said Arnold, "how can that ever be?
Why, she carries in her hands an inexhaustible cornucopia, full of
precious things."

"My dear," said the old man, holding out his arms to her, "I could not
keep you always. Some day I knew you would leave me; it is well that
you should leave me when I am no longer able to keep a roof over your
head."

"But we shall find a roof for you, grandfather, somewhere. We shall
never part."

"The best of girls always," said Mr. Emblem; "the best of girls! Mr.
Arbuthnot, you are a happy man."

Then the Sage lifted up his voice and said solemnly:

"On her tongue dwelleth music; the sweetness of honey floweth from her
lips; humility is like a crown of glory about her head; her eye
speaketh softness and love; her husband putteth his heart in her bosom
and findeth joy."

"Oh, you are all too good to me," murmu