"An' suppose I withhold my consent--what then?"

"Then I shall still love him, but I shall never marry without it."

"Hear that now. Nora, my good girl," and taking her hand he placed it in
Harvey's, "I give her to ye. All I ask is that ye shall make her happy.
Let her niver regret this day--that's all," and he wiped his eyes.

Nora flung her arms around him while Harvey wrung his hand.

"You'll never have cause to regret, nor shall she," he said. "I'll love
and cherish her until death parts us, and I'll work for her so that
she'll be proud of me."

Ethel kissed them both; in fact, so did everyone. Aunt Susan and Tom were
delighted.

"I always liked him," she said. "Anyone who looks me square in the eye,
Mr. Casey, I'll bank on every time."

It was long after midnight when the Xmas party broke up. The young man
who had always played at Mrs. Hollister's teas for the sum of three
dollars played the Virginia Reel, and everyone danced,--even Grandmother.
Mr. Casey took so many funny fancy steps that it was hard to get him
through with the figures, after which Nora and Ethel showed the elderly
people how to dance the turkey trot, which of course was shocking. When
the young musician left he was richer by fifty dollars--gifts of Mr.
Casey, Tom Harper, and Mrs. Hollister, for she told of how lovely his
mother was and how she had been her bridesmaid.

"And here's a gift for her," said Mr. Casey. "Take it and buy her a
fur-lined coat," at which everyone shouted, for poor Mr. Casey's gifts
had all been so comfortable and warm.

"Niver mind," he laughed, "I bet she'll like one. And give her me
compliments and a Merry Christmas. And let me have your address, sir."

CHAPTER XVII

CHRISTMAS DAY

It was a typical Christmas day. There was even snow on the ground. The
pretty limousine stood before the Hollisters' door and a well-groomed
good-looking chauffeur was taken in and presented to Mrs. Hollister,
his future mistress. Grandmother, in her handsome new cloak, and Aunt
Susan with Mr. Casey, took the first ride. Mr. Casey was in high spirits
over Nora's choice.

"Shure they till me that he has a great future."

"Of course he has," said Grandmother. "Why, he's advanced to the
operating room and he is in line to be second assisting surgeon. Think,
Mr. Casey, of the lives he may save. I think Nora has made a wise choice,
and he cared for her for herself--not for her money--for he's always said
that his wife's m