ell. He is coming round
to-morrow morning to learn whether you will take her."

"Won't you take her, mother?" pleaded Tony.

"I shall be very glad of the chance," said Mrs. Bradford. "It will
make us very comfortable."

"Still, Aunt Jane, if you would really prefer going to the poorhouse,"
said Ben, his eyes twinkling, "I will go round and see if you can get in."

"Never mind, Benjamin," said his aunt cheerfully. "I prefer to keep
out of that place as long as I can."

"Would you like to have a little girl to play with, Tony?" asked Ben.

"It'll be bully," said Tony.

"Where did you learn that word, Tony?" inquired his mother, shocked.

"It isn't swearing, is it, mother?"

"No, but it is not refined."

"I'm too young to be refined, mother."

"But where did you learn it, Tony?"

Ben smiled. "Tony don't want to expose me, Aunt Jane," he said. "I
suppose he learned it of me. It isn't a bad word."

"I never used it," said Mrs. Bradford primly.

"No, I should think not," said Ben, laughing. "I can't image you
calling anything bully. It isn't a lady's word. You know, aunt,
boys can't always use go-to-meetin' words. They want to be
free and easy sometimes."

Here the discussion was dropped, and the evening was passed cheerfully.

The next morning Mr. Manning called. Admitted into the little
cottage, he glanced quickly about him, and was pleased to find that,
though the furniture was plain, there was evidences of neatness.
Mrs. Bradford, too, in spite of her tendency to low spirits, impressed
him favorable, as likely to be kind and judicious. But perhaps what
influenced him as much as anything was the presence of Tony, for he
held that a child companion would be very desirable for his young
ward. He repeated the offer of seven dollars a week.

"I am afraid it will hardly be worth that, Mr. Manning, though it will
be very welcome to us," said Mrs. Bradford.

"I prefer to pay liberally, since the property left to my young charge
is ample. Besides, she will be more or less care. I shall have to
trouble you to provide the little girl with suitable attire, charging, of
course, all outlays to me."

"I shall be very glad to do so, Mr. Manning. When do you wish
the child to come?"

"As soon as possible."

"Will you bring her yourself?"

"There will be some difficulty about that," answered Mr. Manning
hesitatingly. "I can't leave my business."

"Where is she, may I ask?"

"In New York."