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asp the pitiful, irreparable waste it had involved of a talent bordering on genius. She pursed her lips obstinately together. "There'll come no blessing with money that's earned by mere pleasuring," she averred. "If you only knew what hard work it means to be a successful musician, Aunt Eliza, you'd be less drastic in your criticism," interposed Nan, with warmth. Eliza's shrewd eyes twinkled. "You work hard, don't you, my dear?" she observed drily. Nan laughed, colouring a little. "Perhaps I should work harder if Uncle David didn't spoil me so. You know he's increased my allowance lately?" Eliza snorted indignantly. "I always kent he was mair fulish than maist o' his sex." "It's rather an endearing kind of foolishness," remarked Sandy. His mother eyed him sharply. "We're not put into the world to be endearing," she retorted, "but to do our duty." "It might be possible to combine both," suggested Sandy. "Well, you're not the one to do it," she answered grimly. "And what's Penelope doing?" she continued, turning to Nan. "She's more sense than the rest of ye put together, for all she's so daft about music." "Penelope," said Sandy solemnly, "is preparing to enter upon the duties and privileges of matrimony." "What may you mean by that?" Sandy stirred his tea while Eliza waited impatiently for his answer. "She's certainly 'walking out,'" he maintained. "And that's by no means the shortest road to matrimony," snapped Eliza. "My cook's been walking out with the village carpenter ever since she came to St. Wennys, but she's no nearer a wedding ring than she was twelve months ago." "I think," observed Sandy gravely, "that greater success will attend Penelope's perambulations. Kitty was so cock-a-hoop over it that she couldn't refrain from 'phoning the good news on Sunday morning. I meant to tell you when you came back from church, but clean forgot." "And who's the man?" "Penelope's young man? Oh, Ralph Fenton, the fellow who makes 'pleasuring' pay so uncommonly well. He's been occupying an ignominious position at the wheels of Penelope's chariot ever since they both came to Mallow. I think Kitty Seymour would make a matrimonial agent _par excellence_--young men and maidens introduced under the most favourable circumstances and _no_ fee when suited!"--Sandy flourished his arms expressively. "And if she could find a good, sensible lassie to tak' ye in hand, Sandy McBain
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