“But when is it to be?” again asked Dolly.

“That depends a little upon my brother,” said Mrs. Carroll, in a voice hardly above a whisper.  “Mr. Juniper has spoken about a day.”

“Then it will depend chiefly on himself and the young lady, I suppose?”

“Well, Dorothea, there are money difficulties.  There’s no denying it.”

“I wish I could shower gold into her lap,” said Mr. Carroll, “only for the accursed conventionalities of the world.”

“Bother, papa!” said Sophia.

“It will be the last of it, as far as I am concerned,” said Amelia.

“Mr. Juniper has said something about a few hundred pounds,” said Mrs. Carroll.  “It isn’t much that he wants.”

Then Miss Grey spoke in a severe tone.  “You must speak to my father about that.”

“I am not to have your good word, I suppose,” said Amelia.  Human flesh and blood could not but remember all that had been done, and always with her consent.  “Five hundred pounds is not a great deal for portioning off a girl when that is to be the last that she is ever to have.”  One of six nieces whose father and mother were maintained, and that without the slightest claim!  It was so that Dorothy argued; but her arguments were kept to her own bosom.  “But I must trust to my dear uncle.  I see that I am not to have a word from you.”

The matter was now becoming serious.  Here was the eldest girl, one of six daughters, putting in her claim for five hundred pounds portion.  This would amount to three thousand pounds for the lot, and, as the process of marrying them went on, they would all have to be maintained as at present.  What with their school expenses and their clothes, the necessary funds for the Carroll family amounted to six hundred pounds a year.  That was the regular allowance, and there were others whenever Mr. Carroll wanted a pair of trousers.  And Dolly’s acerbation was aroused by a belief on her part that the money asked for trousers took him generally to race-courses.  And now five hundred pounds was boldly demanded so as to induce a groom to make one of the girls his wife!  She almost regretted that in former years she had promised to assist her father in befriending the Carroll relations.  “Perhaps, Dorothea, you won’t mind stepping into my bedroom with me, just for a moment.”  This was said by Mrs. Carroll, and Dolly most unwillingly followed her aunt up-stairs.

“Of course I know all that you’ve got to say,” began Mrs. Carroll.

“Then, aunt, why bring me in here?”

“Because I wish to explain things a little.  Don’t be ill-natured, Dorothea.”

“I won’t if I can help it.”

“I know your nature, how good it is.”  Here Dorothy shook her head.  “Only think of me and of my sufferings!  I haven’t come to this without suffering.”  Then the poor woman began to cry.

“I feel for you through it all,—­I do,” said Dolly.

“That poor man!  To have to be always with him, and always doing my best to keep him out of mischief!”