Margie’s eyes opened in amazement for a moment; then it was Phil’s turn to be whirled about the room,--an operation in which he displayed the astounding awkwardness peculiar to young men who cannot dance. Suddenly she paused, and said,-- “Mamma must know at once. The idea of there being some one within reach to tell it to, and I wasting all this time!” “Margie!” exclaimed Lucia, as the girl’s dress rustled up the stair, “Margie, come back a moment,--do.” Then there was some rapid whispering, and Margie re-ascended, saying, in very resigned tones,-- “Very well.” “I suspect,” said Phil, when Lucia returned, “that you’ve suggested that I am the proper person to break the news.” “Isn’t it better?” asked Lucia, timidly. “Infinitely.” “Mamma is not always easy to speak to, on some subjects,” Lucia suggested. “No task could be hard to me to-night,” responded Phil. Yet in a moment or two, when Mrs. Tramlay was heard approaching, the young man’s looks belied his brave words. Lucia pitied him; she pressed closely to his side, as if to assist him, but when her mother’s footstep was heard in the hall the girl’s courage deserted her, and she fled, and left the young man to whatever fate might be impending. “Margie tells me you have some great news,” said Mrs. Tramlay to Phil. “Bless Margie!” said Phil to himself; then, instead of at once addressing himself to the duty before him, he gave Mrs. Tramlay as full a report of the rise, progress, and result of the Lake and Gulfside operation as if she, instead of her husband, were the head of the iron-house. “And you have told Mr. Tramlay, I think you said,” the lady remarked. “Yes; I looked him out at the club, for the purpose.” “He was pleased, of course?” “Greatly, I am happy to say.” Mrs. Tramlay looked thoughtful. Phil was puzzled by her manner. Did she know or care so little about business as not to estimate at its true value the importance of the Lake and Gulfside order? She was so calm about it that Phil himself began to think less than before of his success. He even wondered whether it would be worth while to tell her of the worldly fortune the operation had brought to him. Probably she was one of the large class of women, of whom he had heard, who have no heads for business. “Did Mr. Tramlay say anything in reply?” asked the lady, after a moment or two of thought. “Why, yes,” said Phil, with some hesitation, for he wondered if, after all, it might not be better that Tramlay himself should tell the story of his clerk’s promotion. Mrs. Tramlay eyed him keenly; then she asked,-- “Did he say anything concerning your future,--and ours also, as related to it?” “Yes,” said Phil, now satisfied that Tramlay’s offer had been premeditated, and not made in the excitement of the moment; “and,” he continued, with his best smile and bow, “I am happy to assure you that I was simply delighted to agree with him.” “My dear son!” exclaimed Mrs. Tramlay.