"Pretty well," returned Mr. Dalrymple, with a cough. "The sum total averaged between six and seven hundred a-year, for every year that you were there." "Surely not!" uttered Robert, startled to contrition. "It seems to have made but little impression on you; you knew it at the time. But I am not recalling this to cast reproach on you now, Robert: I only wanted to explain how it is that we have been unable to put by. Not a day after I am well, will I delay beginning it. We will curtail our expenses, even in things hitherto considered necessary, no matter what the neighbourhood may think; and I shall probably insure my life. Your mother and I were talking of this all day yesterday." "I can do with less than I spend, father; I will make the half of it do," said Robert, in one of his fits of impulse. "We shall see that," said Mr. Dalrymple, with another cough. "But you do not know the trouble this has been to me since the accident, Robert. I have lain here, and dwelt incessantly upon the helpless condition of your mother and sisters--left helpless on your hands--should I be called away." "My dear father, it need not trouble you. Do you suppose I should ever wish to disturb my mother and sisters in the possession of their home? What do you take me for?" "Ah, Robert, these generous resolves are easily made; but circumstances more often than not mar them. You will be wanting a home of your own--and a wife." Robert's face took a very conscious look. "Time enough for that, sir." "If you and Mary Lynn can both think so." "You--don't--object to her, do you, sir?" came the deprecating question. "No, indeed I don't object to her: except on one score," replied Mr. Dalrymple. "That she is too good for you." Robert laughed. "I told her that myself, and asked her to give me up. It was the night of the accident, when I was so truly miserable." "Well, Robert, you could not have chosen a better girl than Mary Lynn. She will have money----" "I'm sure I've not thought whether she will or not," interrupted Robert, quite indignantly. "Of course not; I should be surprised if you had," said Mr. Dalrymple, in the satirical tone his son disliked. "Commonplace ways and means, pounds, shillings and pence, are beneath the exalted consideration of young Mr. Dalrymple. I should not wonder but you would set up to live upon air tomorrow, if you had nothing else to live upon." "Well, father, you know what I meant--that I am not mercenary." "I should be sorry if you were. But when we contemplate the prospect of a separate household, it is sometimes necessary to consider how its bread-and-cheese will be provided." "I have the two hundred a-year that my own property brings in--that Aunt Coolly left me. There's that to begin with."