"That's very true," said I; and, upon my soul, I thought her mouth was the handsomest I had ever seen; "it is very true, but it don't do to be too familiar; and, besides, Dully don't sound a whit better than Pattie. I wish to ged you had a better name than _that_; and yet it is the best of them all, for 'Martha' is kitchen-like, and 'Abigail' wash-womanly--" "And Pat," said my cousin-- "_Pat_!" said I, struck with horror-- "Yes, Pat!" said she, looking as if she would cry again; "it is the most odious of nicknames, and there's my brother Sam, who calls me so all day long; and there's pa, who is not much better. But I say, cousin, I hope you'll take _them_ to schooling too. I won't say any thing about pa; but I reckon there's none of us will be the worse for a little rubbing up." "Don't say 'reckon,'" said I, "nor 'Sam' neither. Ged, you have horrid names among you, but we'll do the best we can. Pattie--Miss Pattie Wilkins; well, the name is not so very bad. As for your brother, you must always call him 'brother;' occasionally you may say 'Wilkins,' and it will sound aristocratic, as being a family name. But I say, uncle, we can't do any thing till we have you in your own house; and, if you mean to pass for a man of quality, it must be a grand one--that is, as grand as can be had without building. I say, uncle, if you please, what do you hold yourself worth?" "Ods bobs!" said my uncle, bristling up, "what's that any man's business? Never blab a man's capital, for--" "Oh," said Pattie, "Pa's always thinking about trade and shop-keeping; but I'll tell you, for I know all about it, for he told me six months ago, and I know. He's worth two--" and here the little beauty looked as if she designed to make me her confidant at once, and swell my very soul with the greatness of her revealment--"he's worth two hundred and ninety thousand dollars; and when he dies he is to leave me half. A'n't it grand?" "To leave you _half_! one hundred and forty-five thousand dollars?" said I, so confounded by a sudden idea that entered my mind that I could not even conceal it. "Hang it, if that's the case, but I shall certainly marry you, and snap up that hundred and forty-five myself." "_Would_ you?" said the imp, looking so lovely, and innocent, and willing that I positively threw my arms around her neck, as if the matter were already settled. "Ods bobs!" said my uncle, "none of your jokes here, nevvy!" As for Pattie, she jumped out of my arms, though apparently more pleased with the rudeness than with my former want of enthusiasm, and ran laughing to a chair. "None of your jokes here, nevvy, I say," cried Mr. Wilkins; "and don't talk to Pattie about marrying, for she has had enough of that already." "I ha'n't, pa," said the daughter, beginning to cry again; "you're always twitting me with Danny. But I'm sure, if you're willing, I'd as lief marry my cousin Ikey--that is, cousin Dulmer--as anybody." "Who's Danny?" said I.