“Vell, tell it, Bennie. Dere has been noding in de shop to-day but troubles, und heartaches, und sorrows.” “I have been promoted to assistant foreman of the cigar factory, with my wages doubled.” This was said with an anxious glance in the direction of Dora, which was met by a radiant smile. “Goot! Goot! Vat are you smiling at, like dot, Dora? Vot you got to do mit Bennie’s goot fortune?” “Oh, papa,” said Dora, hiding her face, while Bennie manfully took his stand beside her. The father was suddenly enlightened, and, after a brief second, he drew himself together and said: “Vell, I am not plint. I can see dot two is company and four is a procession. Come, Loney, I vant you to go mit me to de oder rooms und help me to sweep de Oriental rugs.” “Mr. Goldberg, can I take Dora--and Loney--up de street for a treat? It is up to me now.” “To treat de Dora and de Loney? Sure, treat dem--but treat dem right.” “And you, too, Mr. Goldberg. Won’t you come?” said Bennie, anxious to gain Mr. Goldberg’s good graces. “Not so. I cannot leafe. I must fix a pair of prize-fighting shoes for de Kid Broad, und if I get dem not done my name will be--vat you call it, Bennie? Oh, yes, a dead von, Bennie!” “Yes, Mr. Goldberg.” “Bring it me von fife-cents stogies und I vill smoke you de goot luck. Come, Loney, let us go und bolish de piano.” Saying this, the shoemaker took the child’s hand and started to the upper room, leaving Bennie and Dora alone. Ben was too clever to allow such an opportunity for a heart-to-heart talk to pass, so he said: “Are you glad, Dora, that it has come at last?” “Yes, Bennie; very glad for your sake.” “And aren’t you glad just a little for _our_ sakes?” “Yes, Bennie,” whispered Dora, shyly. “You know that you promised, when my wages were raised--that--if the father consents, you would be my wife.” “Did you ask him, Bennie? But it is not because your pay is raised----” “I know that, Dora. But, you know, I would not want you until I could take good care of you. So, if it wasn’t for the wages, why did you promise, Dora?” “I promised because I love you, Bennie,” said Dora, simply and sweetly, at the same time holding out both her hands, which Bennie took and held; and then, growing bolder, he put one arm around her and drew her to him and reverently kissed the upturned brow so confidingly raised. At that moment the father entered the shop, thinking they had gone, and stood a second looking at them, with many emotions struggling on his honest face, but he rallied and said, lightly: “I might make you marry her for dot, Bennie.” “Oh do, Mr. Goldberg. Please do. You know I have loved Dora ever since I came here a little boy and she was a baby. It would be no punishment--or else it would be a sweet one. Eh, Dora?” “Den you shall be punished, Bennie. You are a good, hard-working poy, und some day, in a year or two, ven you are both a little older, you shall have mein chilt.”