Old Charlie's. There was such a sonorous roll to the words that
the mere sound of them made me feel like getting down on my
marrow bones. And then those girls were as pretty as pinks, now
weren't they? Agnes was the finest-looking of the lot in my
opinion. I hope it's true that you're courting her, Eric?"

"Confound it, father," said Eric, half irritably, half
laughingly, "have you and David Baker entered into a conspiracy
to hound me into matrimony whether I will or no?"

"I've never said a word to David Baker on such a subject,"
protested Mr. Marshall.

"Well, you are just as bad as he is. He hectored me all the way
home from the college on the subject. But why are you in such a
hurry to have me married, dad?"

"Because I want a homemaker in this house as soon as may be.
There has never been one since your mother died. I am tired of
housekeepers. And I want to see your children at my knees before
I die, Eric, and I'm an old man now."

"Well, your wish is natural, father," said Eric gently, with a
glance at his mother's picture. "But I can't rush out and marry
somebody off-hand, can I? And I fear it wouldn't exactly do to
advertise for a wife, even in these days of commercial
enterprise."

"Isn't there ANYBODY you're fond of?" queried Mr. Marshall, with
the patient air of a man who overlooks the frivolous jests of