Part 47 (1/2)

”Be quiet, Ellen, and let your husband talk.”

The flush on Harry's face deepened. ”I'm sorry to say I have a few debts--not many. I've been paying them off since I've known Ellen.”

”There!” cried Mrs. O'Brien in triumph. ”Do you hear that, Jamie!”

”Since you've known Ellen,” Jamie repeated. ”How long may that be?”

”I think it's nearly a month.”

”H'm! Nearly a month.... Well, now, Mr. Long, since you've got a wife and a few debts, is it your idea, if I might ask you, to start housekeeping?”

”Dad!” Ellen cried; ”I don't see why you put it that way! We've got everything planned out.”

Jamie was imperturbable. ”I'd like to hear your plans, Ellen.”

”We're not going housekeeping. I hate housekeeping, anyway. We're going boarding.”

”Boarding, do you say?” Jamie ruminated a moment. ”If you were to ask me, Mr. Long, I'd tell you that twenty dollars won't go far in supporting a wife in idleness.”

”Ellen don't want to be idle, Mr. O'Brien. It's her own idea to keep on with millinery, and of course I can get her into a good shop in St.

Louie.”

It was Mrs. O'Brien's turn to feel dismay. ”Do you mean to tell me, Ellen, that, as a married woman, you're keeping on working?”

Ellen's answer was decided. ”I'd rather do millinery than housekeeping.

Millinery ain't half as hard for me. I told Harry so this afternoon and he said all right.”

”But, Ellen dear,” wailed Mrs. O'Brien, ”people'll be thinking that your husband can't support you!”

Ellen laughed. ”As long as I know different, that won't matter.”

Jamie gave Ellen unexpected support. ”Maggie, I think Ellen's right.

It'll be much better to be a good milliner than a poor housekeeper.”

Jamie paused and looked at the young people thoughtfully. ”Well, you're married now, both of you, and perhaps you're well matched. I dunno.

Ellen's been a headstrong girl, never thinking of any one but herself and, from your own account, Harry, you're much the same. You've both jumped into this thing without thinking, but you'll have plenty of time for thinking from now on. Well, it's high time you both had a bit of discipline. It'll make a man and a woman of you. I don't altogether like the way you've started out, but you're started now and there's no more to say. So here's my hand on it, Harry, and may neither of you regret this day!”

Jamie reached across the table and the younger man, in grateful humility, grasped his hand. ”Thank you, Mr. O'Brien,” he said simply.

”You've made me see a few things.”

Ellen got up and went around to her father's chair. ”I have been thoughtless and selfish, Dad. I see that now. I hope you'll forgive me.”

There were tears in her eyes, and her lips, as she put them against her father's cheek, trembled a little.

Harry turned himself to the task of winning his mother-in-law. ”Is it all right, Mrs. O'Brien?”

All right, indeed! Who could resist so handsome a son-in-law? Certainly not Mrs. O'Brien. She broke out in tears and laughter.