h hesitated. Then Henry
spoke, stammeringly:

"I--never knew--just how much of an income Abrahama had," he said.

"Well," replied the lawyer, "I must say not much--not as much as I
wish, for your sakes. You see, old Abraham had a lot of that railroad
stock that went to smash ten years ago, and Abrahama lost a good
deal. She was a smart woman; she could work and save; but she didn't
know any more about business than other women. There's an income of
about--well, about six hundred dollars and some odd cents after the
taxes and insurance are paid. And she has enough extra in the Alford
Bank to pay for her last expenses without touching the principal. And
the house is in good repair. She has kept it up well. There won't be
any need to spend a cent on repairs for some years."

"Six hundred a year after the taxes and insurance are paid!" said
Sylvia. She gaped horribly. Her expression of delight was at once
mean and infantile.

"Six hundred a year after the taxes and insurance are paid, and all
that land, and that great house!" repeated Henry, with precisely the
same expression.

"Not much, but enough to keep things going if you're careful," said
Meeks. He spoke deprecatingly, but in reality the sum seemed large to
him also. "You know there's an income besides from that fine
grass-land," said he. "There's more than enough hay for a cow and
horse, if you keep one. You can count on something besides in good
hay-years."

Henry looked reflective. Then his face seemed to expand with an
enormous idea. "I wonder--" he began.

"You wonder what?" asked Sylvia.

"I wonder--if it wouldn't be cheaper in the end to keep
an--automobile and sell all the hay."

Sylvia gasped, and Meeks burst into a roar of laughter.

"I rather guess you don't get me into one of those things, butting
into stone walls, and running over children, and scaring horses, with
you underneath most of the time, either getting blown up with
gasolene or covering your clothes with mud and grease for me to clean
off," said Sylvia.

"I thought automobiles were against your principles," said Meeks,
still chuckling.

"So they be, the way other folks run 'em," said Henry; "but not the
way I'd run 'em."

"We'll have a good, steady horse that won't shy at one, if we have
anything," said Sylvia, and her voice had weight.

"There's a good buggy in Abrahama's barn," said Meeks.

Sylvia made an unexpected start. "I think we are wicked as we can
be!" she declare