Mrs. Ellis knew more than Esther about Armorer’s business methods, having the advantage of her husband’s point of view; and Colonel Ellis had kept the army standard of honor as well as the army ignorance of business.  To counterbalance, she knew more than anyone alive what a good son and brother Horatio had always been.  But she could not restrain a smile at the picture of the partnership.

“Precisely, you see yourself,” said Armorer.  “Meg”—­hesitating—­ “you don’t suppose it would be any use to offer Esther a cool hundred thousand to promise to bounce this young fellow?”

“Horatio, NO!” cried Mrs. Ellis, tossing her pretty gray head indignantly; “you’d insult her!”

“Take it the same way, eh?  Well, perhaps; Essie has high-toned notions.  That’s all right, it is the thing for women.  Mother had them too.  Look here, Meg, I’ll tell you, I want to see if this young fellow has ANY sense!  We have an ordinance that we want passed.  If he will get his council to pass it, that will show he can put his grand theories into his pockets sometimes; and I will give him a show with Esther.  If he doesn’t care enough for my girl to oblige her father, even if he doesn’t please a lot of carping roosters that want the earth for their town and would like a street railway to be run to accommodate them and lose money for the stockholders, well, then, you can’t blame me if I don’t want him!  Now, will you do one thing for me, Meg, to help me out?  I don’t want Lossing to persuade Esther to commit herself; you know how, when she was a little mite, if Esther gave her word she kept it.  I want you to promise me you won’t let Esther be alone one second with young Lossing.  She is going to-morrow, but there’s your whist-party to-night; I suppose he’s coming?  And I want you to promise you won’t let him have our address.  If he treats me square, he won’t need to ask you for it.  Well?”

He buttoned up his coat and folded his arms, waiting.

Mrs. Ellis’s sympathy had gone out to the young people as naturally as water runs down hill; for she is of a romantic temperament, though she doesn’t dare to be weighed.  But she remembered the silver service, the coffee-pot, the tea-pot, the tray for spoons, the creamer, the hot-water kettle, the sugar-bowl, all on a rich salver, splendid, dazzling; what rank ingratitude it would be to oppose her generous brother!  Rather sadly she answered, but she did answer:  “I’ll do that much for you, ’Raish, but I feel we’re risking Esther’s happiness, and I can only keep the letter of my promise.”

“That’s all I ask, my dear,” said Armorer, taking out a little shabby note-book from his breast-pocket, and scratching out a line.  The line effaced read: 

“See E & M tea-set.”