You'll never know what misery is till you've got no teeth--or
next to none.'' He looked disgustedly into his bowl. ``Crackers
and milk!'' grunted he. ``No teeth and no digestion. The only
pleasure a man of my age can have left is eating, and I'm cheated
out of that.''

``So, you wouldn't approve of my marrying Davy?'' said the girl.

Her father grunted--chuckled. ``I didn't say that. Does he want
to marry you?''

``I didn't say that,'' retorted Jane. ``He's an unattached young
man--and I, being merely a woman, have got to look out for a
husband.''

Martin looked gloomy. ``There's no hurry,'' said he. ``You've
been away six years. Seems to me you might stay at home a
while.''

``Oh, I'd bring him here, popsy I've no intention of leaving you.

You were in an awful state, when I came home. That mustn't ever
happen again. And as you won't live with Martha and Hugo--why,
I've got to be the victim.''

``Yes--it's up to you, Miss, to take care of me in my declining
years. . . . You can marry Davy--if you want to. Davy--or
anybody. I trust to your good sense.''