"He may make eight thousand a-year, but he has very little money
invested," said Aunt Mary.

"That is true," Mr. Brookes replied reflectively, and he was about to
rush off into a long financial statement when his sister, who already
regretted her joke, checked him with an abrupt question.

"My dear James, is this marriage to be or not to be? That is what I
want to know."

"I really can't say, Mary; Sally has contrived to upset her sister;
she would have been, I feel sure, glad to marry Mr. Berkins if she had
not been upset by Sally."

"Upset by Sally, what do you mean?"

"I told you that Sally tries to turn Berkins into ridicule, laughs at
his beard among other things."

"I must see Grace about this," said Aunt Mary; "you must excuse my
laughing, but Sally is often very droll."

Choosing the first occasion when Maggie and Sally were absent from the
room, Aunt Mary said, "Come, Gracie, dear, tell me about this
marriage. I hear that your mind is not made up--that you are not at
all decided. This is not acting fairly towards your father. You are
placing him in a very false position."

"I don't think so, aunty. No one, so far as I can make out, is either
decided or satisfied. Mr. Berkins is not satisfied with the society we