"It isn't right to say things like that out of the family,"
Nannie observed.

"This _is_ the family. You're going to marry David, and I'm
going to marry Elizabeth. And I'm going to be awfully rich; and
I'll give all you children a lot of money. Jimmy Sullivan--he's a
friend of mine; I got acquainted with him yesterday, and he's the
biggest puddler in our Works. Jimmie said, 'You're the only son,'
he said, 'you'll get it all.' 'Course I told him I'd give him
some," said Blair.

At this moment Elizabeth was moved to catch David round the neck,
and give him a loud kiss on his left ear. David sighed. "You may
kiss me," he said patiently; "but I'd rather you'd tell me when
you want to. You knocked off my cap."

"Say, David," Nannie said, flinging his cap up to him, "Blair can
stand on his head and count five. You can't."

At this David's usual admiration for Blair suffered an eclipse;
he grew very red, then exploded: "I--I--I've had mumps, and I
have two warts, and Blair hasn't. And I have a real dining-room
at my house, and Blair hasn't!"

Nannie flew to the rescue: "You haven't got a real mother. You
are only an adopted."

"Well, what are you?" David said, angrily; "you're nothing but a
Step."