"And are you going to accept him Ess ?" "I don't know," she answered.
"Don't know!" repeated Charlie, in a tone of surprise.

"Why, Ess, I'm astonished at you--such a capital fellow as he is! Half the girls of our acquaintance would give an eye for the chance." "But he is so rich!" responded Esther.
"Well, now, that's a great objection, ain't it! I should say, all the better on that account," rejoined Charlie.
"The money is the great stumbling-block," continued she; "everybody would say I married him for that." "Then _everybody_ would lie, _as_ everybody very often does! If I was you, Ess, and loved him, I shouldn't let his fortune stand in the way.

I wish," continued he, pulling up his shirt-collar, "that some amiable young girl with a fortune of a hundred thousand dollars, would make me an offer--I'd like to catch myself refusing her!" The idea of a youth of his tender years marrying any one, seemed so ludicrous to Esther, that she burst into a hearty fit of laughter, to the great chagrin of our hero, who seemed decidedly of the opinion that his sister had not a proper appreciation of his years and inches.
"Don't laugh, Ess; but tell me--do you really intend to refuse him ?" "I can't decide yet, Charlie," answered she seriously; "if we were situated as we were before--were not such absolute paupers--I wouldn't hesitate to accept him; but to bring a family of comparative beggars upon him--I can't make up my mind to do that." Charlie looked grave as Esther made this last objection; boy as he was, he felt its weight and justice.

"Well, Ess," rejoined he, "I don't know what to say about it--of course I can't advise.

What does mother say ?" "She leaves it entirely to me," she answered.