"Whatever Mary might think of doing, it wouldn't be on her own account; it would be on ours.

But if WE should--should consider it, that wouldn't be on OUR own account.

It isn't because we think of ourselves." "Oh God, no!" he groaned.

"Not for us! We can go to the poorhouse, but Mary can't be a stenographer!" Sighing, Mrs.Vertrees resumed her obliqueness.

"Of course," she murmured, "it all seems very premature, speculating about such things, but I had a queer sort of feeling that she seemed quite interested in this--" She had almost said "in this one," but checked herself.