"It was a queer household, theirs, as you can imagine, with the fluctuating nature of the father's income--and he was one of those who never dreamt of laying by for a rainy day. Yes, _sir_! I tell you there were hard struggles at times in that family. One week--on 'Easy Street.' The next--'broke to the wide'--unable to pay the rent. O'Malley's wife had died in giving birth to the last boy and afterwards, all through their ups and downs, that girl kept things as straight as she could. She was a regular mother to the boys in those days--has been all along. They'd have all gone to the devil long enough ago if it hadn't been for her. She's twenty-eight now, though she don't look it. After her father died, she went to live with an aunt of hers--a Mrs. Gorman, of Philadelphia. She's sure got the 'rocks,' all right, but I guess she's about as disagreeable an old party as you could find. You've seen her, you say?" (Ellis nodded grimly.) "Well, her acquaintance doesn't belie her face. I don't know how on earth Mary stuck to her for so long. It was a case of 'nowhere else to go,' I guess, poor girl, and she's very patient. Must have had a hard time of it, from what little she's told us. She isn't the bewailing sort that cry their troubles abroad to all and sundry they meet, but I suppose it got too thick for even her to stand any longer, so she decided to cut loose from 'Aunty.' She wrote to the wife, asking her if she knew of any position that she could earn her own living at over on this side. So that's how it is she's here, looking after Bert and Gwyn. Those kids just worship her. Seems she prefers this fresh air life to an office job. You might know that, anyway, by the look of her. I tell you, I respect and admire that girl, Benton. Hello! was that 'Grub pile!' just went? Come on in, or we'll be getting a scolding for being late."
Slowly but, nevertheless surely, as the weeks, and gradually months, went by, and their intimacy increased, the inevitable happened to Ellis and Mary; for mere platonic friendship between two individuals of their warm-blooded natures was impossible amidst such surroundings, and by imperceptible degrees their mutual interest and liking for each other had developed into a stronger feeling.