"Mark sometimes makes as high as five dollars a week," said Mrs. Mason in a tone of mild sarcasm.
"I am sure that is very good pay for a boy of his age."
"It is a small sum for a family of three persons to live upon, Solon."
"Um, ah! I thought perhaps you might earn something else."
"Sometimes I earn as high as a dollar and a half a week making shirts."
Mr. Talbot thought it best to drop the subject.
"I am deeply sorry for you," he said. "It is a pity your husband didn't insure his life. He might have left you in comfort."
"He did make application for insurance, but his lungs were already diseased, and the application was refused."
"I may be able to help you--in a small way, of course," proceeded Solon Talbot.
Mark looked up in surprise. Was it possible that his close-fisted uncle was offering to assist them.
Mrs. Mason did not answer, but waited for developments.
"I have already paid you seventy-five dollars from your father's estate," resumed Mr. Talbot. "Strictly speaking, it is all you are entitled to. But I feel for your position, and--and your natural disappointment, and I feel prompted to make it a hundred dollars by paying you twenty-five dollars more. I have drafted a simple receipt here, which I will get you to sign, and then I will hand you the money."
He drew from his wallet a narrow slip of paper, on which was written this form:
"Received from Solon Talbot the sum of One Hundred Dollars, being the full amount due me from the estate of my late father, Elisha Doane, of which he is the administrator."
Mr. Talbot placed the paper on the table, and pointing to a black line below the writing, said, "Sign here."
"Let me see the paper, mother," said Mark.
"I advise you not to sign it," he added, looking up.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Solon Talbot angrily.
"I mean," returned Mark firmly, "that mother has no means of knowing that a hundred dollars is all that she is entitled to from grandfather's estate."
"Didn't I tell you it was?" demanded Talbot frowning.
"Uncle Solon," said Mark calmly, "I am only a boy, but I know that one can't be too careful in business matters."
"Do you dare to doubt my father's word?" blustered Edgar.
"Our business is with your father, not with you," said Mark.