Portia said 'Papa, he has said he wouldn't take any job you can give him; and I feel just as bad about it as -'.

'My darling, is that your papa?'

'Yes; he's my step-father, and the dearest one ever. You understand now, don't you, why I laughed when you told me everything at the ambassador's? You did not know that he was my relative. Papa's and Uncle Abel's little plan was giving you so juch worry and trouble!'

Of course, I now had something else to say. Without any fooling I went right to the important thing.

'Oh, my dearest dear sir, I was wrong about what I said before. You have got a job available that I want. Son-in-law'

'Well, well, well! But you know, you haven't ever done that job before. So of course, you can't give a reference that shows that you can do the job well, and so - '