THE END OF THE PARTY. 105

 

Livingston’s reasoning about his father’s property. His plans of life.

that makes four of us. The money would make about
twelve thousand dollars apiece. The annual income of
twelve thousand may be about eight hundred ; and eight
hundred dollars in New York, where I am going to live,
would not pay the rent of a house.”

“ Not the rent of a house!” said Wallace.

“ No,” said Livingston, “decidedly not; that is, of such
a house as Caroline would want to live in.”

Wallace was silent. He seemed to be musing on what
Livingston had said.

“ Besides,” continued Livingston, “I have no idea of
having my father give half of his property to us boys
when we grow up. He will want the income of it for
himself and my mother in their old age. He began life
himself with nothing. He has worked hard to maintain
us all, and give us the best education, so that we can
begin life for ourselves with the best advantages. When
he shall have done this for us for twenty years, I think
it will be enough. I mean to begin then to make my
own fortune,—and if ever I have a wife, it must be one
that will know how to help me make it.”